Chapter 47

Victoria looked down and murmured, "Thanks, Elara."

"Not at all, Victoria. Let's eat," Elara said, giving her shoulder a gentle pat.

Later, Victoria gathered her stuff and headed to work. Before she left, she gave Elara a tight hug.

"Elara, thanks a lot," she said.

Elara was taken aback for a second. She softly stroked Victoria's hair and reassured her, "You're welcome, Victoria; just focus on your job."

After Victoria left, Elara started sorting through Victoria's seasonal clothes.

Since the weather was nice, she decided to wash Victoria's bedding and other laundry.

While she was busy, there was a sudden loud knock on the door.

Elara frowned.

Could it be some kid messing around?

She sighed, opened the door, ready to give the person a piece of her mind.

To her surprise, standing at the door were Ella and Willow, both dressed to the nines.

They had planned to ruin Victoria's reputation through Lyra.

But they didn't expect Joshua to show up and wreck their plan.

So they had lost millions of dollars for nothing.

Ella and Willow weren't about to let this slide.

With the wedding coming up, they were even more frustrated with nowhere to vent their anger.

Seeing all their schemes fail, Ella and Willow feared that if they tried anything more drastic, William would get really mad and call off the wedding. After a long discussion, they decided to confront Victoria directly. Whether by bribery or threats, they were determined to make her leave William, and even if it caused a scene, they were confident it wouldn't affect them.

So Ella and Willow went straight to Victoria's house and rang the doorbell.

Elara didn't recognize Ella and Willow and thought they were Victoria's friends because of their fancy clothes.

So she politely asked, "Are you here to see Victoria?"

In a fit of rage, Willow just ignored Elara. She shoved her aside and yelled, "Where's that bitch Victoria? Get her out here!"

Elara was almost knocked over by the sudden push.

Hearing Willow call Victoria a bitch, she immediately glared.

"Who are you? How dare you insult Victoria!" Elara demanded sternly.

"Who we are is none of your business! I just want to know where that slut Victoria is! Get her out here!" Ella pointed at Victoria's room and screamed.

Elara, usually calm, couldn't take it anymore.

She grabbed Willow's arm and shouted, "Leave now, or I'll call the cops!"

Elara's actions made Willow even angrier.

"Call the cops? That's a joke!" Willow laughed and continued, "Go ahead. Let's see if they arrest us or that slut Victoria for seducing my daughter's fiancé! Shameless!"

Elara wiped the spit off her face in disgust and said, "You must be mistaken. Victoria isn't like that!"

"If not her, then who?" Ella sneered, "She's been sleeping with my fiancé countless times as his secretary and taking a lot of money from him every month to treat her mother. How do you think a little secretary can afford to keep her mother in the hospital?"

Elara's face went rigid, and she started to wonder if Ella and Willow might be telling the truth.

But she stubbornly defended Victoria, "You're lying! Victoria isn't like that!"

"You're still defending that bitch!" Ella fumed. "Do you think I won't trash this place right now?"

She started to break things, but Elara held her back.

"Let go of me!" Ella struggled angrily.

Elara gripped Ella's arm tightly and said, "Let's sit down and talk. Don't do anything crazy!"

"You bastard, blocking my way. I'll teach you a lesson today!" Ella grabbed Elara's hair and yanked hard, cursing nonstop.

Elara, usually calm, was completely enraged by Ella's actions.

She lunged at Ella, and they started fighting.

Elara tried to scratch Ella's face, while Ella flailed her arms to fend her off.

Seeing Ella fighting, Willow couldn't just stand by and rushed to help.

She grabbed Elara's arm and cursed, "Mind your own business! Today, you'll see just how powerful we can be!"

Ella pulled Elara's arm forcefully and occasionally shoved her.

Willow and Ella beat Elara badly.

Finally, the community security called the police.

Meanwhile, Victoria had been busy working all day. Her throat was sore, so she didn't go out to greet customers.

Instead, she was adjusting the display of her works and organizing materials.

After a long day, she had just sat down to rest when she got a message from a stranger claiming to be Elara's son.

Victoria immediately took a cab to the hospital.

Elara was badly injured, with a gash on her forehead, a twisted waist, and bruises and scratches all over her body, looking very frightening.

Seeing Elara, who had been so full of energy in the morning, now in such a state, brought tears to Victoria's eyes.

She held Elara's swollen and bruised hand and said hoarsely, "Elara..."

"Why are you crying?" Elara lay in bed, enduring the pain. She said, "Don't worry. They didn't get away unscathed. I scratched their faces!" Elara showed a hint of pride.

Hearing Elara's words, Victoria cried even harder.

She choked, "I'm sorry. It's all because of me that you got hurt so badly."

"Silly girl." Elara lovingly stroked Victoria's long hair and comforted her, "Stop crying. I'm fine. But your voice sounds hoarse. What's wrong?"

"Elara, I'm fine! Don't lie to me." Victoria shook her head, crying uncontrollably. "You're bleeding so much. It must be very painful."

"Really, I'm fine." Elara forced a smile, sighed, and gently held her hand, "Victoria, I know it's not really my place to say this, but since you don't have any family at home and I think of you as my own child, I'll say a few words. Don't take it to heart if I'm wrong."

"Elara..." Victoria sniffled.

Elara continued, "Although we haven't known each other for long, I understand your character and integrity. I believe you're not that kind of person, so there must be another reason for your relationship with Mr. Scott."