Chapter 164
Hearing this, Victoria's mind raced with anxiety.
The Xandria mob-those guys were ruthless, cold-blooded killers!
Victoria instinctively grabbed William's arm. "What do we do? Do they want money? I can sell my villa right now if it helps."
She was so terrified that she could barely form a coherent sentence.
William frowned, holding her hand in return. "Don't panic. This started because of my aunt. If it's just money they want, I'll pay whatever it takes. I've already sent someone to negotiate with their leader. We should have news by tomorrow."
Victoria exhaled deeply, trying to control her emotions and stopped asking questions.
When she finally calmed down, she noticed that William was still holding her hand. His palm was warm and dry.
She quickly pulled her hand back, her face pale. "Thanks for helping with my dad."
William looked at her for a moment, then composed himself and said calmly, "You're welcome. You must be hungry. Let me take you to get something to eat."
Victoria wanted to refuse but knew that if she didn't eat properly, she wouldn't be able to help rescue Alvin and might even become a burden to William.
She pressed her lips together and nodded in agreement.
Nightfall in Xandria always came suddenly. Just after six, the sky was already enveloped in thick darkness.
William and Victoria went to a nearby restaurant.
They had just sat down when William's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and stood up. "You go ahead and order. I need to take this call."
"Okay," Victoria replied softly.
Through the window, Victoria could see William standing under a streetlamp, talking on the phone.
The dim light stretched his figure, and he occasionally rubbed his forehead, clearly troubled by the conversation.
The streets of Xandria were bustling with activity, filled with people from all walks of life.
Street vendors in traditional attire loudly hawked various snacks and handmade goods, while many foreign tourists, with large backpacks, excitedly took photos.
William stood tall and handsome under the streetlamp, drawing the attention of many passersby, both women and men.
Seeing William's impatient responses, Victoria momentarily forgot their past grievances and her current worries, a slight smile tugging at her lips.
William turned and caught sight of her smile, a softness appearing in his eyes.
It had been a long time since he had seen her smile.
Victoria noticed his gaze, and her smile froze. She quickly looked away, avoiding his eyes.
William felt a dull ache in his chest. He looked away and walked back into the restaurant.
Just then, a man approached Victoria with a fawning smile. "Miss, are you here for sightseeing too?"
"I am..." Victoria began to explain.
The restaurant door swung open, and William strode in.
He stepped in front of Victoria, giving the man a cold look. "Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem. Sorry to bother you." The man quickly realized William was not to be trifled with and scurried away.
William sat down, picking up his utensils, and said seriously to Victoria, "Xandria is a chaotic place. Be very careful when strangers approach you."
He looked at her intently. "Here, some people might be after more than just your money or your pretty face. They might want..."
He paused, lowering his voice, "your organs."
Victoria felt a chill run down her spine, fear gripping her.
Before coming to Xandria, she had heard about the dangers, but experiencing it firsthand was far more terrifying than she had imagined.
Seeing her fear, William's tone softened slightly. "Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Victoria looked up at William and nodded silently.
The food arrived, filling the table with local dishes.
But Victoria had no appetite. She tried a few bites, but the strong spices and unfamiliar flavors were hard to swallow.
Seeing this, William frowned and, without a word, got up and headed to the kitchen.
A short while later, he returned with a steaming bowl of spaghetti.
Victoria stared at the spaghetti in surprise, then looked at William suspiciously. "Do they serve this here?"
William, hiding his slightly burned hands behind his back, said calmly, "I asked the chef to make it. It looks pretty good."
Victoria blinked, then hesitantly took a bite.
The rich tomato flavor filled her mouth, the pasta was tender and smooth, and the delicious taste spread across her tongue. She couldn't help but take another bite.
William watched her eat with satisfaction, a small smile playing on his lips.
After dinner, they returned to their room.
As soon as they entered, Victoria's phone rang. She saw it was Samuel.
William noticed too, his expression darkening instantly.
That Samuel, always lurking around.
He stood aside, arms crossed, watching Victoria intently.
Victoria walked to the window, turning slightly to avoid William's gaze, and answered the call.
Before she could speak, Samuel's gentle, concerned voice came through. "Victoria, how are you? Are you okay?"
Hearing his familiar, warm voice, Victoria's facade of strength crumbled, her eyes reddening. It took her a moment to choke out, "I'm fine."
Samuel sensed something was wrong and quickly asked, "Victoria, are you crying?"
Hearing Samuel's voice, Victoria's nose tingled with emotion.
She tried to control her feelings, sniffing. "No, I'm just a bit tired."
Samuel comforted her softly, "Don't be scared. I'll fly over in a few days to be with you. Which city are you in?"
Victoria hesitated, not wanting to involve Samuel. "No need, Samuel. Really, don't trouble yourself. We have a lead, and we should be able to return in a few days. Don't worry."
Samuel understood she didn't want him to come and sighed, giving in. "Alright, but take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay, don't worry." Victoria hung up and was about to wipe her tears.
Before she could react, a strong hand grabbed her neck, pressing her against the wall.
Victoria's eyes widened in shock, seeing William's jealous face inches from hers.
"William, what are you doing?" Victoria struggled in fear.
William ignored her, leaning in and kissing her fiercely.