Chapter 410

Olivia Sinclair's lips curled into a frosty smile as she gazed down at Victoria Ellington. "Clearly, I have more dignity than to stoop to your level," she said, her voice laced with biting sarcasm. "Your actions were despicable, and I refuse to debase myself like you."

Victoria gnawed at her lower lip, humiliation coloring her cheeks, yet she stubbornly clung to her twisted justification. "The man I chose for you was influential. I only wanted to keep you away from my husband. You have a child to consider, and your life isn't easy. Even if you remarry, your new husband would likely resent you. I was doing you a favor. You should be thanking me. Who else would want a woman like you?"

Olivia didn't bother entertaining Victoria's warped logic. She'd learned that arguing with someone like Victoria was pointless. The woman would never acknowledge her wrongdoing.

Olivia knew true justice wouldn't come through words, but by stripping away what Victoria cherished most. The door behind Victoria creaked open, revealing Daniel Bennett standing in the doorway. He'd been there all along, his eyes bloodshot, hands trembling with barely contained emotion.

A shiver ran down Victoria's spine as she sensed his presence. With a subtle nod from Olivia, the security personnel released their grip on Victoria. Whirling around, Victoria's face paled at the sight of Daniel - it was like a physical blow to her chest.

"When... when did you get here? How much did you hear?" Victoria's voice quivered, clinging to a fragile thread of hope.

In a frantic attempt to regain control, Victoria pleaded, "Whatever lies Olivia told you, don't believe them! I'm your wife - the one you should trust. She's just jealous and wants to destroy what we have. Can't you see she's manipulating you? Her intentions are far from pure!"

Daniel's expression darkened as he slowly shook his head, disappointment radiating from his every pore. "Olivia didn't say a word. I heard everything I needed to know directly from your own mouth."

Victoria's face flushed with a mixture of shame, fear, and desperation. Her eyes darted wildly before she swallowed her pride and crawled toward Daniel, clutching at his trousers.

"I've stood by your side all these years, Daniel," Victoria implored emotionally. "I've never bowed my head to anyone. I love you so much. What did I really do wrong? I'll apologize to Olivia. I'll make amends. From now on, I won't cause her any trouble. Can't we just move past this? For your sake, I'm willing to let it all go."

But Daniel's face remained clouded with disillusionment. He stepped back, evading her grasp.

"The truth is, I stayed with you not just because of family obligations. At first, I didn't have strong feelings for you, but I respected you. I admired your capability and intelligence."

He paused, his expression growing heavier with each word. "When I agreed to marry you, I committed to building a future together. Yes, I once loved Olivia deeply, but I accepted that chapter was closed, that there was no going back."

Daniel's voice softened slightly as he revealed his intentions. "Before everything fell apart, I was planning to take you on a trip. I knew Olivia's return had shaken you, and I thought getting away from Crestwood might help. I wanted to give you space, perhaps stay away until she left, to bring you some peace."

Victoria's eyes widened with disbelief and dawning regret. "That can't be true! I saw how restless you became after she returned. You couldn't sleep, started going out alone at night. You even changed your phone password. What were you hiding from me?"

The ghost of a sad, disappointed smile touched Daniel's lips as he spoke words that would haunt Victoria forever. "I remember your birthday comes exactly one month after your mother's..."