The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 16

After returning to The Imperial Crest Estates, Victoria shut herself in her bedroom and lay down, still shaken.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the image of the truck bearing down on her.

She spent the whole night in a state of half-sleep.

It wasn't until Felice called early in the morning that she was fully jolted awake.

A client for a project she and Sunny had been working on had new suggestions for the design proposal. They needed to catch the earliest flight to meet with them in person.

She thought they would be back in two days at most.

But they ran into a severe storm, and the client kept making changes back and forth. It ended up being a full week before they finally finished and returned to The Imperial Capital.

Victoria and Sunny walked out of The Imperial Capital airport.

"This week has completely worn me out! I didn't even get a weekend. It's the worst." Sunny stretched by the roadside as she waited for a cab. She glanced at her phone and clicked her tongue. "It's not exactly early, but not too late either. We'll probably get back to the Institute just in time for lunch."

Victoria took out her phone and checked the time: ten thirty-two.

"How about we go get some barbecue?" Sunny suggested.

Victoria was hesitating when her phone screen lit up. The caller ID read 'Mr. Flint'.

Mr. Flint was the Sanger family's steward. After Garnett was imprisoned, all the other servants had been dismissed, leaving only Mr. Flint.

"Mr. Flint, what is it?" Victoria answered, her voice gentle.

"Miss, do you have time to come by today?" Mr. Flint hesitated before continuing, his words tinged with worry. "The young master hasn't rested for several days now. I can't persuade him..."

Victoria's brow furrowed. "I'm on my way."

After hanging up, Victoria pressed her lips together. Sunny, who had overheard parts of the call, opened the door of the taxi that had just arrived. "Victoria, you go ahead."

"What about you?" Victoria asked. With several flights having just landed, it wasn't easy to get a cab.

"Oh, I've got all the time in the world. I can wait," Sunny said. "Family matters are more important. Go on, get in the car."

With Mr. Flint's words weighing on her mind, Victoria didn't argue. She thanked Sunny, ducked into the car, and headed for the Sanger estate.

The Sanger Estate.

As soon as the taxi stopped, Mr. Flint hurried over to open the door for Victoria.

"Miss."

"Brother."

Victoria walked in and found her brother with messy hair slumped over a dark wood desk, eyes shut. The shadows under his lashes stood out sharply, and the ashtray beside him was overflowing with cigarette butts.

Victoria's eyes instantly reddened at the sight.

She approached him and touched his hand. The heat from his skin was alarming.

Her eyes widened, and she reached out to feel his forehead.

Grady was running a high fever.

Panic seized her. "Mr. Flint, call the family doctor, quickly! My brother has a fever!"

Mr. Flint's expression changed, and he hurried off to make the call.

"Grady! Grady, wake up!" She leaned in and gently shook him.

In his delirious state, Grady heard a familiar voice. He frowned, struggling to open his eyes. It took a moment for him to recognize the person in front of him.

"...Vic?" Grady's voice was hoarse.