Chapter 5 A flash of Malice

A flash of malice and calculation passed through Eliza's eyes. The next second, she suddenly threw herself backward. Her face was filled with shock and

fear as she tumbled down the stairs.

"Ellie." Victor rushed forward and cradled Eliza in his arms. "Ellie, are you okay?"

Eliza weakly reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Vic, don't blame Mrs. Powell. It's my fault. I shouldn't have upset her."

Serena walked down the stairs and saw Eliza putting on a show. She said, "She broke my emerald bracelet and tried to run. I didn't push her. She fell on her own."

Leon started shouting at Serena like crazy, "You wretch. Why are you so mean?"

Victor's rage exploded. He stood up and slapped Serena across the face. The sound echoed through the villa. The burning pain spread quickly across her cheek, snapping her back to reality.

Serena's lips trembled slightly. Tears welled in her eyes but stubbornly refused to fall. "I said I didn't push Eliza."

Looking at her expression, Victor faltered for a moment. "Seri, what's happening between us has nothing to do with Ellie. Why would you take it out on her?"

"I told you I didn't. She's the one who broke my emerald bracelet first," Serena said.

"Victor." Eliza looked at him through teary eyes. "Vic, don't blame Mrs. Powell anymore. It's all my fault. I accidentally broke her emerald bracelet. That's why she got so upset. Victor, I'm hurting all over."

Only then did Victor snap out of it and remember Eliza had fallen down the stairs. He didn't have time to argue with Serena. He quickly carried Eliza out to take her to the hospital.

In just a few minutes, the huge villa was completely empty–Serena was the only one left.

Her cheek was swollen and red. Not a single person cared about her injury. They had all rushed Eliza to the hospital to take care of her. To Serena, the whole thing felt like a joke.

At the hospital, Eliza lay weakly on the bed. Victor held her hand with concern and said, "Good thing the injuries aren't too serious. I really didn't expect Serena to go that far–actually pushing you down the stairs."

Seeing that Victor had taken the bait, Eliza hid the satisfaction in her eyes and put on a gentle, understanding expression. "Victor, this whole thing is really my fault. It has nothing to do with Mrs. Powell."

Victor replied, "Ellie, I know you just don't want me to fight with her, but what she did was way

out of line. I think she really meant to get you killed."

Eliza shook her head. "Mrs. Powell isn't like that. She was right–I broke her emerald bracelet, and that's why she got upset. But I only wanted to take it to get it fixed. Maybe Mrs. Powell misunderstood."

Victor thought, 'Serena pushed Ellie down the stairs over a bracelet?'

His anger flared. "Ellie, stop making excuses for Serena. I know exactly what kind of person she is. She's just mad because Leon's getting closer to you."

"Victor, don't say that about Mrs. Powell. She'd be heartbroken if she heard you," Eliza said softly.

Victor looked at Eliza who seemed so kind and understanding. He then thought of the way Serena had acted. He figured the contrast between the two

couldn't have been more obvious.

Victor comforted her, "Don't worry. I'll make sure Serena apologizes to you. You're not going to suffer for nothing."

"I think I should move out," Eliza said. "As long as I stay with you guys, Mrs. Powell will keep picking fights with you. I don't want to be the reason you two keep arguing. I don't want to come between your marriage."

She turned her head slightly, letting Victor see the tears falling from her eyes, deliberately triggering his urge to protect her.

Victor explained, "Ellie, things between me and Serena aren't how you think. Just get some rest and don't overthink it. As long as I'm here, you'll always have a place in my house."

After settling Eliza in, Victor headed back to the villa and went straight up to the second floor, only to find that Serena wasn't there. He turned and made his way to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Serena had just grabbed an ice pack to put on her face. When she turned around, she saw Victor storming in, full of anger. He walked straight up to her and slapped the ice pack out of her hand.

"What are you doing?" Serena asked.

Victor grabbed her hand and started dragging her out. "Ellie feels guilty because of you. She's hurt that badly and still thinking about you. Come with me to the hospital and apologize to her."

Serena let out a laugh out of sheer rage as she thought, 'He wants me to apologize to Eliza?'

She yanked her hand out of his grasp, the love in her eyes completely gone. "Victor, don't you see the swelling on my face?"

"You brought that on yourself. I don't care what your reason is. You hurt Ellie, so you're coming with me to the hospital to apologize," Victor snapped.

Serena felt like it was all a sick joke. She stepped back and finally saw Victor for who he really was. "In your eyes, no one matters more than Eliza. I've been married to you for years.

"I'm the one who took care of you. I was the one by your side during the hardest time of your life. And now Eliza shows up and suddenly I'm invisible?"

Victor flinched slightly at the look on her face. He thought back to how she had truly looked after him back then. It really had been her who stayed with him through the worst period of his life.

He thought, 'Why do I feel guilty right now?'

Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Victor pulled it out and saw a message from Eliza.

Eliza: [Victor, maybe this isn't my place, but I can't let Mrs. Powell keep hiding this from you. Turns out, she only got close to you because your father paid

her.]

Attached below were two photos–one of Victor's father, Albert, handing Serena a check, and another of Serena passing that check to a man Victor didn't recognize.

Everything suddenly clicked for Victor. All those memories now felt like a setup. He thought, 'And to think I actually believed I owed Serena something. Turns out I was just fooling myself.

He demanded, "Serena, tell me–why did you approach me in the first place?"

The question stunned Serena. She murmured, "What are you talking about?"

Victor waved his hand and stepped toward her, his eyes bloodshot. He grabbed her shoulders tightly, his voice turning sharp. "I'm asking you-did you take money from my dad? You got close to me because of the money.

"Everything you did to take care of me was fake. It was all for the money, wasn't it?"

Serena's body started to tremble uncontrollably. She couldn't deny that in the beginning, she had done it for the sake of the orphanage. But over time, her feelings had become real.

She muttered, "Victor, let me explain. I really do love you. If it was all fake, why would I give birth to Leon? I could've left once you recovered. Why can't you believe me?"

"Believe you?" Victor let out a bitter laugh. "I let you stay in the Powell family because I believed you. I married you because I believed you. And now

you're telling me you were only with me for the money?"

Serena felt like something heavy had slammed straight into her chest.

Serena picked up her suitcase and walked out the door. She didn't look back.

But she didn't know yet-she was carrying something with her. Something that would change everything.

And by the time Victor found out, it might already be too late.