Chapter 77

Victoria's chest heaved with anger, her eyes red with hatred as Nora once again used this to threaten her.

It seemed that once Nora had something on her, she could control her forever, constantly tormenting her.

Victoria suddenly calmed down, staring coldly at Nora, and slowly said, "Do you think I'll be afraid of that?"

A mocking smile appeared on Victoria's lips, her eyes sharp as if they were laced with blades.

Nora's heart pounded; she had never seen Victoria like this, as if she had suddenly become a different person.

She stammered in panic, "Don't scare me!"

Victoria sneered, "So there are times when you're afraid of me?"

She picked up the phone with the shattered screen, tried it, and found it still barely usable.

She swiped through it, opened her private Instagram, and scrolled to a post from a few years ago.

She clicked on the picture and held it up to Nora's face, saying, "Look for yourself."

Nora leaned in, puzzled, and when she saw the photo on the screen, she was stunned.

It was Bobby's winning piece from the national art competition, but Victoria had posted it long before he entered the contest.

"You didn't know, did you? I've always had a habit of recording my work on Instagram. If Bobby doesn't return the painting to me, I'll expose that he stole my work to enter the competition. Let's see if he can ever make it in the art world again."

Nora shouted furiously, "Victoria, you're despicable!"

"Despicable? I'm nothing compared to your precious son, who steals as if it's second nature," Victoria retorted sarcastically. "Didn't you say you wanted to go down together? Fine, you expose me for seducing men, and I'll expose your son for stealing my work. Neither of us will come out unscathed."

Nora was speechless, glaring at Victoria with gritted teeth, "What will it take for you to let Bobby go?"

Victoria sneered, "Unless Bobby kneels before me, admits his mistake, and returns the painting, I won't let this go!"

"You, you're delusional!" Nora was furious, her face turning red.

Victoria sneered, "In that case, let's go down together."

Nora gritted her teeth in anger, "Victoria, don't push me!"

"You pushed me first," Victoria said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

Nora trembled with rage, "Fine, fine. You're ruthless!"

Victoria no longer wanted to waste words with her and turned to leave, heading to the police station to report the incident.

As she stepped out of the hospital room, Nora suddenly shouted, "Wait!"

Victoria stopped and turned to look at her.

Nora stared at her without blinking, then suddenly bent her knees and knelt before Victoria.

"Mom!" Victoria's pupils contracted in shock, unable to believe what she was seeing.

She rushed over to help her up.

Nora was sobbing uncontrollably, choking out, "Victoria, I'm begging you, please spare Bobby! The teacher from the training team at the University of Aesthetics Shine said his technique is fine but his expressiveness is lacking. If he wants to get into the training team, he needs to submit a decent piece."

She continued, tears streaming down her face, "Please help him this one last time. If he can get into the University of Aesthetics Shine, I'll do anything you ask."

Victoria stared blankly at Nora.

She never expected Nora to kneel before her for Bobby.

Where did that leave her, as her daughter?

Nora wiped her tears and continued to plead, "I know I've wronged you in the past. You're a forgiving person, please help him this one last time. I promise I won't trouble you again."

Victoria's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms, leaving five clear marks.

She closed her eyes, forcing back her tears.

After a long while, she opened her eyes, her expression indifferent, and said, "Mom, this is the last time I'll help him. From now on, we won't interfere with each other. I hope you keep your promise and don't trouble me again."

Her voice was light, as if it could dissipate at any moment.

Nora's face lit up with joy, and she quickly agreed.

She had originally thought Victoria would make a big fuss. But to her surprise, as soon as she knelt down, Victoria backed down. She was secretly relieved that she knew how to be both flexible and resilient.

Victoria gave her one last deep look before turning and quickly leaving the hospital room.

She feared that if she delayed any longer, she would break down and cry in front of Nora, questioning why she treated her this way.

After all, she was her biological daughter.

But Victoria knew that even if she cried herself to death in front of Nora, she wouldn't be moved in the slightest.

Victoria had never understood so deeply as she did now that Nora didn't love her, not one bit.

She was just a pawn to be used and discarded at will.

Victoria walked slowly on her way home, unable to hold back her tears any longer. She covered her face and squatted by the roadside, sobbing uncontrollably.

Passersby stopped to watch, but Victoria seemed oblivious.

When she was too tired to cry, she sat on the steps by the roadside, letting the wind blow through her disheveled hair.

After a long time, she composed herself, took out her phone with the broken screen, and dialed Samuel's number.

The phone rang for a while before it was answered, and a familiar, deep, and sexy voice came through, gently asking, "Victoria, what's wrong?"

Victoria sniffled, her voice hoarse, and asked softly, "Samuel, I can't participate in the art association's competition."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end before Samuel's warm voice came through, "Can you tell me why?"

Victoria hesitated for a moment before slowly explaining the situation to him.

"I'm sorry, Samuel, I've let you down," Victoria choked out.

Samuel's voice came through the phone, a low sigh, "Victoria, whether you participate or not, I believe you have the talent to win."

Hearing his encouragement and praise, Victoria's nose stung even more, "Thank you, Samuel."

Samuel sighed again, "Victoria, there's no need for thanks between us, but I have a suggestion for you. Would you like to hear it?"

Victoria immediately nodded, "Okay."

"The competition doesn't limit the type of artwork. Although there are only a few days left until the competition deadline, and there's no time to paint a large oil painting, you could try using sketches; it might have unexpected results," Samuel suggested.