Chapter 19: Pray That She Is All Right

The moment he turned around, William lunged forward like an enraged black panther. With one long stride, his large hand clamped around Eddy's neck like an iron vise, lifting him clean off the ground!

"Let go of me! It hurts!" Eddy's feet dangled in the air as he screamed in pain.

Charles and Jade were scared out of their wits. That was their most precious son! But facing William standing there like death itself, they couldn't even find the courage to step in.

Steven felt William was showing him no respect at all. With a dark expression, he scolded, "William! Have you lost your mind? This is the Hughes family—what kind of behavior is this, attacking people at will!"

Rex, who had been left aside this whole time, saw this as a good opportunity to assert his authority in front of the Hughes family. He cleared his throat and put on his best superior tone. "That's right, William. Victoria is my future daughter-in-law, after all. No matter how badly she's messed up, you shouldn't be using violence at the Hughes Villa. Show me some respect."

"Future daughter-in-law?"

William paused, turned to look at Rex, and the killing intent in his eyes turned even more terrifying.

Jerry had sexually harassed Victoria last night and got a good lesson from him. Yet today, Rex still had the nerve to show up and talk about marriage? It seemed like Kyle went too easy on him last night!

William let out a cold laugh, looking at Rex as if he were a dead man. "Rex, this has nothing to do with you. Get out while I still have some patience left."

He suddenly tightened his grip and interrogated Eddy again. "I'm asking one last time—where is Victoria? If you don't tell me, I'll snap your neck right here!"

Faced with such a vicious William, Sarah kept backing away in fear.

She had only heard before that William was a ruthless executioner who acted decisively and mercilessly, thinking it was an exaggeration. But now, looking at those bloodshot, murderous eyes, she truly understood what fear meant.

He was like a wolf ready to tear his prey apart at any moment!

Eddy, nearly suffocating from the chokehold, finally he couldn't take it anymore.

Eddy could barely breathe, his hands clawed desperately at William's iron arm, and his eyes rolled back. He forced the words out, "In... in the attic on the third floor. I locked her in there."

Hearing the words "locked in the attic," William's heart clenched violently, and he wanted to kill someone.

Last night at the villa, even with the dim night light left on in the guest room, Victoria would curl up and tremble in her sleep from fear.

Now this bastard had locked her in a pitch-black attic! How desperate, how terrified must she be?

William threw Eddy to the ground like a rag doll and roared, "Get up! Lead the way!"

Eddy was thrown so hard he saw stars, his bones felt like they were coming apart. But under William's murderous gaze, he could only scramble to his feet and stumble up the stairs.

The people downstairs exchanged confused glances, completely unable to understand why William was so furious.

Rex felt humiliated in public and was quite upset. Jerry's reputation was indeed poor, but his willingness to let Jerry marry someone like Victoria, who wasn't favored in her family, already showed plenty of respect to the Hughes family.

But if Victoria had really offended William, then this marriage would need serious reconsideration. The Nelson family might be wealthy, but they absolutely couldn't afford to cross the Ashford family!

To get to the bottom of this, Rex mustered his courage and called out to William's retreating back, "William, may I ask—what exactly did my future daughter-in-law do to offend you?"

William stopped in his tracks.

"Future daughter-in-law" again. Could Rex not understand plain English?

He suddenly turned around, looked down at Rex from his height, and sneered coldly, "She didn't offend me. She just owes me money."

"Owes money?" Rex and Charles both widened their eyes. "How much?"

William expressionlessly stated a figure, "Not much—three hundred million dollars. Since you keep saying she's your future daughter-in-law, why don't you do us all a favor and pay off this debt for her?"

"Three hundred million dollars?"

Rex gasped and nearly fainted on the spot. Charles was even more furious, almost spitting blood, cursing Victoria in his head for being such a disaster. Of all people to owe money to, she had to cross William!

Rex broke out in a cold sweat, stammering for a long time without getting a single sentence out. Have the Nelson family pay three hundred million dollars to settle Victoria's debt? In his dreams!

William couldn't be bothered with these clowns and kicked Eddy, urging him to move.

When they reached the third floor, Eddy opened the attic lock with trembling hands.

The moment the door was pushed open, a heavy smell of blood mixed with stale dust hit them in the face.

William immediately saw Victoria lying in a pool of blood.

Her petite body was curled up in a ball, and that originally plain long dress was now covered in shocking amounts of blood. Her eyes were tightly shut, and her body was still trembling weakly.

"Victoria!"

William's heart stopped. He kicked aside Eddy who was blocking the way and rushed in desperately.

The extreme darkness and blood loss had plunged Victoria's consciousness into chaos. Half‑conscious, she heard someone calling her name.

When those broad, warm arms lifted her up, she seemed to grasp at a last lifeline. Her blood-stained little hand clutched desperately at William's sleeve as she murmured weakly, "Save me, save me."

That faint plea for help stabbed into William's heart like a sharp knife.

He held her carefully in his arms, his eyes reddening as he strode downstairs with large steps.

Eddy had never expected Victoria to be so seriously injured. Terrified, he collapsed to the floor, stammering, "Is she dead?"

William stopped, whipped his head around, and kicked Eddy flying six feet away!

"You'd better pray she's okay!" William's voice was like a curse from hell. "Otherwise, I'll make sure you stay eighteen forever!"

Downstairs in the living room.

Rex had already given up on the marriage alliance and was coldly drawing a line with Charles. "Charles, your daughter owes three hundred million dollars in debt. The Nelson family cannot accept such liability! The marriage alliance is off!"

With that, he ignored Charles's desperate pleas and left in a huff.

Just then, William came rushing down from upstairs, carrying Victoria covered in blood.

This scene shocked everyone remaining in the living room.

"William, what's going on?" Steven was greatly alarmed.

William completely ignored him, instead fixing Charles and Jade with a look reserved for the dead.

"If anything happens to her, your entire Hughes family can wait for death!"

With that, he carried Victoria and rushed out of the villa without looking back.