Chapter 10 Serene Logan

• Victoria finished eating and left. On the way back she was thinking about that handsome stranger. She had never felt that way before, she had seen handsome men, but no one had touched her heart like that handsome stranger. His gentle eyes and his smile made her giddy. She kept on smiling. When she arrived at James' apartment, someone opened the door for her. “Good day Madam, my name is Ed, I’m a butler, nice to meet you.” Victoria was taken back. “Please call me Victoria, nice to meet you too, Uncle Ed,” said Victoria with a smile. Butler Ed was shocked when Victoria called him Uncle Ed. “I can’t call you by your name Madam,” said Butler Ed. “I think we will spend most of the time together, why don’t you call me by my name when we are alone?” offered Victoria. “Alright Miss Victoria,” said Butler Ed with a smile. Victoria flashed him a beautiful smile, he was mesmerized.
• After some time, he snapped out of it. He asked if Victoria was hungry. Victoria said she was not hungry, then she went to her room to rest. James didn’t come back to the apartment for a week, he spent time with Serene. She was over the moon. On Saturday morning, James went to his apartment to fetch his clothes. Victoria was sitting in the living room watching TV. He didn’t even greet her; he ignored her and went to his bedroom. After ten minutes, he came back with a bag and suits and left the apartment without saying a word to her. Victoria was not hurt by his behavior.
• Every Sunday, Victoria would wake up early in the morning and cook food for her in-laws and spend time with them. Butler Ed told her their favourite dishes, so she prepared them accordingly. James’ mother was cold towards her, but her husband was beaming all the time when he saw Victoria. She was a good girl, she was raised up well by her father, she was respectful. One Sunday, as soon as Victoria arrived at Johnson's residence, Mrs Johnson looked at Victoria annoyed and said, “Victoria, please stop what you are doing, you will never be my daughter-in-law and don’t ever come to my home again.” She took the serving dishes and emptied them into the trash can. Her husband was speechless. Victoria hugged Mr Johnson, smiled and left the Johnson residence.
• Within a twinkle of an eye, they were married for one and a half years. In six months more she would be free. She couldn’t wait. She would look for that handsome stranger who made her heart beat faster. She was counting the days. The Lewis Group was doing well. His father was happy.
• On Saturday, Victoria went shopping. She met Serene Logan with her friends. “Serene, is this the gold digger who stole your man?” her best friend, Macy Michael, asked her and pushed Victoria. She never provoked Serene; she didn’t understand why they were behaving that way. “Miss Logan, please control your friends,” said Victoria. One of Serene's friends tried to slap her, but someone grabbed her hand. It was James’ father. He was so angry, he hugged Victoria and glared at Serene. He left with Victoria without saying a word. Serene was so scared that James’ father would not allow her to marry James, she regretted what she did.
• Emmanuel Johnson was conducting an inspection at Hope Shopping Mall with Mark Anthony. The mall was owned by the Johnson Group. He called James and told him to speak to his girlfriend or he must forget marrying her. James was puzzled. Serene had never provoked Victoria for the past one and a half years, it must be Victoria who was playing tricks on him. He was so upset he was fuming, and he smashed his phone into the wall.
• After Emmanuel Johnson left with Victoria, Mark Anthony asked Ralph to retrieve surveillance footage. He wanted to know what happened to his future wife. He knew that James didn’t love his wife because he spent most of his time with Serene. Within a few minutes, Ralph gave him the footage. He saw that Serene’s friend provoked Victoria, pushed her, and tried to slap her. He was so furious, he vowed that when he married Victoria, he would take revenge on her. He sent the video to James’s WeChat, but James didn’t see the video since his phone crashed.
• After work, he went to his apartment to confront Victoria. She was in her room resting. James pushed the door without knocking and said, “Victoria, I warned you not to provoke Serene and not play tricks on me, but you went ahead and provoked Serene. You didn’t listen to me. Let me repeat what I said to you: I will never love you. In my eyes, you are a gold digger. Stop what you are doing, you are beneath me. In fact, you were supposed to be my servant because your father sold you to me. Who gave you the confidence to think that you are better than Serene?”
• Victoria just stared at him; she felt wronged, but she refused to cry, her heart hurt. She couldn’t utter a word. James was so angry, “Victoria, listen to me carefully, if my father stops me from marrying Serene, I will kill you.” After that, he went out of her room. He closed his door with a bang. James used his house phone to call his mother, “Mom, I’m so angry, Victoria provoked Serene, but dad is threatening me about my marriage with Serene. Please help me Mom, you know how I love Serene, I would rather die than separate from her.” Her mother was so angry when her precious son told her that he was sad because of that woman and her husband was threatening her son. “Don’t worry my dearest son, Mom will resolve this issue for you.”
• She took her bag and rushed out of her house; she asked the driver to take her to her son’s apartment. She rang the bell; Butler Ed opened the door. She didn’t even greet him, “where is that woman?” Butler Ed was puzzled, “Madam, are you looking for young Madam?” Mrs Johnson sneered, “Don’t call her that, she is nothing to my son, they are going to divorce in six months’ time. Where is she?” Victoria heard a noise; she went to the living room to look.
• When her mother-in-law saw her, she rushed to her and slapped her twice on her face. “I warned you not to come between my son and Serene, but you went ahead and provoked her. My husband is threatening my son about his marriage with Serene. My son’s happiness comes first. I told you to keep a distance from my son, you will never be my daughter-in-law.”
• Victoria’s face was swollen and hurting badly, Mrs Johnson used so much strength to beat her up. “Auntie, I told you before that I’m not interested in James, I will divorce him gladly. I have someone I love in my heart and it’s not James. Serene and her friends provoked me, and I didn’t say a word to provoke them, they pushed me, and they tried to slap me. I understand that it was my fault to marry James, but I don’t have any intention of playing tricks on him or being Mrs Johnson forever. I will forever be grateful to dad for helping my father, but I will never fall in love with James. I am a gold digger.”
• Mrs Johnson was shocked to hear those words from Victoria. Her heart softened a little and she said, “you better not have evil intentions towards my son because I will never let you off.” After that, she left and went home. Victoria went to her room and cried. She asked the Lord for strength and perseverance. Butler Ed knocked at her door; he was carrying two packets of ice cubes. “Miss Victoria, please use the ice cubes. It will help you with swelling.” “Thanks Uncle Ed, Auntie hates me so much. I’m not interested in James, but she doesn’t believe me.” Butler Ed felt sorry for Victoria since she was a good girl.
• James went to look for Serene to coax her. He apologized for Victoria’s behavior. Serene was so happy that James took her side even though she was wrong. Serene didn’t love James, but she loved his family wealth. James spent a passionate night with Serene. He promised her that in six months’ time he would hold a grand engagement banquet for her. Serene was over the moon.