CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 9: NO ONE LOVES YOU MORE THAN I DO—DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT ESCAPING!

When they were in love, they kept it a secret, and now they’re getting divorced, Victoria Monroe wasn’t about to let it be discovered at this moment.

She quickly pulled the man away.

Victoria Monroe had completely changed from her tearful, disheartened appearance of the past few days; her eyes once again had a sparkle, the look Julian Fordham loved yet feared the most.

Victoria Monroe was like a dazzling pearl, which he had managed to bring home and hide away, but now that pearl was appearing in the world again, making him uneasy.

Victoria Monroe had been on a long journey, and now the sun was setting; she was very tired.

"Julian Fordham, let’s talk."

"Xu Ma’s made soup, let’s talk at home. I’ve already brought home the luggage you had stored at the hotel."

"Alright."

Victoria Monroe wasn’t surprised; he had already cut off her future, what else wouldn’t he do?

At the street corner, middle schoolers just released from school were exuberant, with one or two wearing light clothing despite the cold late autumn.

Victoria Monroe thought of Julian Fordham in the past, his school uniform washed to the point of fading, his tall yet very slender frame due to poor nutrition, hugging him she could feel his sharp ribs.

Not like now, where the man beside her in a suit and leather shoes rotated his wedding ring with a deep and complex gaze, no one knowing what he was thinking.

His eyes fell on the purple cheongsam under Victoria Monroe’s trench coat, and an inexplicable look flashed in his eyes.

Just arrived home.

A "meow" was heard, and October darted out from the yard.

This kitten was fiercely wild; in the past, it would pounce as soon as it heard Victoria Monroe’s steps.

Now, with Victoria Monroe pregnant, though she had scheduled an abortion, her maternal instinct made her subconsciously cover her belly.

Luckily, the little guy didn’t pounce today, stopping abruptly at her feet, then lifting its head to nudge Victoria Monroe’s leg.

"Meow meow."

Victoria Monroe crouched down to pat October’s head, "Mommy’s back."

Xu Ma greeted her with a smile, "Madam, it’s good you’ve come home, sir has been drinking heavily every day since you’ve been away, please don’t leave again."

Xu Ma did not know that this time, her return was to plan a long-overdue farewell.

Three days ago, she was too impulsive.

To say nothing of marriage, the eighteen-year relationship between her and Julian Fordham wasn’t something that could be cleanly divided by one sentence about divorce.

When she saw her account balance was only fifty thousand left, Rachel Hayes was living in the mansion Julian Fordham bought, living the life of Mrs. Fordham.

Why was that?

Victoria Monroe was not the naive heroine who would leave with nothing; even if they divorced, Julian Fordham needed to pay her back with interest!

Neither Julian nor she was the poor kids living in the slums anymore; cleaningly dividing their assets wouldn’t be accomplished in just a few days.

She took off her clothes and went to the bathroom.

Hearing the familiar sound of water, Julian Fordham breathed a sigh of relief.

With Victoria Monroe present, there was a sense of home.

He bit his cigarette and went to the balcony, dialing Assistant Prescott’s number, "Check out madam’s itinerary in Portoros: who she met, what she did, and her expense records."

"Yes."

"Also, prepare a grand fireworks show."

"Understood."

Soon, Assistant Prescott had printed out Victoria Monroe’s expense records from recent days.

Except for the presidential suite booked three days ago, there were only two round-trip plane tickets.

She hadn’t spent a penny in Portoros.

Someone had concealed her whereabouts; even the hotel where she stayed in Portoros couldn’t be traced.

Victoria Monroe didn’t have such influential friends around.

Julian Fordham had a strong feeling that the person was a man!

The faint sandalwood fragrance on her was far too unique; no woman would use such perfume.

Just the thought of her having been with another man these past days, even only discussing work, and absorbed his scent, made Julian Fordham jealous to the point of madness.

Who was that man?

Victoria Monroe took a bath, dressed in a robe, and stepped into the walk-in closet.

The woman’s figure hidden under the robe was slender yet alluring, brightly enticing.

The men in their circle changed women like they changed clothes, endlessly seeking so-called novelty from different women.

This feeling Julian Fordham could never experience; just one Victoria Monroe made him want to die for her.

"Wife..."

His body pressed from behind, it was an all-too-familiar prelude to his desire.

When his hand touched her belly, Victoria Monroe instinctively shrank.

She pushed the man away forcefully, "What are you doing?"

In the dim light, the man’s elegant features were tinged with gloom, dark lashes covering the sinister in his eyes, he stepped forward, pressing between her legs.

He gripped her chin, trapping her between himself and the wardrobe, a pervasive chill sweeping over.

This Julian Fordham seemed unfamiliar to her.

His voice carried a hint of danger: "Victoria, tell me, which man did you meet in Portoros? Hmm?"

Victoria Monroe didn’t know Rhys Hawthorne’s identity; back then the investor merely asked her to bring a newcomer.

Meeting these days, she could feel Rhys Hawthorne’s superior family background.

Not wanting to trouble others, she instinctively hid the truth: "It’s none of your business."

Julian Fordham’s finger brushed over her lips, the backlight making it hard for her to see his expression, carrying a dominant possessiveness.

"Victoria, don’t be so cruel to me."

"Julian Fordham, when you were having Rachel Hayes bear your child you didn’t tell me, what right do you have to control my plans? Do you care who I’m with?"

Not only would he care, but he cared so much it drove him insane!

His thumb moved from her lips to her delicate, fair cheek, such softness and perfection could only belong to him.

"Let go." Victoria Monroe instinctively tried to push him away, only to have her wrist easily captured by the man.

He pressed her against the wardrobe’s ledge, warm, thin lips falling by her ear.

Her body had the lingering scent of roses after the bath, the scent he was most familiar with.

He was the opposite of Victoria Monroe in character.

He was cold and old-fashioned, disliking changes, and wouldn’t easily try new things, rooted in rock like bamboo, stubbornly sticking to rules.

While she was bold and passionate, strong and resilient, loved excitement and novelty, managing to bloom the most beautiful flowers even in the most barren soil.

Living in a high position now, he still felt a deep-seated inferiority, fearing losing her.

He disliked change, nor wished her to change.

His voice was hoarse, "Wife, no one in this world loves you more than I do, don’t dream of escaping from me, you can’t get away."