Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 375

Claudia lay back on her bed, covering her face and crying her heart out. Even she felt

like beating herself up. She should’ve stopped while she was ahead, but it was too late

for regrets. No one could help her now. Wait, there is still someone who can help me.

She had someone in mind, and she quickly leaped out of bed. “Quick, get me a cab,

Lila!”

It was a busy night, indeed.

Claudia and Lila were at a quiet plaza. Ethan poured a cup of tea for Bane, and steam

swirled in the air. Claudia stood before Bane while Lila held her up. She had been

standing for quite a while, but Bane didn’t even let her sit. Ethan showed her no

hospitality either, aside from the cup of tea.

She had come out in a hurry, so she was wearing nothing but patient attire, revealing

her wrist covered in cut wounds. The only warm clothing she had was from Lila, but

even so, the cold still made her shiver. She yearned for a cup of tea. It should be

enough to warm me up.

However, no matter how much she stared at the tea, Bane still didn’t move. He looked

aloof, unlike his usual self, though he was still elegant as ever as he sipped his tea. He

blew on it and took a sip.

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Chapter 375 Not Working With Idiots

A gust of wintry gale whizzed past the place, and the ladies shivered. No longer able to

hold it in, Claudia inquired, “B–Bane, so what d–do you think?”

Finally, the man looked at her for a brief moment before putting his cup down. “I’m

sorry, Miss Johnson, but I have no plans on working with a fool.”

Ethan looked at Bane upon hearing that. That’s the man I know. The persona he

acquired after meeting Miss Selwyn is disappearing.

Claudia paled, and her lips started trembling. “W–What did you say?” It was a hurtful

reply, even though Bane was speaking politely. When he said he would see her, she

thought he was amenable to a partnership, but no. She had it wrong. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“You have nothing to bargain with me anymore, and you wasted all your overwhelming

advantage. Despite all the edge you had, you still lost. I see no reason to work with

someone who has no brains or brawn. I am no philanthropist.”

She is worthless to me. Bane then told Ethan, “Escort her away.”

Ethan stepped ahead and was about to escort Claudia away, but she flung Lila’s hand

off and shouted, “No! I am not leaving! You like Victoria, don’t you? We can make a

deal!”

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Chapter 375 Not Working With Idiots

“Oh?” Bane smiled. “Do you still think you have anything that’s tradeable? After

everything that’s happened, you’re worth nothing to Alaric anymore. And so what if I

like her? I see no point using that to negotiate.” His smile was slowly turning into a

sneer. “You should not bring my love for her up, let alone use it for your nefarious ends,

scum.”

The look on his face sent shivers down Claudia’s spine. She had a feeling Bane was not

as friendly as he pretended to be. This man was on the brink of madness. If this were

any other time, she would have left right away, but not this time. Now, she was

desperate. She stepped ahead and bit her lip. “I am not trying to crack any jokes. Do

you truly think you love her? Do you love her so much that you can ignore it when she’s

kissing another man?”

Bane looked at Ethan. “Take her away.”

“She’s going to start a relationship with Alaric soon, and you’re just going to let them do

it? I know you’ve been by her side for the last five years. Don’t you want to be with her?

Are you just going to let someone else take her away from you?” Claudia screeched like

an insane banshee. She was at her wits‘ end, but Bane remained calm and collected.

“Had enough?”

Claudia froze. What? He’s unfazed even after all that? No way. He must have stayed

Chapter 375 Not Working With Idiots

with Victoria for years because he likes her. It was the reason Claudia stopped asking

her men to keep an eye on Victoria. She thought Bane and Victoria would end up

together sooner or later. No woman could resist a man like Bane if he kept up with his

advances for years. They would relent and say yes in the end.

However, Victoria was dirtier than she imagined, whereas Bane had more patience than

expected. Even when things were looking dire enough for him, he was still unfazed.

While she was in a stupor, Ethan came ahead and coldly said, “Miss Johnson, please

leave.”

She looked at Bane. He didn’t seem interested in talking to her, so she went around him,

but before she left, she said, “I don’t understand. If you never wanted to deal with me,

why did you agree to this meeting?” If he thinks I’m worth nothing, he could’ve just

skipped out on this meeting. There was no need to waste my time. There must be a

reason, but I just failed to find it. I can’t leave just yet.

However, what Bane said next dashed her hopes. “Ah, you’re reading too much into it. I

just want to see the look on your face when you find out you lost to her.”

Claudia’s eyes went wide in disbelief, and flames of fury filled her heart. She clenched

her fists in anger, irritated that he would play her like a fiddle. Though, that anger was

soon replaced by envy. She envied Victoria for earning the love of good men, for getting

Chapter 275 Not Working With Idiots

the affection of someone like Alaric and Bane, without having to do anything. If I could

date even one of them, I’d die happy.

“Miss Johnson, do leave at once.” Ethan came up to her once again, but this time, he

was not as polite anymore. “Or I will be forced to call the guards.”

Claudia glared at Bane hatefully. “Don’t regret this. With that, she went away, and Lila

was about to leave, but she was reminded of something. She then bit her lip and

quickly came back to Bane to tell him something

And that little something managed to rile Bane up a little