CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 21: THE WHITE MOONLIGHT HE CAN’T LET GO OF

Victoria Sinclair shook her head, unwilling to ask for the reason.

Eugene Vaughn held her wrist tightly, neither of them willing to let go.

Victoria Sinclair expressed her thoughts helplessly, "I know you’re not someone who would make a boring joke. Promising something in the morning and changing your mind by evening, there must be an unavoidable reason. Asking won’t change the outcome, why insist, why inquire?"

Eugene Vaughn chuckled lightly, "Victoria Sinclair, living with a woman of your personality really makes life easier."

Victoria Sinclair didn’t find it a compliment; instead, she felt a pang of bitterness, "Is that why you want to marry me despite not loving me?"

At that moment, Eugene Vaughn’s smile gradually disappeared, his gaze darkened, and the fingers holding her wrist slightly loosened before finally releasing her.

Victoria Sinclair couldn’t grasp his reaction; perhaps she had hit upon the truth.

She placed the contract on the sofa and said softly, "Good night."

As soon as the words fell.

Eugene Vaughn couldn’t wait to speak, his tone unusually sincere and serious, "Victoria Sinclair, can you develop a drug that allows selective amnesia?"

Victoria Sinclair caught the underlying meaning, feeling a fleeting dull pain that deepened her melancholy, "No."

Eugene Vaughn pressed his lips bitterly.

Victoria Sinclair’s nose tingled, her heart ached subtly, "Is there someone you wish to forget but can’t?"

"Yes." Eugene Vaughn replied, then turned to walk towards the room, his silhouette emitting an indescribable sense of desolation.

So? He finally admitted it.

Victoria Sinclair’s eyes were brimming with tears, waves of sharp pain washed over her.

Which woman occupies his heart, making it impossible for him to let go?

Indulging Vivian Miller, loving the actress, and yet harboring an unforgettable first love in his heart.

So what does she count as?

Victoria Sinclair seemed to find her position.

A wife who solved his marriage issues in front of the elders while being independent and low-maintenance.

Victoria Sinclair turned around, gently covering her face with both hands, her fingertips pressing against the corners of her eyes filled with tears before exhaling a long, bitter breath, then gathering her documents and walking into the room.

The focal point of her life had never been love and marriage.

But who doesn’t hope for a genuine love during one’s lifetime?

——

Heaven never seals off all paths.

In just two short weeks, Victoria Sinclair’s new drug experiment achieved significant results.

She rushed to Angela Austin’s office with the latest data, smiling brightly, "Angela, it succeeded. The new project experiment succeeded. As soon as we submit the report, the government will surely support us wholeheartedly, and the funding issue will be entirely solved."

Angela Austin looked up from her phone, her eyes wide with shock, "Really?"

Victoria Sinclair grinned broadly, unable to contain her joy, "It can completely enter the clinical trial phase; it’s a major breakthrough."

Angela Austin got out from behind the desk and hugged Victoria Sinclair, spinning around in excitement, "That’s great, Victoria, oh Victoria, I admire you so much. Whenever you’re at a low point, you always manage to rebound. At this rate, our company is bound to become a state-operated pharmaceutical enterprise one day."

Victoria Sinclair stopped, a bit dizzy from the spin, "Having dreams is good, but it’s too far-fetched."

Angela Austin suddenly thought of something, angrily picking up her phone, "By the way, Victoria, I just saw your sister-in-law’s video on Douyin."

"You’re browsing short videos at work?" Victoria Sinclair frowned.

Angela Austin pouted and said, "That’s not the point. The point is your sister-in-law is speaking ill of you online. She’s been posting a video every day for more than ten days, all cursing you."

Victoria Sinclair was taken aback and leaned forward to look at her phone screen.

Angela Austin clicked open to show her.

"Look, the theme is unified: ’Malicious Sister-in-law Trying to Break Up My Family’. She shares different incidents every day. Although she doesn’t name names or post your photos, she’s talking about your family affairs and saying ridiculous things about you, which are completely against your character."

Victoria Sinclair remained composed, "How many followers does she have?"

"Since it’s a new account, over twenty thousand, the followers are increasing quite rapidly."

"Don’t mind her." Victoria Sinclair didn’t take it to heart, "Let her find something to do; gaining followers can drum up some income, which is better than her lying around at home doing nothing."

"You have such a big heart." Angela Austin sighed and shook her head, "She’s defaming you for followers, and you can tolerate that?"

"I don’t browse short videos." Victoria Sinclair held onto her research data, her good mood unspoiled, instead saying calmly, "Facts speak louder than words, and rumors end with the wise."

At this moment, the ringtone from Victoria Sinclair’s pocket started ringing.

Victoria Sinclair pulled out her phone and glanced at the caller ID: Grandma.

She quickly answered, smiling softly and speaking gently, "Grandma."

Grandma’s anxious voice came through, "Victoria, when will you arrive?"

The reminder from grandma made Victoria Sinclair’s heart race, full of panic.

She had been so absorbed in her experiment that she completely forgot about the most important event tonight.

The birthday banquet of her father-in-law’s sixtieth birthday.

"Grandma, I’m on my way now." Victoria Sinclair said as she removed her lab coat, striding out.

Angela Austin asked from behind where she was going so urgently, but she couldn’t hear it anymore.

Carrying her bag, she hailed a cab without time for makeup or dressing up, heading straight to Splendor Estate.

As night fell.

The villa was brightly lit, luxury cars parked outside, and guests came one after another.

Victoria Sinclair’s cab stopped at the entrance, just as she stepped out of the car, she saw grandma waiting at the door.

"Victoria." Grandma was dressed in an elegant and grand purple and black cheongsam.

"Grandma, I’m sorry, I was so busy just now..." Victoria Sinclair felt very guilty.

Grandma seemed to have anticipated her frantic appearance and waited here in advance.

Grandma spoke kindly and interrupted, "It’s okay, grandma knew you would forget because of work, so I called you ahead. The banquet hasn’t started yet, come in with grandma."

Victoria Sinclair breathed a sigh of relief, held by grandma as they entered the room from the side door.

Directly into grandma’s room.

Grandma put her to sit at the vanity table.

After a while, a female makeup artist entered the room.

Victoria Sinclair was bewildered, "Grandma, what’s this for?"

"To do your makeup and change into an evening dress." Grandma smiled lovingly, "Your father-in-law likes the Western-style formal banquets, everyone will be in formal attire, as his eldest daughter-in-law, you can’t let him lose face!"

Victoria Sinclair sat obediently, letting the makeup artist work her face.

Grandma sat beside her, filled with joy and affection.

The makeup artist couldn’t help but marvel, "Madam’s skin is fair and rosy, so delicate and soft, no matter what makeup is applied, there’s no cakiness. How do you maintain it so well?"

"I rarely apply things on my face." Victoria Sinclair replied softly.

She hadn’t used any cosmetics since she was young, only applied a thin layer of vitamin E lotion when feeling dry during winter.

After she and Eugene Vaughn registered their marriage, the planned wedding was suddenly canceled.

At this moment, she had a bit of anticipation that tonight might be her most beautifully dressed moment in her lifetime.