Chapter 5

Victoria's eyes flicked with coldness, reflecting the red water of the bathtub. But when Giselle stepped closer, frowning at her, Victoria’s expression shifted instantly. She leaned back, trembling, her face showing fear.

"An accident happened, and the wine spilled all over me. I need to take an urgent bath since my room doesn’t have a washroom." Her voice shook, full of fear, earning a curse from Giselle, who looked disinterested and wanted Victoria gone.

"Ha! Now you want a room with a washroom? Does your greed and shamelessness ever end? How can you always be so greedy?"

Victoria frowned slightly at the foolish girl. Did she even hear her? It was hard to believe this girl had once made her submit.

"Aunt asked me to clean up here and return to attend the guests." Victoria didn’t waste time arguing. She chose words to silence Giselle immediately. "And I’ll need a proper dress too since I have nothing presentable." She fidgeted, twisting the conversation to get a decent outfit.

All her dresses came from Giselle, mostly faded or stitched up poorly. Giselle had lent her clothes whenever she had to appear in front of others. Such occasions were rare.

Giselle rolled her eyes.

"You’re getting bolder with time. You aren’t even embarrassed asking me for clothes now." She shook her head. "Hurry up. You’re already clean," she spat, glaring at Victoria.

Victoria hesitated, then nodded and stepped out.

"Oh yes, I forgot. My aunt said I must return quickly. My future husband is waiting for me." Her voice was dreamy, full of hope, making Giselle’s lips twitch in irritation.

They hadn’t even met yet, but Victoria believed it was her future husband. How impressive must he be? And why was her mother supporting Victoria instead of her? Jealousy crossed her watery eyes.

"Stay here. I’ll bring the dress. Don’t wet or dirty my room," Giselle spat, then left. She returned with a black dress, worn a few times, mostly for funerals.

"Here, matching clothes," she smirked. The dress was plain and unremarkable, guaranteed to draw no attention.

As Victoria changed, Giselle’s smirk faltered. Even plain silk clung perfectly to Victoria’s figure. She hated it.

Giselle looked around, searching for a way to stop her. Her eyes fell on the lock. Filled with malice, she locked Victoria inside the washroom without hesitation.

Looking in the mirror, she smirked.

"There’s no way you’ll find a better man, Victoria. You’re going to rot in this house like a pest!" she spat, touching her hair, then left giggling.

Victoria’s eyes darkened at the lock. She stripped off the dress and returned to the bathtub, reaching for more soap. She closed her eyes, letting the warm water soothe her.

…

Bernard Harrigan sat in the hall, his expression grim. At twenty-five, he was tall, handsome, broad-shouldered, with a lean waist. The dream man of many young women. But his past was dark—his first wife had died under tragic circumstances tied to his cruelty and infidelity.

There were rumors that he had brought women numerous times home and slept with them in their bedroom in front of his wife. And if she objected, he'd beat her in front of those women. Sometimes he had forced her to do threesomes.

He had treated her cruelly, and the police never intervened. Now he sought a second wife. When Veronica learned this, she offered Victoria in exchange for a promotion for her husband. Bernard was pleased with the picture Veronica sent. She felt proud of capturing Victoria’s poised, confident look.

Victoria had only just finished bathing. Her skin flushed from the warmth, her hair brushed neatly. Bernard had been persuaded to offer a promotion to Veronica’s husband if she married Victoria.

Now he sat gloomy in the modest house.

"I expected her to open the door or at least wait in the hall." His disapproval was clear in his cold eyes. He ignored the drinks the maid had brought, staring at them with contempt.

Bernard fidgeted, glaring at Veronica. This was her plan. Should she not be executing it properly?

Veronica didn’t flinch. She smiled at him calmly.

"When I told my niece you were coming, she was so excited I could barely move her from the dressing table. She wanted to look beautiful for you. But I’ll go and bring her now.”