Chapter 413

Victoria Ellington remained under armed guard until dawn finally broke.

When released, she massaged her aching wrists while storming out of the restaurant, venom dripping from her muttered curses.

"What absolute nonsense! Olivia, I thought you were some powerful businesswoman. Clearly, you lacked the backbone to truly harm me. You'd better hope our paths never cross again. This time you let me go, but mark my words - I'll never show you such mercy."

Victoria raced home in a panic upon hearing Beatrice was there. Tears streaked her flushed cheeks as she burst through the grand foyer, desperately calling for her mother.

"Mother! Daniel's been ensnared by that scheming witch! He's demanding a divorce!" Victoria wailed dramatically. "She came to humiliate me, then had me imprisoned all night! I thought I'd die without seeing you again!"

As the Ellington family's cherished only daughter, Victoria had been raised with strict discipline yet remained the undisputed golden child. Never in her privileged life had she endured such indignities.

Beatrice doted on Victoria excessively. The younger woman fully expected her mother to crush Olivia without hesitation. In Victoria's mind, Olivia would soon find herself exiled in disgrace, utterly defeated.

Spotting Beatrice, Victoria dissolved into fresh sobs and rushed toward her.

But Beatrice turned with an expression like carved ice, her eyes devoid of maternal warmth.

Before Victoria could react, Beatrice's palm connected sharply with her daughter's cheek.

"Victoria, I've indulged you far too much," Beatrice snapped. "You've lost all moral compass. What happened to everything I taught you about proper conduct?"

Clutching her stinging face, Victoria stared in wounded disbelief. "Mother! How could you? What did I possibly do to deserve this?"

Furious, Beatrice produced her phone. The screen displayed a viral video showing Victoria and Daniel's explosive public argument at an upscale restaurant.

The raw footage lacked context but spoke volumes. The comment section overflowed with thousands of reactions.

"Is that Victoria Ellington? From the governor's family?"

"Exactly! The deputy governor's spoiled daughter. Can you believe how she behaves in private? Poor husband."

"Is she deranged? Publicly accusing her husband of infidelity like that. Frankly, I pity the man."

"Well, he's no saint either. He clearly doesn't make her feel secure."

Opinions varied wildly - some shredding Victoria's reputation, others offering weak defenses. While not quite a full scandal, the social media storm was gaining dangerous momentum.

Victoria, accustomed to unquestioned superiority, couldn't tolerate being common gossip fodder. The very idea of ordinary people dissecting her private life was intolerable.

"That conniving bitch!" Victoria shrieked, hurling the phone against marble floors without regard for Beatrice's mounting fury. The older woman's disappointment radiated palpably.

"I've heard the full truth today," Beatrice said coldly. "Now I want your version. Explain yourself, Victoria. Why would you do this?"

A flicker of guilt crossed Victoria's face before her trademark arrogance reasserted itself. "Mother, I'm your only daughter. Who else would you have if not me?"