Chapter 211 Confessing to Her
"Victoria," he began, his voice heavy with an unspoken question, "I need to ask you something."
Her eyes flicked up to meet his, curiosity piqued. "What's up?"
"Am I really that obvious... to her, I mean?" His words hung in the air, a confession of sorts. Victoria should have seen right through him, his intentions laid bare. Was she too clever, or had he been too transparent in his desperation?
"Seriously, you think you've been subtle about it?" Victoria retorted, countering his question with one of her own.
"I'm asking you, don't turn it around on me," William responded, his frown deepening. "Just answer my question."
"Yes, it's pretty clear," she admitted, her gaze steady. "One look and I can tell something's off between you two."
"Something's off between us?" William echoed, leaning on the table and swiveling to face her, his expression a mix of surprise and awkwardness. "So you think it's just me who's... odd or...?" He trailed off, embarrassment etching lines on his face, yet his eyes held a spark of curiosity.
Victoria had never seen her brother this flustered. Even a CEO like him could be so unsteady when smitten by a woman.
"Just you," Victoria replied, her words blunt and to the point. "It's obvious you're the one pining."
A sense of delight bubbled up within her at this rare opportunity to tease her brother. William's face darkened at her forthrightness, a shadow of resentment crossing his features. Yet, paradoxically, he didn’t want her to lie either. The truth was always a bit annoying, but it demanded to be faced.
"What’s wrong? Not happy now?" Victoria asked, settling beside him, her elbow on the table and chin resting on her hand, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Don't give me any of that smart talk," William retorted, nipping her scheming thoughts in the bud. "You can't tell anyone about our conversation today, or else I won't let you off easy."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Especially not your Ava," Victoria said, her tone dripping with mockery.
"What do you mean 'my Ava'?" William's voice held a note of tension. "Don't talk nonsense. She's not mine."
"Oh, is that so? I thought you wished she was yours. Seems I was wrong. You don't like her that much after all." She found a perverse joy in teasing her usually aloof brother about this matter.
"Victoria, are you asking for a spanking?" William's voice held a mix of anger and annoyance. He stood up abruptly, pushing the chair to one side. "Go to bed." With that, he picked up his tablet, intending to leave.
Victoria stepped forward to block his path. "Will, when did you become such a chicken? If you like her, just confess your feelings."
"What do you know?" William's face was a mask of seriousness. "With her current situation, if I confessed, do you want her to get scared and run away from me?"
"Oh, I see. So, Will, you're aware that Ava doesn't like you in that way and just sees you as a friend." Victoria's words struck a chord, a pang of pain resonating in William's heart. Her words felt like a needle piercing his chest, causing a slight ache.
Despite her playful and mischievous nature, Victoria was sharp. Otherwise, she wouldn't have so easily discerned William's feelings. Now she also saw that her words had hurt William. 'Finally, someone can get the upper hand on the cool and distant William, which was a welcome change,' Victoria thought.
"But then again, just because she doesn't like you now doesn't mean she won't in the future. After all, she's getting divorced. You'll have plenty of opportunity," she added, her tone lightening, leaving William with a fluttering heart one moment and a sense of solace the next.
William's dark mood started to clear. He clenched his fist at his lips, cleared his throat, and asked in a hushed tone, "Do you really think so?"
