Chapter 161

Chapter 161

A few days later. Inside a café.

"I bet whoever was behind it never expected those scandals wouldn't just fail to hurt you—they actually boosted your career, huh?"

Liam sat across from Victoria, lips curving into a smile. "Perfect timing, actually. I've got some good news for you too."

He casually pulled a few thin sheets of paper from his bag.

"Good news?"

Victoria took a sip of her coffee, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Don't tell me... it's related to why you've been MIA lately?"

She'd been wondering why he'd dropped off the face of the earth.

So he'd been busy after all.

"Edward sent people to assist me. The investigation's been moving much faster."

Liam gave a noncommittal shrug. "These are solid pieces of evidence proving the Spencer family was framed. Don't you want to take a look?"

What?!

Victoria's eyes went wide. She snatched the pages from his hand.

Black ink on white paper, laid out in undeniable detail.

She remembered—the Spencer family had been convicted on charges of tax evasion and embezzlement. That was what sealed their fate.

But this document proved, beyond any doubt, that the Spencer family had never committed any crime.

If she submitted this evidence, would her father finally be released from prison?

"If you hand this over now, you might tip off whoever's behind it."

Liam read her like a book. "Besides, what I know isn't the full picture. If you want the rest of the details, why don't you ask that husband of yours?"

His smile was maddeningly cryptic.

Victoria's ears flushed crimson. She turned her head to the side—and her gaze collided with a pair of eyes on the other side of the glass window.

Edward?

He was here... to pick her up?

She froze for a second, then looked away.

"If there's any more news, let me know anytime. Dinner's on me next time!"

Victoria kept her composure, grabbed her bag, and stood. "Just remembered I've got something to take care of. I'm heading out."

"But you just—"

Liam frowned in confusion, then glanced in the direction she'd been looking. Realization dawned instantly.

He smirked. "Go on, go on. Don't keep your man waiting—his stare's about to bore a hole through me."

At this point.

He'd long since let go of that old, quiet crush.

Honestly, being friends wasn't bad at all.

Liam watched Victoria's retreating figure—ears still burning red, steps hurried—and let out a slow, easy sigh.

This was good enough.

Meanwhile.

Victoria burst out of the café and nearly crashed into the man standing by the car.

"What's the rush?"

Edward looked down at her, his tone even. "Seemed like you two were having a nice chat."

His voice was flat. Impossible to read.

But maybe it was her imagination.

She could swear Edward was jealous.

"Are you upset?"

She tilted her head, deliberately provoking. "It was a great chat, actually. I found out a lot about what happened to my family. He's helped me so much—I really need to think of a proper way to thank him."

The whole time she spoke.

Victoria watched Edward's expression from the corner of her eye.

"Suit yourself."

The corners of his mouth turned down. He looked away, voice cool. "Mom wants us home for dinner. Get in."

Even though he was clearly annoyed.

He didn't say a word about what he'd done for her.

Something stirred in Victoria's chest. Words hovered at the back of her throat, but she couldn't push them out.

She was suddenly a little afraid.

Life was too good right now. She didn't want to lose it.

Edward had done all of this, but what if it was just pity?

What if he didn't love her at all—what if it was only obligation toward Yara that made him treat her this way?

"What are you thinking about?"

Edward's voice cut through her spiral. "Get in. Yara says she misses you."

Victoria snapped out of it and climbed into the car, fastening her seatbelt.

She really hadn't seen Yara in a while.

With her leg still injured, she'd been worried her daughter would worry.

Edward started the engine.

The car pulled out of the parking lot and merged into traffic.

Victoria glanced at him twice, then asked, "How long were you waiting out there?"

"Not long."

His tone was indifferent. "Happened to drive by, saw you inside, pulled over."

"Happened to drive by?"

He didn't respond.

Victoria's lips curved slightly. She didn't push it.

This man was the definition of reserved on the outside, burning on the inside.

She'd figured that out a long time ago.

But somehow, the restlessness from earlier dissolved along with it.

She looked down at the bag strap across her knees, winding it around her finger twice before letting go.

"About what Liam told me."

She chose her words carefully. "It's connected to the Spencer family's case from back then. He found evidence proving my father's innocence, and he told me to ask you about the rest."

"Some of what he has came from my assistant Chase—I had it passed along."

Edward glanced at her. "I had someone pull the Spencer family's old case files. Key records had been removed. Following those gaps leads down the whole chain. What Liam has is only one piece."

Victoria's fingers tightened around the strap. "You're saying..."

"Someone planted fabricated materials and turned it into an airtight case."

Edward's voice didn't waver. "What we've recovered isn't complete yet, but the direction is clear. Once both sides' evidence comes together, we'll have about a seventy percent chance of overturning the conviction."

Victoria was silent for a few seconds. Her grip on the strap slowly loosened.

"Thank you. You've done so much, and I didn't even..."

She'd always thought she was fighting alone.

But looking back, someone had been standing behind her all along.

"You don't need to know."

Edward's voice was steady. "It doesn't change anything."

Victoria didn't say thank you again.

She turned her gaze to the window, a bittersweet warmth swelling in her chest.

The car arrived at the Windsor Estate.

By the time they went upstairs, Rhea had already had the staff set the table.

Yara leaped off the couch and charged to the door, calling out "Daddy!" then "Mommy!" She grabbed one hand from each of them and dragged them toward the dining table.

Dinner was peaceful.

Rhea made small talk, then turned to scold Edward: "Stop burying yourself in work. Spend more time with the people who matter." Edward hummed an acknowledgment. No argument.

After dinner, the sky darkened. Victoria sat with Yara in the living room, working on a puzzle together.

The little girl's eyes were drooping shut before she finally let Lily carry her off to wash up.

Victoria tucked the last few pieces back into the box. When she looked up, Edward was standing on the balcony, one hand in his pocket, speaking quietly into his phone.

His voice was too low for her to make out the words.

But his profile was unfairly perfect.

Her heart itched.

Victoria walked over and pushed open the glass balcony door. The night breeze swept in, carrying the warmth of late spring.

Edward heard her and glanced back. He said "I'll call you back" into the phone and hung up.