CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 277

Immediately hearing what Oliver just said, Cora shook her head with a half-smile. "Don’t worry. I’ll play my part perfectly. I knew what I was signing up for when I came to you."

Then Oliver looked at her for a long moment, grateful. And deep down, he couldn’t stop thinking maybe this pretend game might just become the most real thing in his life.

At that moment, Oliver then said, "No problem, then. I will just get my stuff ready and we’ll start with the process immediately."

Cora’s eyes brightened with relief, her shoulders finally loosening as if a heavy burden had just been lifted. She clasped her hands together and said softly, "Oliver... thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’m very, very thankful and grateful that you’re willing to do this. I’m truly happy about it."

Immediately Oliver gave a small nod, the corner of his lips curving slightly but his expression still calm and collected. He then stood up, adjusting his jacket as he looked at her and said firmly, "Well, it starts now."

At that moment the atmosphere between them was filled with unspoken tension, but also a quiet understanding that something big had just been set into motion.

***

Meanwhile, at Robert’s family mansion, Robert had just returned home. He stormed into the living room with frustration still lingering on his face. His father, seated on a long leather couch, frowned immediately as he saw the state his son was in.

Robert paced back and forth before finally blurting out, "Father, you won’t believe what happened today. Someone actually came into my office... someone bold enough to threaten me because of Victoria."

Upon hearing what Robert just said, his father’s brows knitted tightly, his tone sharp as he asked, "What do you mean someone threatened you because of her? Who dares to do that?"

Robert clenched his fist and replied, "That’s the problem. I don’t know who sent him. But the man made it clear that this had everything to do with Victoria. And the way he spoke... Father, I could tell he wasn’t joking. He meant every word."

Immediately his father face turned red with anger, his jaw tightening as he slammed his hand on the armrest. "Unbelievable! This is a disgrace. How could such a thing happen inside our walls, inside your office? Whoever is behind this clearly has no respect for us, and he was supposed to be arrested."

As they were both still deep in conversation, trying to understand the real reason behind the threat and how they were going to tackle the situation, the heavy double doors suddenly swung open.

Victoria walked right into the living room.

Upon seeing Victoria walk right into the living room, her father’s eyes immediately followed her every move. His voice carried a strange weight, calm yet sharp enough to cut through the tension. "Victoria," he said firmly, "come and have a seat. We were just talking about you and now, here you are."

The words made Victoria freeze for a second. She wasn’t used to hearing her father speak in such a deliberate tone. Normally, his voice carried irritation whenever her name was tied to trouble, but this time it felt heavier, almost suffocating. She could sense instantly that this wasn’t one of those passing confrontations something far more severe was waiting for her.

Her heels clicked against the marble floor as she slowly approached. Though her face held a composed expression, deep inside, she felt her stomach tighten. Why does it sound so serious? she thought as she sank onto the sofa across from her father and Robert. Her eyes darted between them, reading the storm building in their expressions.

Her father leaned forward, his eyes narrowing, his voice cutting through the silence. "Robert just told me something that I find very troubling. He said someone actually came to his office today not to talk, not to negotiate but to threaten him. And according to Robert, everything that man said... was because of you."

Upon hearing what his father just said, Victoria blinked rapidly, her throat tightening. Her gaze shifted to Robert, whose jaw was clenched so tight it looked as though his teeth might break. He wasted no time before speaking, his voice low but vibrating with anger.

"Don’t act surprised, Victoria. That man wasn’t bluffing. He mentioned your name more than once, and every word he said was tied directly to you. He made it clear that you’re the reason this mess has started. Now tell us," Robert leaned closer, his eyes burning into hers, "what have you been doing? What exactly did you do to bring this kind of trouble to my doorstep?"

Again Victoria’s breath caught in her chest. For a split second, she wanted to lash back, to deny everything outright but the intensity in their eyes warned her that denial wouldn’t wash away the suspicion this time. She pressed her lips together, her fingers curling into her lap.

Her father’s voice cut in again, this time louder, sharper, like a hammer striking. "This is not a game, Victoria! If you’ve entangled yourself in something dangerous, it won’t only consume you, it will consume this entire family. Speak now! What have you done?"

At that moment, upon hearing what her father just said, Victoria immediately raise her brows in disbelief. Her lips parted slightly as though she was about to argue, but instead she let out a sharp scoff and shook her head. She then said.

"I don’t understand this question, Now what the hell is this? Did somebody actually report me or what? How could somebody walk into your office, threatened you with my name, and you did nothing about it? You didn’t even bother to call the security, didn’t involve the police, and yet here he was reporting everything to father, when you could have simply arrest this person, and you want father pointing fingers at me like i had caused it all or done something wrong."

Her voice grew sharper as she continued, demanding, "Is that why both of you are sitting here and asking me questions as if I am the one that sent that person? Shouldn’t Robert have acted like a man instead of running home to report?"