CHAPTER 24: CHAPTER 24: THE DINNER—VICTORIA OR RACHEL HAYES?

His tone was so calm and ordinary, yet his words affirmed that she and Julian Fordham would surely get divorced smoothly.

"There’s no need to see me off." After saying this, he turned and left.

Victoria Monroe watched the man’s departing back, a thin layer of sweat forming on her back.

Even the warm sunshine falling on her did not provide any warmth.

The more she interacted with Rhys Hawthorne, the more she sensed his unfathomable depth.

Even though he was only twenty-four this year.

Most people at this age lived freely and happily, but he was different—profound and low-key.

He seemed like a high and cold Buddha without desires, but Victoria Monroe felt that his compassion was just a facade.

The prayer beads entwined on his hand seemed more like a seal; once unsealed, he would be a very dangerous and crazy person.

Victoria Monroe was never one to get involved in danger, but the day she voluntarily stepped into Portoros, the gears of destiny had already begun to turn.

Just like how she initially intended only to continue cooperating with Rhys Hawthorne, but unconsciously ended up getting entangled with him deeper.

She climbed up from the bottom and understood the rules of this world.

The sky never drops pies, and free things are the most expensive.

Rhys Hawthorne treated her exceptionally well.

This kind of kindness made Victoria Monroe uneasy.

As Victoria Monroe pondered, an excited voice sounded in her ear: "Madam, was the person who just sent you back Ethan Sutton?"

She turned her head to see Mrs. Xu’s face flushed with excitement, and Victoria Monroe replied perfunctorily, "No, you saw wrong."

Mrs. Xu was already in her forties and, at this moment, had her hands clasped together with a girl’s starry-eyed expression.

She had liked Victoria Monroe for many years and was even the head fan of their CP!

The show "Minister" had her completely mesmerized back then, and when Victoria Monroe quit the entertainment industry, she disbanded all fan clubs and groups, severing all ties with that circle.

Mrs. Xu, a fanatic fan, differed from the crazy personal fans. She quickly passed certifications for maternity nurse, nutritionist, infant caregiver, and chef.

Emerging from a hundred nannies, she became Victoria Monroe’s personal nanny, saving ten years of detours in her fan pursuit!

She hadn’t expected it would last nearly three years; Victoria Monroe was even more beautiful and lively in private than on screen and down-to-earth.

Even if Victoria Monroe never returned to the industry in this life, she was willing to take care of her.

Little did she know that she would see her favorite CP male lead today; Mrs. Xu immediately felt ten years younger.

She was sure she wasn’t wrong; it must have been "Ethan Sutton." She would recognize him even if he turned to ashes.

These years, Victoria Monroe hadn’t interacted with anyone in the entertainment industry. Did this mean she was about to make a comeback?

Mrs. Xu felt that she, this old head fan, should also step out of retirement.

Victoria Monroe didn’t know her thoughts. After the morning’s ordeal, she felt a bit exhausted.

The mess in the living room had already been cleaned up; Julian Fordham was not home.

She returned to the bedroom to rest for a while.

Although she occasionally felt a little nauseous but not seriously, it was something she could endure.

Her biggest pregnancy reaction was drowsiness; she fell asleep upon touching the pillow.

Fordham Group.

Assistant Prescott saw the man smoking cigarette after cigarette without stopping. He glanced at his watch and reminded, "Boss, the Willis couple will arrive this afternoon. You should make a decision."

Julian Fordham had set the stage, believing everything was under control, but when Autumn Fordham released the photo of him and Rachel Hayes and he didn’t clarify, everything went wrong.

Originally, he wanted to let this matter cool off, and after the internet buzz faded, send Rachel Hayes abroad to give birth, then keep the child and not the mother.

He could still live happily ever after with Victoria Monroe, but Willis had strong family values.

Most foreign moguls were carefree, but not Willis; his wife was Chinese, and he was devoted to her.

The information Julian Fordham released on his official account caused quite a stir, and Willis noticed it, being very pleased with his actions, so he informed his assistant that evening’s dinner would be hosted by Julian Fordham and his wife.

Julian Fordham’s backyard was already on fire; whether Victoria Monroe would cooperate was one thing, but now Willis thought Rachel Hayes was Mrs. Fordham, and if he brought Victoria Monroe, it would become illegitimate.

If the news of surrogacy got out, Willis might become significantly less impressed.

The simplest way now was to bring Rachel Hayes to tonight’s dinner.

What about Victoria Monroe?

Julian Fordham closed his eyes, with the image of Victoria Monroe hugging her knees and sitting powerlessly on the floor filling his mind.

Why had things between them come to this?

One wrong step leads to another.

The ashtray was already filled with cigarette butts; his internal struggle reflected his pain at this moment.

Assistant Prescott raised his hand to check his watch and urged again, "Boss, are you going to take Mrs. Fordham and explain the photo with Willis as a misunderstanding, or should Rachel Hayes come over to make up the numbers? You’ve got to make a decision."

White smoke curled, blurring Julian Fordham’s face, and an indelible melancholy lingered between his brows.

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

Victoria Monroe lazily woke up, and there was a message on her phone from Julian Fordham.

Julian Fordham: [Sorry, something important came up tonight, and I can’t have dinner with you. Once this busy period is over, I’ll take you on a world tour to unwind. Honey, I love you.]

Victoria Monroe’s lips curved into a mocking smile.

He said such things many times, and she believed he was sincere when he spoke.

But things didn’t turn out as hoped. He became increasingly busy, so busy that they never took wedding photos, and the honeymoon was delayed for three years.

In the past, Victoria Monroe always thought there was plenty of time between them, so why rush?

Now it seemed they would never have the chance to travel again.

She replied: [Transfer my money back to me.]

This message sank like a stone into the sea. She didn’t know if he hadn’t seen it or if he saw it and deliberately didn’t reply.

It’s not that he was reluctant to part with the assets; he just didn’t want to give her the chance to fly.

This scheming man deliberately transferred all her savings right after the company’s quarterly dividends, citing cash flow reasons.

At that time, her heart and eyes were full of him. How could she suspect from the beginning it was a trap he set?

Victoria Monroe got up, washed, changed clothes, and walked into the wine cellar. Thanks to Julian Fordham, the wine cellar was full of aged fine wine.

She picked two bottles and was about to drive when she received a message from Rhys Hawthorne.

Rhys Hawthorne: [I’m at the door.]

A Maybach was parked at the doorway, with the man in the back seat obscured by privacy glass.

Assistant Woods was waiting by the car and immediately stepped forward to help when he saw her carrying things.

Then he opened the door to the back seat for her.

Victoria Monroe intentionally kept her distance from Rhys Hawthorne, so she smiled and said, "I’m a bit car sick because I’m pregnant, so I’ll sit in the front."

The man in the back seat was in a suit and tie, but from her angle, she couldn’t see his face.

She could only see his hand casually playing with the Buddha Beads on the armrest.

Assistant Woods respectfully responded, "Sure," and then opened the passenger door for her.

Victoria Monroe got in the car, politely yet distantly saying, "Sorry to trouble you again."

The man’s expression was unreadable, his voice indifferent: "No worries."

They drove in silence to the airport, and as Assistant Woods went to pick someone up, Victoria Monroe, not wanting to stay alone in the car with Rhys, followed.

How could Rhys Hawthorne not sense her distance?

The man watched Victoria Monroe’s retreating figure with a slight smirk, his eyes no longer cold but filled with undisguised arrogance and determination.

Victoria Monroe chatted sporadically with Assistant Woods, probing about this lawyer Dominic Scott.

Assistant Woods spoke carefully, "Ms. Monroe, don’t worry. With Lawyer Scott here, he’ll definitely fight for the maximum benefit for you."

Victoria Monroe was still unsure of where this confidence came from.

Until that person emerged from the VIP channel, and she was stunned to see that face, even when she didn’t get involved in the red circle.

The last time she saw this face was in an introduction from a marketing account.

Dominic Scott, one of the top three lawyers in Portoros.

His life is a legend in the legal world, not because he was renowned at just thirty years old, but because to date, he has a 100% win rate, never losing a case.

A top expert in financial disputes parachuted into Kenton to handle her divorce case, leaving Victoria Monroe anxious.

It felt like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Fortunately, with her sunglasses and mask, no one could see her surprise.

The man, in a suit and tie, carrying a briefcase, meticulously approached Victoria Monroe and extended a hand, "Ms. Monroe, I’ve heard so much about you."

Though Victoria Monroe had some achievements in the entertainment industry, compared to this big shot in front of her, it was like a minor wizard compared to a great sorcerer.

"Lawyer Scott, hello, your reputation precedes you."

Though it was a bit of polite flattery, it was the truth.

Dominic Scott had a god-like status in the legal community.

The scene of their handshake was captured by someone.

Within ten minutes, the topic exploded in search results!

#TripleCrownWinnerDivorce# exploded

Julian Fordham, waiting for the Willis couple, felt uneasy for some reason.

Although he had already instructed his subordinates not to disclose to Victoria Monroe that he took Rachel Hayes out for dinner today.

Such private dining had high confidentiality.

He hadn’t cheated; it was just for work purposes, having Rachel Hayes cooperate. Victoria Monroe wouldn’t know.

He kept trying to reassure his uneasy heart.

Just then, Assistant Prescott hurried in.

"President Fordham, you need to see the trending search! Your wife found a lawyer."

"Why panic? It’s just a small-time lawyer," Julian Fordham maintained his composure while glancing at him.

Even if she found some unknown small lawyer, with a little pressure from him, wouldn’t they immediately back off?

Unless the other party no longer wanted to stay in this circle.

However, when he saw the photo of the man in the trending search, his expression froze.