CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: IT HURTS! PLEASE, STOP!

Mentioning this topic made the air feel as if it had solidified, and the cigarette between Julian Fordham’s two fingers burned quietly, the swirling white smoke shrouding his cold and handsome face.

The embers extended to Rachel Hayes’s face, and the scorching sensation became more pronounced.

Rachel Hayes’s back was already drenched in cold sweat, she tightly grasped her dress hem, her heart pounding fiercely.

Facing Julian Fordham’s bloodthirsty eyes, she trembled and said, "I, I got rid of it. Assistant Prescott watched me get rid of it. If you don’t believe, you can ask him."

As her words fell, the pile of long cigarette ash dropped at her feet, shattering.

Only then did the man remove the hand he had placed on her neck.

"Originally, this apartment was meant for you, but your restlessness ruined it all. Restless people will be punished..."

Julian Fordham looked down at the panicked woman, and before Rachel Hayes could react, he pressed the still-lit cigarette butt hard onto Rachel Hayes’s hand.

The intense pain came unannounced, causing Rachel Hayes to scream uncontrollably, "Ah! President Fordham, stop it, please! It hurts!"

Seeing the agony in the woman’s eyes finally brought a moment of peace to Julian Fordham’s heart.

"Is that so?"

Julian Fordham whispered, "First, you framed me to be photographed by the media, then deliberately came to the company for Victoria to see, and even used the same profile picture as Victoria to like my posts; I tolerated all that for the child’s sake."

"You dared to curry favor with my mother and sister behind my back, using them against Victoria, making the company announce it, and even purposely released a series of photos to make people think you are Mrs. Fordham."

The irreconcilable conflict between him and Victoria Monroe started at that moment, one wrong move leading to another, unfolding into today’s situation.

Before, she had a child, so he tolerated and endured, but now she’s without the child, he has no reservations!

Thinking of the scene where Victoria Monroe actively hugged Rhys Hawthorne for comfort in the stairwell.

Clearly, the one who should be holding her was himself!

For so many years, it was always him by her side.

Even a single embrace made Julian Fordham feel torment beyond measure.

His eyes carried a crazed look of bloodlust, his lips twisted upwards, "So, you too can feel pain, Rachel Hayes? Can you now feel one-tenth of my agony?"

Rachel Hayes lowered her head to see Julian Fordham’s distinctly jointed hand pressing the cigarette butt, the pain contorting her fingers into a quivering arch.

The flesh began to deform under the high-temperature burn, she wanted to struggle but was firmly controlled by him.

Because of the extreme pain and tension, urine flowed down her skirt and inner thighs.

Julian Fordham laughed indulgently and contemptuously, his gaze lowered as though watching a struggling ant.

He said, "Mrs. Fordham? What do you think you are, do you deserve it?"

That sentence was like a harsh slap in the face for Rachel Hayes, shattering her beautiful dream.

Tears welled up in Rachel Hayes’s eyes, "President Fordham, even so, I did bear your child, how could you treat me like this?"

"Ha."

Julian Fordham coldly chuckled, "A mere vessel hopes to earn my love, Rachel Hayes, in this life, I only love Victoria."

He slowly raised his hand, moved away the extinguished cigarette butt, tossed it into the ashtray, and casually wiped his hand that had just touched her with a wet towel.

As if she was some filthy thing, impossible to discard once stained.

Rachel Hayes’s body lost strength, sliding down the wall bit by bit.

Beneath her, a puddle of reeking water.

Watching the man once again approaching her, she trembled in fear.

Madman!

Julian Fordham is completely a madman!

He cast a cold glance at the woman trembling in fear, "In three days, move out of here."

Rachel Hayes nodded fearfully, "Yes."

"Soon, I’ll officially announce that there was misunderstanding between us, you just need to cooperate with the explanation, and in the future, stay away from my family and don’t bother Victoria again."

"I, I understand."

Julian Fordham pushed the door open, leaving behind a ruthless and indifferent message: "Remember today’s pain well, be restless again, and I’ll kill you."

With a "bang," the door slammed shut, causing Rachel Hayes to shiver violently.

She crawled up her trembling legs and turned on the light.

At the moment the whole house lit up, Rachel Hayes walked from hell back to the world.

Looking at that puddle of urine and her painfully agonized hand back.

There was already a visible mark left, fearing the scar wouldn’t fade for life.

Rachel Hayes tremblingly drank a cup of warm water, and only then did her body slowly regain sensation.

She touched her abdomen, her face terrifyingly pale.

That day, when Autumn Fordham woke up, Julian Fordham handed the miscarriage issue over to Assistant Prescott to handle.

Lana Jameson threatened him with his brother’s matter, forcing him to relent, secretly keeping Rachel Hayes’s unborn child.

Lana Jameson promised her that as long as Victoria Monroe and Julian Fordham divorced, in the future, the position of Mrs. Fordham would be hers.

Julian Fordham wanted a child so much, even if he doesn’t like her, once the child is born, how could he possibly strangle the child to death?

With time, she would become the legitimate Mrs. Fordham with this child, wouldn’t she?

Just the suspicion of being Mrs. Fordham had changed the wind in the circles.

Once she became the real Mrs. Fordham, that would truly be a life of wealth and status.

Unlike now, Julian Fordham only offered her five million to dismiss her.

She was no longer a newcomer in the industry!

Five million was not even worth a necklace or a dress given to Victoria Monroe by Julian Fordham.

She wanted the real position of Mrs. Fordham.

Rachel Hayes may be scared, but fear means nothing in the face of greed!

Victoria Monroe merely had the luck to know Julian Fordham first, what if she had met him first?

She lightly stroked her flat abdomen, "Baby, you must grow up well and win a good future for mommy."

Recalling Julian Fordham’s sinister and terrifying face just now, she needed to do something to reassure him.

Rachel Hayes picked up her phone and dialed a number, "Director Lancaster, I’ve agreed to take on that reality show you mentioned, but we must discuss the compensation further..."

*

Night fell, and the lights of thousands of homes suddenly brightened.

The team of experts coming from abroad had also arrived.

Although Julian Fordham was dissatisfied, he and Rhys Hawthorne shared the same goal in this matter; they both didn’t want Grandmother to be in trouble.

After a new round of examinations, Victoria Monroe found that her English wasn’t very good. She had no problem with ordinary communication, but she couldn’t understand some professional medical terms.

Julian Fordham knew this and translated before Rhys Hawthorne spoke: "Although Grandmother had heart surgery, her blood vessels are clogged, making her prone to both heart attacks and strokes. They have already given Grandmother medication. She should wake up by tomorrow at the latest, but she can’t be stimulated or fall. If a cerebral hemorrhage is triggered, the consequences would be unthinkable."

Victoria Monroe’s face turned pale. She had already prepared herself mentally to tell Grandmother about her divorce from Julian Fordham.

Now, she didn’t dare to confess anymore.

"As long as Grandmother can be okay, I can cooperate," Victoria Monroe said with her eyes red.

Grandmother’s time was already limited, at most a year or half more.

As long as she could act in front of Grandmother, it would be fine.

After sending off the doctors, Victoria Monroe sat on the long bench in the corridor, quietly waiting for Grandmother to wake up.

Julian Fordham watched her sitting there like a puppet doll and sighed deeply.

"You can rest in the next room; I’ll stay with Grandmother."

Victoria Monroe neither responded nor looked at him, treating him like air.

She glanced at Rhys Hawthorne beside her; the man leaning against the wall, his hair tousled by the wind blowing from the end of the corridor, two strands hanging down, covering his handsome brow and eyes.

It made him seem less aloof and more melancholy.

Victoria Monroe got up and walked to his side, "Thank you for staying with me today, but it’s already late, and it’s unclear when Grandmother will wake up. Do you want to go and rest first?"

After all, he had no obligations, and she felt embarrassed to take up his time.

Rhys Hawthorne’s gaze fell on Julian Fordham, speaking in a mild tone, "It’s okay."

Rhys Hawthorne and Julian Fordham met each other’s eyes, as if they were in the eye of a storm, appearing calm but with pressure so low it was oppressive, with cold winds swirling hidden currents through the air.

If not for maintaining some decorum, they might have already come to blows.

His lowered gaze landed on Victoria Monroe’s weak and exhausted face, knowing her pregnancy symptoms included drowsiness; she had been maxed out for the day.

"Do you want me to take you home first? Or if you feel uneasy, you can rest on a hospital bed for a while. Staying up doesn’t make sense."

Knowing she worried about Julian Fordham doing something to Grandmother, Rhys Hawthorne added, "I’ve already arranged for people; he can’t touch Grandmother."

Getting Grandmother out under his nose without alerting him was utterly impossible.

Victoria Monroe hesitated for a moment; her health wasn’t as good as when she first started working.

Back then, she could run on a few hours of sleep a day, always full of energy, but recent years saw her health worsen, and she was reaching her limit.

She agreed with Rhys Hawthorne’s suggestion, "Okay, I’ll go rest in the next room. If Grandmother wakes up..."

Rhys Hawthorne replied, "I’ll notify you right away."

Considering, he couldn’t stay up all night either, right?

Victoria Monroe added, "Can you stay with me? I’m afraid he..."

At this moment, Julian Fordham suddenly looked at her sharply, "Victoria, what are you saying?"

Victoria Monroe looked him squarely in the eye without dodging, "I’m afraid of you going crazy on me again!"

Rhys Hawthorne’s status was clear, and he had enough power to deter any wild acts.

Rhys Hawthorne understood this and responded calmly, "Alright, I’ll stay with you to rest."

Assistant Prescott brought some personal care items, even preparing Victoria Monroe’s pajamas, skincare products, towel, and bath towel ahead of time.

Julian Fordham had always been a considerate lover, provided he wasn’t going crazy.

Victoria Monroe washed up and went to bed.

This was a suite, with an extra bed and small sofa outside for attendants.

Rhys Hawthorne and Julian Fordham each occupied one side, locked in a standoff, invisible tension thick in the room.

Victoria Monroe felt the force but lacked the strength. A whole day’s emotional upheaval, just from crying, had drained her entirely; she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She slept quietly, like a flower, a plant, without making a sound.

Yet, she didn’t sleep peacefully, her brow slightly furrowed, and in the night, she murmured in shock, "Grandmother, Grandmother..."

Both figures, like a lion and a leopard, quickly leapt to her side.

In the light coming through the window, they saw the woman on the bed had merely had a nightmare; she hadn’t woken up.

On her fair little face were traces of tears not yet dried, muttering continually about some unknown dream.

Fearing to wake her, neither made any move and returned to their positions.

Although the assistant had prepared beds for them, neither lay down, each sitting clothed, legs slightly spread, supporting their heads with one hand, coldly staring at each other.

If the other made even the slightest movement, a confrontation would break out at once.

Victoria Monroe had an uneasy sleep, her mind filled with bizarre dreams.

When she awoke, it was still scarcely dawn.

Not seeing Julian Fordham, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Victoria Monroe felt sick, turning helpless just at the sight of Julian Fordham.

She hurriedly washed up, intending to check if Grandmother had awoken, but suddenly her stomach churned violently.

Just as she opened the door to leave, she turned back, covering her mouth as she headed for the bathroom.

She crouched by the toilet, dry heaving.

Oh no, the second symptom of her pregnancy reaction showed up.

She couldn’t let Julian Fordham see this!

Victoria Monroe wiped her mouth with a tissue and slowly stood up, supporting herself against the toilet.

As she turned around, she saw Julian Fordham standing not far from the bathroom, his gaze fixed on her face.

Victoria Monroe instinctively clenched the tissue, a chill running down her back; when did he show up!

Julian Fordham’s deep-set eyes flickered with a complex emotion, speaking meaningfully, "Victoria, what’s wrong with you?"