Chapter 0489
+25 BORUS
“What do you mean, ‘Nadia is dying‘? She’s perfectly fine! Where does she even look remotely like she’s dying?” Victor snapped, his voice laced with disbelief.
Not only was Nadia alive and well, but she seemed to be thriving–flirting with that younger guy like it was her new favorite pastime.
The mere thought of that younger man set Victor’s blood boiling again. Over the past few days, while he’d been away, Nadia and that guy had been spending way too much time together.
Reliable sources had told him that the moment he left, Nadia wasted no time meeting up with that little punk. If it weren’t for Dylan needing him here, Victor would have never left her alone to mingle with him.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, fists clenching at his sides. If he could, he’d fly back right now, beat the daylights out of that smug little pretty boy, and give Nadia a piece of his mind too.
The next time he left, he’d make sure to lock Nadia up–there was no way he’d let her see that guy again.
Allen, watching Victor’s obliviousness, frowned. “You really haven’t noticed anything off about Nadia?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? If you’ve got something to say, just say it! Stop beating around the bush,” Victor snapped, irritation simmering beneath his words.
Of course, he’d noticed something off–mostly her judgment.
How else could she be interested in that useless boy–toy?
“Think about it. There’s no way she could be gravely ill and still act like a normal person. Either you’re blind, or she’s one hell of an actress.”
Victor glared at him, but Allen wasn’t done. “Honestly, I think it’s pathetic. She’s done so much for you and your family, and yet you can’t even take the time to notice something’s wrong with her.”
Victor bristled at the comment, firing back instantly. “Who are you to judge me? You’ve only been good to Riley for a few days!”
Allen didn’t back down. “And yet, I’ve probably treated her better in those few days than you have Nadia her whole life.”
Victor scoffed. “Excuse me? I’ve done plenty for Nadia. She eats my family’s food, lives in our house, and has been taken care of by us since she was a kid. If it weren’t for my family, she wouldn’t have the life she has now!”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0489
Allen’s expression hardened, his voice sharp. “That’s the problem with your thinking. After everything she’s done for your family, do you really think what she did wasn’t enough?
“Do you have any idea how much she’s sacrificed for you? The burden she’s carried so you could have the freedom to live as you please? She bore all the responsibilities you should’ve taken on. And now, because of that, she’s dying young from an incurable disease.”
“What do you mean, first you’re saying she’s dying, then it’s a serious illness, and now you’re claiming it’s incurable?” Victor grabbed Allen by the collar, his eyes blazing. “Allen, just because you’re Suzy’s subordinate doesn’t mean you can spout nonsense.
Nadia couldn’t possibly have an incurable disease. She looked so…
Wait.
Victor froze, his mind racing. She had coughed up blood that time.
But Suzy had explained it as a result of anger and stress. How had that turned into a life- threatening illness in Allen’s version?
Was Allen making things up, or had Suzy lied to him?
The thought of Nadia being sick sent a sharp pang through Victor’s chest. Without sparing Allen another word, he released him and strode off, pulling out his phone as he walked.
“Find out for me if Nadia is sick.”
The call was to Graham Ward, one of the most skilled doctors he knew. If anyone could confirm whether Nadia was gravely ill, it was him.
Even if she had been hiding it, Graham would uncover the truth.
As the possibility began to settle in, a daring thought crossed Victor’s mind: could her sudden insistence on calling off their engagement and her involvement with that younger man be because of her illness?
What if she wasn’t betraying him but pushing him away because she was sick?
Why hadn’t she told him?
Was it because she didn’t trust him to believe her? Or did she think he wasn’t someone she could depend on?
On the other end of the line, Graham had just stepped out of an eight–hour surgery. Exhausted and slightly disoriented, he barely registered what Victor was saying. “What? What did you just say?”
