Chapter 38

Chapter 38

I was halfway through the porridge in front of me, and Victoria was still sneaking glances at me with that look in her eyes.

Unease crept into my heart, and I couldn't help but ask quietly, "Victoria, is there something you want to tell me? You keep looking at me."

"Nothing, nothing!"

Victoria waved her hands vigorously with a bright smile, her attitude incredibly eager, "Are you full? There's more in the kitchen if you need it."

She looked at me with shining eyes, "You must be tired from last night, you should eat more."

My scalp tingled a bit.

Tired from last night?

Although yesterday's charity gala was indeed tiring, the way Victoria was looking at me clearly wasn't about that.

I had a feeling she might be misunderstanding something between James and me last night.

I swallowed back the explanation that was on the tip of my tongue.

Forget it. If I deliberately explained, it would only make things seem more suspicious.

"Mrs. Smith, what would you like for lunch? We must make sure you eat well!"

Victoria gazed at me with burning eyes.

I felt uncomfortable all over. I didn't even finish the porridge in front of me, just ate a few bites, made up some excuse, and prepared to go back to my room.

Victoria's voice came from behind me with a smile, "Really tired out, huh."

I stumbled and nearly fell.

Victoria's gaze on me was burning hot.

I quickly hurried back to my room.

As soon as I got to my room, I heard my phone on the bed ringing non-stop.

When I opened it, my eyes lit up instantly.

"Anna!"

On the phone screen, a stunning beauty bright as fire was greeting me.

Looking at her face, I couldn't help but smile, "We haven't been in touch for so long, I thought you'd been kidnapped."

Aria Clark raised an eyebrow, "I've at least trained in combat, who would dare mess with me? I've just been busy lately, no time to call you."

She looked at me with genuine concern, "How are you? How do you feel after coming back home? Is Joshua treating you well?"

Hearing her questions, I pressed my lips together.

Aria was my best friend since childhood. She went abroad at fifteen and never came back.

Aria knew all about why I went abroad and came back.

She also knew I came back this time to get married.

But since I returned home, I hadn't been in touch with Aria, so she didn't know I married James, not Joshua.

Aria noticed my silence, her tone becoming tense, "What's wrong, Anna? Is he not treating you well? Wait, I'll..."

"No."

I shook my head and gently interrupted Aria.

After I briefly told Aria what happened since I came back, an expected roar came from the other end of the phone.

"Damn it! Henry is such a bastard! He just sold you to James like that?"

I helplessly rubbed my ear, "Yeah, James offered a hundred million dollars. Henry had no reason to refuse. Look on the bright side—the original price was fifty million, so he made a profit."

I said this, but my heart still couldn't hide the sadness.

They say blood is thicker than water, that family are the most trustworthy people in the world.

But I was sold out by my own brother.

The Andrew family stopped having a place for me a long time ago.

Aria's face turned ugly with anger.

"This is outrageous! They've gone too far! Do they think I'm dead?"

Aria irritably ran her hands through her hair, pacing back and forth in the room.

Then she looked at me deeply, "I told you before to let me cover your mother's medical expenses, but you refused no matter what. Now look—you've sold yourself for medical bills!"

I felt helpless about this too, "You're still starting your business, money is tight."

This was my problem. I didn't want Aria to bear this pressure for me.

Mom's medical expenses—I could handle them.

Thinking about this made me even more helpless.

Originally, I wanted to find a suitable job. With an income, I'd have a bit more confidence.

Several companies had called me for interviews, but then suddenly called back saying they'd found someone more suitable.

Every company said the same thing, using identical words.

If James wasn't involved in this, I wouldn't believe it even if you killed me.

He seemed determined to keep me at home as his pet.

While I was thinking, Aria's voice brought me back.

"Anna? Anna, what are you thinking about? Did you hear what I said?"

I looked up. On the screen, Aria looked dissatisfied, pouting.

Me: "What?"

"I knew you weren't listening."

Aria rolled her eyes, "I just said, in half a month, I'm coming back to inherit my family's fortune worth millions."

As she said this, Aria looked completely dejected.

I smiled to comfort her, "That's actually good. Does that mean I'll have someone to rely on from now on?"

Only then did Aria's eyes light up, "That's the only good news about inheriting the family business!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

Everyone else would love to be the family heir and enjoy life from then on.

But I understood Aria. She stayed abroad all these years refusing to come back because she didn't want to inherit the family business—she wanted to build her own career.

Her father must have pushed too hard, and Aria had no choice but to compromise in the end.

On the other end, Aria sighed deeply, lying on the table, looking at me pitifully, "I still need half a month to wrap things up here. Anna, wait for me to come back. I'll help you deal with those shameless people. Just because Nola married Henry, does she really think she's the only mistress of the Andrew family?"

I didn't expect that news of Nola bullying me had reached Aria's ears.

But hearing her protective words warmed my heart.

I smiled and agreed.

Although the Clark family was big and powerful, competing with James's Smith Corporation would still be difficult.

Besides, I didn't really plan to have James stand up for me.

Some things could only be slowly worked out between James and me.

I still had feelings for James. Now that we were married, knowing James's personality, he would never divorce me easily.

Aria and I chatted for a while longer. When she got busy again, we finally ended the video call.

I sat on the bed in a daze for a while.

Since coming back home, my mood had been unbearably bitter.

After chatting with Aria, my mood finally improved a bit.

I needed to pull myself together and work hard to live my life well, so Aria abroad wouldn't worry about me.

I patted my face, pulling myself together again.

With a glimmer of hope, I started submitting resumes again.

Emerald City was so big, with so many companies. Maybe there was some small company that hadn't heard of James?

If I could find a company willing to hire me and pay me a salary, that would be great!

I sent out resume after resume, all sinking without a trace, no replies.

I sighed with a worried face, propping my chin with one hand, staring at the resumes with no responses.

Just then, the door opened, and a cold presence made me instantly recognize who it was.

James walked in expressionlessly, staring at me mockingly, "You still won't give up? I told you, as long as I'm here, you won't find a job."