Chapter 115
They were close, but the only thing that filled the air between them was the sterile scent of disinfectant in the hospital.
Victoria stared at his sharp, handsome face, and suddenly, her eyes welled up with tears.
She bit down hard on her lip, turned her face away, and refused to look at him.
Henry froze. His hand hovered awkwardly in mid–air, his gaze following the subtle shift in her emotions.
She had been cold and distant just moments ago, but now, her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked like she was on the verge of tears, desperately holding them back.
Strangely, his heart tightened as if someone was squeezing it hard, leaving him breathless.
Slowly, he stood upright, his gaze lingering on her pale profile. His voice softened without him even realizing it. "Are you hungry?"
Victoria didn't answer him. She was afraid that if she spoke, her emotions would spill over.
The tightness in Henry's chest grew more intense. He pulled out his phone and called Grace, instructing her to bring back dinner.
Then, he moved to the window. The sky had darkened, and the city lights flickered on, but his mind remained troubled, grappling with the discomfort he couldn't shake.
After a long pause, he finally said, "Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Hardwick Villa to rest until you're fully recovered."
"I'm not going," came the muffled reply from behind him, laced with clear resistance.
Henry countered, "The reason you jumped from the car is likely tied to your mother. Since it's her fault, she should be the one to take responsibility and care for you until you're well. Won't you feel worse if you don't go back?"
Victoria froze, her gaze meeting his as she turned to look at him.
Her eyes were still red, with a faint sheen of tears threatening to spill. Currently, she felt a sense of confusion wash over her.
She had always thought the solution to the issue was for her to apologize to Sarah.
They had always stood united. But now, he was telling her it wasn't the case. He even had Camille take on the responsibility of looking after her.
Even though she hadn't explained why she jumped from the car, he was quick to place the blame on Camille.
Victoria felt lost and helpless. Gazing at the tall, handsome man before her, she felt like she was looking at a stranger.
At that moment, he stepped closer, wiping away the tears from the corner of her eyes.
For some reason, he felt the warmth of her tears, almost like it burned his hand and seared into his heart. He didn't want to see her cry.
She was supposed to be lively and cheerful, even if it meant arguing or defying him. That energy and that spark of hers was what he wanted to see.
He didn't want to see her like this–fragile and vulnerable, holding back her hurt while her eyes were red with unshed tears.
"Victoria, you're my wife. I won't let anyone hurt you. So, stop thinking about divorce and accept your role as Mrs. Harrison."
The confusion in Victoria's eyes vanished in an instant.
Oh, right. Compared to her, he cared more about her being Mrs. Harrison. After all, that title represented his reputation. If she was bullied, that meant the other party was indirectly stepping on him as well.
He would take revenge, but did he realize that the one who hurt her the most was him?
She lowered her gaze, pulling away from his touch. His words didn't sit well with her, and she could feel her resolve getting stronger.
She couldn't stay as his wife. She wanted a divorce.
Grace quickly returned with the two kids, setting up a small table and placing the takeout on it.
Victoria sat upright, picked up her cutlery, and began eating. After everything that went down, she was famished.
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Victoria looked up in confusion, only to see a smiling Hendrick walking in with a bouquet.
"Vika, I didn't expect something like this to happen to you. I was so shocked when I heard the news that I dropped everything at work and rushed over. How are you? Are you seriously injured?"
Hendrick's visit surprised Victoria, especially since they had had an unpleasant history. However, she quickly realized his intentions.
Hendrick's gaze kept drifting toward Henry.
Victoria remained calm. "I'm fine."
Hendrick seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. Don't worry about work. I've already coordinated with the manager, and we've freed up enough time for you to focus on recovery."
Changing the subject, he looked at Henry. "Mr. Harrison, Vika is truly dedicated to her work. The photos she takes are full of life and absolutely stunning. There's a lot that I need to learn from her."
Hendrick's demeanor shifted entirely when he turned to Henry, his obsequiousness now blatantly obvious.
He had previously suspected that Henry and Victoria's relationship might not be harmonious, but seeing Henry stay by her side, he realized his assumption was wrong.
Now, his strategy was to flatter Victoria and gain Henry's favor. If he could win both of their support, his career in the entertainment industry would undoubtedly be bright.
Henry shot Hendrick a cold glance, his mind flashing back to the trending photos he had seen earlier.
Hendrick's attempt to get close to Victoria and the way he looked at her rubbed Henry the wrong way.
"Who are you?" Henry's voice was cold.
"My name is Hendrick Andrew, Mr. Harrison," Hendrick quickly introduced himself, his excitement bubbling up inside. He couldn't believe an influential figure like Henry was taking notice of him. Hendrick thought if he could land a role in a movie, his career would skyrocket.
"I don't know you," Henry replied, his tone growing colder. "If you're an actor, you should focus on your work. Do you even have the skills? Did you even finish your training?"
Hendrick froze, his face turning red with discomfort.
At this time, Grace said, "Mr. Andrew, Mrs. Harrison still needs rest. You should leave now."
Realizing he was no longer welcome here, Hendrick quickly placed the flowers down and said, "Vika, get well soon."
Hendrick quickly left.
Grace stepped out and closed the door behind her, ensuring no one else would enter the room unannounced.
Victoria had eaten nearly half of her meal when she suddenly felt Henry's cold gaze fixed on her face.
She looked at him in confusion.
"You two are close?" Henry asked in a low voice.
Victoria asked, "How did you conclude that?"
Upon hearing this, his expression darkened. She had regained her composure. That tearful, fragile version of her from earlier was gone. He thought, "She should definitely consider acting."
As it got late, Victoria persuaded Emma to go home and rest. The little girl hesitated at first, but seeing the small bed and realizing she needed care herself, she reluctantly left.
Victoria lay back down, and just as she settled in, the door opened, signaling Henry's return.
"Aren't you leaving?" she asked, puzzled.
Henry's sharp features remained unreadable as he replied, "Aren't you sleeping? You want to do something fun instead?"
"He's nuts!" Victoria cursed internally before turning to the other side of the bed and closed her eyes.
Henry quickly washed up and when he came out of the bathroom, he found her already asleep.
As he observed her more closely, he noticed how worn out she looked.
Thinking back to her pitiful state earlier, he felt his heart tighten as if an invisible hand had squeezed it, leaving him with a feeling of discomfort and frustration.