The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 273

In the living room, Elias was sitting on the sofa with his legs bent, seemingly handling work on a tablet.

His large frame seemed somewhat out of place on the slightly small sofa.

Seeing Elias in loungewear made Victoria pause. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him in casual clothes after he officially took over as head of the Shawn family. His closet at The Crestview Estates was filled with nothing but rows of shirts and trousers.

It suited his personality—an aloof, almost intimidating coldness.

Hearing the movement, Elias looked up at Victoria.

Victoria pressed her lips together and walked forward, her voice hoarse. "Elias..."

In truth, she had lingered in the bedroom for so long because she still hadn't figured out how to face him.

Yesterday, regardless of her motives, she had been the one to initiate things.

Just days after declaring they were divorced and had nothing to do with each other, she had completely contradicted herself.

"You're awake? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?" Elias's expression was unreadable as he placed his tablet face down on the coffee table.

"No." Victoria lowered her gaze, trying her best to avoid his eyes.

The atmosphere grew strange and awkward.

"Yesterday..."

"Rose is dead."

They spoke at almost the exact same time.

Victoria's words caught in her throat, and she stared at him, stunned.

Elias spoke in a low voice. "I've already spoken to the media, so this won't get out. But to be safe, you should probably skip the awards ceremony tomorrow."

Victoria seemed not to hear his last words, her voice laced with disbelief.

"Did you just say... Rose is dead?"

"Yes."

Elias picked up the tablet and handed it to her. The screen displayed the death certificate and investigation report just issued by the police. "The night before last. Her throat was slit, then she was stabbed in the heart with a dagger."

Victoria's heart plummeted. She looked down at the tablet.

"I'll have people continue to investigate her death, but it will take some time."

Even for him, pursuing this required caution. He couldn't afford a direct conflict with their organization.

Even he knew better than to pick a fight with the power players on their own home turf.

Victoria's lips pressed tight. She had a good idea who wanted Rose dead.

But she also knew that even if she said it, Elias wouldn't believe her. Besides, with Rose dead, there was no proof, and the person responsible was hiding in the shadows again.

Thinking of the flash drive Abbey had sent, Victoria's gaze darkened.

At the same time, she caught sight of the ear thermometer on the coffee table. It must have been used recently, as the screen displaying the temperature was still lit.

Elias's fever was gone.

"I'm going to the awards ceremony tomorrow," Victoria said, looking away.

Elias frowned. He was about to say something when Victoria picked up the thermometer from the table. "Mr. Shawn, since your fever is gone, I won't keep you any longer."