CHAPTER 282: CHAPTER 282

He paused again, searching his father’s face for any softness. There was none.

"I made a mistake, but that doesn’t mean I’m giving up on Abigail. I still want to be with her. I’m going to call her... I’ll apologize properly. I’ll explain everything."

His father didn’t blink. "Then go do it in your room. I don’t want to see your face again tonight. Now, leave."

The room stayed tense.

Robert gave a small nod, lips pressed tightly together. Then he turned around and began to walk away. But just as he reached the hallway entrance, he stopped, turned slightly, and looked at Victoria.

His tone this time was firm stern.

"Victoria, don’t do anything stupid. I mean it. Whoever came to my office about you... they weren’t bluffing. I saw it in his eyes. He meant every word. So just... stay out of this."

He didn’t wait for a response. He walked off, disappearing into the hallway.

Then, immediately, Victoria’s father turned toward her, eyes narrowing coldly. "Victoria... you actually know that good-for-nothing lady called Cora?"

At that moment, hearing what her father just said, Victoria didn’t even blink. Her face stayed calm, her tone light as she replied, "Well, I don’t really know much about that lady. From what I’ve seen, nothing about her concerns me. But maybe you should do your own research, do your own findings. Maybe you’ll see something I don’t."

She shrugged as she spoke, playing it casual, but inside her chest, her heart thudded with a thrill. She wasn’t going to be foolish enough to say more. Not when her entire plan was still unfolding behind the scenes. If she opened her mouth now, she knew exactly what would happen her father would start connecting the dots and might end up believing Robert’s side of the story. That was the last thing she wanted.

So she acted like she didn’t know a thing. Like Cora was a random name tossed into a pot she had no interest in stirring. But deep down, Victoria’s mind was calculating. She had already moved her pieces on the board. Her fingers had touched everything from subtle threats to quiet alliances. Cora had no idea what was coming.

Her father paused. His eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Maybe a part of him suspected she was hiding something. Maybe not. Either way, he didn’t push.

"Alright then," he finally muttered. "I’ll do my own findings."

And just like that, he turned and walked out of the living room, his footsteps fading with heavy tension.

The moment the door clicked behind him, Victoria’s lips slowly curled into a confident smile. Not the fake one she gave in public, not the polite one she used with the media no, this smile was the real Victoria. Sharp. Cold. Satisfied.

She leaned back in her seat like a queen watching her trap tighten. "Without being told, I can already see it," she muttered under her breath. "Cora is going to go down. There’s no saving her now."

Her father doing his own digging? That was perfect. He was about to unknowingly add fuel to her fire. He would see exactly what she wanted him to see, and when he did, he would think it was his own conclusion.

Everything was in motion. Every lie in place. Every thread carefully sewn.

She laughed softly to herself. The kind of laugh that didn’t reach the eyes.

And just then as if the universe was responding to her confidence her phone started ringing.

At that moment, Victoria sat still on the couch, arms crossed tightly as she stared into space. The room was quiet now, except for the soft tick of the clock hanging on the wall. Her father had just walked out, and her mind was still dancing around the thought of Cora being crushed.

But just as she was lost in that victorious thought, her phone began to ring, the sound pierced the silence and instantly snapped her back to reality.

She frowned, she didn’t want to answer it. Not now.

Still, something inside her whispered that it might be Abigail calling maybe to apologize, maybe to explain why she had reacted the way she did earlier. That thought alone made Victoria raise a brow with curiosity. So she does have some shame after all?

With a slow breath, she reached for her handbag, pulled it closer, and dipped her hand inside.

She took her time, dragging the moment out. Finally, she pulled out her phone, but the second her eyes landed on the screen, her expression changed completely.

Her jaw dropped, It wasn’t Abigail. It wasn’t even a name she had expected.

It was Benedict, Victoria’s boyfriend.

"What the hell...?" she muttered under her breath, staring at the name like it was a joke.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, but she didn’t answer. Not immediately. She let the call ring out, her lips pressing into a tight line.

And just when she thought it had ended for good, the phone lit up again.

Same name. Same number, still calling, this time, she groaned and rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable," she muttered.

With zero interest but a rising curiosity she couldn’t explain, Victoria finally answered the call. Her voice came out sharp and laced with disgust.

"Why are you calling me?" she snapped. "What do you even have to say again?"

Her words were fast and angry. She didn’t give him space to breathe.

"After you’ve disrespected me, turned down my request like I was nothing now you’re calling me? For what?" Her voice rose a little. "Why? Why are you calling me now?"

There was a pause. A heavy one, then Benedict’s voice came in, a little softer, almost regretful.

"Victoria... please, just calm down," he said slowly. "Just calm down, okay? I know I messed up earlier."

He sighed from the other end.

"My hands were tight then. I couldn’t even do anything at that moment... I swear. But I’m very, very sorry about it."

At that moment, hearing what Benedict just said over the phone, Victoria didn’t hold back. She burst into laughter not the kind that came from amusement, but the kind soaked in disbelief and mockery. The sound echoed through the living room, sharp and biting.

She placed a hand on her chest as she leaned back on the couch, shaking her head slowly.

"Wow..." she finally said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just look at me. Look at what I was actually thinking."

There was silence on the other end, but Victoria kept talking.

"I really thought honestly i thought you were calling to tell me something meaningful. Something useful. Maybe you finally grew a spine. Maybe you decided to get up and work on it, to fix what I asked you to do. I thought you were going to say, ’Victoria, relax, I’m working on it. I have a good result for you.’ But no..."