Tessa had kind of forgotten exactly how much Victor had told her about the current leader of the Ashen Pact.
What she did know, though, was that this person wasn’t exactly a friend to her mother.
So when Tessa asked about the current person in charge of the Ashen Pact, an inscrutable expression flickered across Victor’s face.
“If we’re talking about the current leader,” he said, “then things get a little… interesting.”
Tessa was stunned. Interesting?
Victor continued, “For years, the identity of the current leader’s been a mystery. But now I’ve gotten a few leads, it’s probably Dan.”
The Ashen Pact had grown stronger by the day; they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.
“But then again… maybe not.”
No previous leader had ever been this secretive. Why the secrecy now?
Whatever reason lay behind it, it was anyone’s guess.
Tessa asked, “So by your logic, is it possible the current leader’s just a puppet?”
Victor shook his head. “Unlikely. Your father, Dale, doesn’t have the ability to control a puppet leader.”
Whoever this person was, their rise to power had made a very real impact; the world had taken notice.
At the mention of Dale, Tessa’s face instantly darkened. “He’s not my father.”
Father? As far as Tessa was concerned, she didn’t have a father like that.
Victor saw the sudden shift in her expression and chuckled, reaching out to feel her forehead. “Still a little warm. Let’s head back.”
The wind outside was chilly today.
She really shouldn’t be out in it for too long right now.
Tessa nodded obediently and followed Victor back–only to take two steps and suddenly groan, “Ugh, that hurts.”
Victor raised a brow. “What is it?”
“My leg, it’s worse now.”
The top of her thigh had already been sore, and after standing out here training for hours, it felt like it was on fire.
Victor muttered, “Troublesome.”
Despite the complaint, the next second he scooped her up into his arms.
Tessa was petite, nowhere near as tall as Stella. In Victor’s arms, she really did look like a small girl.
He shifted her weight, testing it. “Have I not been feeding you?”
Tessa blinked. “Huh?”
“You weigh about as much as a feather.”
Tessa fell silent. Did he seriously just compare me to a feather?
She muttered under her breath, “It’s true I haven’t really been eating much…”
Ever since she came to stay with Victor, there had been all sorts of chaos–starting with the fact that she didn’t know how to cook.
In the beginning, she barely managed one meal a day, if that.
Later, the housekeeper came along, but she made real meals, not pig slop–it wasn’t like she could fatten Tessa up overnight.
Victor looked down and gave her a sidelong glance, chuckling. “Sounds like someone’s complaining.”
Tessa went quiet. Shouldn’t I be blushing? The way this man said it so matter–of–factly, did he think things like that could just happen whenever?
She was feeling a little miserable.
Tessa was stunned. Was this really something to talk about so casually? Forget it, this wasn’t the time for that kind of conversation.
Victor, seeing she didn’t respond, opened the medicine and put on gloves. “Take your pants off.”
Tessa sat bolt upright. “I can do it myself.”
Just hearing the words take your pants off had her on full alert.
“Or I can have the housekeeper help you,” he offered.
“You sure about that?”
Tessa went quiet.
No, she wasn’t.
If the housekeeper helped, she’d be even more embarrassed. “I’ll do it myself.”
So she had no choice.
Victor’s gaze darkened as he looked at her. Tessa squirmed under it.
“I mean…” she stammered. What kind of look is that? Couldn’t she do it herself?
Victor asked, “Shy?”
Tessa replied, “Is that not okay?”
What was with his tone? So calm, so composed. If he hadn’t ravaged her that night, she might’ve started to wonder if he had some kind of problem.
Then again, if this was the problem, the way he spoke–so utterly detached and desireless, definitely fit.
Victor said flatly, “I’ve already seen everything.”

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Wrong Girl and the Wronged Girl (Stella and Ethan)
Ch 504 Ok. I’m officially trashing this book. It keeps getting worse. Grooming, the adoptive mother accepting and approving of the grooming, now here comes Victor with the emotional and physical kidnapping, using fear to force consent… just like Abraham did all Stella’s life. Even now. It’s just too much scumbag crap on this book. On top of that, Lillian still hasn’t gotten exposed to the world and still hasn’t died and we are at over 500 chapters. Can’t even close the first arc! Goodbye!...
Ch 500 This is just getting more ridiculous, especially this Dan thing. Why isn’t Derrick going after Dan instead of Marie? It also doesn’t seem like Dan has amnesia because why would he go with Marie to that island or even think to use Marie to steal from Derrick. Why would he even know who Derrick is? He didn’t know who Abel was, supposedly. Are they all jut idiots or are we, as readers, supposed to act Ike we didn’t notice he has memories of these people and just not Marie and Abel? Ridiculous....
Ch 489 Doesn’t this prove that Dan doesn’t actually have amnesia? Why would he go to the island with a strange woman and why would he steal from Derrick? He doesn’t know them....
Ch 488 I feel like this is going to be what Stella stole in his study in Pagenda or wherever his estate was....
Ch 485 I thought it was going to be the Reed family mine that she robbed, thus taking the Keenes product and leaving them in that situation....
Ch 483 o then, how did the Reeds fine her? How did they not know where she was from?...
Ch 477 Definitely hidden pedo in here, referring to tiny women as little girls in every way possible....
Ch 468 How could Stella inherit her adopted father’s weak stomach constitution?...
Ch 468 Abraham and Marie’s mother has been called Evelyn, Diane and Loretta.. which is it? Evelyn has been the most used....
Ch 465 She still doesn’t know the mistress is Lillian’s aunt?...