Novel Palace
Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Even though there weren’t many people in the queue, the pair still had to
wait for their turn.
Victoria was extremely tired due to lack of sleep last night, so she found
herself a place to sit.
Alaric followed her with a gloomy expression on his face. He didn’t sit down
next to her after he approached her.
At this point, she was surprisingly calm.
She raised her head to cast a glance at him before asking, “Why don’t you
take a seat?”
“There’s no need for that,” he replied in a flat tone that betrayed no
emotion. He did not even spare her a glance.
Victoria understood what was going on. He wants nothing to do with me.
That’s right. Once we divorce, he can get together with Claudia, so what’s
the point of giving me attention?
Fortunately, Victoria never got her hopes up about staying friends with
Alaric after they divorced.
At first, their lack of interaction didn’t bother them. However, as the pair
waited longer, whispers began to reach them from their surroundings.
“Look at them. They must be here to divorce.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
“Divorce? Are you sure? The both of them look like the perfect match and
yet, they still end up getting divorced?”
“I don’t understand. Do they think they could find someone with a prettier
face than their ex–partners? What’s the point of divorcing? I feel bad to
see them separate.”
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
It was human nature to learn about something they didn’t understand,
especially from somebody who was that eye–catching.
Taking Alaric and Victoria as an example, their appearance simply gave
the crowd the impression of high compatibility, so it was even more worth
discussing.
The whispers reached Victoria from all directions.
If she could hear them, Alaric, who was standing next to her, would have
no problem hearing them too. However, he kept a distant look on his face
all the time and didn’t visibly react to the words.
“By the way, they look so young. Do you think they have children?”
Victoria’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of children.
And she had to refrain from rolling her eyes after she calmed down. How
did the topic sidetrack all its way to the discussion about children?
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
“They have such good genes. It would be a shame if they didn’t have any
children.”
Upon hearing the innocent comment, Victoria involuntarily stole a glance
at Alaric.
As expected, his expression darkened.
Ever since she got the message and the implication to take a year’s leave
from him last time, he never asked her about this matter.
She thought that Claudia must have approached him and dealt with it on
their own, so he didn’t ask her about it.
After all, he hinted at her getting an abortion so knowing him, he wouldn’t
confront her about it.
Little did he know, Victoria didn’t get an abortion.
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
Please just drop it, she pleaded.
However, the crowd was immersed in their non–stop gossip. They didn’t
even mind the subject’s feelings as their conversation turned into a
heated discussion.
“They must have children. If I were them, I would like to have more children
since I have such good genes. Therefore, even if I get a divorce one day,
my children’s pretty faces can heal my wounds. Don’t you think it’s a big
accomplishment?”
“I second that. Or else, I won’t get anything in the end after the divorce.
Besides, time changes everything. Even a pretty woman will end up being
an old lady. However, as long as my children’s pretty faces are shown,
they can prove that I was also that good–looking in the past, don’t you
think so?”
Children had now become the subject of their discussion.
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
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Victoria almost passed out at that. Just when she reached her limit and
readied to get up and leave, Alaric asked in a low voice, “Are you hungry?”
“What?” Thinking that she was hearing things, she raised her head and
looked in his direction, surprise on her face.
Even though the man looked as expressionless as ever, she could
somewhat tell that his expression had softened.
“Do you want to eat something?”
She answered involuntarily, “Are you talking to me?”
Alaric frowned in annoyance at her words. He continued coldly, “Who else
do you think I’m talking to?”
“Oh! No, thanks. I’m not hungry.” She shook her head, declining his
suggestion.
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Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
After that, she looked down at the ground as thoughts ran through her
mind. What’s with the sudden change of attitude?
It was clear that he was in a bad mood when they first got here. However,
after listening to the people’s gossip, he seemed less edgy than before
and even expressed concern about her.
Is it because he’s feeling guilty after asking me to get an abortion?
“But you skipped breakfast.” He persisted on the matter, to which she
nodded on autopilot.
“But I’m not hungry.”
Truth was, she didn’t have the appetite.
“Are you sure you won’t get hungry later? We don’t have time to stop for
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
3
Now that he finally made it clear, Victoria immediately took the hint. She
nodded. “All right. Let’s go for breakfast then, shall we?”
“Wait here. I’ll get it for you.”
After that, Alaric left the building.
70
When he was standing outside, he didn’t immediately leave to buy
breakfast. Instead, he leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette. He felt a
little fresher as the morning breeze brushed past him.
Putting all his weight against the wall, Alaric looked down at the ground.
His lashes covered his eyes, effectively hiding all the emotions within his
gaze.
His morning began with Victoria getting on his nerves, and he was barely
holding back from holding her by her throat and confronting her for her
heartlessness. But at last, he changed his mind by prompting her to eat
breakfast.
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
What’s wrong with my head?
Victoria would never expect the gossipèrs to surround her right after Alaric
left. The group took the empty seats around her as if they were friends.
“Hey, pretty lady. Is the man who left just now your husband or your
boyfriend?”
“What are you guys here for? Getting married or getting a divorce?”
“I’m curious. Do you have any children?”
Victoria was overwhelmed by their questions.
Don’t you think your questions contradict each other?
Besides, it’s impolite to pry into one’s privacy, especially when I’m right
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
before you.
Victoria pressed her slightly pale lips together and cast a friendly smile at
them. “I’m sorry, but it’s personal. I find it uncomfortable to share my story
with strangers.”
The group was taken aback by her rejection, but they weren’t offended by
her words at all. Instead, they were slightly embarrassed by their
inconsideration.
After all, even though Victoria chose to not answer them, she was friendly
and polite. On the contrary, if the group was offended just because she
defended her basic rights, it indicated that they lacked both boundaries
and manners.
“Of course. Don’t force yourself, but we would also like to ask for your
forgiveness. It’s just that both of you are good–looking, so we can’t help
but want to learn more about you.”
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
“That’s right. You have the prettiest face I’ve ever seen.”
Victoria returned their compliments with a grateful smile. “Thank you. All of
you are good–looking too.”
“Coming from the most beautiful woman herself. You’re making me blush.
Just so you know, your face is one in a million. Remember to make the
most of it.”
Even though the women were nosy, Victoria couldn’t bring herself to hate
them. Before Alaric came back, the women kept making light conversation
with Victoria even if she seldom responded to them.
However, they saw themselves as Victoria’s new besties and they even
started to share their love stories on their own.
Finally, a lean figure that showed up at the entrance announced the end
of the conversation. The group that formed around Victoria dispersed
within a second as they returned to their seats.
Chapter 55 Is It Guilt?
Alaric approached Victoria. When a mix of different perfumes reached
him, he scowled in annoyance.
“What do they want?” he asked as he handed the packet of food to her.
After a moment of hesitation, she reached out a hand to take it and
explained, “It’s nothing important. They are merely curious about our
purpose of being here.”
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