Chapter 3
When Victoria woke up again, the sharp smell of disinfectant hit her nose.
She turned her head slightly and saw Kerian sitting by her bed, his forehead creased with worry.]
The second he noticed her eyes open, he leaned over, gently touching the bandages on her forehead. His voice was thick with guilt: “Vic, you’re awake. Does it still hurt?“]]
His fingers were warm, his touch careful–like she was still his precious little princess.
Victoria just stared at him without saying a word.
“I’m sorry.” Kerian’s voice was rough and low. “Sophia was so freaked out and crying, I didn’t notice you were hurt too…“]
He reached for her hand, but she pulled away before he could touch her.]
Kerian’s face went, stiff for a second, then he tried that coaxing tone again: “Come on, don’t be mad at me. Tell me what I need to do to make it right“||
Victoria looked at this face she’d loved for years, her throat tightening
Everything hurt, but nothing compared to the hollow ache in her chest–like someone had carved out a piece of her heart and left it empty.
She was about to speak when the door burst open.
Sophia stumbled in, eyes red and puffy, looking like she was about to faint.
Kerian immediately jumped up and rushed over to steady her.
“What the hell are you doing here? The doctor told you to stay in bed
Tears were pouring down Sophia’s face as she clutched his shirt. “Kerian.. this is all my fault. If I hadn’t been so selfish, Victoria wouldn’t have gotten hurt… I came to apologize…”
Before she could finish, her body went limp and she fainte
Kerian caught her, scooping her up in his arms, yelling toward the door: []
“Doctor! Get a doctor in here now!”
Victoria watched Kerian’s trembling hands and white knuckles, and suddenly felt like laughing.
“Vic, Sophia feels so guilty about this she literally passed out,” Kerian said, carrying Sophia toward the door without even looking back. “Just let it go, okay?”
The door slammed shut
Victoria stared at the ceiling, her mouth slowly curving into a smile.
She laughed until her shoulders shook, laughed until her stitches split open and blood seeped through the bandages.
For the next three days, Kerian never showed up.
Only his assistant came by every day with expensive soups, saying “Mr. Howard specifically requested these.”
“Miss Lavirins is suffering from severe shock. Mr. Howard is taking care of her.”
Victoria looked at all those pricey supplements and couldn’t even be bothered to open them.
The day she was discharged, the sky was gray and gloomy]
Victoria went to patient.”
went to the embassy alone to
to apply
for her visa. The clerk smiled and told her. “Processing takes about two weeks. Please be
“Thanks.” She nodded and walked out.
By the time she got back to the house, it was already dark.
Victoria pushed open the door and immediately saw two figures cuddled up on the couch–Kerian was holding a cup, carefully helping Sophia take her medicine
Hearing the door, Kerian looked up, surprise flashing across his face. “Vic? Why didn’t you wait for me to pick you up?“]
Victoria stood in the entryway, suddenly feeling ice–cold.
He hadn’t even called her once in three days, and now he was asking why she didn’t wait for him to pick her up?
I’m exhausted. Going upstairs to rest.“]
She said it flatly and headed straight for the stairs
Kerian immediately followed, grabbing her arm. “Let me help you up.
His palm pressed against her waist, the warmth burning through her shirt
This gesture used to make her heart race–now it just made her feel tired
The second the bedroom door closed, Kerian pulled out some scar cream from the medicine cabinet.
The doctor said you gotta put this o
every day. Let me-
Lightning split the night sky, followed by deafening thunder.
Almost instantly, there was screaming and frantic knocking at the door.
“Kerian!” Sophia’s voice came through, all tears and panic. Tm scared.
Kerian’s hand froze mid air]
He looked at Victoria, his eyes full of apology. “Sophia’s terrified of thunderstorms. I gotta check on her real quick. The medicine’s right here–don’t forget to use it.”
The door
shut
Victoria slowly lifted her hand, held it in the air, then let it drop.
She was scared of thunderstorms too.
Ever since she was fifteen, every time thunder roared, no matter where she was, Kerian would find her immediately, cover her ears. and whisper. “Don’t be scared, Vic. I’m here.]]
covering someone else’s ea
But now, he was covering someone ears.]
All night long, the thunder kept going]
Victoria curled up in bed, listening to Kerian’s gentle voice comforting Sophia next door, mixed with her soft crying.]
She counted every thunderclap until dawn finally came and she fell into a restless sleep.
When she woke up, the house was eerily quiet
Victoria went downstairs and found a note on the dining table. []
Sophia wanted dim sum from Manhattan. Took her there. Breakfast is in the microwave–heat for 2 minutes -Kerian“]]
The porridge in the microwave had already formed a thick skin on top
She was about to throw it out when her phone rang
“Vic, I left some documents at home,” Kerian’s voice came through, with Sophia’s laughter in the background. “They’re in my study desk–top drawer. Really need them ASAP. Could you drop them off at the office?
Victoria mumbled “sure” and found the papers in his study before heading out
When she pushed open Kerian’s office door, Victoria stopped dead in her tracks
She barely recognized the place.
The sleek, all–business gray and white setup had been replaced with cutesy pink decorations.
Cartoon posters hung on the walls, stuffed animals sat next to the file organizers on his desk, and even his usually pristine black leather chair had a fluffy pink cushion on it
But what really made her feel sick was the bookshelf.
Where Kerian’s business awards and certificates used to be displayed, now there were photo booth strips of him and Sophia everywhere–faces pressed together, grinning like lovesick teenagers.
Her heart felt like it was being crushed in an invisible fist, making it hard to breathe.
Kerian’s office had always been off limits.]
He never let anyone put personal
She’d had to beg
in there–not even her.
d to beg and plead for weeks before he’d finally agreed to let her put one photo of them on his desk.
And now he’d let Sophia redecorate the entire place.
“Vic?
Kerian’s voice came from behind her]
He rushed over, his eyes scanning the office decorations, sounding all flustered.
“Look, don’t read into this, okay? Sophia did all this. She’s just a kid who likes this cutesy stuff, and I couldn’t say no when she got all pouty about it
“You don’t need to explain.” Victoria’s voice was barely a whisper. “It’s your office. You can decorate it however you want“]]
After all, Sophia was his wife
And she was nothing.
