Chapter 123
How could she not understand?
She opened the can of cola and took several gulps, the icy liquid instantly cooling the burning thoughts in her mind.
"They belong in the same world, and I am not from the same world as them—or as you." Emily said, turning to Daniel with a soft yet resolute voice.
"Still so stubborn," Daniel remarked.
He seemed accustomed to her rejection, appearing unbothered. "You and I walked through darkness together, Emily. We're different."
She had once thought Daniel was different too—someone who would never abandon her.
Instead, he was the first to leave her behind.
"Daniel, do I need to keep reminding you of what you did? You might be able to forget, but I can't."
"I hurt you before, but I had my reasons. You know that," he said quietly.
To establish himself, he needed powerful backing, and Sophie had provided exactly that.
But what difference did that make?
Emily gripped the cold can, her fingers chilling. "I understand, but I don't accept it. I was the one who got stabbed in the back, the one who was hurt, the one who was abandoned, so..."
She met his eyes directly. "I'm also the one who will never forgive you. That will never change."
Those eyes that once always sparkled with warmth now looked cold and distant.
Did it hurt? Did he regret it?
Various emotions surged through her, constricting her throat with regret before transforming into helpless resignation.
Daniel gave a bitter smile. He started to reach out to ruffle her hair, then seemed to think better of it and withdrew his hand.
"That's okay. We have time—I can wait for you to forgive me someday. But..." He paused, his brow furrowing as coldness flickered in his eyes, "Alexander is not a good man. Don't harbor any more illusions about him. You'll only get hurt."
"Don't worry, I won't have any more illusions about him," She replied.
She walked past him, her slender back projecting an air of finality.
He remained standing there, watching her silently before letting out a soft sigh.
By eight that evening, Quentin and Natalie had returned home, but Alexander, who had left to take Sophie home, still hadn't come back.
Victoria, watching Emily sitting quietly on the sofa, couldn't resist taking a jab at her. "Alexander likes Sophie so much, he probably couldn't bear to leave her to eat alone. I doubt he's coming back for dinner."
Early in their marriage, Emily had diligently studied Alexander's preferences, hoping he would come home to hot meals every night.
And what happened?
She'd reheated meals again and again, only to receive calls or texts telling her to eat alone.
After so many times, how had she failed to see his indifference, which had been clear from the beginning?
She had stubbornly jumped in headfirst, wasting three years before finally seeing the cruel truth.
Daniel narrowed his eyes, smiling as he spoke, "Victoria, have you received your diploma yet? What are your plans after graduation? Bellevue Medical School graduates must be in high demand everywhere, right?"
Bellevue University was prestigious, but Victoria never had the qualifications to enter such a school on her own merits.
She had taken someone else's place, and Emily had written her graduation thesis.
By bringing this up now, Daniel was deliberately provoking her!
Irritated, Victoria immediately shot back. "What right do you have to talk about my business? Don't think that just because you've entered the Foster family, you're really one of us! Your last name is Steele, not Foster!"
Her voice carried through the living room, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Given their exchange—Daniel showing concern for his sister while Victoria responded rudely—Victoria appeared ungrateful.
Eleanor, feeling annoyed yet sympathetic toward Daniel, immediately spoke up, "Victoria, mind your manners! Daniel is your brother too, and he's only showing concern for you."
"Grandmother!" Victoria protested.
Thinking of Emily and Daniel's suspicious relationship, plus his attempt to send her abroad, and now being reprimanded because of him, Victoria felt both old and new grievances surging up together.
"You don't know how terrible he is! Just days ago, he tried to send me overseas. If my mother hadn't stepped in, you wouldn't even see me now!"
Always spoiled, Victoria was skilled at playing the victim.
Having barely started her complaint, tears were already streaming down her face, making her look utterly pitiful.
"Now you're scolding me because of him—don't you care about me anymore?"
Eleanor froze momentarily, turning to Daniel with displeasure. "Is this true?"
Back when Alexander was in a coma, both the Foster family and Foster Group knew Quentin was grooming Daniel, giving him considerable influence.
But times had changed, and Daniel naturally couldn't admit to it now.
If he did, even if Eleanor might tolerate it, Quentin certainly wouldn't.
Their relationship was purely transactional, with no father-son affection.
However, Daniel had prepared his response since the incident occurred.
Victoria bringing it up days later was too little, too late.
"How could I do such a thing?" He frowned, his face showing a mix of resignation and patience. "With everything happening in the family, Victoria was confused and disorganized. I only had my assistant book her a ticket so she could take a break away from it all. I never expected her to misunderstand."
He sighed softly. "The booking records are still available if anyone wants to check. Everything from travel to accommodations was top-tier—I wouldn't let her suffer any inconvenience."
His message was clear: Victoria was being difficult, and with the household in chaos, he had simply thought it best to send her away for a while.
Though headstrong, Victoria understood Daniel's implication.
Her eyes widened in disbelief at his audacity.
"Hey!" She turned to Emily. "You were there too! He got angry when I exposed your relationship, so he tried to send me away!"
This statement made Daniel laugh outright.
The resignation in his expression became more pronounced. "Victoria, Emily and I grew up together. What relationship is there to expose? And how could I possibly get angry over something so trivial?"
"You..." Victoria was left speechless. She could only look toward Eleanor, Quentin, and Natalie.
"Grandmother, Dad, Mom, I'm not lying! Daniel and Emily have an inappropriate relationship. When I exposed them, he..."
"Enough!"
It was Alexander who interrupted her.
He had just walked in and overheard Victoria's accusation. His handsome face seemed covered in frost, cold and intimidating.
Victoria was genuinely afraid of him, but she also saw this as an opportunity to make him break with Emily completely while turning against Daniel—all benefit with no downside.
So despite her fear and anxiety, she stood up and approached him. "I'm not lying! When the conference room door opened, didn't you see me being carried away by security? They were trying to send me overseas!"
She pointed accusingly at Daniel and Emily, her expression bitter with resentment, completely unaware that Alexander's expression had darkened even further.
He stared grimly at Emily, his voice tight as if squeezed from his throat. "Explain."