Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 109

Victoria’s breathing was slow and regular when she slept. Alaric walked to

the other side of the bed from where she had turned her back to him and

saw that she really was asleep, and extremely soundly at that.

He raised his hand to touch where he had been slapped, feeling dazed. If

his cheek wasn’t still stinging, he would have wondered if the entire fiasco

had been a dream. After all, how could someone be angry one second and

fall asleep without any hesitation the next? Victoria had changed far too

much, so much so that he almost couldn’t recognize her anymore.

He felt restless since some of his emotions couldn’t be vented, yet he

couldn’t say anything after seeing her sleeping peacefully. He even made

his steps lighter when he eventually left the side of the bed and soon

settled on the couch outside. It was already midnight, but his brain was

wide awake as he kept replaying what Norwood had said to him before

leaving.

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Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

When they left the bar, Norwood had stopped him. “If you can’t understand

it, I’ll change the question.”

Alaric had been feeling unsettled and he glared sideways at Norwood. Even

though the former’s expression and gaze were filled with impatience, he

did not step away.

9

Norwood chuckled as he stated, “It’s easy. Just think about whether you can

tolerate Victoria being with other men after leaving you.”

Alaric frowned in irritation. “Norwood, what exactly do you want to say?”

“Can you tolerate it if Victoria hugs and kisses other men, or does whatever

couples do with them?”

Alaric couldn’t help frowning at the mention of hugging, not to mention the

rest. By the time Norwood had finished speaking, there was clear anger in

Alaric’s gaze.

Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

As if already expecting this, Norwood smiled slightly. “I was merely being

rhetorical, yet you have become this furious. How will you turn out when

that really happens, Alaric? Don’t wait until things can no longer be

salvaged and regret it afterward.”

If that really happens? Victoria is extremely brilliant and will have plenty of

admirers after becoming single. After being freed from her marriage, she

will be with someone else once she finds an ideal suitor. How can any man

control himself when he’s with her? They will surely…

Just the thought of it made Alaric clench his fists. After some time, he

leaned backward and lay his head on the couch before closing his eyes in

exhaustion. Meanwhile, Victoria slept soundly the entire time in the

bedroom.

She felt energized and refreshed when she woke up the following morning.

The minor interlude that had happened the night before had been

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Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

forgotten as she sat up and stretched. She was about to get off the bed to

wash up when she suddenly saw Alaric, who had been sitting on the couch.

Their gazes met and Victoria could see how bloodshot his eyes were. She

paused. Did he sit here the entire night without sleeping? If he did not

sleep, does this mean he has been sitting there staring at me the whole

time? The thought was scary.

Alaric knew they had to bring his grandmother to the hospital, but he

hadn’t slept at all during the night. In the end, she chose not to reprimand

him. After all, it was his dear grandmother and he should have considered

that. After coming to a decision, she got to her feet to prepare herself for the

day.

When she came out of the bathroom after finishing her routine, she saw

that he was still sitting on the couch and couldn’t help reminding him,

“Uh… Aren’t you going to wash up? We need to take your grandma for a

check–up.”

Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

A hint of impatience flashed in Alaric’s eyes before he got up. “I know. I

don’t need you to remind me.”

He then walked past her and into the bathroom. Victoria was speechless

upon hearing that. However, she reminded herself to keep calm as there

were only a few days left.

Due to her restful sleep, she had no dark circles under her eyes. As such,

she decided to skip her makeup routine, going straight downstairs once she

had changed her clothes. When she came down the stairs, she discovered

that Alaric’s parents were also in the living room and talking with Griselda,

who was in a wheelchair.

Victoria wasn’t taken aback at the sight of them because they had

mentioned the night before that they would come today. They hadn’t been

able to catch their flight due to it being delayed when the operation was

being considered. Even though Griselda hadn’t gone into the operating

theater, they had felt guilty about it and returned earlier. They had arrived

early that morning even though they didn’t know if an operation was

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Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

needed that day.

Victoria had just come down the stairs when she heard Griselda say to her

son and daughter–in–law, “You are extremely occupied with your business

matters, so you don’t have to rush back here just for this if you don’t have

any free time. I’m old anyway, so no one will probably care if I die on the

operating table.”

Before hearing the second half, Victoria had thought Griselda was being

genuine, but she promptly realized that the elderly woman was just being

condescending. She thought to herself, Grandma can be rather cute at

times.

Mary, who had been playing with and studying the teacup on the couch,

quickly put down the teapot and got up to kneel before Griselda. She held

the elderly woman’s hands as she murmured, “Mom, what are you talking

about? Our business may be important, but it is not as important as you are.

You take up the most important position in Adrian’s heart as well as mine,

and nothing can ever compare to you.”

Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

Mary was just as Victoria had imagined her to be, but Griselda withdrew

her hand with a scornful look. “Do you think I will believe such fanciful

words?”

“Oh, Mom. If just a few fanciful words don’t have much effect, I’ll continue

saying them all the way to the hospital.”

“That’s enough. I’ll just complain about you being noisy if you do that.”

Griselda looked disgusted but there was a smile lingering on her lips.

Victoria felt truly envious as she watched the scene unfold. Mary seemed

able to resolve such circumstances well no matter how bad the person’s

mood was by perfectly restoring the atmosphere. How capable of her!

Victoria herself didn’t have such abilities.

“Victoria?” Griselda saw Victoria and called out to her.

Mary recovered and followed Griselda’s gaze to find Victoria standing there.

Her exquisite face looked delighted. “Victoria.”

Chapter 109 Can You Tolerate Her Leaving You

Victoria smiled at Mary, forcing a smile despite feeling shy, and greeted

everyone. “Good morning, Grandma. Mom and Dad, why have you come so

early?”

Adrian was a very emotionally–reserved person but he had watched

Victoria grow up. Their families were extremely close, and she was almost

like a daughter to him. She had eventually become his daughter–in–law,

making Adrian and her father related and thus bringing the two families

even closer.

He nodded and gave her a sincere smile. “I was worried about traffic, so I

came earlier with Mary.”

Mary came forward and hugged Victoria. “Victoria, sorry for troubling you

all this time. I heard that you have been responsible for taking care of

Mom.”