CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164

At that moment, Robert’s face was burning with anger. His jaw clenched so tightly, veins popped at the side of his neck. His hands balled into fists, and his steps were heavy like someone about to confront a deadly enemy. His eyes locked on Abigail and Victoria from a distance, both of them standing there like nothing had happened, as if they hadn’t just thrown his entire day into chaos. The urge to walk up to them, confront them right there, drag answers out of Victoria and shut Abigail up once and for all, was boiling inside him.

But just as he took a step forward, a sharp vibration buzzed in his pocket, he ignored it the first time, the second vibration came, and with a frustrated grunt, he pulled out his phone, intending to cut the call without even looking.

But then his eyes caught the name on the screen.

"Dad"

Immediately he paused, something about seeing that name made his heart sink a little. He already knew what this was about. This wasn’t going to be some casual, "how are you" call. His father didn’t do casual calls. And today, especially today, after all the drama that had happened, it could only mean one thing.

Confirmation, slowly, he dragged his thumb across the screen and brought the phone to his ear.

Before he could even mutter a word, his father’s deep, commanding voice thundered into his ear:

"Boy, I want you home immediately. Stop whatever you are doing and come home now."

Just like that. No greetings. No explanations. Just an order, plain and sharp like a slap to the face.

Robert stood there frozen for a moment. A mix of anger and frustration burned through him. He didn’t even reply. He just lowered the phone and stared at it for a few seconds before shoving it back into his pocket.

He didn’t need to ask questions. He didn’t need to argue. His father’s tone alone made it clear that this was beyond his control now.

And just like that, all the rage that had built up, the storm he was about to unleash on Victoria and Abigail simmered into something heavier. Something more bitter.

He didn’t approach them anymore.

He simply turned away and walked off, his face like a stone, his steps sharp and cold. Every movement was soaked in anger.

They thought they had won something today.

But he knew one thing for sure this wasn’t the end of it. Not even close.

He just walked away angrily.

At that moment, Victoria’s gaze locked onto Abigail’s, her expression calm but carrying that sharp glint of someone who had just confirmed a suspicion. She tilted her head slightly, almost as if savoring the satisfaction of being right.

"Well," she said with deliberate weight in her voice, "you’ve just confirmed exactly what I wanted to know."

Abigail’s lips pressed into a thin line before she gave a slow nod. "Yes," she replied, her tone cold and clipped. "I’ve confirmed it, and it’s... infuriating. Disheartening, even, that Robert would let that good-for-nothing girl get this far. It’s not something I’m going to fold my hands over. She’s not going to walk away from this without paying for it."

There was a fire in Abigail’s eyes now, one that spoke of pride as much as anger. She was not someone who easily forgave or forgot, and the thought of Robert giving another woman the kind of attention he’d denied her for years was something she could barely stomach.

Victoria, however, did not fully mirror Abigail’s outrage. She raised a brow, her voice carrying a calculated caution. "I understand how you feel, but I wouldn’t be too quick to assume she’s just a nobody. That’s the problem here."

Abigail frowned, her posture stiffening. "What do you mean by that?"

Victoria’s expression shifted into something more analytical. "From what I’ve seen, and I’ve been paying attention things don’t quite add up. People like her don’t just pop out of nowhere and gain this kind of presence. She has access to circles most people can’t even get close to, and there’s a... protection around her. Not loud or obvious, but very real. That’s not something an ordinary girl just happens to have."

Abigail narrowed her eyes but remained silent, digesting the thought.

Victoria took a small step closer, her voice dropping just enough to make her words feel like a private warning. "If you go at her without knowing exactly who she is or what’s behind her, you could be walking into something you can’t control. My advice? Dig deep before you make your move. Find out everything you can about her, then decide how you want to play this."

At that moment, Abigail’s eyes narrowed, and she leaned in slightly toward Victoria, her voice low but sharp. "Why would you say something like that, Victoria? What exactly do you mean?"

Victoria, with a smirk playing at the corner of her lips, folded her arms. "You really haven’t heard? Then let me enlighten you. Do you remember Samuel, the actor everyone thought was untouchable in this situation? Well, he isn’t so untouchable anymore. In fact, as I’m standing here talking to you, Samuel is finished. Completely destroyed. His reputation, his career, his finances gone. Everything tied to his name has been ripped to shreds."

However Abigail frowned but stayed silent, letting Victoria’s words hang in the air.

Then Victoria tilted her head slightly, her tone dripping with a mix of warning and amusement. "And do you know why? Because Samuel made the mistake of getting himself tangled up with that good-for-nothing girl, Cora. One wrong move with her, and now look at him, his life is in shambles. A mess so big it’s almost pitiful to watch. He’s not just ruined, Abigail... he’s staring down the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars. If he’s lucky, he might get life in prison. If not..." Victoria let the implication linger, her eyes glinting with meaning.

For a moment, Abigail’s face was unreadable. Then, slowly, a small, confident smile tugged at her lips. She met Victoria’s gaze head-on, her voice calm but laced with steel. "Well, it’s not Samuel she will be going up against this time..." She straightened her posture, her expression hardening. "...it’s Abigail."