Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 413

Next to her, Victoria raised an eyebrow in amusement. Summer barely used her brain

when she needed to, but once she actually thought about things, she would always.

have such a wild imagination.

She raised her eyebrow before saying, “There’s no telling about that. Maybe he really

likes you?”

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“No way!” Summer immediately shook her head in denial. “How could the devil possibly

like me? Oh, wait, that was a mistake. It should be Mr. Ludson since I promised not to

call him nicknames anymore. He’d be insane to like me!”

“Then why do you think he doesn’t like you?”

“It’s obvious. I’m just an ordinary employee, while he has all kinds of wealthy and

beautiful women around him who have good looks and figures as well as high statuses

and influence. He’d be insane to like me.”

Victoria was displeased to hear her best friend demeaning herself, and she refuted

unhappily, “You’re not that bad either.”

“Oh, I know.” Summer wrapped her arms around her and said cheerily, “Of course, I

know I’m not that bad, but, Boo, we have to look at the bigger picture. It’s true that

there’s a huge difference if I compared myself to those wealthy and pretty women, and

since Mr. Ludson sees women like them all around him, how would he ever like me? If

he didn’t tag along with me to exploit me, then it means that it’s because he’s a

righteous man.”

However, Victoria shook her head in disagreement. “Sometimes, feelings don’t just

appear from looking at someone’s capabilities. For me, it’s spending a long time

together. Besides, sometimes, it takes just the right moment and the right person to fall

in love in an instant.”

Hearing that, Summer felt that she had a point.

“Yeah, that makes sense too, but I still don’t think it’s possible. You really don’t know

how many women are around him. Wait, no, you should know since Alaric has just as

many women surrounding him. Either way, they’re always flocking to him like moths to

a light.”

Victoria did not intend to continue arguing with her. After all, it was not her place to

dictate how Erik felt about Summer. If he truly had feelings for her and was able to

accompany her to a place like this, he would certainly seize any available opportunities

on his own if anything happened in the future without needing any help from anyone

else. In fact, her interference might even dampen the fun for the two of them.

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At that thought, she chuckled and conceded, “Yes, you have a point as well. Just take

your time, then.”

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Seeing that she wasn’t planning to delve into the topic any further, Summer lost interest

as well and changed the topic.

“By the way, wasn’t it Alaric who saved you? Where is he? I can’t believe he’s able to

hold himself back from meeting you when you haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

Victoria had been distracted by this matter during their conversation, and now that

Summer brought it up again, her emotions took a steep fall downward as well.

“He didn’t come back with us.”

“What?” Summer was astonished. “If he didn’t come back with you, where did he go?”

Victoria lowered her gaze. “Right as he found me, Bane’s men showed up.”

At her words, Summer immediately understood. Since they ran into Bane’s men, it

meant that Alaric stayed behind to fend them off while sending Victoria back in one

piece. As for what would happen afterward, it was something they couldn’t begin to

predict.

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“How long has it been since you came back? Hasn’t he sent any news over?”

Victoria shook her head. “No.”

“Well…” Summer looked at her. All of a sudden, she bit her lip and reached out to hug

her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know things were this bad. If I did, I wouldn’t have said all that.”

“This isn’t because of you.”

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However, Summer was still quite downcast. “I feel like you won’t be able to sleep if he

doesn’t send any news today. In that case, I won’t sleep either. I’ll stay here and wait for

the news with you. When Alaric comes back and you can relax, I’ll leave.” Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“It’s fine, Summer.” Victoria shook her head. “I can just stay here by myself. You spent

the whole day traveling today, so you should go back and get some rest.”

“Shut up and stop chasing me away. I’m your best friend, and we haven’t met in such a

long time. Can’t I stay to sleep with you? Or do you just not want me here?”

“Of course not. You can stay, then.”

In the end, Summer stayed behind to wait with her. As the two were unable to sleep,

Summer specifically gave instructions to prepare a large feast for them as well as some

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wine, which she drank with Victoria in a room next door that was close to the balcony.

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“It’s been a really long time since I drank wine with you. Even though you stopped

drinking after you got married, today is a special day. Shall we have a toast to celebrate

your safe return?”

Although Victoria did not wish to consume any alcohol, she didn’t want to burst

Summer’s bubble either. After all, it was not easy for her to come all the way from a

different country just to see her.

Hence, she raised her glass and tapped it against Summer’s. “All right, then I’ll give you

a toast, but just once.”

Once the two filled their bellies with a glass of wine, Summer began to eat the snacks

that were scattered on the table.

“You should eat a little. You probably haven’t eaten much since you escaped, and I

didn’t even finish my dinner either since I left after a few bites. I’m starving now.”

After taking a bite, Summer noticed that Victoria had not touched her fork. She placed

some food on her plate and said, “Oh, come on, just eat some for me.”

“Summer, I don’t have any appetite.”

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“I know, but you still have to eat something. If you don’t eat, what if we don’t have the

energy to wait for the entire night later?”

Hence, under Summer’s strong persuasion, Victoria finally ate some of her food. The

two waited until late at night and eventually leaned back on the couch, exhausted.

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All of a sudden, Summer shot to her feet. “Victoria, rest here for a moment. I’m going to

see if Mr. Ludson is back yet.”

As she had arrived first, Victoria had been wondering when she would leave to look for

Erik, but she hadn’t expected that Summer would be unable to hold back when it had

only been a little over an hour.

“All right, you can go ahead, but it’ll be late once you’re done, so you don’t have to come

back. Go back home and get some rest instead.”

A moment of thought later, Summer eventually nodded.

After Summer’s departure, Victoria continued to wait alone on the couch. A long time

had gone by, to the point where she was drifting off on the couch, when she finally

heard the sound of footsteps coming from outside.

In her half–awake state, she even thought that she had misheard things. As her head

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felt heavy, she didn’t climb to her feet to investigate and instead remained leaning on

the couch. She blearily listened as the footsteps stopped in front of her door,

immediately followed by the sound of the doorknob turning.

The sound pierced through the silent night, instantly jolting Victoria awake. She

abruptly pushed herself up from the couch and stared at the door warily.