Chapter 865
All her life, Victoria had carried herself with grace and poise. She never stooped to playing the victim, nor did she pretend to be fragile to win sympathy.
In everyone’s eyes, she was always the dazzling goddess, untouchable and unshaken, as though nothing in the world could bring her down.
When had anyone ever seen her so vulnerable?
Richard and Rick, along with Lex and Cole, all instinctively wore the same pained expression. Even Johanna’s face betrayed a flicker of guilt and remorse.
At that moment, Victoria’s lashes trembled. Slowly, she opened her
eyes.
Richard, Rick, Lex, and Cole surged forward at once, shoving Sharon aside the instant she drew near.
“Victoria, are you alright?”
The force of the push sent Sharon staggering, nearly to the ground. 1
But just as she faltered, a slender, pale hand caught her in time.
She turned her head and found it was Thomas.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Thomas withdrew his hand almost immediately, his gaze avoiding hers. He remained silent, his manner far colder and more distant than before.
At that moment, Sharon felt another gaze fixed on her. She followed it and found Johanna staring at her without blinking.
Understanding flickered through Sharon’s heart. Perhaps something had developed between Thomas and Johanna, and he didn’t want to give her the wrong impression.
Now awake, Victoria took in the worried faces surrounding her. Her voice was weak, but steady.
“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry.”
Cole’s composure broke. “How can you say that? Your hand was nearly destroyed! You play the violin, you paint, you even race cars-your hands are everything! Since childhood, when have you ever endured suffering like this?”
It was true. Victoria had always lived a pampered, princess-like life. Pain like this had never
touched her.
Yet her pale lips curved into a faint, elegant smile.
1/3
Chapter 865
+15 Bonus
“The doctor already said it won’t affect my painting or violin, aside from some scarring. Even racing won’t be a problem.”
Cole’s eyes softened, unable to hide his pity.
Then Lex stepped forward.
“Victoria, did you see the
person who threw the acid? What did they look like? Don’t worry,
whoever dared harm you, I’ll make them pay a hundredfold.”
As he spoke, his gaze lingered meaningfully on Sharon. 1
Her face remained impassive.
Victoria shook her head lightly. “The person was heavily disguised. I couldn’t see their face at all.”
“Do you have anyone you suspect?” Lex pressed.
“No,” Victoria replied.
He held her
gaze. “Are you
you certain?”
If she so much as whispered a name, he would hunt that person down without hesitation. Better to kill the wrong target than let the guilty slip away.
A trace of helplessness touched her features.
“I’m certain. And the truth is, that person wasn’t after me at all. They were after Johanna.”
Victoria was careful in all things. She rarely made enemies.
Johanna, however… her style was just like her elder brother Jamie’s: sharp, unyielding, and prone to stirring up trouble.
All eyes swung toward Johanna. “Johanna, is that true?”
Everyone had heard the subtext in Lex’s words: he was really speaking to Sharon. In terms of motive, she was the most suspicious.
Yet Victoria had chosen to speak up for her.
Johanna knew it too. Victoria had taken the blow meant for her. Swallowing her private feelings, she admitted, “Yes. That person was after me.”
2/3
