Cold War between Mr. and Mrs Vaughn: He Regretted when Divorce-Chapter 135: Do You Still Have Me in Your Heart
The night was quiet, and the stars hung low in the sky.
Victoria Sinclair sat quietly by the edge of the bed, feeling heavy-hearted as she gazed at the already asleep Eugene Vaughn, his hand tightly holding hers.
She pulled out her phone from her pocket, glanced at it—it showed one o’clock in the morning.
Raising her eyes again to look at the man’s tired sleeping face, her mood was as heavy as if dark clouds were pressing down, the air around her felt stagnant.
She slowly withdrew her hand, stood up, cleared away the bowls and cups in the room, cleaned the kitchen, picked up her bag and left.
Victoria Sinclair arrived at the next floor, to the home where they had lived for two years.
She knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.
She tried to enter the old password.
With a click, the door lock opened in response.
The moment she pushed open the door, her heart sank suddenly; everything inside had returned to how it was—clean and tidy, as if time had reversed to before their divorce.
It turned out Eugene Vaughn had completely evicted her parents and brother from this home.
She didn’t want to recall the past, nor did she have the courage to step into this home.
Closing the door, she left resolutely and decisively.
——
The next morning.
Eugene Vaughn slowly opened his eyes, looking at the light seeping through the curtains, took a deep breath, raised a hand to rub his temples, and sat up on the bed.
"President Vaughn, you’re awake?" Assistant Palmer stood up from the sofa, with respect.
Eugene felt a soreness all over his body, his head faintly dizzy and painful, weakly asking: "How did you get in?"
"You didn’t answer my calls yesterday, so I was worried something happened to you and asked Miss Sinclair for the password."
Eugene threw back the covers to get out of bed, seeing he was only wearing underwear, frowned unconsciously, "Did you undress me?"
"No," Assistant Palmer hurriedly shook his head, "I only came over at six in the morning and cooked you breakfast."
Eugene curled his lips into a cold smile, softly murmured: "So it wasn’t a dream."
"What?" Assistant Palmer didn’t hear clearly, asked nervously.
"Nothing, go wait in the living room."
Assistant Palmer nodded and left.
Eugene stepped into the bathroom to take a shower.
Half an hour later, he dressed in a white shirt and brown pants, while putting on his watch, walked out of the room.
Assistant Palmer placed porridge and a sandwich on the table, "President Vaughn, come have breakfast, remember to take your medication afterwards."
Eugene put on his watch, sat down, pulled out his phone to check his work email, fixed his gaze on the porridge as he picked up the sandwich.
He was silent for a few seconds, looked at Assistant Palmer, "Did you cook this?"
Assistant Palmer: "No, it should be Miss Sinclair who cooked it; I saw it hadn’t gone bad, so I just reheated it."
Eugene put down the sandwich, picked up a spoon and stirred, his face slightly darkened.
Assistant Palmer picked up the nearby documents, "President Vaughn, you asked me to investigate Nathan Austin, and I found no professional misconduct, no illegal activities, nor did he receive gifts from patients, no bribery or medical accidents, nothing amiss."
Eugene slowly spooned porridge, his eyes cold as ice, spoke blandly: "What about academically?"
"Before going abroad for studies, more than half of his papers were ghostwritten by Miss Sinclair, but no evidence has been found."
Eugene responded heavily: "Mm."
"Shall we continue investigating?"
"Investigate!" Eugene’s cold and intense tone carried deep-seated hatred.
"Alright, President Vaughn." Assistant Palmer flipped through the file again, continued: "I’ve also looked into Hector Grant’s background."
Eugene paused his actions eating porridge, froze, slowly put down the spoon, looked to Assistant Palmer.
Assistant Palmer cleared his throat: "Hector Grant, age thirty, single, only son of the Apex Pharma Group president, this Crown Prince of The Grant Family is also an obstetrician, graduated from Sterling University, two years senior to you. He didn’t know Miss Sinclair previously."
Eugene wiped his mouth with a napkin, picked up his phone, spoke unhurriedly: "And Ethan Vaughn?"
"He hasn’t been disturbing Miss Sinclair anymore, but..."
Eugene raised his eyes, "But what?"
"But Nathan Austin has been pursuing Miss Sinclair, sending flowers for a month now."
Eugene scoffed coldly, tossed the napkin aside, picked up a water cup, swallowed his medication, took a sip of warm water.
"Victoria Sinclair won’t like him." Eugene confidently stated holding the water cup.
Based on his understanding of Victoria Sinclair, she wouldn’t like such a despicable person.
Years ago, he had set up a scenario tarnishing Victoria Sinclair’s reputation, causing a misunderstanding between them; just by this action alone, Victoria had sentenced Nathan to never recover.
Victoria hadn’t thoroughly sought revenge on Nathan, likely because she valued her friendship with Angela Austin too much, showing mercy.
Assistant Palmer closed the file, his expression a bit tense, "President Vaughn, there’s something else, your father wants you home for dinner tomorrow night."
"Refuse." Eugene heavily set down the water cup, got up and went into the room.
"Yes."
——
Over the days, Victoria Sinclair’s phone had been blown up by her mother.
At first, she still answered, but eventually, she was forced to shut it off.
Every time she turned it on, there were dozens of missed calls.
That day, after having lunch in the cafeteria, returning to the institute, her mother’s voice sounded like a lunatic, echoing throughout the institute’s lobby.
"I am Victoria Sinclair’s mother, have your leader come see me immediately, return all two hundred million of my daughter’s investment, we’re not investing anymore."
"You’re a fraud company; what pharmaceutical institute, it’s nothing, just scamming money..."
"Have your leader come out..."
"Where’s Victoria Sinclair? Have her come see me; I’m furious, taking so much money and getting scammed by your fraudulent company."
No matter how the institute’s staff tried to persuade, the onlookers gathered around to watch the show, the security guard, past fifty years old, came in, completely unable to eject the hysterical Mrs. Sinclair.
Victoria knew she couldn’t stop her mother either, especially since she was pregnant now; trying to intervene might risk an accident.
Hiding in a corner, she called Timothy Sinclair, "Brother, Mom’s causing a scene at my work; come and take her away, I’ll send you the location."
"Okay." Timothy Sinclair grew anxious.
Half an hour later.
Timothy registered his information, hurried into the institute lobby, grabbed the relentlessly noisy Mrs. Sinclair, exasperated: "Mom, what are you doing? Come back with me."
Mrs. Sinclair forcefully pushed off Timothy Sinclair’s hand, her shrill voice shouting angrily: "Today, if I don’t see Victoria Sinclair or her leader, I’m not leaving; damn it, dare scam my daughter for two hundred million; I must get the money back today."
"Mom, are you crazy?" Timothy Sinclair stomped his foot in anger.
Mrs. Sinclair: "The crazy one is your sister. She’s given all two hundred million to this fraudulent research institute."
People around pointed fingers and murmured among themselves.
Seeing Timothy arrive, Victoria Sinclair immediately dialed the police.
When the police arrived, ensuring her own safety, she stepped out.
"Victoria Sinclair, not answering my calls and hiding from me, you..." Mrs. Sinclair, upon seeing her, was furious and charged over, teeth gritted in anger.
Victoria retreated, seeking refuge by the police officer.
The officer held Mrs. Sinclair’s shoulder, "Cause any more trouble, and I’ll escort you back to the police station."
Mrs. Sinclair, feeling wronged, cried out like a helpless yet loving mother, speaking earnestly, "Officer, my daughter has been deceived, has invested all her money in this scam company. I’m just trying to help her, to get her money back."
The officer asked Victoria Sinclair, "You’ve been scammed?"
Victoria was on the verge of breaking down, exhausted, "No, I’m an adult, responsible for my own actions. How I invest my money is my affair, and there’s no scam involved."
The police checked all the research institute’s documents and confirmed it was a state-owned joint venture, thereby forcibly escorting Mrs. Sinclair out.
As Mrs. Sinclair was forcefully taken away, she thrashed like a madwoman, resisted, and hurled insults.
The looks from those colleagues felt like needles piercing into Victoria’s heart.
Idle gossip is always painful.
After such a scene with her mother, she felt too embarrassed to stay any longer.
The commotion ceased, and people dispersed.
Timothy, with a face full of helplessness and guilt, approached Victoria, "I’m sorry, sister, I didn’t know Mom would come to your workplace and cause trouble."
Victoria clenched her fists, took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, "Because you all found out that I have two hundred million."
Timothy quickly shook his head, "I don’t want your money, sister, I genuinely never thought about asking you for a single cent."
"Brother, I know you don’t want my money." Victoria said with a heart full of fatigue and sadness, "But brother, you all are my closest family in this world, yet you willingly let yourselves be used, continually stabbing me without realizing it."
Timothy panicked, grasped Victoria’s hand, and nervously rubbed it, "Sister, we’re not being used, and we never intended to harm you. Mom just fears your money is being taken."
Victoria tilted her head back, took a deep breath, swallowed her tears, and spoke gravely to Timothy, "Vivian Miller considered me an enemy just to marry Eugene Vaughn, trying every trick to get rid of me. She’s succeeded, yet still won’t let me go. That’s why she sends Sarah Lowell close to you and Renee to Mom and Dad, simply to make me lose everyone and be in utter ruin."
Timothy was stunned, then swallowed hard and shook his head, "No, sister, you’re overthinking. Sarah genuinely loves me and wants to marry me."
Victoria’s eyes were red with tears, and she laughed bitterly, coldly spitting out, "Love-struck fool."
Timothy explained gently, "Sister, even Victoria is genuinely good to Mom and Dad. Now Mom, Dad, and I, along with young Hector, all live in Victoria’s grand villa, with two servants taking care of us."
Victoria scoffed, asking, "Vivian just found out I had two hundred million, and the next day it reaches Mom and Dad’s ears; do you still think it’s not their scheme?"
Timothy fell into half-believing silence.
Victoria was deeply disappointed, withdrawing her hand and stepping back, "Seems like you still haven’t learned the lesson from your ex-sister-in-law."
Timothy sighed lightly, hands in pockets, struggled a bit, and said, "Sister, there’s something else I want to tell you."
"Speak." Victoria said flatly.
Timothy seemed a bit guilty: "Sarah is quite kind. She said young Hector’s future is the most important, so I withdrew the case against Molly for you."
Victoria was so angry her chest tightened, took a deep breath and clenched her fists in restraint, gritting her teeth, "Molly deceived you out of so much money, and you withdrew the case?"
Timothy explained, "Sarah said, Molly is young Hector’s mother. If she’s arrested, then young Hector can’t apply for public services or join the army in the future; it would have a big impact."
"All those debts I helped you repay—it wasn’t your money, yet you forgave so easily!" Victoria sneered sarcastically, tears instantly wetting her eyes, chest faintly hurting, even breathing feeling difficult, "Sarah being so saintly is truly nauseating."
All her efforts brought no understanding or support from family, instead they disgusted her so much.
"Victoria, Sarah she..." Timothy attempted to explain.
Victoria interrupted angrily, "Enough."
Timothy, in a panic, was torn, looked at Victoria with heartache, seeing the tears in her eyes, "Sister, don’t be like this."
Victoria took a heavy breath, wiped her tears with her hand, and coldly said, "If possible, I’d really want to spend a sum of money to sever ties with you all."
Helplessly, the law doesn’t allow her to do so, she forever has a duty to support her parents.
Staying away from her original family is the only thing she can do.
"Sister..." Timothy’s eyes reddened, "Why do you think like this?"
Victoria was heart-wrenchingly disappointed; even towards her beloved brother, she had no words left.
She turned around and left.
After this fiasco, even as a minor shareholder, Victoria was asked to meet with the management.
They hoped she could reassure her family and prevent such incidents from happening again.
Faced with her stubborn and incorrigible family, Victoria felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Dusk fell, city lights began to glow.
The city plunged into a misty, dreary dusk.
Dragging her weary steps, Victoria returned to her apartment building.
Exiting the elevator, she glanced up for an instant, and her steps came to a halt, her body stiffening.
Eugene Vaughn stood elegantly and handsomely by her door, leaning against the wall, hands tucked into his black pants pockets, exuding a deep and gloomy aura.
He looked up, his profound and inscrutable gaze meeting hers, the air thick with an indescribable heaviness.
Their gazes intertwined in the silence, harboring a weariness and sorrow beyond words.
Victoria always thought of herself as strong and independent.
Yet at this moment, she felt incredibly tired, wished more than anything for a shoulder to lean on.
Seeing her motionless, Eugene removed his hands, took a step forward.
Victoria slightly parted her lips, thinking to herself how they haven’t seen each other for days, wondering if his illness was cured? But the words she spoke were instead a calm, "Didn’t we agree not to see each other again?"
Eugene’s low, magnetic voice murmured, "Your brother called me, saying your mother was causing trouble over money. Do you need my help?"
"No, thank you." Victoria softly replied, stepping past him.
Suddenly, Eugene grabbed her arms, pressing her against the wall, leaning over to gaze at her.
Startled by his abrupt action, Victoria’s heart raced, nervously looking up at him, her breathing becoming erratic.
The distance between them was close enough to touch, their rapid breaths intermingled, eyes locked, generating a palpable heat in the air.
Victoria swallowed nervously, her heart pounding in chaos, her throat squeezing out a soft voice, "What do you want to do?"
Eugene exhaled softly, his Adam’s apple moved, "Victoria Sinclair, so decisive and firm when divorcing, so indifferent and heartless when pushing me away, then what does my illness have to do with you?"
Victoria’s heart suddenly went into disarray, unknowingly clenching her fists, her eyes flickering, avoiding his gaze.
"You still have feelings for me, don’t you?" Eugene’s deep gaze carried a hint of hope.
