The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 48

"Victoria, I don't have time to waste on you and your little pity party."

Victoria looked up in astonishment at Elias's cold, handsome face, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You don't have to bother with me."

"Not bother with you? So you can use this as an opportunity to run to the old man and complain?"

At his words, Victoria opened her mouth to argue that she had no such intention, but then she thought better of it. Even if she said it, Elias wouldn't believe her. A heavy, helpless feeling lodged in her throat, leaving it tight and sore.

Elias watched her silent form, assuming his accusation had hit its mark and left her speechless. His patience worn thin, he grabbed her arm. "Victoria, I've warned you, cut the games—wait, you're hurt?"

The phone's flashlight illuminated Victoria's face, which was pale, almost translucent.

Victoria pulled her hand back but didn't speak, using the railing to slowly inch her way forward.

Elias's tug had aggravated the pain, which had just started to subside, and she no longer had the energy to respond.

"Victoria!" Elias stared at her slender back, his heart feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy blow. He instinctively grabbed her wrist. "If you were hurt, why didn't you say so from the beginning?"

Why didn't she say so?

Victoria stopped and glanced at the hand clamped around her wrist. She had no strength left, nor the will, to pull it away. She asked sarcastically, "If I had, would you have believed me?"

The answer was obvious.

Elias met her steady, clear gaze, the scorn in it impossible to miss.

His gaze darkened, and he released her.

Victoria hadn't expected an answer. Seeing him let go, she continued to shuffle down the stairs. But just as she took a step, she was lifted off the ground. Elias had moved in front of her and scooped her up into his arms.

His gaze drifted down to the woman in his arms, and he frowned.

Why was she so light? Had she been skipping meals?

"Elias, you—"

"Shut up. If you say one more word, I don't mind finishing what we started last night, right here and now," Elias said, his face dark. He felt an overwhelming irritation and didn't want to hear another sound from her.

The memory of being pinned to the sofa, humiliated, flashed through Victoria's mind. Her face paled. She didn't doubt for a second that he meant it. She clamped her lips shut and even quieted her breathing.

The Maybach pulled into the underground garage of The Imperial Crest Estates just as the rain began to let up.

The ride had been silent.

She tried to sit up, but the slight movement pulled at her injured back, causing her to suck in a sharp breath. It took a long moment before she could get out of bed and walk into the closet.

She had been too exhausted last night to check the injury.

That recent twinge of pain felt even worse than the night before; the injury had likely worsened from being left untreated.

She stood with her back to the full-length mirror, lifted her nightgown, and twisted to look. On the right side of her lower back was a large, purplish-blue bruise, stark against her fair skin.

Victoria sighed.

Her skin didn't scar easily, but any bruises she got as a child took a long time to fade. The red marks on her wrist from where Elias had grabbed her had taken nearly a week to disappear. This bruise was clearly much worse. It would probably take half a month to heal.

"Ma'am, are you awake? Breakfast is ready." Anne's voice came from outside the door after a couple of knocks.

Victoria pulled her nightgown down, called out a reply, and changed her clothes before leaving the closet.

As she was about to open the bedroom door, she glanced over and saw a long, rectangular box on the nightstand.

It definitely hadn't been there before she went to sleep.

She picked it up, opened it, and a brand-new tube of ointment fell into her palm.