Chapter 86 Luxury

Chapter 86 Luxury
Chapter 86: Luxury

“You were supposed to be mine!”

Vanessa’s voice cracked loudly inside the penthouse, sharp with desperation and years of obsession finally unraveling all at once.

Rain continued pouring heavily against the glass windows surrounding the luxurious apartment while Theodore stood several feet away from her, silent and unmoving.

For a moment, nobody inside the room spoke.

Theodore slowly turned his head toward her afterward.

And the look in his eyes made Vanessa immediately regret speaking.

Not because he appeared angry.

But because he looked at her like she had become something pathetic.

Something beneath him.

“You really believed that?” Theodore asked quietly.

Vanessa’s breathing became uneven.

“You loved me before her,” Vanessa said desperately, almost pleading now. “You were always with me before Dianna came into your life!”

Theodore stared at her calmly for several long seconds.

Then slowly, he laughed.

The sound echoed softly throughout the penthouse, low and humorless enough to make Vanessa’s stomach twist painfully.

There was no warmth in it.

No amusement.

Only mockery.

“In case you forgot,” Theodore said quietly, “you were the one who left me first.”

Vanessa immediately stiffened.

Theodore began walking slowly around the room afterward, his movements calm enough to feel threatening. Rain continued striking violently against the tall windows while the city lights outside reflected faintly across the marble floors beneath his feet.

“You suddenly decided to ‘choose your dreams,’” he continued evenly. “That was the excuse you gave me, wasn’t it?”

His gaze slowly returned toward her.

“You spoke about ambition. About independence. About wanting more from life.” A faint sneer formed across his lips. “And I actually believed you.”

Vanessa’s breathing became uneven.

“Theodore...”

“No,” he interrupted sharply this time.

The single word cut through the room immediately.

“You don’t get to interrupt me now after poisoning Dianna’s mind with your lies.”

Vanessa visibly flinched.

Theodore’s expression slowly darkened further.

“Do you know what I realized recently?” he asked quietly. “You only stayed beside me as long as I looked useful.”

“That’s not true!”

“Then explain it to me.”

His voice remained terrifyingly calm.

“Explain why you disappeared the moment my standing inside the Callaghan family became uncertain.”

Vanessa opened her mouth, but nothing came out immediately.

That hesitation alone already gave Theodore his answer.

A cold smile slowly spread across his face afterward.

“Ah,” he murmured softly. “So you did know.”

Vanessa’s face paled instantly.

Theodore noticed.

Every small movement.

Every flicker of fear crossing her expression.

“You already knew I was adopted back then, didn’t you?” Theodore asked quietly. “That’s why you left.”

“No!” Vanessa cried quickly. “It wasn’t like that!”

But Theodore no longer looked interested in her excuses.

“You realized I was never truly Victor Callaghan’s son,” he continued coldly. “You realized there was a possibility I would never inherit anything substantial from that family.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“And suddenly your feelings disappeared.”

Vanessa shook her head frantically while tears streamed down her face.

“That’s not what happened!”

“Really?”

Theodore walked toward her slowly afterward until only a short distance separated them.

Then he leaned down slightly, forcing her to look directly at him.

“Because from where I’m standing,” Theodore said softly, “it looks exactly like you abandoned me the moment I stopped being valuable.”

Vanessa’s lips trembled violently.

“Why…” she whispered brokenly before her voice suddenly rose louder. “Why do you blame me for everything?!”

Fresh tears streamed uncontrollably down her face now.

“You did not hesitate to get back with me the moment she chose to leave you!” Vanessa cried shakily. “So why?!”

Her breathing became uneven from the force of her emotions.

“You bastard… why?!”

Silence settled heavily across the penthouse afterward.

Rain battered violently against the windows while Theodore stood there motionless, staring at her with unreadable eyes.

Then his expression changed.

Not into guilt.

Not regret.

But something colder.

Something that looked almost insulted.

“You really believe that?” Theodore asked quietly.

Vanessa stared at him helplessly through tears.

Theodore laughed softly under his breath again, but this time the sound carried pure disgust.

“My God,” he murmured. “You truly understood nothing about me at all.”

Vanessa flinched.

Theodore stepped closer, his gaze darkening with every second.

“You think I returned to you because I loved you?” he asked quietly. “You think that pathetic relationship was deep enough to compare with what I feel for Dianna?”

The words struck Vanessa hard enough to make her face pale.

Theodore continued anyway.

“When Dianna left,” he said calmly, “I was angry.”

His jaw tightened faintly.

“I was hurt. Confused. Furious enough to destroy everything around me.”

His eyes sharpened dangerously afterward.

“And you happened to be there.”

Vanessa’s tears slowed slightly as realization began creeping into her expression.

Theodore noticed immediately.

“Yes,” he continued mercilessly. “That is all you were.”

Vanessa shook her head weakly.

“No…”

“You were convenient,” Theodore said coldly. “Familiar. Easy.”

Every word became crueler than the last.

“You were someone I already knew while I was trying to forget the only woman I actually wanted.”

Vanessa looked like she had been slapped.

But Theodore’s expression remained completely emotionless.

“You think standing beside you meant I loved you?” he asked quietly. “Vanessa, even during those moments…”

His gaze darkened further.

“…I was still thinking about her.”

The confession shattered whatever composure Vanessa still had left.

“No…” she whispered weakly.

Theodore did not stop.

“You want honesty?” he asked coldly. “Fine.”

His voice lowered dangerously.

“Ever since Dianna, there was never a single point in my life where you mattered more to me than her.”

Vanessa’s breathing became shaky and uneven.

“And you know what the difference between you and her is?” Theodore continued quietly.

Vanessa lowered her gaze slowly, trembling violently.

“When Dianna walked away from me, she did it because she thought she was protecting me.”

His eyes hardened.

“But when you left…”

A cold sneer formed slowly across his face.

“You did it because you thought I was no longer worth investing in.”

Vanessa broke into sobs immediately afterward.

Her entire body trembled violently while tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Whatever pride she still carried earlier had completely disappeared now, leaving behind nothing except fear and desperation.

But Theodore only looked at her coldly.

Not once did his expression soften.

“So do not cry,” he said quietly, “if I decide to punish you right now.”

Vanessa’s breathing hitched sharply.

“Because I promise you,” he continued softly, “I will make sure you experience every ounce of stress Dianna went through because of you.”

Vanessa’s eyes widened in horror.

“Theodore, please…”

“You manipulated a pregnant woman emotionally until she nearly broke herself apart,” Theodore continued mercilessly. “You made her believe the child she was carrying would ruin my life. You cornered her with guilt every single chance you got.”

His jaw tightened dangerously.

“And while she cried herself to sleep wondering whether she deserved happiness at all…”

His eyes darkened further.

“You...lived in luxury."