The Abandoned Wife Dumped Him First (Victoria and Elias) novel Chapter 67

Elias's gaze darkened, a storm of anger brewing in his eyes. "Divorce me now?"

"Yes. Genevieve might be able to wait a year, but the child in her belly can't. I know you'll want that child to be part of the Shawn family, but as long as I'm your wife, I have the right to refuse. If I don't agree, the old man won't agree either." Victoria's voice was raspy, but her gaze was direct. "I don't think you want your child with Genevieve to be known as illegitimate, do you, Mr. Shawn? Besides... if news got out that the head of the Shawn family has an illegitimate child, what would the public think?"

"First you play the victim, then you threaten me. The Sanger family really knows how to stick to a script," Elias said with a cold, sarcastic sneer.

Victoria's face paled. She opened her mouth to argue, but the words caught in her throat. Finally, she managed to say, "I can't stand by and watch my father die in prison. Forcing you into marriage two years ago... it was all my fault. You hate me. You can take your revenge on me however you want."

"Is that so? What if I want you to jump from there yourself? A life for a life?" Elias's eyes were as dark as ink. "Would you be willing to do that, Mrs. Shawn?"

Victoria followed his gaze to the open floor-to-ceiling window. The wind was still howling, and the feeling of weightlessness from moments ago was still fresh in her mind.

Her lips tightened into a thin line. Her already-bruised heart twisted, pain ripping through her so sharply it stole her breath.

After a long moment, she found her voice again, confirming with a slight tremor, "If... if I jump, you'll save my father?"

Elias's laugh was cold and cruel. "Victoria, you're in no position to bargain with me."

The implication was clear: even if he went back on his word, she had no choice but to trust him. Otherwise, Garnett was a dead man.

Victoria gave a self-deprecating smile. She forced herself to her feet and, without a moment's hesitation, walked toward the open window.

At the edge, the wind whipped at her, tangling her hair.

She looked down. The dizzying height of the skyscraper stretched out below her, a bottomless abyss.

It would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid. But she had no other choice.

The sensation of falling rushed back, making her breath catch in her throat. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

She turned, desperation hardening into resolve as she looked at him, and said to Elias, "I hope... you keep your word, Mr. Shawn."

Elias watched the frail figure standing on the edge, her face deathly pale. He was sure she was bluffing, that she would never jump. But for some reason, a sharp pain suddenly pierced his heart, stealing his breath for a moment. The image of her decisively plunging the knife into Harry's shoulder flashed in his mind. A voice in his head screamed, "Stop her! She'll really do it!"

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