Cold War between Mr. and Mrs Vaughn: He Regretted when Divorce-Chapter 144: I Miss You So Much

It had been raining softly for several days in May.

The pedestrians on the street were scarce, and the new buds on the branches had been washed vibrant green by the rain.

The cool breeze mixed with the damp air made people feel gloomy inside.

Victoria Sinclair had just finished her prenatal check-up, holding the report as she emerged from the hospital, standing at the entrance, gazing at the rain outside.

Hector Grant’s words lingered in her mind, feeling heavy.

"The fetus is already 16 weeks and developing well. Since you have mild anemia, I did a thalassemia screening and found that you have mild thalassemia. In this situation, you must have the child’s father checked for thalassemia too."

Victoria: "I’ve never felt unwell."

Hector: "You carry a mild gene. If the child’s father also has thalassemia, then the child has a 25% chance of inheriting moderate thalassemia and will need further fetal umbilical cord blood tests. If the child’s father has no thalassemia gene, there’s a 50% chance the child will be normal, with another 50% chance of inheriting your mild thalassemia."

Victoria: "According to what you said, as long as the child’s father doesn’t have thalassemia, my child will be safe?"

Hector: "Yes."

Victoria: "Is there another way without checking the child’s father?"

Hector: "There is, using a needle to pass through your belly into the placenta to draw blood from the child’s umbilical cord. However, this procedure carries the risk of miscarriage; are you sure you want to take this risk?"

Victoria looked at the darkened sky, her mind gradually returning, her hand unconsciously touching her slightly protruding abdomen.

She truly didn’t want anyone to know she was pregnant.

The best way to protect the child was to quietly give birth and raise it alone.

However, if she gave birth to a child with congenital thalassemia, it would only harm the child and herself.

She pulled an umbrella out of her bag, opened it, and stepped into the fine rain.

She walked steadily and slowly.

Sitting in the subway, she took out her phone and looked at the number she had already blacklisted.

In the past two weeks, Eugene Vaughn hadn’t come looking for her, presumably busy with work and taking care of Vivian Miller, too overwhelmed himself!

Since this was the case, she shouldn’t be looking for him either.

Victoria’s mind was filled with countless thoughts, fraught with contradictions.

After a half-hour journey, Victoria exited the subway and headed to the research institute.

As she was about to reach the main gate of the institute, she saw her mother waiting at the entrance.

Her pace halted, and her heart sank with inexplicable irritation and rejection.

After a few seconds’ hesitation, she stepped forward and softly greeted, "Mom."

Mrs. Sinclair snorted coldly, her gaze icy, "No matter how much debt you owe, I don’t have a job, and your dad is sick, you have to give the support money."

Victoria said nothing, taking out her phone from her bag, "QR code, I’ll transfer it to you."

Mrs. Sinclair opened the QR code, "Add me back as a contact, and transfer automatically every month."

Victoria hesitated for a few seconds, added her mother back as a contact, and transferred 2000 yuan.

Upon seeing the amount, Mrs. Sinclair’s face turned extremely unpleasant, "Only two thousand? Are you treating me like a beggar?"

Victoria’s attitude was indifferent, responding calmly, "Don’t you have another son and daughter? If we each give you two thousand, that’s six thousand, which is quite a lot."

"You are you, they are them."

Victoria was too tired to argue, "Just two thousand, not a penny more. If you’re dissatisfied, you can sue me. Given the debts I have, you’ll see what kind of support standard the court sets."

Mrs. Sinclair’s face darkened, clenching her fists, glaring at Victoria with undisguised resentment.

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to work now." Victoria moved past her, pulling out her work card, preparing to enter the research institute when Mrs. Sinclair suddenly called out to her.

"Victoria Sinclair, there’s one more thing to inform you about."

Victoria paused, her back to her mother.

Mrs. Sinclair commanded, "Your fifth sister has a friend who recently divorced, is a big contractor worth over a billion. Do you have time tomorrow to have a meal?"

Victoria clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging painfully into her palm, and her heart ached.

Born in a mountain village, education raised her level of knowledge, shaped her values, broadened her horizons, but she could never escape the shackles that bound her life.

Her parents’ limited mindset twined around her like vines, stunting her growth, blocking her sunlight, desperately draining her of sustenance.

She felt suffocated.

"I’m not going." Victoria responded coldly, placing her work card on the machine at the entrance.

Mrs. Sinclair suddenly rushed forward, grabbing her arm, roughly pulling her back.

Victoria stumbled a step, hurriedly shielding her abdomen.

"You must go. It’s been over half a year since the divorce, it’s time to find another man to marry." Mrs. Sinclair commanded harshly, "He’s a big boss; the bride price will certainly be generous."

Victoria shook off her hand, her heart feeling like it was being cut by a knife, her voice heavy and angry, "You forced me to marry for the bride price back then, I listened to you and married hastily, but what did I get? A failed marriage, in the end, only wounds."

Mrs. Sinclair sized her up, "Where are you wounded? I think you’re living quite well, and Eugene never hit you."

Isn’t the hurt inside still hurt?

Why, as a fellow woman and as a mother, couldn’t she feel sorry for her, couldn’t she cherish her? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Victoria was speechless to the extreme, taking a deep breath.

Mrs. Sinclair: "Actually, being divorced is quite good. You’re young and pretty, remarrying won’t lower your value, and the bride price might even be higher. Earning a little more money isn’t a bad thing."

Victoria’s gaze turned icy cold, glaring at her fiercely, feeling utterly chilled inside.

Mrs. Sinclair put her hands on her hips, furious, "I am your mother, how could I harm you? What kind of look is that?"

Victoria said nothing, striding away, swiftly passing through the railing gate.

Her steps were quick, but the furious shouting behind her was exceptionally clear.

Mrs. Sinclair: "By 12 o’clock tomorrow, you must go to The Ashville Grand Hotel, if you don’t go, I’ll bring people to tie you up and take you there."

Mrs. Sinclair: "Victoria Sinclair, did you hear me? By 12 o’clock tomorrow, The Ashville Grand Hotel, dress nicely."

That voice, haunting her like a ghost.

That night, Victoria blocked her mother’s WeChat.

The next day, she didn’t go to work; she took a leave and stayed home to rest.

In the evening.

Victoria gathered all the day’s trash into a bag, carrying it downstairs.

Night had fallen, the earth was gray, and the newly lit streetlights glimmered faintly.

There weren’t many people downstairs in the apartment, exceptionally quiet.

She threw the trash into the trash can, turning to leave, feeling someone behind her.

Her heart pounded, a bad feeling surged, tense and flustered, she suddenly turned around.

There was no one behind her, just silence.

Was she overthinking it?

Victoria swallowed nervously, quickening her pace forwards, hands instinctively shielding her abdomen.

She ran into the apartment, pressing the elevator button frantically while glancing back.

Ding, the elevator door opened.

Her chest heaved dramatically, breath rapid, she rushed into the elevator, pressing the close button vigorously.

Just as the door was about to close, it suddenly opened again.

At that moment, her fear reached its peak, her body weakened, scalp tingling, looking uneasily at the person at the door.

As the elevator door fully opened, Eugene appeared before her.

After two weeks of no contact, he was still that clean-cut and handsome man, but there was a new touch of desolation in his gaze, and an even heavier aura about him.

He wore a black shirt and trousers, and his tall, athletic figure brought a visual sense of oppression upon her.

Although Eugene Vaughn wasn’t as dangerous as her parents, she was still somewhat nervous.

Their eyes met, and in the exchange of glances, there was a newfound sense of detached aloofness.

Victoria Sinclair pressed the door-close button, only to discover the door refused to close.

"Didn’t I tell you, don’t come again..." Victoria said word by word, devoid of any emotion.

She hadn’t finished speaking.

Eugene suddenly rushed in, pinned her shoulders, pressed her against the elevator wall, and bent down to kiss her.

The abrupt, wild kiss scared her out of her wits, and she struggled desperately, her fists pounding hard.

"Mmm mmm..." she twisted her head with all her might.

The man’s strength was unyielding and overwhelming, one hand hooked around the back of her neck, the other restrained her wrists, his body pressed down, leaving her with no strength to resist.

The elevator closed and ascended slowly.

By the time the doors opened again on another floor, Victoria was already limp and weak from the kiss, tears trickling down her cheeks.

Maybe he had finally vented,

or perhaps he tasted the tears.

He slowly left her lips, resting his forehead against hers.

Both of their breaths were rapid and shallow, entangled and lingering, as she closed her eyes, lightly biting the swollen lip that had been kissed.

Her lips hurt a bit, but her heart hurt even more.

The elevator doors opened and closed again, staying on that floor without moving.

Eugene gently cupped her cheeks, his thumb lightly wiping away the tear stains, his voice finally breaking the silence of thousands of years, yet it was hoarse and low, "Victoria, I’m sorry, I missed you so much... I’m sorry..."

Victoria shut her eyes without a word, turning her head to the side.

Eugene leaned his head into her shoulder, taking a deep breath, savoring that captivating scent.

"Please let me go." Victoria said each word clearly, cold and indifferent.

Eugene didn’t move.

Victoria pushed hard, and Eugene gripped her wrist, pinning it against the wall.

Victoria: "There are cameras in this elevator, I can scream for help at any time."

Eugene smirked mildly, released her hand, and leaned against the wall.

Victoria’s body relaxed, and she quickly stepped forward, reaching out to press the door open button.

Without a second thought, she strode out of the elevator.

Eugene’s body seemed to lose its strength against the wall, his gaze deep and complicated, staring at her back until she disappeared from view.

The elevator doors slowly closed, his eyes gradually darkening with disappointment.

Just as the doors were about to close, they suddenly opened again.

Victoria, who had left, stumbled back in, calmly standing in front of him.

A trace of hard-to-detect anticipation flashed in Eugene’s eyes, as he lazily leaned against the elevator wall, softly asking, "Did you come back because the more you think about it, the less you can stomach it, and want to give me a slap before leaving?"

Victoria’s heart was in a tumult, she hesitated for a few seconds, then asked, "Can you do me a favor?"

Eugene’s lips curled up slightly, "Of course."

Victoria: "Tomorrow morning at nine, go to the hospital with me."

Eugene frowned, his eyes full of confusion, and he slowly walked out of the elevator.

Victoria retreated a few steps, "I’ve said my piece, you can leave now."

Eugene had no intention of leaving, his face full of questions, "Why are we going to the hospital?"

"Don’t ask."

Eugene’s attitude grew more serious, his tone was inevitably worried, "If you don’t tell me, I won’t go. What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

Victoria clenched her fists tightly, her mind racing, trying to find a reasonable excuse to trick him into going to the hospital for a blood test.

But he’s not a fool, what reason could brush it off?

"I..." Victoria swallowed nervously, she was not good at lying, and at the moment she appeared slightly nervous, her cheeks a bit flushed without realizing it, her voice noticeably stuttering, "I want you to get a blood test, I... I suspect I have AIDS, so... I want you to get tested too."

Eugene’s face darkened, his pupils trembling slightly, appearing somewhat shocked, "Besides me, is there another man?"

"No, I’m afraid of catching it from you."

Eugene let out a bitter laugh, "I’ve only ever been with you, Victoria Sinclair, how could you even suspect such a thing?"

"Besides sexual transmission, AIDS is also spread through blood, right?" Victoria justified, "I’m currently very paranoid about AIDS, it’s already affecting my daily life and work. I hope you’ll go to the hospital with me to overcome this fear."

Eugene gazed at her, his eyes unfathomable, growing darker, and spoke not a word for a long time.

Victoria felt uneasy under his gaze, instantly losing her courage and confidence.

Out of guilt and fear of being discovered, she was even more afraid of being rejected by him.

Victoria lowered her stance, softening her tone, "Please, it’s just for a while, it won’t take too long."

"I don’t mind, but I have a condition." Eugene said warmly, "Take me off your blacklist."

Victoria froze for a few seconds, then instinctively took out her phone, opened WeChat in front of him, and removed him from the blacklist.

She then entered the time and place in the message box.

"See you tomorrow." Victoria said, then turned and walked home.

After she went inside, Eugene took out his phone, looking down at the message on WeChat.

He let out a bitter laugh, slowly leaning against the corridor wall, clutching his phone, back against the wall, turning his head to stare at the door to Victoria’s house, unmoving.

"AIDS phobia?" Eugene murmured, letting out a bitter laugh, followed by a gentle sigh.

He lingered outside Victoria’s apartment for an hour before leaving.

The next morning, the weather was clear and sunny.

When Victoria arrived at the hospital, she saw Eugene already seated on a bench in the lobby, waiting for her.

Standing behind Eugene was his assistant, Chen, holding a set of documents.

She walked over slowly, Eugene’s gaze deep and intense, staring directly at her belly.

Victoria didn’t greet him but spoke directly, "Let’s go."

Eugene’s tone was extremely gentle, "Don’t we need to register?"

Victoria appeared somewhat guilty, "No need, I’ve already informed the doctor. To protect your privacy, we can go directly to have the blood drawn."

With that, she turned and left.

Eugene got up to follow.

The blood collection room was on the second floor, and with too many people in the hospital, there was a long wait for the elevator, so Victoria headed to take the escalator.

As she took the first step onto the escalator, Eugene suddenly moved forward, standing beside her, supporting her waist and arm with extreme nervousness and gentleness.

"What are you doing?" Victoria hurriedly pushed away his support and stepped up, "Don’t touch me."

Eugene’s gaze followed her closely, his hand moving to support her again, but withdrew when near her arm, softly and gently reminding, "Hold onto the handrail."

Victoria found him somewhat peculiar.

But she still obediently placed her hand on the handrail.