Chapter 100
Henry's hand slowly reached out, caressing her face. His eyes held a depth of emotion, unreadable and elusive.
He dropped his hand, saying nothing more, and walked past her into the bathroom.
Victoria's tense body relaxed. She quickly left the main bedroom and returned to the guest room, locking the door behind her.
It was the first time she'd done something like this, and she was still a bit nervous.
She hurriedly put the small box away and lay down on the bed to sleep.
The room was pitch black, but her mind was a chaotic mess, with Sarah's photos flashing through it now and then.
Jude lay obediently in bed, eyes closed, listening to Sarah read him a bedtime story. The timestamp on the screenshot showed it had been an hour.
Suddenly, a wave of suffocating pain gripped her chest as if a large hand had clenched around her heart. She curled up in agony, overwhelmed by a tide of sadness.
Even though she had told herself countless times not to care, to let go, every time she faced such a scene, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken and confused.
After all, she was his mother.
But thankfully, with each wave of sadness, her resolve grew more assertive.
Deep inside, she built a fortress around the softest part of her heart, determined never to let anyone hurt her again.
Night fell, blanketing the villa in silence.
The next day, Victoria awoke in a haze of heat.
Her covers were bunched around her waist, but she felt like she was trapped in a sauna. She cracked open her eyes in the stifling darkness.
The room was pitch black, but she could clearly sense someone lying behind her.
He was holding her close, their body heat radiating against her back.
She spun around and came face–to–face with Henry, sound asleep. Her eyes widened in shock!
She glanced at the door, then back at him, her mind racing.
She distinctly remembered locking it!
How the heck did he get in?
She tried to sit up, but a strong arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back down.
"Don't move," Henry mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"Hey, how did you get in here?" Victoria asked, her body stiff with tension.
Henry didn't reply. He just held her tighter.
Victoria was speechless.
He had his room. Why did he have to come and squeeze in with her?
Could he not bear to be away from her for even a single night?
After enduring it for a while longer, she lost her patience. She pushed his arm away again and quickly got out of bed.
She opened the curtains and sunlight streamed in, finally waking Henry up.
He looked at her standing there with an indifferent expression and said in a cold voice, "It's only six o'clock. Are you in such at hurry to get out of bed?"
Victoria was speechless. "I don't recall inviting you to sleep here."
Henry sat up, the quilt sliding down to reveal his muscular upper body. He narrowed his peach blossom eyes and said casually, "We're husband and wife. Isn't it normal to sleep together?"
She didn't bother to respond and turned to go into the bathroom, thinking to herself that she would have to add another lock to the door tonight to prevent him from sneaking in.
Henry stared at her for a moment. Why hadn't he noticed before that she had a sleep–inducing effect?
He had insomnia last night and used a sleep fragrance, which had some effect, but he didn't sleep soundly. After waking up in the early morning, he came straight to her room.
She had locked the door, but he just sneered. It was his house; did she really think she could keep him out?
After breaking in, he held her in his arms, feeling her warmth and softness. Sleepiness washed over him, and he actually slept soundly through the night.
"It seems she's far more effective than any fragrance." He mused to himself.
His previously ambivalent stance on the divorce had now become crystal clear. He even had a legitimate reason to stay married.
Once Victoria regained her memory, they would go back to how things were, and life would return to its peaceful rhythm.
Unaware of his thoughts, Victoria only felt his gaze upon her was intense and unsettling, even a bit frightening.
She instinctively shut the bathroom door behind her.
Henry was left speechless.
It was still early, and the two little ones hadn't woken up yet. Victoria did some quick exercises and then went back to make breakfast.
She made sandwiches and cooked some oatmeal. Once everything was ready, she went upstairs and knocked on Emma's door.
"Sweetheart, are you awake?" she asked.
"Yeah!" Emma's voice was full of energy, and she opened the door in no time.
Victoria was puzzled. "Emma, Did you lock the door?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah, this place felt so unfamiliar. I was a little scared."
Victoria smiled. "How about I sleep with you tonight?"
"Okay!" Emma agreed immediately. That way that nasty Jude wouldn't be able to wake her up in the middle of the night!
Victoria , however, was thinking that with Emma sleeping with her, Henry wouldn't be able to sneak into her bed in the middle of the night anymore.
"Great!" she thought to herself.
Victoria took Emma to wash up and then brushed her hair.
The little girl in the mirror was beautiful and delicate, looking at her with a smile.
"Ms. Victoria, you're better than my mommy. My mommy doesn't even know how to brush my hair."
Victoria was quite skilled and quickly styled Emma's hair, putting the new hair clips and headbands she had bought on her head. The little girl looked even cuter now.
"Why don't you be my daughter then?" she continued to tempt her.
But Emma was firm. "You have to ask my mommy. If she agrees, then I agree."
"Okay, it's a deal then."
Victoria actually started to consider taking Emma in as her goddaughter. When Evie came back from her business trip, she would definitely bring it up.
When the two of them went downstairs, they saw the father and son already sitting in the dining room, both looking refreshed.
"Mom," Jude greeted her politely when he saw her.
"Hmm," Victoria responded and pulled out a chair to sit down.
Jude, however, was staring at her with sparkling eyes, making her feel a little creeped out.
"Mom, will you tell me a bedtime story tonight?"
Jude had been thinking about it all morning and decided to try one more time.
He'd slept soundly listening to the recording last night but couldn't help but wonder if it would be even better if she were right there with him.
Victoria's lips barely curved into a faint smile. "I'm going to sleep with Emma tonight. You can ask your dad to tell you one."
"What's this all about?" she thought to herself. "Last night, Sarah read him a story. Tonight, it's my turn. Does he want to compare who tells it better? But she wasn't in the mood to play his games".
Jude's face fell, his grip tightening around his spoon, his little mouth set in a firm line.
Why did she keep rejecting him?
He was trying his best to be good. What more did she want?
Henry glanced at his son, his expression stiff with disappointment, then back at Victoria. She was so cold to her son yet so gentle and patient with other children.
She really didn't seem to understand her place.