The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 3

She rose from her seat and slowly made her way to the empty chair beside Elias.

"That's better. A couple must be united to walk a long path together. I'm getting old. The future of the Shawn family rests on you. Seeing you two getting along puts my mind at ease," Old Mr. Shawn said with a smile, his tone casual.-

But everyone at the table understood his words for what they were: a clear show of support for Victoria.

Elias's eyes were unreadable. "I get it, Grandfather."

Victoria kept her gaze lowered, saying nothing, but the air around her grew colder, as if she were trapped in an ice cave where every breath was a blast of frigid wind.

Old Mr. Shawn nodded in satisfaction. "Good, now let's eat! Victoria, you look like you've lost weight. Eat more. If you can't reach something, have Elias get it for you."

"...Alright."

Victoria murmured her assent, her eyes still downcast.

Suddenly, a piece of garlic-roasted pork was placed in her plate.

Startled, Victoria looked up just in time to see Elias retracting his fork.

She stared at the piece of pork, her grip on her own fork tightening. She was eating delicious food, but all she could taste was a bitter poison on her tongue.

Elias frowned as he studied Victoria. Had her wrists always been this thin? They looked as if they might snap with the slightest pressure.

And... why was her face so pale?

After dinner, the family gathered in the living room for conversation.

Victoria deliberately lingered at the table, ensuring she was the last to finish.

The pain in her abdomen was growing stronger. She pressed a hand against it, trying to ease the ache as she stood up.

Elias, returning from a phone call, saw her standing by the table, her figure so frail she looked as if a gust of wind could knock her over.

On an impulse he couldn't explain, he walked over to her.

"What did you mean earlier when you said you weren't feeling well?"

"It's nothing..." Victoria hadn't expected him to return. She quickly dropped her hand and started to walk away.

Elias was about to say more when his eyes fell on her plate. The piece of pork he had given her was still there, untouched.

"Why didn't you eat it?" His face darkened, and he grabbed her by the wrist.

The sudden pull made her stumble. "There's no reason. I just didn't want it."

"Victoria, don't provoke me," Elias warned, his other hand clamping around her waist. "You know what happens when you make me angry."

Panic flared in Victoria's chest. She struggled to free her hand, but in the next instant, he shoved her against the wall.

A sharp pain shot through Victoria's heart. An overwhelming sense of shame sent tremors through her entire body.

He hadn't been aroused at all. He had just wanted to humiliate her.

In his eyes, everything she did was a pathetic attempt to win his affection. Everything she did... was cheap.

Victoria swallowed the bitterness in her throat and went to say goodbye to Old Mr. Shawn before getting into the car with Elias.

The Maybach pulled away from the estate, heading down the mountain toward downtown under the cover of darkness.

Compared to the faint chirping of insects in the forest, the silence inside the car was terrifying. The air was thick with a chilling pressure that made it hard to breathe.

The argument with Elias had only intensified the pain in her abdomen. After getting in the car, Victoria leaned against the window and closed her eyes. Her fingertips were cold as she pressed them hard against her stomach. She'd taken a painkiller before leaving, but it hadn't had time to work yet.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

Elias glanced at the caller ID, and the frost in his eyes instantly melted.

"Elias..."

A woman's trembling voice came through the speaker, choked with sobs. "Blood... Elias, I'm bleeding."

Elias's expression changed dramatically. "I'm on my way!"