CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: A GRAND GIFT AS OUR DIVORCE PRESENT

How similar is the scene now to that night?

Except the protagonist has changed from Victoria Monroe to Julian Fordham.

Julian Fordham called her name repeatedly, "Victoria, what do you want? We can talk."

Victoria Monroe paused slightly but didn’t turn back.

In the dark, he could faintly see Victoria Monroe’s outline, her head lowered, fingers gripping the doorknob. Her facial expression was unclear, but her slender shoulders trembled lightly.

Her soft voice came through, "Julian Fordham, that night, I also called you like this. Did you turn back?"

Julian Fordham froze, that night’s scene floated into his mind.

He hesitated once but ultimately walked away without looking back.

He wasn’t afraid of the cold, nor afraid of being tied up, but he feared losing Victoria Monroe, so he humbly spoke:

"Victoria, as long as you can calm down, it doesn’t matter how you punish me."

Victoria Monroe’s lips curled into a cold smile. Punish him?

If she died, no amount of punishment could bring her life back.

She slowly twisted the doorknob, her voice light and indifferent, "Julian Fordham, I’ll give you a grand gift, just as our divorce present."

After speaking, she pushed the door open and walked out.

Julian Fordham’s voice was urgent and angry: "Victoria, what are you going to do?"

The answer he got was the unforgiving sound of the door closing.

Julian Fordham felt panic-stricken, recalling Victoria Monroe’s recent movements.

He never regretted the wealth, his only intent was to use it to control Victoria Monroe, to make her depend only on him, never to escape in this lifetime.

But recently, he did those things thinking to make up for Victoria Monroe, believing she lacked security due to lack of wealth. He gave her whatever she wanted.

The property was essentially divided up cleanly according to her wishes.

In Julian Fordham’s heart, they had an eighteen-year relationship, he had neither physically nor emotionally betrayed her, Victoria Monroe would certainly forgive him.

He staunchly believed he would never lose Victoria Monroe.

But starting from Rachel Hayes, that child, he completely lost control of the storyline.

Victoria Monroe never gave up leaving him!

These past days she acted to ease her grandmother’s worries, then to relocate her grandmother.

And then?

What is the grand gift she mentioned?

The more Julian Fordham thought, the more anxious he became. He struggled frantically, but Victoria Monroe left him no room for struggles.

She tied it tight.

He could only break free if he forcefully pulled out the faucet.

But the quality is the utmost focus in their luxury mansion, overly good craftsmanship is also a bother.

A chill washed over his face as the cold wind carried snowflakes that fell all around him.

And the water beneath him was cooling bit by bit.

Once it became completely cold, it would turn into a double punishment.

The bathroom was pitch dark; he could only watch the scenery outside the window, where the snow fell heavily, piercing cold winds like needles pricked into his skin.

As time progressed, this pain would deepen bit by bit.

He wasn’t afraid of the pain nor the cold.

Julian Fordham only thought of Victoria Monroe, who underwent all these, even if afterward, he apologized repeatedly to her.

He knew she was very cold. He even deliberately took cold showers every night to punish himself.

Until this very moment, he could truly feel Victoria Monroe’s experience that night.

Her body was so fragile, her hands were worn raw, how did she endure that long night?

The bathwater grew cold, and thus his heart grew cold too.

Julian Fordham’s greatest pain wasn’t physical but the heart wrapped with thorns.

Because only by being in the same environment could he truly feel that kind of skin-tearing pain.

Julian Fordham leaned his head back against the edge of the bathtub, closing his eyes, tears sliding from the corner of his eyes.

He murmured softly, "Victoria, I’m sorry, as it turns out, you were in such pain."

Just a wall apart, Victoria Monroe sat against the wall, looking at the snow falling heavily outside the terrace, without any sense of reprisal satisfaction in her heart.

Her mind flashed with scenes of her journey with Julian Fordham, questioning how they ended up at this point.

Even if he felt the same pain as her, they couldn’t go back to the past anymore.

Just like her joints, even in a warm room, they throbbed faintly.

The scars he left her couldn’t ever be erased.

The next day.

Victoria Monroe went downstairs, her face smiling at her grandmother, "Good morning, Grandma."

"Why up so early today?" Grandma was a bit puzzled; usually at this time, Julian Fordham would get up, finish making breakfast, accompany her to eat breakfast before going to work.

Victoria Monroe generally wouldn’t get up until around nine in the morning.

There was no sign of Julian Fordham in the living room. Victoria Monroe was neatly dressed, gently speaking to Grandma, "Weren’t you planning to go to the nursing home? I arranged one yesterday, we’ll take you early to try it out. If it doesn’t suit, we can switch to another."

"That’s good, but where’s Julian? Why’s he not here?"

"He suddenly decided to go abroad for a business trip; he left last night, so I’m the only one accompanying you."

Her demeanor was too natural, and Grandma knowing Julian Fordham’s busy work schedule, didn’t think further.

"Work is important, so shall we head there now?"

"Yes, I also have work arrangements coming up, will accompany you these two days to adapt, once you’re settled, I too need to start work."

Grandma touched her hand, "Don’t be too hard on yourself. Your health isn’t great, you ought to take better care."

"Got it."

Victoria Monroe was gentle and obedient, no one could guess what she planned to do next.

Grandma followed her out; Victoria Monroe worried her car might be rigged by Julian Fordham, tracking her driving routes.

Last night, she asked Rhys Hawthorne to help arrange a car for her.

Standing in the yard, she turned back and looked towards the bathroom.

The bathroom was one-way glass; she felt a burning gaze directed her way.

Julian Fordham could see her, even though she couldn’t see him, she could guess his expression now.

Grandma asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, let’s go."

"Victoria, don’t leave!"

It seemed like she heard a beast’s howl, the house’s good soundproofing blocked the voice’s desperate tone.

Grandma got into the car without further thought, repeatedly reminding Victoria Monroe to get along well with Julian Fordham.

Years of destiny to share a boat ride, millennia to share a pillow.

They must cherish this relationship.

Victoria Monroe didn’t contradict, obediently agreed, "Alright."

Ten minutes after she left, she sent a message to Assistant Prescott.

Assistant Prescott, while washing up, received the message, glanced at it, his face changed dramatically.

Mrs. Fordham: [Immediately go to my house’s bathroom, if you go late, you’ll have to collect your boss’s corpse.]

With half-shaven beard, Corbin Prescott’s heart tightened, his hand slipped, and the blade cut a bloody line on his chin.

He couldn’t care to finish shaving, wiped his face with a towel, grabbed his coat, and dashed out.

Starting the car, he dialed Julian Fordham’s phone.

No answer.

It’s over!

Julian Fordham must be in trouble!

Corbin Prescott drove like a madman, recalling recent wife murder cases he’d read about.

His hand on the steering wheel was covered in a cold sweat, upon reaching the villa, getting out of the car, his legs softened.

Heart pounding, he feared pushing the door open would reveal Julian Fordham dismembered.

"Boss!"

He slammed the door open, only to see this scene.