The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 10

"Victoria!"

Cerys's eyes widened. She rushed to Victoria's side and helped her up. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Victoria turned her left wrist slightly, and a sharp pain shot through it. When she fell, she had instinctively tried to break her fall with her hand, but it had happened so fast that she had twisted it instead.

"I'm fine," she said, giving Cerys a reassuring look before turning her gaze to the back of Elias standing just a few feet away.

At the same moment, Elias, having made sure Genevieve was unharmed, turned around. He saw Cerys helping Victoria to her feet and his eyes met hers. For a split second, an image flashed through his mind: Victoria, that morning, crouching on the floor amidst the shattered pieces of a porcelain bowl. His expression darkened.

They hadn't spoken in the seven days since their argument.

To be precise, he had blocked her messages. It was only when he landed today that he saw she had sent him several more, asking when his trip would end. Every single one was about the divorce. It was as if she was dead set on it.

If he didn't know how desperately she had schemed to get the title of Mrs. Shawn, he might have almost believed she was serious.

The divorce was just a means to an end, a new way to threaten him.

There was no way she would willingly give up the wealth and status that came with being his wife.

Just then—

"Cerys! You bitch! How dare you hit me!"

Candice, her face contorted with rage, lunged forward, her hand raised to strike Cerys.

But the slap never landed.

Victoria moved in a flash, stepping in front of Cerys and seizing Candice's wrist in a firm grip.

"Victoria! You dare to stop me? Let go!" Candice hissed, her eyes filled with a murderous rage.

Victoria stared at her coldly, her grip unwavering.

She had always been skilled at using leverage. Candice struggled, but not only could she not break free, the pressure on her wrist was becoming painful. Her frustration boiled over. "Are you deaf? I said let go! Or I'll hit you too!"

"Candice!"

Elias's voice was a low warning. He glanced at the red handprint on Genevieve's pale cheek, and his eyes darkened further. "I'll have Hawk take you to get that looked at."

Genevieve shook her head. "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt."

But the tears welling in her eyes and the forced curve of her lips made her words utterly unconvincing.

"How could it not hurt? That slap was so loud! Genevieve, you're just too nice. That's why these two bitches think they can bully you!" Candice seethed, glaring daggers at Victoria.

"Candice, who taught you to throw that word around? Where are your manners?" Elias snapped, his cold gaze sweeping over Victoria as his brow furrowed.

Candice, feeling no remorse, shot back, "Brother! Are you defending her? You saw Genevieve get hit! Are you going to let her get away with it and make Genevieve suffer for nothing?"

At this, Genevieve subtly glanced up at Elias.

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