Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 44

The story…

That managed to jog Victoria’s memory.

She had been listening to stories of Griselda’s youth and was enjoying

herself too, but all of a sudden, she started feeling drowsy.

However, she didn’t have the heart to cut Griselda off, so she forced

herself to stay awake and carry on listening.

Victoria had no idea when she fell asleep.

She began to feel bad about it.

I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Do you think Grandma is upset with me?”

“Grandma loves you so much. What do you think?”

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

Q

Alaric told Victoria about Griselda not letting him wake Victoria up when

he came over.

Victoria lowered her eyes and chuckled lightly.

“That’s true.”

In her newly awakened state, Victoria seemed rather naive and clueless.

Alaric noticed this and tapped her on the forehead. “What goes on in that

head of yours all day long?”

Victoria stiffened. She was still feeling a little bleary–eyed earlier, but her

head was clear now. She gently massaged her forehead as she stared at

Alaric with a blank look in her eyes.

There were times when Alaric’s gestures confused her. She would even

get the illusion that he might begin to develop a tiny bit of feelings for her

after being with her for so long.

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

This illusion appeared frequently in the past two years, but it would only

last for a brief moment as Victoria would swiftly be reminded of the reality.

However, as time passed and the two of them started forming a

connection, she began to lose herself in the relationship and truly believed

that they would be together forever.

Alas, she was hit in the face with reality.

As long as Claudia came back, she would always be Alaric’s first choice.

Victoria’s gaze grew colder as she set her hand down and lowered her

eyes without saying anything.

Alaric’s smile grew faint as well.

Even though she didn’t speak, he sensed that her attitude had turned icier.

“What’s the matter?”

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

Victoria shook her head. “It’s nothing. I just feel a little hazy after my nap.”

She wanted to get out of bed, and upon noticing this, Alaric raised his

hand to pull her up.

However, as soon as he stretched his hand out, Victoria immediately

pulled back as if she had been stung.

All at once, both Alaric and Victoria froze.

“Is this what you mean by ending the fight?”

Victoria looked up and saw the cold smirk on Alaric’s face, and the

coldness in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

She sat up by herself.

Nevertheless, her apology accomplished nothing as the atmosphere

between the two became chilly again due to the way she avoided him.

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

She glanced at Alaric’s unpleasant expression and secretly sighed to

herself.

Things might even get worse between the two if they both stuck around

until Griselda was done with her medical checkup, so Victoria suggested, “I

shouldn’t have done that earlier. But anyway, Grandma should be coming

out soon, right? Why don’t you head back first?”

The air around Alaric became even colder. “What did you say?”

After a pause, she explained, “I’m not trying to chase you away, but do you

want Grandma to see you this way? You’ll still have to work this afternoon

anyway. I’ll explain things to Grandma for you.”

The room became eerily silent.

Victoria looked down. She didn’t say anything else.

Eventually, Alaric walked off.

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

He was most likely fuming, but even when he left, he managed to rein

himself in and didn’t slam the door behind him. Victoria took a deep

breath and tried her best to compose herself.

Seems like it’ll be hard to call a truce when the cracks have already

appeared. I just need to bear with it for a few more days. Everything will be

fine after that.

Victoria hoped that when the time came, Griselda would be able to

accept the news calmly.

When Griselda came back and asked about Alaric, Victoria told her that ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

he went back to the office, and she nodded understandingly.

She even commented, “My guess is he wouldn’t have even bothered to

come over today if you hadn’t been here.”

Victoria was startled. Is that true? Did he only come over because I’m

here?

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

However, she quickly denied that possibility. It wasn’t important whether or

not he did. Either way, they were going to get a divorce.

There was no point in dwelling on the things that would not change the

final decision.

Alaric headed back to the office with a grim expression.

His anger festered inside him throughout the journey, and as soon as he

got back to his office, he took off his jacket and flung it onto the couch.

His assistant, who had followed him in, jumped in fright. He was

considering turning right back out when a thought occurred to him, so he

remained standing where he was.

It took Alaric a long time to calm himself down. When he turned around

and saw his assistant standing in his office, he snapped, “What are you

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

doing here?”

His assistant cowered ever so slightly before putting a lunchbox on the

table.

Alaric frowned. “What’s that?”

He was frazzled enough as it was.

“It’s lunch that Miss Johnson lovingly prepared for you, Mr. Cadogan. I was

dropping her off and she shoved it over to me when I wasn’t paying

attention. She told me to bring it back to you.”

Alaric’s assistant was disgruntled when he brought this up.

He was about to leave after dropping Claudia off when she shoved the

lunchbox to him and said it was for him before scampering off.

The assistant didn’t know what to do since he had already declined it

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

earlier.

He figured he couldn’t possibly throw it away. In the end, he brought it

back.

Lovingly prepared?

Alaric had been in such a funk that he didn’t even get the chance to grab

lunch. Initially, when he got to the nursing home and took Griselda to

lunch, he purposely avoided eating because he wanted to have lunch

with Victoria when she woke up. He didn’t think he’d get the cold shoulder

from her instead.

He didn’t get to have lunch, but he filled up on anger instead.

A lovingly prepared lunch wouldn’t cut it. Even if a three–star Michelin chef

came over to cook for him, he would still be too enraged to eat anything.

Alaric loosened his tie and said darkly, “I’ve already eaten. You can have it.”

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

“Oh.” His assistant eyed him before shaking his head. “I better not, Mr.

Cadogan. Miss Johnson lovingly prepared this lunch, especially for you. I

wouldn’t dream of even having a bite.”

Alaric didn’t expect that response.

He looked at his assistant through narrowed eyes as he asked icily, “Who

allowed you to take the sarcastic tone with me?”

His voice was so chilly that his assistant lost all his spunk and clammed

1. up.

“Get out.”

The assistant pursed his lips and walked out of the office.

Alaric yanked off his tie and tossed it onto the couch before taking a seat

as he snorted coldly.

Chapter 44 Taking That Tone with Me

What a fine day it is today, Alaric thought sarcastically. Not only did

Victoria brush him off, but even his assistant was beginning to talk back to

him.

Unexpectedly, his assistant knocked on the door just minutes after his

departure.

“What now?” Alaric eyed his assistant coolly.

His assistant held up an exquisite takeout bag and gulped. “Someone

from a restaurant just delivered this to the office. They said Miss Selwyn

ordered lunch for you.”

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