CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: EUGENE VAUGHN IS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF WHILE DRUNK

After hesitating for a few seconds, Victoria Sinclair hung up the call and walked out of the research institute.

The car was parked by the roadside, and Eugene Vaughn didn’t get out.

As Victoria approached, the car window slowly rolled down, and Eugene handed over a brown paper bag.

Victoria looked puzzled as she took it and glanced inside. There were two boiled eggs and a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. She could still feel the warmth of the eggs through the bag.

Her gloomy mood gradually brightened, and a hint of warmth flowed through her body.

Eugene said gently, "Next time Vivian Miller comes, you don’t need to open the door."

Just having been upset by Vivian, seemingly misunderstanding him, Victoria nodded, feeling a slight sense of guilt,

She never inquired about his affairs, but the eggs were warm, the juice fresh. She mustered the courage to ask, "Is Vivian your secretary?"

"Yes." Eugene’s tone was calm and assured, "Does it bother you?"

"No, just asking casually."

In this marriage, she was always sensible yet humble, never competing or fighting, not crying or making a fuss, always striving to be understanding, not wanting Eugene to think she was jealous, petty, and bothersome.

As long as there was no concrete evidence of scandal, she would choose not to believe it.

No matter how much Eugene played around outside, as long as she couldn’t see it, she would treat it as nonexistent.

Eugene sat with a stern face, said nothing, and the car window slowly rolled up, the car driving off into the distance.

Victoria returned to her office with her breakfast, her mood lifted, and a smile spread across her face.

Angela Austin came over, looked through her bag, surprised, "Is the sun rising from the west? Eugene actually brought you breakfast? But this breakfast is a bit modest."

"It was made at home, how lavish could it be?" Victoria grabbed it back, muttering softly, "Besides, he can’t cook anything else."

"He made it?" Angela raised her brows with a smile, stealing her juice, "Did he squeeze the orange juice himself too?"

Victoria blushed, her ears hot, shyly snatching back the juice, her voice bashful, "Stop teasing me."

Angela stopped teasing and pulled a chair over to sit beside her, "Victoria, is it because he did something wrong that he’s being so nice to you?"

"I didn’t finish my breakfast, he probably saw that." Victoria tapped on the egg, the smile on her lips growing even sweeter.

Angela rested her chin in her hand, sighing softly, "Since the day you registered your marriage, he changed. He canceled your scheduled wedding, ignored you, cold and distant, caught up in rumors with female stars, hanging out with tomboyish women, often clubbing with his buddies, and yet you endured all that."

Victoria bit into the egg white, her smile frozen.

"But..." Angela’s tone shifted, full of curiosity, "Despite all that, sometimes it seems he treats you well. No issues, he doesn’t disturb you, but if there’s something wrong, he steps in. I remember you got infected with a virus you were researching a couple of years ago, and you were in a coma in the hospital for seven days. He took care of you, didn’t leave your side for a moment."

Victoria quietly ate her egg, her heart heavy.

She was aware of this but was in a coma, having no memory of it. When she came to, Eugene had already left, replaced by a caretaker.

Everyone was busy with work, unaware of the details.

Angela patted Victoria’s head, "You enjoy your lovingly made breakfast, I’m off to work."

Victoria smiled and nodded.

Her heart was filled with a sense of anxious longing.

——

Late at night, in a private room at an upscale club, the lighting was dim and seductive, the music enticing, the smell of alcohol filling the air, and the atmosphere was bustling.

The hostesses were alluring, making the men grin from ear to ear.

Eugene was hosting Timothy Sinclair.

A scantily clad woman leaned toward Eugene, bringing the drink to his lips. He gently pushed her away, speaking in a low, cold voice, "Don’t touch me."

The woman sat back timidly, her smile slightly awkward.

"Mr. Sinclair, let’s have a drink." A corpulent boss raised his glass towards the uneasy Timothy Sinclair.

Timothy quickly stood up, handing over his glass with both hands.

The others raised their glasses too.

The man laughed heartily, "Mr. Sinclair, don’t be so formal. You’re brother-in-law to President Vaughn, from now on, we’re friends."

"Thank you, President Palmer, for taking care of me." Timothy smiled politely, nervously finishing his drink and sitting back down.

Timothy was brewing up his well-rehearsed business conversation, nervously starting, "President Palmer, President Liu, President Fulton, President Wu, my newly established fruit and vegetable supply..."

Eugene placed a hand on his thigh and leaned over, "Brother, this isn’t the place to talk business. Just enjoy drinking with them, once you’re all acquainted, a single word will get the business done."

Timothy, who seldom socialized, quickly nodded.

Under Eugene’s guidance, he relaxed more.

Those who enjoyed the fairer sex flirted with the hostesses.

Those who enjoyed drinking kept drinking.

Those who liked to brag kept boasting.

As the night ended, some left with hostesses, others were picked up by assistants.

Timothy, half-drunk, was escorted to the car by Eugene’s assistant John, to be driven home.

Eugene, having drunk too much, passed out on the sofa to rest.

Vivian watched from the side, thinking about how he had lowered himself to entertain this group of tasteless, lecherous bosses for Victoria’s brother and ended up so drunk. It infuriated her, and after contemplating for a long time, her eyes flashed with a sinister light.

Vivian left the room, entered the restroom, and called Renee.

"Renee, there’s a golden opportunity for you. Interested?"

"What?"

"Eugene is drunk and alone now."

Renee sneered, "Why don’t you take advantage of such a great opportunity yourself?"

"He and I are really just friends. I sincerely hope you two get back together." Vivian explained earnestly.

But Vivian knew inside, she didn’t want just a one-night stand. She wanted Eugene entirely, for his entire future to belong to her.

As long as Eugene divorces, he is bound to marry her Vivian.

Whether it’s the family connections or her relationship with Eugene, it’s the most suitable choice.

Provided that Eugene must divorce, otherwise, doing anything else would be futile.

Renee hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay, send me the address."

Vivian’s smile grew colder, she hung up the phone and sent Renee the location.

She also sent a message: "Renee, good luck. You’ve always been my favorite idol. No matter what happens, don’t out me. I’ll use my entire family’s resources to support and help you."

Renee: "Alright!"

——

The dawn was gentle, the breeze mild.

Victoria Sinclair got up in the morning and found that Eugene had not come home all night.

His slippers were still in the shoe cabinet.

The wooden bowl on the entrance counter had none of his car keys.

The laundry basket lacked his dirty clothes.

His room door was open, the bed neat and without any creases.

Victoria felt a heavy weight in her heart, sitting on the living room sofa watching the surveillance from last night.

He didn’t come back at all.

Victoria had no appetite to make breakfast, holding her phone, hesitating whether to call Eugene.

This anxious and uneasy feeling enveloped her.

In the two years of marriage, apart from business trips, Eugene almost never stayed out overnight, no matter how late, he would come home to sleep.

She was genuinely concerned more about his safety.

Victoria mustered up her courage and dialed Eugene’s number.