When Family Became a Place I Couldn’t Return To novel Chapter 199

He was almost ready to drop to his knees in front of Nicholas.

Nicholas didn’t even blink. “How’s your work coming along?”

“Mr. Watson…” Anthony tried, his voice small.

“Quiet.” Nicholas just raised a hand, not interested in hearing Anthony beg.

Anthony clamped his mouth shut right away.

Nicholas had no patience for men like Anthony, so weak and useless. What he really wanted was to see Victoria kneeling before him.

He’d made mistakes in the past, he knew that. But when he saw his own daughter nearly lose her life, it felt like he’d already paid the price for everything he’d ever done.

“Victoria, your family means nothing to me. I just want you to pay what you owe. You hate me, and you take it out on my daughter. You know I’m not going to just let that go.”

Nicholas’s words landed cold and heavy, every syllable honest and sharp.

Victoria stared back at him, eyes wide and wet, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Anthony squeezed her hand, his grip hurting now. Suddenly, he yanked her down, forcing her onto her knees in front of Nicholas.

It brought her right back to that awful time, after she had been assaulted. Anthony had held her down then too, making her swallow every bit of pain and humiliation, telling her to just accept it.

She used to give everything for her husband and family, always putting them first, always sacrificing. Now, she was nothing but scraps, hollowed out, worn down to the bone.

After all these years of suffering, Nicholas was still here, calm and collected, looking down on her pain like it barely mattered, passing judgment on her from above.

She hated April!

Victoria bit down so hard on her lip she tasted blood.

Nicholas watched her kneel, and a small, humorless smile flickered on his lips.

Anthony kept nudging her, pushing her head down, whispering for her to apologize. Finally, in a low, broken voice, Victoria managed a shaky, “I’m sorry.”

Nicholas just sighed. “Even if you kneel, none of this can make up for what April’s been through all these years.”

Anthony jumped in quickly. “Mr. Watson, we’ll do anything to make this right. Victoria made a mistake, but she was just trying to help her son. You’re a father, you must understand…”

Nicholas didn’t even answer, just gave him a look that shut him up instantly.

He turned back to Victoria, expecting her to speak for herself.

“Take my life instead,” Victoria said, her jaw clenched. “I’ll die if you want. Just let my son go…”

She swallowed her hatred, forcing it deep inside.

Right now, only Nicholas could save her son.

Nicholas didn’t even look at her. “What good is your life to me?”

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