Edward glanced back, confirming that Victoria had already slammed the car door and stormed off. He quickly composed himself and said earnestly, "Alright, alright, I'm coming right away!"
Victoria was trembling with anger.
But this time, even she felt she was being unreasonable.
[ Don't I dislike Edward? Isn't it better if he's pestering Sophia instead of me? Why am I angry? And why did I slam his car door like that?
That door slam… wasn't that just letting him know how much I care?
But… how infuriating!
Absolutely maddening!
How could he… How could he do this?
Sophia… What does she have anyway? Isn't she just good at acting cutesy with her soft, sweet voice?
Ugh, just thinking about her makes me nauseous!
Stay away from me, both of you! I, Victoria, don't care at all! ]
She stomped forward with determination, but a tiny hope crept into her heart.
[ Will that guy chase after me to apologize?
Hmph, even if he does, I won't forgive him!
He'd better apologize properly, or I'll never let it slide! ]
Victoria walked briskly, wanting to look back but too proud to do so. Instead, she sneakily used her phone's reflective surface to glance behind her.
She spotted Edward's car following her.
She couldn't help but smile, her heart warming slightly.
[ Hold it in, Victoria!
Don't let that jerk know he has any control over your emotions! ] She thought .
The car screeched to a stop beside her. Victoria halted, crossed her arms, and coldly said, "What now? Aren't you all lovey-dovey with that Lewis family girl? Stop bothering me."
Edward replied casually, "Alright then, you can call your assistant to pick you up. I'm leaving."
Before Victoria could respond, Edward hit the gas and sped off.
Victoria stared wide-eyed as his car disappeared into the distance. She was furious.
Stomping her feet, she yelled, "Edward! You… you'll pay for this!"
.........
Edward was driving his sleek business car, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, and singing cheerfully, "Lalalaleba!"
"One heroine down. I'm a genius!"
Elizabeth's phone call had been perfectly timed.
Victoria would probably never forgive him now. Perfect!
Now, all he had to do was deal with Elizabeth next.
When he arrived at the hotel hosting the press conference, Edward immediately noticed his team anxiously waiting outside.
But they were all staring behind his car, still expecting someone to step out.
When Edward himself opened the door and stepped out, everyone was visibly shocked.
Edward was previously known for his flashy modified sports cars—over-the-top, flamboyant vehicles that screamed wealth and arrogance.
But today, he arrived in a low-profile business sedan.
And his outfit was different too.
Gone were the garish, brightly colored suits. Instead, he wore a dark, impeccably tailored business suit paired with polished Oxford shoes.
He exuded elegance and authority.
Sophia Bennett, his secretary, hurried over. "Mr. Astor."
"Oh, Sophia."
Sophia looked tense.
She couldn't help it. Her mother suffered from a rare illness requiring hundreds of thousands annually for treatment and recovery.
She couldn't afford to lose this job.
But being Edward's secretary was… unbearable.
This man was repulsive beyond words.
In the early years, his private life was so debauched it could make anyone's hair stand on end.
As his personal secretary, Sophia had witnessed scenes that had shattered her worldview.
Every day, Edward would harass her—making inappropriate jokes, casually flipping her skirt in public, groping her thigh during meetings, and saying things that would drive her to tears in the restroom.
In the past three years, things had gotten even worse.
Beyond his daily harassment, he'd become Victoria's pitiful lapdog.
Many of his orders to Sophia were humiliating beyond belief.
She had to deal with the Chifeng Group people, who all looked at her with disdain, as if she'd sold her dignity for money.
But she couldn't lose this income.
Her monthly salary was over a hundred thousand—a ceiling in the secretarial industry.
Without this money, her mother would lose access to life-saving treatments.
If she offended Edward, she'd lose her mother.
Sophia, like a frightened bird, lowered her head and said softly, "Mr. Astor, the speech draft is ready. Please review it. There's still time to make any changes if necessary."
"Alright, let me see."
Edward strode confidently into the building, his team trailing closely behind while bodyguards flanked either side.
In the lounge, Edward quickly reviewed the speech draft, nodded, and handed it back to Sophia. "It's fine. Approved."
Everyone was stunned.
Edward was notoriously hard to please.
No matter how flawless the work was, he'd always find faults—berating everyone with insults that could make grown men cry, demanding endless revisions, only for the final version to remain nearly identical to the original.
But today, he approved it on the first read.
Sophia let out a small sigh of relief.
Edward then said, "Everyone, leave. Sophia, stay."
.........
The secretary team collectively let out a sigh of relief.
Excellent.
They exchanged knowing glances with Sophia, their smiles filled with amusement.
After all, everyone knew what kind of person Mr. Astor was.
He was a notorious womanizer! Which beautiful female employee or executive in the company hadn't been harassed by him?
Today, he'd even skipped his usual round of insults. Clearly, he couldn't wait to get Sophia alone.
Sophia… she'd probably play her usual game of half-hearted resistance. Maybe they already had that kind of ambiguous relationship. Sophia always pretended to be innocent, but everyone knew this was her tactic—exactly the kind Mr. Astor liked.
As the team filed out, Sophia stood frozen, trembling slightly.
Edward looked up, about to say something, when he noticed her fear.
[ 'Oh, right.
This girl had suffered a lot under his harassment—well, the harassment of his past villainous self. It had left a deep scar on her.
What was her storyline again?
Ah, yes! There was that one time when he completely lost control and tried to take her by force. Davis appeared just in time, broke both his legs, and saved her.
Later, they confessed their feelings. Sophia revealed her mother's illness, and Davis paid for her treatment, leaving Sophia deeply moved.
Afterward, Davis confronted Edward, made a bet, won gloriously, and secured Sophia's freedom, while Edward walked away humiliated. ]
And then… well, you can imagine the rest.
Another devoted heroine joined Davis's harem, silently sacrificing for him without asking for anything in return. She didn't even want a title—being a maid would've been enough for her.
Later, she even took a near-fatal blow for Davis.
But of course, heroines never die so easily. Davis saved her in some… well, let's just call it an intimate way.
Absolutely revolting.
Edward looked at the trembling Sophia, her head bowed low, and smiled faintly.
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."
"I-I'm not nervous."
Edward sighed internally:
[ Should I help her? Should I pay for her mother's treatment? If I asked Sophia for help in return, she'd probably be happy to assist. ]
[ No, no, that's Davis's storyline. Only Davis can save her mother. That's how she'll fall deeply in love with him and willingly become part of his harem. ]
[ I need to fire her. This is too risky. ]
Sophia was stunned.
[ What's going on!?
He hadn't even spoken, but she could hear his thoughts loud and clear.
It wasn't hard for someone like Edward to know about her mother's illness—someone with his power and money could easily uncover such vulnerabilities.
But… he actually considered helping her mother?
And… wait, how did he know about Davis? Would Davis really help her mother?
Am I… am I really going to end up as part of Davis's harem?
But… Davis is kind-hearted and noble. If he can really cure my mother, I'm willing to serve him for life, without complaints.
But… will he look down on me for having worked for Edward?
My reputation at work is already ruined. People say I'm just Edward's plaything, someone who'd drop everything to… satisfy his whims at any moment.
And now he wants to fire me!?
I can't lose this job! ]
Just as Sophia was about to speak, Edward's thoughts shifted again:
[ No, this girl has had it rough. She gets bullied at work, cares for her sick mother after hours, and endures countless rumors and insults. Firing her now would crush her completely. ]
[ It's better to let things stay as they are for now. Once Davis cures her mother and comes looking for trouble, I'll play the good guy and let him take her away. ]
[ It's a shame, really. I've bullied her for so long and haven't done anything to make up for it. But Davis is there—he'll handle her troubles. ]
Sophia was even more shocked.
[ Mr. Astor… was actually thinking about her well-being?
He was afraid that firing her would cause her too much stress?
Wait a minute!
How is he so sure Davis will cure my mother? And that Davis will come to confront him and rescue me?
And… did he just… feel guilty about harassing me? Did he really want to make amends?
What on earth is happening here!?
What's wrong with this man?
What's wrong with the world!? ]
Sophia was so stunned by Edward's inner thoughts that she couldn't speak. She stared at him wide-eyed, her mind completely scrambled.
[ Wait! Hold on! ]
Edward suddenly realized the most critical issue:
[According to how the story goes, I have to actually do something despicable to her first. Only then will Davis appear to stop me and break my legs. ]
[But… if I don't do anything to her, Davis won't appear, right? ]
[ So, if I want her mother to be cured, I have to follow the plot—I have to do the despicable act and get my legs broken by Davis! ]
[ Oh, come on! ]
Edward's head buzzed.
[ Is this plot… unwinnable? ]
[ Does saving one heroine require the villain to be sacrificed? ]
He looked down at his long, well-shaped legs and sighed deeply:
[ Legs… my dear legs… I love you so much. But it seems your time with me is running out.
Goodbye, my beautiful and long limbs… ]