Chapter 6: Victoria Agrees to Break Off the Engagement
Victoria leaned against the corridor wall outside Clara's ward with one leg propped up.
She didn't move until Lucas's tall figure appeared. Then she straightened up.
"Victoria, you've really let me down," Lucas's cold voice cut through the air. "Why do you keep trying to kill Clara?"
"Clara's always had your back. Don't you feel any shame?"
The more he spoke, the angrier he got.
"Lucas, who are you to lecture me? Her fiancé? Or her lover?" Victoria shot back. "Why don't you ask Clara what she did to make me this way?"
"Clara's fragile. What could she possibly do to you? She's always defended you."
"And did anyone ask if I needed her defense?" Victoria refuted.
Lucas's anger flared. "You're despicable. Without Clara, you wouldn't even be standing here."
"So I should thank her?" Victoria retorted.
"Yes, you should."
Victoria ignored him. "If she dies, I'll visit her grave."
Lucas couldn't believe what he was hearing. It was clear she hated Clara because he loved Clara.
"Victoria, I've told you, I love Clara. Stop being so stubborn; it will only make me hate you more."
"Who you love is none of my business. I don't love you," Victoria replied emotionlessly.
Lucas felt a pang of discomfort. "What do you mean?"
"It means the engagement is off, but I'm the one calling it off, not you.
"Remember, keep Clara away from me, or I'll beat her every time I see her!" Victoria warned.
"Victoria, how dare you talk to me like that?" Lucas demanded.
Victoria ignored him. "If you want to protect your fragile girlfriend, keep her away from me!"
With that, she turned and left.
The next morning, the media announced that Victoria Kennedy and Lucas Tudor had called off their engagement.
Everyone knew Victoria was a vicious woman, and the Tudor family would never agree to her marrying Lucas.
But surprisingly, it was Victoria who had called it off, not the Tudors. This left everyone shocked.
In the comments section, people were fiercely discussing:
[Such an ungrateful person, always framing her sister. How could she be worthy of Mr. Tudor?]
[Right, I heard she even tried to steal her sister's boyfriend. Shameless!]
[I think Mr. Tudor and Clara Kennedy are a perfect match.]
[If Clara gets with Mr. Tudor, she'll probably be scolded.]
[Everyone, check out Victoria's Instagram.]
Victoria's latest post: three dots, accompanied by a high-def picture of a green salad.
[Is she implying she got cheated on?]
[So she called off the engagement because Mr. Tudor cheated.]
[That picture is so fitting.]
[Everything is implied, what a tactic.]
[The hint is very clear.]
[That salad is really green.]
When Lucas saw the post, the topic had already blown up online.
He never expected Victoria to pull such a move.
She had called off the engagement, but now it was impossible to publicly announce his relationship with Clara anytime soon, or they would be attacked by netizens.
Lucas was driving to work when his phone rang. It was his father, Felix Tudor.
"Lucas, get Victoria to delete that post immediately. She's making us look bad," Felix barked.
"I understand, Dad," Lucas replied, his handsome face darkening, his eyes cold.
In the passenger seat, Gavin spoke gravely, "Mr. Tudor, our stock price has dropped by two percent."
Lucas hadn't expected Victoria's Instagram post to affect the Tudor Group's stock price. If his relationship with Clara was leaked, things would get even worse.
"Contact the PR department. Get them to handle this and cool things down," Lucas ordered.
"Yes, sir," Gavin responded.
Meanwhile, at Cleveland Clinic, Clara woke up to a message from her friend, Aurora Jones. Seeing that Victoria had agreed to call off the engagement, she was extremely happy.
But her joy was short-lived. Minutes later, she saw Victoria's latest Instagram post.
"Bitch!" Clara screamed, her face twisted with anger, as she hurled her phone at the door.
Just then, Elodie walked in with breakfast.
"Clara, what's wrong? Why are you so angry this early?" Elodie asked, concerned.
Clara, seething, recounted the whole story.
Elodie's face turned ugly. Both women looked like they wanted to tear Victoria apart.
"She actually pulled such a dirty trick," Elodie spat.
Feeling panicked, Clara grabbed Elodie's hand. "Mom, what do I do? Even though Victoria called off the engagement, Lucas and I still can't be together openly."
Elodie patted her shoulder. "Clara, what have I always told you? Don't panic."
"But she—" Clara started.
Elodie cut her off sternly, "So what? As long as Lucas likes you and you have your father's and grandfather's favor, that's enough. Victoria is nothing. Everything in the Kennedy family is yours, and so is the position of the Tudor family's hostess."
A malicious smile flashed in Elodie's eyes.
"It's just a matter of time. You need to be patient. A woman's fragility is the key to making men obsessed, understand?" she advised.
Clara's emotions stabilized. Elodie was right; men liked gentle and understanding women, and Lucas was no different. As long as she played the weak card, Lucas would always side with her.
Her goal was to crush Victoria and make sure she never recovered.
Thinking about how Victoria had thrown her into that filthy pond last night made her blood boil.
Luckily, she could swim and didn't choke, and Lucas had arrived just in time.
Last night, she had deliberately left her phone in the ward and made an excuse that she wasn't feeling well, asking Lucas to come to accompany her.
Though it was a bit embarrassing, it made Lucas completely disappointed in Victoria, so it was worth it.
At the Horizon Group's office building, Victoria walked into the company at 9:15 sharp.
As she walked into the CEO's office, her assistant Wesley Miller followed her in.
"Ms. Kennedy, your Instagram post from this morning is causing quite a buzz," Wesley said.
Victoria took off her beige trench coat and hung it up, along with her bag. She pulled out a chair, sat down, and turned on her computer, completely ignoring Wesley's comment.