Chapter 256
In reality, Victoria had endured years of humiliation and torment from him, bearing that crushing sense of grievance and guilt while he treated her as "my sister's lover"!
She even believed that falling in love with him was an unforgivable mistake.
"I'm not letting go. Inappropriate? Fuck that!"
Edward stubbornly tightened his arms, his voice carrying a tremor he couldn't suppress, "I wanted to see you, so I came. Victoria, I can't let you just walk away... I can't bear to lose you."
Victoria's face changed dramatically, her clear eyes filled with disbelief.
She opened her mouth, wanting to argue back, wanting to push away this man who had dragged her into pain, but Edward cut her off first.
"I know I scared you." Edward loosened his grip slightly, but still kept her within his reach. He raised both hands, cupping her flushed face, his gaze so intense it nearly trapped her.
"I admit I'm acting crazy right now, but Victoria, look at me."
His voice was terribly hoarse, like he was forcing himself not to break down, "Please believe me. When I get close to you, when I can't help wanting to hold you, it's all genuine. No act, no looking down on you."
The final boarding announcement echoed through the gate, time compressed to almost nothing.
Edward pushed down the stinging in his eyes, reached out with a slightly trembling hand, and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His movement was so careful it was almost cautious, like handling something fragile.
"There's a lot I can't explain clearly right now."
Edward's tone was gentle, but every word was firm, "Go to Varellia and get settled first. Before long, I'll come to Varellia myself to find you. I'll explain everything face to face, including my feelings. Wait for me, okay?"
Victoria stood frozen, her mind completely blank. She could only stare at him, as if unable to understand what was happening.
It wasn't until the flight attendant came to urge them that they said goodbye in chaos and haste.
Edward stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the plane with the Air France logo taxi toward the runway, then accelerate, lift its nose, and finally leave the ground.
The moment the plane took off, Edward slowly closed his eyes and let out a breath that had been pressed against his chest for a long time.
The weight and shadows he'd carried for years finally loosened for the first time.
He finally understood what Evan had once said—loving someone doesn't need a "reasonable" reason, and shouldn't be tied down by any damn labels.
When you love, you love.
After the airport goodbye, the memory shifted to a quiet street in Asteria City.
The sunset painted the city a warm orange, light falling on the pavement like a slowly moving veil.
Edward and Anne walked side by side along the tree-lined path by Kingsford Park, both silent.
Edward's heart was twisted tight. His palms were sweating, he rehearsed how to begin over and over in his mind, but couldn't find a version that wouldn't hurt.
How could Edward confess to this gentle, graceful, nearly perfect fiancée beside him that he had pursued her, seriously confessed to her, but in the end, the person he truly fell in love with was her own sister?
It would be too cruel to Anne.
Edward was still hesitating, his brow furrowed, when Anne suddenly stopped.
She turned around, and in those eyes that resembled Victoria's somewhat, there was no anger, only a calm that came from seeing through everything.
"You went to the airport, didn't you?" Her voice was light, without any emotion.
Edward's whole body tensed, and he nodded stiffly, "Anne, I..."
Anne smiled slightly and cut him off directly, "Actually, I figured it out a long time ago."
She didn't beat around the bush, "I could see Victoria looked at you differently, and I could see you'd unconsciously let your gaze fall on her. It's just because of both families' concerns, and the pressure from the Windsor family, I never found the right moment to bring this out in the open."
Anne stepped closer and opened her arms, giving Edward a gentle hug, as if removing some tension from him.
"Edward, not loving someone isn't something you need to apologize for."
She leaned close to his ear, speaking slowly and gently.
Edward's eyes instantly reddened, his heart feeling like something had hit it hard.
In that terrible reality, it was this kind woman, who only wanted Victoria's happiness, who was stabbed through the heart by a criminal at the wedding while trying to protect Victoria.
And he had turned Anne's death into an excuse to torture Victoria for life.
How stupid, how cruel had Edward been?
His throat tightened, his voice low and sincere, "I'm sorry, Anne... I'm truly sorry. And thank you for understanding, thank you for being willing to let go."
Anne released him, shaking her head with a smile, "My biggest wish all along has been to see Victoria happy. She suffered a lot in the family growing up, and endured a lot of grievances. I'm glad you finally saw your own heart clearly, and are finally willing to protect her."
Anne paused here, her gaze dropping, a barely detectable sadness passing through her tone, "Besides... I probably won't be able to be with the person I truly love in this lifetime anyway."
"So I can't bear to see you two miss each other."
Edward froze. Only at this moment did he belatedly realize that Anne had always hidden someone unattainable in her heart too.
That name almost escaped his lips—his brother, Evan.
It's just that Edward back then didn't know about Anne's deeply hidden feelings.
Time rushed forward rapidly in this dream.
Half a month later in Varellia.
A breeze swept across the water at Starfall Riverside, leaves swaying gently, the city's sounds pulled far away, as if through a layer of glass.
In the half month since arriving in Varellia, Victoria had completely buried herself in busyness.
She threw all her energy into her jewelry design studies and the intense work pace of her mentor's studio. She sketched, visited exhibitions, and polished gemstones every day, filling her life completely.
But late at night, when she sat alone on a bench by Starfall Riverside, memories would uncontrollably replay that embrace at Asteria City airport.
Edward's promise "Before long, I'll come to Varellia to find you" had been pressing on the most sensitive spot in her heart.
She was anxious, she had concerns, she was even afraid.
Victoria didn't know what Edward's true thoughts were. Was it a momentary loss of control, or a promise he would keep?
Would he really give up Anne for her?
She didn't dare hope, yet couldn't help expecting.
Until the day she was waiting for finally came.
Inside the Grand Palace of Varellia, a high-end art and jewelry exhibition that caused a sensation throughout Eurathia was being held.
Victoria wore a simple but perfectly tailored black evening gown, following behind Tomas, both invited to attend.
She held a glass of champagne, standing quietly before an oil painting, focused on the light and shadow treatment in the image.
At that moment, the crystal chandelier in the center of the hall dimmed, and a spotlight fell on the platform ahead.
The host picked up the microphone and introduced, "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are honored to have the main organizer and investor representative of this exhibition. Let us welcome with applause, from Asteria City, the CEO of the Russell Group—"
The instant that familiar surname echoed through the hall, Victoria's heart rate spiraled out of control. Her breathing stopped for a beat, her fingers loosened, and the champagne glass nearly slipped from her fingertips.
She spun around sharply, her gaze pulled as if by something, looking straight toward the entrance.
The hall's doors were respectfully pulled open by attendants.
Edward walked in, wearing a perfectly tailored deep black formal suit, a subtly patterned tie at his collar. The crystal light fell on his handsome, chiseled face, making his features sharper.
He didn't look toward the enthusiastically applauding crowd on stage, nor did he acknowledge the Eurathian elite who came forward to greet him.
The second Edward stepped into the hall, his gaze locked firmly on Victoria in her black gown, as if she were the only person in the room.
The noise surged behind him as he strode through the crowd with long steps, walking toward her step by step, steady and slow.