Chapter 21

William stared at the painting for what felt like forever. He finally tore his eyes away and glanced at the small bookshelf crammed with books, mostly about painting and art sales.

He picked one up and noticed that every book was filled with Victoria's notes, her handwriting neat and elegant, each page brimming with insights and reflections.

She must really love painting and her job at Starry Studio Gallery. Thinking this, William felt a weird sensation in his chest, making him second-guess what he was about to do.

But that doubt vanished the moment he saw the photos, most of which were of Victoria and Alvin, with Victoria smiling shyly and Alvin looking all gentle.

A few were of her with Nora and Bobby, with Nora and Bobby holding hands intimately, while Victoria stood off to the side like she didn't belong.

But she had these photos in a prominent spot and kept them clean, clearly cherishing them.

When William saw Alvin, a wave of hatred and disgust washed over him, and his eyes turned icy.

As his gaze shifted to the wall, he saw it was covered with notes and schedules from when Victoria was his secretary. It was packed with meticulous records of his schedule and preferences, showing she hadn't had time to clear them out. Among these busy records was a drawing of him with a pig's head-not a cute pink pig, but a fierce wild boar with tusks!

William sneered, wanting to tear the drawing to shreds and toss it in the trash, but for some reason, he lowered his hand. He thought, 'Forget it. The drawing is actually pretty good; it'd be a shame to ruin it.'

After their encounter, he felt a bit hungry and turned to the fridge to find something to eat. But the fridge was almost empty, just canned food and instant noodles, no other ingredients.

There wasn't a single bag of chips, chocolate, or any snacks that young girls usually liked. No fresh fruit or milk either. Hard to believe this was the home of a girl who had just turned 20. No wonder Victoria always looked so thin.

Thinking of this, William was overwhelmed by a strange mix of emotions, which robbed him of his appetite. He tossed the cigarette he was holding aside, walked to the bedroom door, opened it a crack, and stared at Victoria on the bed.

Her body was curled up, her legs tightly clamped together in a posture that exuded both fear and vulnerability. Tears streaked her delicate face, making her appear heartbreakingly pitiful.

William felt a pang in his heart, and his throat tightened. He admitted that although he loathed her, he liked her body. Even after just finishing, he could feel his desire stirring again. But seeing her like this now, he thought, 'It's better to just forget about it.'

William walked into the room, closed the door, took off his clothes, and got into bed. Victoria, half-asleep, vaguely felt something warm next to her. Feeling cold and tired, she instinctively moved closer to the warmth.

William's body tensed, but he didn't pull away.

Victoria murmured in her sleep, "So warm."

William looked down at her peaceful face and felt a tenderness he hadn't expected. He pulled Victoria into his arms, lowering his head to press his lips gently against her soft hair. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the faint, sweet scent of her hair, feeling himself getting lost in it.

The next morning, Victoria opened her eyes to see a handsome face.

William's eyes were closed, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his eye sockets. His chiseled features, with a straight and well-defined nose, were like a sculpture. However, this charming appearance filled Victoria with terror.

"Why are you still here!" Victoria screamed, breaking free from his embrace, and jumped out of bed, throwing a pillow at him.

William was awakened and opened his sleepy eyes impatiently. "Are you crazy?" William shouted.

"Get out of my bedroom! I hate you!" Victoria shouted, her eyes red.

William narrowed his gem-like eyes, staring at her dangerously, and sternly snapped, "Say that to me one more time!"

Victoria gritted her teeth and said, "This is my home! I don't want to see you here! Please leave!"

William's face suddenly darkened. Victoria was only obedient when she was asleep! He suddenly grabbed Victoria's slender shoulders, pinning her against the wall, and warned her word by word, "Victoria, do you know who you're talking to? You're just my sugar baby, what right do you have to order me around?"

"We've already done!" Victoria glared at him angrily and said, "William, I'm not your property, I'm a person!"

William sneered, "Aren't you someone who can be paid to have sex? Why are you pretending to be chaste now? When I fucked you in the bathroom, didn't you moan with pleasure?"

His tone was mocking and disdainful, as if Victoria was just a cheap prostitute in front of him. Trembling with anger and almost consumed by rage, Victoria couldn't take it anymore and slapped him hard. The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the room, and both of them were stunned.

William touched his right cheek, his deep eyes filled with intense fury, and coldly said, "You're asking for it!"

Victoria realized she had made a big mistake in her impulsiveness. She closed her eyes, trembling, bracing herself for the storm of blows.

But the expected pain never came. She slowly opened one eye and saw William's fist suspended in mid-air, not coming down. His face was livid, his eyes cold, and veins bulging on his forehead.

Victoria was terrified, trembling.

William glared at her fiercely before turning and slamming the door as he left. The loud bang made the entire door shake, causing Victoria to tremble all over.

Victoria let out a sigh of relief and collapsed on the bed.

William stormed downstairs, where Harry was already waiting with the car at the door. His face was dark, and he said nothing as he opened the back door and got in.

Seeing William's grim expression, Harry quickly asked, "Mr. Scott, what happened?"

William said, "Get in touch with Mr. Simpson and tell him I accept his offer."

Harry frowned and said, "That amount is enough to buy out an entire top-tier gallery, yet he's only offering half the shares..."

"Enough," William snapped, his face growing darker. "Get it done."

"Got it," Harry replied, not daring to question further, and sped off.