CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: THE MYSTERIOUS MAN WHO TOOK HER HOME FOUND

Assistant Woods drove Victoria Monroe home, and Victoria took out the cleaned square handkerchief from her bag.

"By the way, could you please give this to Rhys Hawthorne? I’ve already washed it, and please convey my thanks."

"Ms. Monroe, you’re too polite."

The door to the foyer opened, and Julian Fordham’s figure appeared in the courtyard.

He happened to see Assistant Woods’ back, roughly a slim man about six feet tall.

Today, Assistant Prescott had already checked the flight list from last night to Kenton, and he found someone very suspicious in the first class cabin.

The person named Ryan Zane used to act alongside Victoria Monroe.

It’s said that he recently faced setbacks and went to a famous temple in Portoros for retreat; the sandalwood scent was likely acquired then.

Julian Fordham couldn’t understand why Victoria Monroe chose him as a pawn for her return; the man’s looks and character were both average, not a threat.

Finally, he could breathe a sigh of relief, a tender smile appearing at his lips as he walked towards her, "Victoria, you’re back. Did you go out for dinner with friends today?"

Victoria’s expression was cold as she looked at him, "Julian Fordham, can’t you understand what I’m saying? Please move out. If you don’t leave, then I will."

"By the way, I will meet with a lawyer tomorrow to draft the divorce agreement."

Upon hearing the word "divorce," Julian Fordham’s brows carried a hint of coldness. He suppressed the irritation within, deliberately making his voice gentle, "I’ve already applied for immigration for Rachel Hayes; she will soon disappear from your sight, Victoria..."

He tried to embrace her, but Victoria Monroe’s hand pressed against his chest, refusing to let him get closer.

"I’m not interested in or concerned with your affair with that white lotus."

"Regarding divorce, I’ve never been joking. If you’re not prepared, you can start adapting now. You should know my character."

Victoria Monroe spoke each word clearly: "Once I’ve made a decision, I won’t look back."

With that, she left him expressionless.

As she brushed past, he sharply sensed that repugnant sandalwood scent.

Tonight, Julian Fordham didn’t leave. After she retired to her room, he activated the playback function on the surveillance.

The camera near the parking spot was farther away, plus the streetlight was dim, so Assistant Woods was facing away from the camera the entire time, and the few side views were unclear.

From the physique, it should be that Ryan Zane.

He made a call, "Yes, it’s that Ryan Zane, don’t let him have it easy."

Julian Fordham lit a cigarette, leaned against the courtyard wall, and exhaled a smoke ring towards the sky.

White smoke enveloped his face, and he murmured softly while staring at the moon, "No one can take you away from me."

That night, he slept on the sofa.

This was always his approach; every time he made her angry before, she would kick him off the bed, and he would hug a quilt and sleep on the sofa.

Her words were sharp, but her heart was soft, and soon she would let him back to bed.

Only one light was left in the living room.

He looked towards the staircase, but the small figure he expected never appeared.

Julian Fordham helplessly curved a smile; this time, she probably wouldn’t calm down so easily.

But just being under the same roof with her made him very happy.

Victoria, one day you’ll forgive me.

Victoria Monroe returned to the room without any sleepiness, knowing it was impossible to rely on Julian Fordham to arrange the divorce.

She contacted an old friend who was a lawyer, and scheduled a meeting for tomorrow.

Her mind began to delve into the preparations for the new movie, first considering the director.

The guide’s health certainly wasn’t up to it, and after much contemplation, she finally made a choice.

The person wasn’t from The Kenton Circle, but The Portoros Circle—very well-known and with quite a temper.

Victoria Monroe had long wanted to collaborate with him and contacted a few people in the circle to inquire about him.

After finishing that, she took out the script for careful study.

Her father died early, her mother remarried years ago and was out of the picture, leaving only a grandmother.

She, without a father or mother, was alone in this world and no longer wanted to be tied down by anyone.

She just wanted to purely do what she loved.

The next day.

Having stayed up until dawn before finally sleeping, she didn’t get up until after nine in the morning.

She leaned on the railing, yawning lazily as she descended the stairs.

A middle-aged woman’s voice rang out: "Mrs. Fordham, you really have the good life, letting my son sleep on the sofa, and not making breakfast, sleeping in this late!"

Victoria Monroe stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the woman she should have called "mom."

Her expression was plain, "Why are you here?"

The woman sitting on the sofa in the living room wore a Chanel suit, her neck adorned with a top-grade emerald necklace, with every possible place on her ears and hands covered in jewelry.

To be honest, Julian Fordham’s mother and sister both had a nouveau riche feeling that was hardly presentable.

Poor for most of their lives, finally hitting it big through their son, they wouldn’t miss any opportunity to show off.

"What? I can’t come to my son’s house?"

Lana Jameson wore gorgeous clothes yet couldn’t hide the sharpness on her face.

Victoria Monroe slowly walked to the bar, poured herself a glass of water, drank it and looked at her, casually asking, "Do you want some water?"

This gesture made Lana Jameson feel quite uncomfortable.

She immediately started complaining, "Look at whose daughter-in-law behaves like you, disrespecting in-laws, not having children, living off my son like a parasite, enjoying everything without contributing anything."

Victoria Monroe sat down on the sofa, "Did you come here today to scold me?"

Lana Jameson snorted coldly, "Of course not."

She took a prepared divorce agreement from her bag and threw it on the table, "A woman like you, if it were ancient times, you’d be guilty of misconduct and would be divorced under the seven grounds rule; nowadays, you’re lucky there are no divorce papers, just sign this."

Victoria Monroe saw the asset division, with the man compensating her one million, and other assets going to him.

The woman continued, "We’re being generous by giving you a million, otherwise who would be this generous to a useless woman like you, just living off others?"

Victoria Monroe laughed angrily, "Is this marriage or charity? Being so greedy, why not go to the kitchen, grab a knife, and cut meat from me, it’d be quicker."

Lana Jameson, seeing her unswayed, became even less polite, "I suppose you’ve seen the news, I always said my son would eventually ditch you, you non-laying hen! Rachel is obedient and sensible, much better than you, hurry up and sign, make room."

Victoria Monroe held the cup, her eyes lowered, her face expressionless, speaking in a light voice, "What if I don’t sign?"

"As of now, do you still have a choice? Everyone knows Mrs. Fordham is Rachel Hayes, do you think my son truly loves you? If he did, he would have clarified immediately."

Lana Jameson, for years suppressed, finally found her voice.

She looked down at Victoria Monroe, mocking at the corners of her mouth, "Do you still not understand? He loves Rachel Hayes, who’s carrying his child, not you."

"Victoria Monroe, you’re not worthy of being Mrs. Fordham!"