CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68: EUGENE VAUGHN’S FIRST LOVE

Victoria Sinclair never expected that proposing a divorce would be so effective. If she’d known that Eugene Vaughn would make such significant changes to keep her, she would have suggested it sooner, instead of being neglected for two years.

Eugene Vaughn wiped her hand clean and led her to the dining table, "Auntie Rose, is there any breakfast left?"

"There is." Auntie Rose cheerfully came out of the kitchen, "I knew you two were coming home, so I made something delicious just for you."

As Auntie Rose spoke, her gaze fixated on Eugene Vaughn and Victoria Sinclair holding hands, and it took her a moment to react. Her smile became even more radiant and her voice filled with excitement, "You two sit down, I’ll serve it right away."

Eugene pulled out a chair for Victoria.

"Thank you." Victoria was in a good mood, a sweet sensation flowing through her chest.

Eugene sat beside her.

Auntie Rose served a sumptuous breakfast.

The portions weren’t large, but there was a variety.

There were crab roe soup dumplings, beef and egg congee, minced meat pancakes, sweet rice cakes, fried eggs, vegetable rolls, and blanched vegetables.

In this villa, such a breakfast was quite normal. The Vaughn family was large, and they had many demands, so Auntie Rose often prepared according to everyone’s taste, and any leftovers would be thrown away. They never saved money at the expense of living quality.

Although Victoria didn’t like wastefulness, she respected other people’s lifestyles.

While eating breakfast, Eugene spoke in a soft voice, "After breakfast, you can explore around. Dad has something to discuss with me. Once we’re done, I’ll take you out to have some fun."

Victoria bit into a small bun, turned her head to look at him with a hint of expectation in her eyes, "Where are we going?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"I’m fine with anything." She felt sweet inside. As long as he was there, anywhere they went would be happy.

"I saw online that the lavender fields are beautiful in June. I want to take you to see them and take some nice photos."

"Did you plan the whole trip?" Victoria playfully chuckled.

Eugene felt a bit embarrassed, slightly curling the corners of his mouth, stuffed a soup dumpling into his mouth, and just nodded modestly without replying.

Victoria was full of expectation.

After breakfast, Eugene went to the study.

Victoria sat on the sofa in the living room, waiting.

Jenny Vaughn was intensely focused on playing a game on her phone.

She lost after a round.

Fuming, she yelled at her phone, "What kind of crappy teammates are these? Don’t these grade-schoolers have classes on weekends? Trash! Trash! They totally ruined it!"

After venting, she still wasn’t appeased, tossed her phone onto the sofa, and angrily punched it.

Victoria was taken aback by her peculiar and childish behavior and quietly watched her throw a tantrum.

Jenny noticed Victoria was watching her, crossed her arms over her chest, leaned back against the sofa, squinting with a hint of displeasure, "I heard you and your friend bullied Vivian Miller?"

Victoria was startled, slightly surprised, "Who said that?"

Jenny curled her lip, rolled her eyes, and, without asking for reasons, exclaimed indignantly, "I’m so pissed! Vivian is such a cheerful and lively girl, and you drove her into depression. She even lost her job as a secretary, and now she’s crying at home every day, not eating, and looks completely haggard."

Victoria felt a heavy weight pressing on her heart, nervously looking back at the study door.

Eugene being called back home by his father certainly wasn’t just because of his grandmother’s illness.

A bad premonition loomed over her, and her fists slowly clenched, the sense of worry growing stronger.

Jenny noticed her concern and snorted coldly, her eyes filled with disdain, "Now you know fear? When you bullied Vivian, why didn’t you consider your own capabilities? Our whole family treats Vivian as one of our own, and if it weren’t for you, Vivian would be my sister-in-law by now."

Victoria remained silent.

Jenny continued her barrage, "My brother and Vivian have always had a great relationship, so much so that I even envy them as a cousin. I never expected it! My brother seems possessed recently, cutting ties with Vivian and even dismissing her from the secretary job, which angered my uncle to no end. Just wait and see how my uncle will deal with you and my brother."

Victoria felt trapped under a web of countless threads, uneasy and helpless, gently rubbing her fists, trying to find a way to help Eugene out of the situation.

Even if she wanted to help, she didn’t know where to start.

At that moment, a strong, tanned young man walked in from outside the house.

"Jenny." The man’s voice was deep and filled with strength.

Jenny turned around, saw the man coming in, and jumped off the sofa excitedly, rushing over to hug him around the neck, bouncing and shouting joyfully, "Tiffany Rhodes, you’re finally back! Are you back for a vacation or have you retired?"

Victoria glanced at them. The man’s physique made him appear robust and solid, upright and dignified. Even in casual clothes, he had the air of a soldier.

"I’ve retired."

"I’ve missed you so much these six years." Jenny pouted, on the verge of tears.

Tiffany patted her head dotingly, "I just retired and came home, and I couldn’t wait to see you."

Jenny pulled him to the sofa to sit.

When Tiffany saw Victoria, he nodded promptly, greeting politely, "Hello."

Victoria responded courteously.

Tiffany looked at Jenny, whispering, "Who is she?"

Jenny waved dismissively, "Don’t bother about her. Not important. Quickly, tell me about your plans after retiring?"

Tiffany replied, "I’m going to apply for a special police position, and once my job is stable, I’ll buy a house and formally propose to your parents to marry you."

Jenny bashfully declined, "I’m only 22, just graduated from university. I don’t want to marry you yet."

Tiffany gently stroked her head, "Whenever you’re ready to marry, I can wait."

Jenny blushed even more.

Victoria felt a bit awkward, wondering whether she should get up and leave, giving them some space for privacy.

Just then, Tiffany looked around, "Where’s Eugene? Why haven’t I seen him?"

Jenny pointed to the study door, "He’s in the study getting a talking to."

"What’s going on?"

Jenny snorted coldly, glaring at Victoria, gritting her teeth with discontent, "Because of this woman, Vivian has been driven to depression. My brother’s an accomplice, and now Uncle is furious, lecturing him inside."

Instantly, Tiffany’s attitude toward Victoria changed, now looking at her with a bit more hostility.

For Jenny’s accusations, Victoria didn’t offer any explanation.

Because she knew that no explanation would work with Jenny, who liked Vivian and disliked her.

Any explanation would be in vain, counterproductive even.

Victoria remained too calm and composed, like there was nothing in this world she cared about, feared, or could provoke a reaction from her.

Her poised demeanor actually infuriated Jenny.

Jenny just wanted to anger Victoria, make her lose control, let her go mad, make her upset.

"Tiffany, you grew up with my brother, went to school together, remember his first love?" Jenny glanced at Victoria, her playful tone carrying a hint of provocation, deliberately bringing up something to make Victoria uneasy.

Eugene’s first love?

Victoria’s mood was visibly affected, her expression darkening as she looked at Jenny.