The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 348

Forty minutes later.

Victoria arrived.

As she pushed open the door to the room, before she could even get a clear look inside, she heard Garnett brazenly taking back a move.

"Nope, nope. I made a mistake with that last move. I'm playing it again."

Mr. Flint, standing nearby, couldn't help but chuckle. "Mr. Sanger, you've been playing chess all morning and taking back moves all morning. Only Mr. Sh—... your son-in-law would be so patient with you."

Son-in-law?

The term made Victoria's heart drop. She walked in and looked over.

Garnett was sitting at a chess table by the balcony door, with Mr. Flint standing just behind him. And across from him…

was Elias.

"Victoria!" Garnett turned and saw her, a smile instantly spreading across his face. "Why are you still sleeping in so late? Elias has been here with me all morning. Come on, get over here."

Victoria's gaze shifted to Mr. Flint, and she instantly understood why he had been so hesitant on the phone.

The person who had brought her father lunch wasn't Tobias; it was Elias.

Her heart filled with a complicated mix of emotions. She had thought that after her clear rejection of Elias at The Cloudscape last night, they would become like two parallel lines, never to intersect again.

But now, it seemed fate was playing a cruel joke on her.

"Victoria, what are you still standing there for?" Garnett's prodding pulled her back to reality.

Victoria collected herself and slowly walked forward. She deliberately avoided Elias's gaze and simply said softly, "Dad."

Garnett, ever the sharp one, immediately sensed the strange atmosphere between them. Did they not make up last night? he wondered.

"Victoria, you haven't eaten, have you? Elias had someone from The Cloudscape pack some of your favorite dishes. Go have something to eat."

Victoria's lips moved. She wanted to say she wasn't very hungry, but when she met the smile in Garnett's eyes, she worried that refusing would only make him worry.

Besides, it was a good excuse to escape for a bit.

She still hadn't figured out how to face Elias.

"...Okay."

So, first thing this morning, he had Hawk clear most of his schedule for the next two weeks. He decided he would learn to see Victoria as an equal, to cherish and care for her, just as Lucian had said.

He knew how much Victoria cared about her father, so he chose to start by showing concern for Garnett.

"Elias, are you and Victoria still fighting?" Garnett's voice broke the brief silence in the room.

Elias wasn't sure what Victoria had told Garnett. Hearing the question, he instinctively blurted out, "Fighting? We're not…"

"You don't have to cover for her. I know everything," Garnett said with a sigh. "You were drinking last night, and when I asked her to pick you up, she was so reluctant. I could tell you two had fought."

He sighed again. "I told her last night to talk things out with you, but I bet that girl didn't say a thing, did she? She's just stubborn. Once she gets an idea in her head, ten bulls couldn't drag it out of her."

Elias immediately understood. "It's not her fault. I did something to make her angry. But don't worry, dad, I'll get her to forgive me. You don't need to worry."

Garnett smiled. "I'm not worried. If I was worried about anything, it was two years ago. Forcing you to marry Victoria like that was so unfair to you. But later, Victoria always said you treated her well, so I slowly put my mind at ease."

Elias was stunned. "She said… I treated her well?"

"Yes, she did. You have no idea how many good things that girl has said about you to me. She'd say you prepared surprises for her, took her on trips whenever you had time, watched movies and learned to cook with her at home. Every time she came to see me, if she started talking about you, she could go on for half a day."