CHAPTER 8: CHAPTER 8: PROBLEMS HAVE LONG EXISTED IN OUR MARRIAGE

Victoria Sinclair hurriedly moved her phone away, not wanting to listen to the insults any longer.

She’d heard those words thousands of times.

As long as they couldn’t get the money, they’d bring up these old grievances to morally blackmail her.

She was born in a very poor mountainous area, where her parents were illiterate and relied on a few acres of farmland for the family’s income.

Her parents had a strong preference for sons over daughters.

They gave birth to at least ten daughters, but only kept the eldest, selling off the rest.

She and her brother were fraternal twins, the youngest in the family, with a gap of more than ten years with her eldest sister.

Because the family was poor, her eldest sister also married poorly and rarely cared for the family. When she was six, her parents planned to sell her, but it was her brother who held her tightly, refusing to let anyone take her away.

Her brother had average academic performance.

But she was gifted, excelling in her studies.

During middle school, her brother dropped out and left home to work in the city to support her education.

Her parents strongly opposed her continuing education, but her brother consistently stood by her, working and earning money to pay for her schooling.

The phrase her brother said the most was, "Sister, you must study hard, make a name for yourself, and leave these mountains. No matter how difficult, I will see you through college."

Her brother showered her with endless love and care.

A few years ago, she made some money, helping her brother buy a house and get married, and even invested in a fruit store for him, but the business never went well.

Her parents believed that if she hadn’t existed, her brother would have had a promising future.

They blamed her for her brother not getting an education, for not achieving great wealth, for not giving them a comfortable life.

The voice on the other end of the phone had likely finished shouting.

Victoria Sinclair slowly brought the phone back to her ear and said, "Mom, I have a few hundred yuan left. I’ll transfer it to your WeChat now. Next month, when the goods’ payment comes in, I’ll cover the household expenses."

"I really don’t know what kind of person you married, somehow very wealthy, yet doesn’t support us at all. Giving us money is like squeezing toothpaste." Her mother’s sharp and acrid voice grew even more intense, instantly picking up momentum, "If he’s so unwilling to support your family, just divorce him and find another. You’re so young and beautiful, highly educated, it’d be simple to find another rich man and fetch a larger dowry for us."

Victoria couldn’t stand to listen any longer and hung up directly.

Her sorrowful emotions surged like a tide, impossible to calm, as she transferred the last few hundred yuan from her phone to her mother.

If she got divorced, her parents would eagerly use her to find another man for a dowry payment.

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly, dropping her phone as she faced an impossible situation without direction.

——

In the morning, there was no sunlight; the sky was a dreary gray, a sign of impending spring rain.

The north wind was warm, stirring the window curtains.

Victoria sat at the dining table, waiting quietly.

The wall clock showed 9:45.

The door sounded, and Eugene Vaughn emerged from the room.

He headed toward the kitchen and paused for a moment when he saw Victoria, stunned for two seconds before glancing at the clock.

His gaze slightly darkened, but he continued walking into the kitchen and came out with a glass of ice water.

Things were different today.

His breakfast was not on the table.

He sat down in front of Victoria, gazed at her, and took a sip of ice water, his tone calm, "Waiting for me?"

Victoria looked up at him.

No matter how many years passed, she always found herself drawn to this man’s handsome appearance.

Those deep, dark phoenix eyes looked at even a dog with emotion, always leading her into illusion.

A simple white long-sleeve shirt paired with black pants highlighted his calm, elegant, aristocratic demeanor, an innate grace.

Victoria had thought it over all night; in these two years of marriage, despite the many rumors about him outside, their lack of intimacy at home, she loved this man too much, she could endure it all, just wanting to live life well with him.

Firstly, because she was very busy, she hadn’t the time to worry about feelings.

Secondly, because she was not the type to fight or compete, her thoughts were traditional, reserved, desiring only one marriage in her life, lasting eternally.

Now, she felt it necessary to have a proper talk.

"Eugene, why are we living like this?" Victoria spoke with utmost seriousness.

Eugene remained seated, his eyes turning dark as he stared directly at Victoria, showing no reaction.

This was the first time she seriously and solemnly discussed their marriage issues with Eugene.

Eugene’s silence was making Victoria anxious.

Her hand, placed under the table, involuntarily clenched, "Our marriage has had problems for a long time, don’t you..."

"Did my brother’s advice tempt you?" Eugene interrupted coldly, leaning back.