Chapter 489 Happy with How I Played Along?
"I'm not a professional caregiver," Victoria said with a light shrug. "I know how to be pampered, not how to pamper others."
She sighed softly. "Besides, our relationship is rather awkward now. I've been thinking, and there's really no need for me to care for you personally, considering..."
Her voice trailed off, leaving the thought unfinished.
Alexander's brow furrowed slightly as he pressed his lips together. "Didn't you say you were my wife?"
A fleeting smile touched the corner of Victoria's lips, vanishing almost instantly.
She cleared her throat and asked with a hint of playfulness, "Who told you I was your wife?"
She turned toward the men lounging on the sofa, narrowing her eyes. "Was it you all?"
They hesitated momentarily before unanimously shaking their heads, denying any such statement.
Alexander shot them a cold glare. Were they here just to make things worse?
"Marcus, throw them out!" he ordered.
Marcus, who had been silently observing the scene, was startled to hear his name. Relieved the anger wasn't directed at him, he still found himself confused.
"Mr. Howard, who exactly should I throw out?" he asked hesitantly.
"All of you—except my wife—leave the room now!" Even wounded, Alexander's powerful aura never wavered, his voice deep, controlled, and cutting like steel.
Eventually, only the couple remained in the hospital room.
"Should I..." Victoria gestured toward the door, eyebrows raised in question, "...leave too?"
Alexander frowned at her, his deep eyes revealing an unmistakable hint of vulnerability.
Victoria fell silent. Was this real?
It seemed to be the first time she had ever seen Alexander looking genuinely wounded.
"You don't even feel sorry for me?" he asked. "I'm seriously injured, you know." He emphasized the last words deliberately.
Alexander's voice carried a slight huskiness, deep and magnetic, but strangely unfamiliar—almost pitiful.
Victoria shook her head, convinced she must be hallucinating.
How could she possibly think Alexander Howard was pouting like a child? It was completely out of character.
The next moment, she approached him.
Alexander's smile froze midway as Victoria reached out to feel his forehead.
"You don't have a fever," she muttered with concern. "Why are you acting so strangely?"
Alexander remained silent.
Before he could speak, Victoria's clear voice cut through again: "I thought you didn't recognize me? Why would you care whether I feel sorry for you or not?"
He'd played himself.
This wasn't how he had planned things.
When he had seen her eyes, red and puffy like a rabbit's, his heart had ached terribly. But then he'd overheard her talking about divorce, remarrying, having children with someone else—he wanted to test her reaction if he pretended to have amnesia.
Now it seemed pointless. He was the one suffering while she appeared completely unfazed.
Something wasn't right.
A realization dawned on him. "You knew all along, didn't you?"
She paused, her eyes darting playfully as a subtle smile formed on her lips.
"Yes," she said affirmatively. "Was it entertaining? Did my performance meet your expectations, Mr. Howard?"
She stepped back, settling into a nearby chair, watching him with amused eyes.
Despite his pallor, his sculpted features remained striking—a kind of beautiful fragility that was impossible to look away from.
It was the epitome of an embarrassing moment—pretending amnesia only to be caught. There was something endearingly foolish about it.
But at least it was only his wife who witnessed it. If he had to look silly in front of anyone, he preferred it be her.
"What about that family introduction ceremony?" Alexander changed the subject abruptly.
Victoria didn't press him about his failed amnesia act. After all, it was rare for him to be playful, even if his acting skills were questionable. She couldn't be upset with the man who meant everything to her.
"I declined," she answered simply.
The ceremony was Zephyr's attempt to make amends for his past neglect, but she had told him she didn't need it.
He had insisted, but she wouldn't attend.
Besides, he had another motive—hoping to draw out her mother.
She had told him Esme was alive, but hadn't agreed to help find her.
That remained between them, and she wouldn't interfere.
After all, she hadn't even been born when their drama unfolded.
But Anouk would face consequences for her actions.
Victoria had done what she could.
Now Anouk had nothing.
After Waverly's revelations, she couldn't escape the fallout.
The Montgomery Family had disowned Anouk, removing her from their family registry—severing all ties and responsibility.
"I'm actually quite curious," Victoria said suddenly, looking at Alexander.
"About what?"
"Why play such a pointless amnesia game?" Her eyes revealed genuine curiosity.
In that moment when he'd first "forgotten" her, she had felt panic and heartache.
If she hadn't known him so well—his every word, every gesture, the subtle tells between truth and lies—she wouldn't have known how to accept such a reality.
The thought of her beloved waking up and not remembering her was something she never wanted to experience.
Alexander coughed awkwardly at her question.
"I could hear everything you said when I was unconscious," he admitted.
Victoria fell silent. So this was his "revenge"?
"Since when did you become so petty?" she asked.
Alexander looked confused.
"It was their idea to say those provocative things," she said, shifting blame immediately. "Besides, I was so worried you might never wake up that I was barely thinking straight. I would have done anything to bring you back."
"What if I had never woken up? What would you have..." The last word was muffled as Victoria quickly covered his mouth.
"Don't say that!" she scolded, frowning.
While she didn't consider herself superstitious, some things were better left unsaid.
Just then, Kimberly knocked and entered. "Mrs. Howard, there's an elderly lady outside who says she's from the Penrose family asking to see you."
The Penrose family?
An elderly lady?
What could she want?
Victoria sat there, her brow furrowing slightly as something seemed to occur to her.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
