Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Victoria hadn't expected Alexander to suddenly bring this up. She froze for a moment, then a barely noticeable blush crept up her ears.

She shot him an annoyed glare and tried to pull her hand back, but he only held it tighter.

She turned her face away, pretending to be calm as she watched the clouds racing past the window, her voice carrying a forced coolness. "What's your rush? I'm only twenty, still young. There's no hurry anyway."

Watching Victoria's clearly contradictory yet obviously shy demeanor, Alexander let out a low laugh, his chest vibrating with pleased resonance.

He knew she wasn't resistant, just needed time.

He stopped pushing, only tightened his grip on her hand, his tone full of helpless yet extreme indulgence. "Alright, no rush. I'll wait for you."

After all, he had a lifetime to wait slowly.

After several hours of flight, the private jet landed smoothly at Novaria Emerald City's international airport.

Setting foot on familiar ground and breathing the domestic air, Chase seemed to snap out of that sense of parting melancholy slightly, though his mood remained low.

Exiting the VIP passage, Victoria said to Alexander, "I'm going straight to see Thalia. You guys head back first."

Alexander knew she had plans with Thalia and didn't ask further, just nodded and carefully reminded her, "Okay, have the driver take you there. Be safe. Should I pick you up tonight?"

"No need, I'll go back on my own later."

Victoria shook her head.

Alexander didn't insist. He waved over the waiting driver and carefully instructed him to safely deliver Victoria to her destination before watching her get in the car and leave.

Only after Victoria's car merged into traffic and disappeared did Alexander look away, turning to Chase beside him who still seemed somewhat absent-minded, and patted his back. "Let's go, time to head home."

Chase responded and silently followed Alexander into another black sedan that had come to pick them up.

The car left the airport, heading toward the Garcia Villa.

Outside the window was Emerald City's familiar bustling scenery, but Chase's heart seemed to have a part of it still lingering in that distant Avalonia where Marc was.

A new relationship might be budding, or might eventually fade into silence. The future path needed them to explore and face on their own.

The driver Alexander arranged smoothly delivered Victoria to the five-star hotel where Thalia was staying.

Victoria went straight upstairs and rang Thalia's room doorbell.

The door opened almost immediately, and a charming, stunning figure appeared in the doorway—it was Thalia. Seeing Victoria, her face instantly broke into a bright, radiant smile. She opened her arms and gave Victoria a solid hug.

"Victoria! My darling! You're finally back!"

Thalia's voice carried undisguised excitement and longing. She hugged Victoria tightly, then let go and pulled her by the hand into the room. "Haven't seen you in months, I missed you so much! Let me get a good look at you!"

She looked Victoria up and down, her eyes concerned. "You're okay from Avalonia, right? I heard it was pretty chaotic there, and there was even an assassination attempt? You weren't hurt, were you?"

"I'm fine, everything's resolved."

Victoria smiled faintly, letting her pull her down onto the sofa.

The room was a luxury suite, elegantly decorated, with Emerald City's bustling scenery outside the window.

Thalia turned to the small bar to pour two glasses of red wine, handed one to Victoria, then held the other herself, leaning lazily against the sofa armrest, her face showing a sense of satisfaction from revenge achieved.

"Come, come, let's toast to our great designer Vico's successful vindication!"

Thalia raised her glass.

Victoria cooperatively clinked glasses with her and took a small sip.

Thalia set down her glass, leaned closer to Victoria, lowered her voice, and said with some schadenfreude, "Victoria, you didn't see it, but Veda is completely finished this time! Online it's all people criticizing her. Those so-called 'socialite' friends who used to fawn over her are now all keeping their distance, afraid of being associated with her!"

"I heard that the Gonzalez Jewelry Company has internally suspended all her work, and that nominal design director position of hers probably won't last either!"

Thalia snorted coldly, a flash of disdain in her eyes. "If you ask me, this is karma! She's just an adopted daughter who's been playing cuckoo in the nest all these years, and she really thought she was the real daughter! Stealing from the actual owner. She deserves to be disgraced!"

"I think before long, when your dad realizes this Veda not only can't bring any value to the Gonzalez family but has become an indelible stain, he might get so angry he kicks her out of the Gonzalez family! Then we'll see how arrogant she can be!"

Victoria swirled the red wine in her glass, watching the crimson liquid trace beautiful arcs on the glass wall, but her expression remained calm, even somewhat indifferent.

"Whether she gets kicked out of the Gonzalez family or not, I don't care."

Victoria's voice was cool, without much emotion. "As long as she behaves herself from now on and doesn't stupidly provoke me again, I can't be bothered to waste energy on her."

To her, Veda was just a clown. This lesson was only because she'd crossed her bottom line.

As for Veda's future fate, whether she continued to barely survive in the Gonzalez family or got thrown out. It had nothing to do with her.

Her focus had long since moved beyond these boring conflicts.

Thalia understood her nature and knew she truly didn't care about Veda, so she dropped the topic and started talking cheerfully about the company's upcoming development plans and interesting stories.

As they were chatting, a clear doorbell suddenly rang from outside the room.

"Who could it be at this hour? I didn't call for room service."

Thalia stood up somewhat puzzled, smoothed out her skirt, and walked toward the door.

Victoria remained seated on the sofa, holding her wine glass, her gaze casually directed toward the entrance.

Thalia looked through the peephole and a flash of obvious surprise crossed her face.

She hesitated, but still opened the door.

The door had barely opened a crack when the person outside seemed somewhat urgent.

Before Thalia could fully see who it was, before she could even ask "How did you find me here?", a tall figure rushed in like a gust of wind!

The visitor was Liam.

He seemed to have hurried over, his breathing still slightly rapid, a few strands of hair falling over his forehead, adding a touch of wildness to his appearance.

As soon as he entered, those deep eyes locked firmly onto Thalia, churning with complex emotions—longing, urgency, and an undeniable deep affection.

Liam didn't say a word. Under Thalia's astonished gaze, he directly reached out his arms and pulled her forcefully into his embrace!

Then, before Thalia could react, he lowered his head and precisely captured her lips, blocking back all her unfinished words and exclamations!

Thalia was caught completely off guard, pressed tightly against the door by him, instantly enveloped by Liam's domineering and passionate presence.

She instinctively struggled, her hands pushing against his solid chest, but it felt like pushing against a wall.

That familiar scent that made Thalia's heart race hit her face, making her mind go blank for a moment, her body weakening slightly.