Chapter 2. Deal offer

"This is your special gift, babe," Alden said, kissing Emberly’s forehead.

Their bodies were so perfectly pressed together that each other's breathing could be felt. Their messy clothes gave away what had happened earlier, and it was not a normal conversation or interaction between sister and brothers-in-law—coupled with what Victoria had heard.

Victoria was not too stupid to not know what was going on between them. Even so, her trust and love for Alden kept her in denial.

"What a liar! You kissed Victoria before too!" Emberly exclaimed as she smacked Alden lightly on the chest.

The man laughed as if Emberly's jealousy-laden words were a joke. "You wouldn't believe my charade of loving your stepsister, would you?"

Alden's confession pierced Victoria's deepest heart. It slowly made a wound that caused pain. Tears naturally produced and began to rush out of her eyelids. She covered her mouth to prevent any audible sobs. She could not move from here. Her legs were too weak to leave or go to them.

"But how long?! How long do I have to endure this, Alden?" Emberly asked urgently.

"Wait a little longer, babe; she'll finish her studies soon, and I'll pretend to marry Victoria. Then I'll take all her shares to be ours. Then we can get married."

Victoria staggered back and almost fell over, having heard another confession from her fiancé's mouth. However, she did not fall to the floor but into someone's arms. Victoria was quite surprised and looked back to see who was holding her.

"Mr. Hurlington?" Without realizing it, her voice was heard by the two persons in the room who did not close the door tightly. "Wait, isn't that Victoria's voice?" 

Victoria gasped and panicked. Before she could think, the man grabbed her and made her walk into the room right before Emberly's room. Again, Victoria was shocked but couldn't say much because everything was so fast.

Now, she was alone in a room with a man who, for whatever reason, had suddenly helped her hide. They stood before the door, facing each other with Victoria in his arms. Just like the distance between Emberly and Alden that she saw.

"I thought I heard Victoria's voice out here." Alden's voice could be heard clearly from inside this room. 

"If she had been here, there's no way she would have left this quickly. It's probably just your feelings." Emberly's voice replied.

"We can't get caught before I get hers, Emberly!"

"Calm down, she's not here, anywhere! Now we'd better go inside, get ready to return to the party, and act normal again."

Victoria's eyes were opened again with the evidence she had seen. It was more than enough to make her stop loving her fiancé. She must not believe him or deny it.

After the sound of the door closing, there was no more sound. Victoria let out a sigh of relief. But then, her cheeks flushed, realizing where they were. The sadness, disappointment, and anger she had previously felt vanished as if they had never existed. An awkward atmosphere enveloped the room.

"Mr. Hurlington," Victoria called back to him without daring to look into those eyes again.

The man finally let go of Victoria and stepped back, keeping their distance. Then came a harsh snort from him.

Victoria broke out in a cold sweat, unsure of what to say. Either thank him, apologize, or change the subject as if it never happened. Things got worse because the man before Victoria saw her pathetic self. And he also caught the affair of her fiancé and step-sister.

"W-why are you here? The party is being held on the ballroom floor," Victoria said to start the conversation, pretending everything was fine. 

"I had come to the party and intended to stop by the room for a while, but I didn't expect to find something interesting."

Victoria flinched. Her heart was racing after the fall that caused her legs to weaken. What did this man want by insinuating her instead of pretending not to see it? Was he trying to humiliate her?

"I thank you for helping me, Mr. Hurlington. However, as for that incident, please forget it as if it never happened." Victoria said firmly and straightforwardly.

This man, Maverick Hurlington, is Karina's brother, known to be a cold man because of his strong charm and also known for his arrogance personality. Victoria thought that would make him let it all go. However, Maverick is increasingly meddling beyond his line. 

"You're going to foolishly pretend the affair never happened and still accept it because you were blinded by love?"

Victoria didn't answer. She even still hadn't decided anything. Even if she knew about the affair, she couldn't just break off her engagement to Alden. More than that, Victoria must first maintain the dignity of her family. This man, whom she did not know very well, seemed interested in her matters.

"That's my business, so-"

"They've been planning it for a long time, have been doing it since the beginning because they think you're stupid. Aren't you angry, disappointed, and resentful of them for betraying you?" Victoria was getting increasingly clueless about the motives of the man in front of her who was provoking her. "Mr. Hurlington, I don't understand what you want. I reiterate this is my matter. Please do not argue any more beyond your line."

"Be my wife for one year. I will help you take revenge on those two traitors." Victoria's heartbeat again accelerated in pumping blood. She stared at the man in front of her, whose expression had not changed. Maverick held out a hand, signaling he wasn't playing with his words. "Let's make the deal."

"What makes you want that from me?" asked Victoria confused.

"You probably already know how bad my relationship with your fiancé is. I have the same goal as you. Destroying Alden Benedict to be the one." 

Victoria was not thinking in that direction at all. She had not even thought about what she should do next. However, remembering everything that had happened in her life and all the pain in her heart from the loss made her desperate, which was all because of her stepsister. And now her fiancé was cruelly using her and wanted to take what was hers with Emberly. It was remembering all that made the anger reach its peak again. Revenge, was that the answer to this anger?

"Isn't this a good collaboration?" Victoria looked at the hand that was still towards her.

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