The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 144

The phone rang twice before it was picked up.

It was connected, but besides the faint static, there was only silence from the other end.

Victoria tightened her grip on her phone. "Elias, something unexpected came up this morning, so…"

"Putting on a show, Victoria? Aren't you tired of it?" Elias's voice, laced with an icy sarcasm, cut through the line.

"I know it was wrong to stand you up, but I really did have an emergency. It wasn't on purpose," Victoria said, biting her lip. "If you don't believe me, I can… I can meet you at two this afternoon. We can go to City Hall together."

"And why should I believe you won't pull another stunt? You might not be tired of these games, but I have no interest in playing along," Elias said coldly.

Victoria knew she was in the wrong. Listening to his cynical tone, she felt a lump form in her throat. "We can meet this after—"

"Enough," Elias cut her off impatiently. "Victoria, you were the one who wanted a divorce at nine this morning. You were also the one who was late and didn't answer your phone. I don't have time to waste on you."

"I have to go on a business trip this afternoon. We'll deal with the divorce when I get back."

Victoria paused for a few seconds before asking, "When will you be—"

Before she could ask when he would be back, he hung up, and the line went dead in her ear.

Victoria lowered her phone, staring at the 'Call Ended' screen. After a long moment, she put the phone back in her pocket and walked out of the hospital.

***

On the last day of her vacation, Victoria received a call from Old Mr. Shawn, who said he was craving her homemade bone broth.

After Old Mr. Shawn had 'woken up' from his last hospital stay, Elias had arranged a full check-up for him. The results showed no major issues, and he was cleared to go home. But the old man had stubbornly refused, staying in the hospital for a full week.

Victoria knew that his craving for soup was just an excuse to see her.

After hanging up, she went to the supermarket to buy ingredients, simmered the broth for two hours, then packed it up and took it to the hospital.

As she approached the hospital room, she could hear Old Mr. Shawn's loud voice from inside.

"Chuck, go out and see if Victoria is here yet. It's been two hours."

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