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Novel Catalog
Chapter 32
Rebecca’s delicate features twitched with a hint of discomfort as she quickly composed herself. “Of course not, Victor. It’s just… a bit unexpected. You’ve been gone for a while,” she said in her usual sweet tone, though there was an underlying sharpness to her words.
Victor’s cold eyes remained fixed on her, his expression unreadable. He could see through her false charm, the way she always tried to manipulate situations for her own gain. His relationship with her had always been strained, and he wasn’t in the mood for her games tonight.
“Unexpected?” Victor’s voice was low and controlled, carrying a subtle mockery. “You always seem so surprised to see me, but isn’t it your role to act surprised and be sweet, Rebecca?”
Rebecca’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. “Victor, don’t be like that. You know I only want the best for you, don’t you?” Her voice took on a sickly-sweet tone, designed to appeal to his sense of family, though she knew full well that she could never truly win his trust.
Victor didn’t respond immediately. His eyes shifted to his father, Phillip, who had remained silent up until now. Phillip’s stern gaze was as sharp as ever, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes as he observed Victor. It was clear to anyone who knew the family that Phillip had always been a man of few words, but his disapproval could be felt in the air.
“I’m not here for small talk,” Victor said, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. “Where is mother?” he asked, his tone softening just a fraction. His eyes softened, but there was a sadness in them, a longing that he rarely allowed anyone to see.
Rebecca looked taken aback, and for a moment, she hesitated before answering. “Your mother is no longer with us, Victor.” Her words were almost too casual, as if she were speaking about something trivial, but her words hit Victor like a cold wave.
He had known the truth for years, of course. His mother had passed away when he was young, leaving him with only memories of her warmth and love. But hearing Rebecca’s indifference to her death always stung, as if she hadn’t truly cared about the woman who had been his mother.
Victor didn’t let his emotions show, though. Instead, he nodded curtly and walked further into the room, his gaze falling on the family sitting there. He’d long since learned to ignore the tension between them.
“Where’s Delmont?” Victor asked, his voice quieter now, though the sharpness remained. He hadn’t seen his younger brother yet, and for some reason, he felt the need to check on him.
“Delmont is upstairs in his study, working,” Rebecca replied, still trying to sound welcoming, though Victor could sense the tension in her voice. “He’s been focused on his business lately.”
Victor nodded, but his mind wasn’t really on the family dynamics anymore. He couldn’t shake the image of Eden and Jasper, walking side by side, so effortlessly happy. A strange feeling gnawed at him. It wasn’t just jealousy, but something deeper—something he couldn’t quite identify.
After a moment of silence, Victor turned to leave the living room. “I’ll be in my study,” he said, not waiting for a response. As he walked out of the room, he could hear Rebecca’s voice rise in protest, but he ignored it. He needed space to think.
As he walked down the hallway toward his study, his mind returned to Eden. The way she had looked at him earlier—there had been something in her eyes. Was she the one? Was she really the person he had been searching for all these years?
Victor’s thoughts were a tangled mess, but one thing was clear: he couldn’t let her slip away. He had to find out who she truly was, and if she was indeed the missing piece of his past.
As he entered his study and closed the door behind him, he sat down at his desk, his fingers brushing over the papers scattered before him. He needed answers. He needed to know what Eden’s connection was to everything, and why she had this pull on his heart.
And then, there was Jasper. That man who had been with Eden tonight—what was his relationship to her? Victor’s instincts told him that Jasper wasn’t just a friend, but he couldn’t afford to jump to conclusions just yet. He would get answers, no matter what it took.
For the first time in a long while, Victor felt a sense of purpose, a burning determination that made his blood run hot. He wouldn’t rest until he uncovered the truth.