Chapter 11 Is Alaric Aware?

• After Alaric left, Victoria sat on the couch in a daze before continuing her work. This is the path I have chosen, so I am on my own.
• Suddenly, her phone rang, and she glanced at it to see it was from Noel Javier.
• After calming herself down, she picked up the call. "What's up?"
• "Victoria, did the secretary of Labauve Group's vice president call you?"
• When Victoria heard that, she scrolled through her inbox until she found the email, clicked it, and nodded. "Yes. So, what's up?"
• "Pass me the tasks on your plate. I'll settle them for you."
• Then, she paused and questioned with a hint of doubt, "Huh?"
• "Yasmin said you were sick. Why didn't you tell me?" Noel's voice sounded gentle as he sighed and persuaded her, "Take a good rest if you're not feeling well and switch off your phone. You think your body's made of steel, huh?"
• He used to be her father's right-hand man at Selwyn Corporation before the Selwyn Family went bankrupt. However, the company's sudden bankruptcy derailed what should have been a prosperous future for him.
• After the incident, Victoria thought he would look for a position more fitting to his talents, but he joined Cadogan Group. It came as a shock to her after she learned about it, so she asked him.
• Noel, on the other hand, merely offered her a smile. "Did you assume that I joined Cadogan Group because of you? You should be aware that they are the largest corporation in Gandra, right? No other company can offer me a better career advancement than them."
• It's hard to argue with him when what he says is reasonable. With that in mind, Victoria felt too ashamed to try to talk herself out of it. Then, she recalled that her father used to set her up with him before her family went bankrupt. In addition, the way he answered her father still stuck in her mind.
• She recalled him looking at her with a gentle expression and smiling softly. He answered, "Victoria is still young. So, let's talk about it later."
• Since then, he had treated her warmly and acted as an older brother. Moreover, he had always been considerate and attentive to her needs. Gradually, the expression in his eyes when he looked at her changed.
• Nevertheless, she was conscious of his intentions. However, her heart had long belonged to someone else.
• Few people in this world would have their feelings reciprocated.
• Thinking of that, Victoria snapped out of her daze and declined Noel's offer. "Don't worry about it, Noel. It's only a cold. I'm all good now."
• Meanwhile, on the other line, he said nothing and sighed heavily, "Are you drawing a line between us now, Victoria?"
• When she heard that, she paused in silence.
• "Let's put aside Mr. Selwyn being my savior. We're now colleagues in the Cadogan Group. Shouldn't we help each other out during hard times?"
• "Noel—"
• "Do you think I'm incapable of taking over your responsibilities? Or are you starting to dislike me?"
• "Not at all," Victoria hurriedly denied it. "You've treated me very well. Why would I dislike you?"
• She did not have a brother, and Noel, a few years older than her, was always considerate toward her. Moreover, she had always regarded him as an older brother. So, why would she hate him?
• Hence, when she denied his statements, she sounded anxious.
• Perhaps, her attitude had pleased him, eliciting a chuckle from the other end of the line. His laughter was deep yet sweet.
• "If you don't hate me, transfer your tasks over."
• Victoria bit her red lips and nodded eventually.
• "Okay, then. Thanks for helping out, Noel. I'll treat you to a meal later."
• "I will remember your promise."
• "Sure."
• After the call ended, Victoria emailed Noel about the task, but she was so concerned about forgetting something that she took her time writing a detailed message.
• Meanwhile, it took him a while to text her. 'Okay. I got it. Stop worrying about it and get some rest.'
• Finally, she felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders that she could delegate her duties to someone she trusted when she was sick. Initially, she had planned to return to the company, but she could now rest at home for another day.
• At that moment, she realized another pressing matter that required her attention. Victoria looked down and glanced at her belly before reaching down and gently stroking it with her hand.
• Within my body, a new life is beginning to take shape. What am I supposed to do with the child? Should I go ahead with the abortion?
• When she thought about it, she felt utterly helpless.
• Then, she fished out her phone and dialed her best friend's number.
• …
• "What? You're pregnant! Pfft!"
• Meanwhile, Victoria was at a café when the woman in front of her spit out her coffee. The woman's worked-up tone and actions drew a lot of attention.
• Victoria was speechless after seeing the woman's reaction.
• Then, she quickly looked around to make sure no one she knew was there and heaved a sigh of relief. Afterward, she handed Summer Jones a tissue and whispered, "Lower your voice, would you? Everyone is looking our way."
• So, Summer took the tissue and wiped her lips before nodding obediently. "Sorry. I was too shocked."
• Victoria glanced at her best friend helplessly.
• Instead of sipping her coffee, Summer propped her chin on the table and gazed at Victoria with large, round eyes. In a subdued voice, she asked, "Why did you suddenly get pregnant? Didn't you guys take precautions?"
• "We did." Victoria sipped the coffee and uttered indifferently, "It was an accident."
• "What are you going to do, then? Are you going to keep the baby?"
• Victoria was momentarily taken aback by the question and paused before shaking her head.
• Then, Summer looked at her in surprise. "A-Are you not going to keep it? Why? You've been married for a long time, and I noticed how well he treats you. You're invited to every occasion he attends, and if you hadn't told me you were in a fake marriage, I would have assumed you two were truly in love."
• "Really?" Victoria offered a light smile.
• Her reaction… Summer took another glance at her. She thought Victoria was behaving a little too indifferently, but as her best friend for years, Summer suppressed her true thoughts and asked, "Is Alaric aware?"
• "I didn't tell him."
• "You…" Summer held back and questioned, "When are you planning to tell him?"
• Nonetheless, Victoria pursed her lips without a word.
• In response, Summer gave her a look of doubt. "Wait. What do you mean? Are you not going to tell him about such an important matter? This child is not only yours, you know? He belongs to the both of you."
• When she said that, Victoria still had a stubborn look. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she blurted a thread of sentences, "What's up with you? How could you be so calm even after what happened? You're pregnant, and it's—"
• "Claudia is back."
• Her mere sentence made Summer freeze on the spot.
• Victoria's gaze turned colder at this point. "Do you still think it matters if I tell him?"