The Cross Family's Ultimate Betrayal
Elena wandered a few steps away and found a flat stone to sit on. The air was crisp and cool, and she inhaled deeply, trying to clear her mind.
Despite the fog in her memory, one thing remained painfully clear: the events of the previous day.
Damian's betrayal.
Even without Selena and Vivian's schemes, her marriage to Damian would have crumbled. His ambition was insatiable; he'd never settle for anything less than absolute power.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. If Damian had known she had given birth to a child long ago, his accusations the previous night would have been far more vicious.
But now, she no longer had to live in fear of him discovering her secret.
There was a strange sense of relief in that realization.
Victor's voice broke through her thoughts.
"Here." He held out a bottle of water, his expression unreadable. "You screamed a lot last night. Your throat must hurt."
Elena's face flushed crimson.
Fragments of memory surfaced—her shouting about men being trash and then… oh, God, had she thrown up on him?
She cleared her throat, the soreness making her wince. "What… what happened? How did I end up here?"
"You got into my car," Victor said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Uninvited, I might add. Then…"
Before he could finish, Elena interrupted, her embarrassment mounting. "Please, stop. I drank too much. I'll take responsibility for… whatever happened."
Victor's brow furrowed. He was about to correct her assumption when he noticed her flushed cheeks and the way her eyes darted away from his bare chest.
Realization dawned on him.
She thought they'd slept together.
The truth was far less scandalous—she had vomited on his shirt, and he'd discarded it out of necessity.
A mischievous smile tugged at his lips. Why not let her stew a little longer?
"I tried to call you," he said, feigning disappointment. "But the number you gave me didn't exist. I know I'm just a poor man, but you didn't have to be so cruel. If you didn't want to see me again, you could've just said so."
Elena's guilt intensified. "No, no, it's not what you think! The number I gave you is real." She paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm Elena Cross. And you are?"
Victor's smile widened. "Victor Hale. Thirty years old. No fortune to my name. I'm an Uber driver and a delivery guy. Healthy, decent at…" He trailed off, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, you know from firsthand experience."
Elena choked on her breath. "Ahem!"
Her face turned beet red.
Wait a minute… Victor Hale?
That name sounded familiar.
The estranged son of the Hale family, once rumored to be disfigured and destined for a short life, was also called Victor Hale.
But the man standing before her was the picture of health—tall, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly handsome. He exuded a rugged charm that was impossible to ignore.
Surely, they just shared the same name.
Victor watched her closely, reading the confusion on her face. "I don't have any siblings," he said. "I was supposed to be married, but when I helped you out, the bride's family called off the engagement. So here I am—currently single."
Elena's mouth fell open in disbelief.
"So, you're saying…"
Victor shrugged nonchalantly. "You ruined my wedding day, and now you owe me."
Despite herself, Elena couldn't help but laugh. The absurdity of the situation was too much.
"Well," she said, crossing her arms, "I guess that makes us even. You did ruin mine first."
Victor's grin was infectious. "Fair enough."
Elena's laughter faded as reality set in once again. Her life had been turned upside down, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope.
Maybe, just maybe, this unexpected encounter was the start of something new.
Elena Cross met Victor Hale's intense gaze, feeling an unfamiliar jolt in her chest. His eyes were sincere, unwavering, as though he could see past her defenses.
Her lips parted as if by instinct. "Would you like to be my boyfriend?"
Victor blinked, clearly taken aback. Then, to her surprise, he broke into a wide smile.
"I don't want to be your boyfriend."
Elena's heart sank. Embarrassment washed over her. She'd barely managed to utter those words, and now he was rejecting her?
Before she could backpedal or say something to save face, Victor spoke again, his voice lower, softer.
"I want to be your husband."
Her eyes widened. "Isn't that too fast?"
She had thought that since they had shared such intimate moments — or at least what she believed had happened — maybe starting a relationship wouldn't be unreasonable.
If things didn't work out, they could break up. No harm done.
After all, Damian had moved on with Selena. Why should she be the one left dwelling in the past?
Though she had to admit, part of her offer to Victor was motivated by spite.
Victor's expression shifted as though realizing he might have overstepped.
"All right, let's be boyfriend and girlfriend first," he said with a gentle smile. "We've just met. We should start by getting to know each other better."
Despite his reassuring tone, Elena sensed a hint of reluctance.
Her curiosity piqued. "Your bride broke off the engagement. How are your parents handling it? Do you need me to do anything?"
Victor's expression remained composed. "They were upset, sure. But they decided to go on a trip yesterday. They're unreachable for now." He delivered the lie smoothly. "I'll take you to meet them when they return."