The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 140

The woman froze, then quickly turned to Victoria and bowed. "I'm sorry, miss, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

Victoria's lips were pressed into a thin line. She didn't immediately accept the apology. After a long moment, she spoke calmly, "There's nothing to forgive. You weren't wrong to be suspicious. It is unlikely for a child that young to wander all the way to the inpatient ward. I suggest you check the security cameras to see what happened."

She wasn't a kidnapper, but that didn't mean someone else hadn't tried to lure the child somewhere quieter and out of sight.

"Also, in the future, it's best not to leave your child alone outside when you use the restroom. You may think she won't wander off, but in a crowded place, you can never be sure nothing will happen."

The woman lowered her head in shame. "Yes… it's my fault. Thank you. I'll be more careful in the future."

The drama ended, and the crowd dispersed.

The woman took Victoria's advice and went with the security team to review the footage, while the director and his entourage were dismissed by Elias.

Soon, only Victoria and Elias remained at the once-chaotic information desk.

Though the woman's maternal panic had caused a lot of trouble, the child was innocent and adorable. Watching them walk away, Victoria felt her mood sink.

She thought of the child she had never met. Would it have been a little girl, too…?

If the baby were still here, she would be starting to show soon, wouldn't she?

As the thought crossed her mind, Victoria lowered her gaze, a bitter taste creeping into her mouth.

Elias stood beside her, his peripheral vision catching her every expression. His gaze followed hers down to her abdomen, and the image of that medical report flashed through his mind. His eyes went even colder.

"Victoria, it's a little late for regrets now," he sneered.

Victoria's whole body went rigid. She looked up, her eyes meeting his.

"What? Do you think I'm wrong?" Elias gripped her chin, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Victoria, drop the innocent, pitiful act. Do I need to remind you that you killed your own child with your own hands?"

She killed…

Elias's final words were like a knife, twisting deep into her heart.

She bit down hard, forcing back the pain, and turned her head to break free from his grip. Her voice was hoarse. "Don't worry. I have fewer regrets now than at any other time in my life."

Elias's face darkened, a vein throbbing in his temple. "Victoria!"

Victoria took two steps back, creating distance between them. "The cooling-off period ends tomorrow. If you're free, let's go to city hall tomorrow morning and finalize the divorce."

Elias narrowed his eyes, the chill radiating from him making the air feel cold enough to freeze.

Victoria watched him quietly, as if determined to get an answer.

"In such a hurry? Got a replacement lined up already?" Elias sneered.

Victoria said, "It's better for both of us to end this sooner rather than later. Avoids any unnecessary complications."

She didn't deny it.

Victoria sat cross-legged on the sofa, hugging a pillow. The hand she had used to slap Elias still felt numb. She stared at her palm, lost in thought.

She didn't regret the slap, but she couldn't quite name what she was feeling. Everything inside her was a confused tangle.

Cerys sat down next to her. "By the way, do you want me to go with you to city hall tomorrow?"

"Didn't you promise to go on a trip with your aunt to cheer her up?" Victoria remembered something else. "And you mentioned on the phone before that you were too angry to sleep. What happened?"

Cerys blinked. "Did I? Did I say that? You must be misremembering. I'm the great Miss Thorne. Who would dare to make me angry…"

Victoria raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Cerys's voice trailed off, losing its confidence.

"Fine. But you can't tell anyone."

Victoria laughed in exasperation. "When have you ever seen me tell anyone our secrets?"

Cerys shifted, pulling her knees up over the pillow. "The night before I called you," she began hesitantly, "a friend from our circle was having a birthday, so we all went to a bar to celebrate."

Hearing this, Victoria had a feeling she knew where this was going. "You got drunk?"

Cerys rubbed her nose and nodded. "I heard the bar had a new signature drink, so I thought I'd try one. And you know my tolerance, I can handle most things, but it turns out…"

"I got drunk, and I ended up sleeping with a guy."