The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 309

Victoria was silent for a few seconds. "…He’s just my child."

The implication was clear: she didn't plan on telling Elias.

At first, she had considered it. He was the child's father, after all, and he had a right to know he had another family member in the world, someone who shared his blood.

But the moment she picked up her phone to call him, she hesitated.

She couldn't be sure how Elias would react.

Would he be happy? Victoria suddenly remembered the time she’d gone to beg him to spare The Sanger Group, and the birth control pill he’d had Hawk deliver.

A voice in her head told her plainly that Elias would not want this child.

Besides, even if he did accept the child and agree to let her carry it to term, the Shawn family would never allow their bloodline to remain outside their control.

She and Elias were already divorced, which meant the Shawn family—or more accurately, Elias—would fight her for custody. She knew, with deep certainty, that it was a fight she could not win.

So, the safest way to keep the child with her was to hide the pregnancy from everyone, give birth, and leave with him.

She just hadn't expected someone to find out so soon.

Victoria pressed her lips together. "Tobias, about my pregnancy…"

"Don't worry. I've already deleted your visit from the hospital's system. No one else will know about this."

"Tobias, thank you."

Tobias saw the faint, almost imperceptible distance in her eyes, and his heart sank.

His eagerness had made her pull away.

"I just remembered I have something to take care of at the hospital, so I should get going," Tobias said, making up a quick excuse. He was afraid if he pushed too hard, he would only make her retreat further.

"Oh, okay. Then… I'll walk you out."

Victoria quickly stood up. Her eyes were still misty from crying, the corners slightly red, making one want to pull her into a comforting embrace.

Tobias's Adam's apple bobbed as he fought the impulse. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"No need to see me out. My car is in the underground garage; it's just an elevator ride down. The snow is melting, so these are the coldest days. You're pregnant now, so you need to be extra careful to stay warm. Don't get chilled."

She ran a finger over the words, able to feel the faint dampness of the fresh ink.

Victoria’s throat tightened. The words seemed to leap off the page, forming images in her mind: Tobias, dressed in scrubs or a white lab coat, sitting at his desk, fighting off the exhaustion that came after a period of intense concentration, meticulously writing down every single reminder he could think of.

Suddenly, a small note fluttered out.

Victoria picked it up and read the words.

[Victoria, don't feel too burdened. Don't cry.]

It was as if the writer had already known how she would react to the notebook.

Victoria clutched the note, took a deep breath, and pulled at the corners of her mouth, trying to smile. But a single, uncontrollable tear still managed to escape and fall.

Meanwhile, as Tobias stepped out of the elevator, his phone buzzed with a new message.

It was from Victoria.

[Tobias, are you free tomorrow? Could you come with me to get my dad?]