Chapter 165
Inside the box lay a handmade pendant.
Small, but exquisitely crafted.
"I originally wanted to give you a ring, but there wasn't enough time to make two."
Victoria turned her head away, a flush creeping along her cheek. "I noticed some of your clothes have pendants like this, so I designed one myself. Whether you like it or not, too bad—no returns accepted!"
Her tone carried a soft, playful edge. More cute than threatening.
"Very satisfied."
Edward stared at it for a long moment, his voice dropping low. "I really like it."
Word by word.
Crystal clear.
The air between them shifted, thickening with something unspoken.
Victoria turned her head away, the tips of her ears burning red.
"As long as you like it. I'm a little tired now, so I'm going to bed. You should get some rest too."
She couldn't bring herself to look at Edward. "I'll just head out—"
She was done for.
Had Edward laced the air with something?
Because she couldn't shake the feeling that when he said he liked 'it'—he was talking about her.
Victoria bolted back to her room, completely oblivious to the searing gaze that followed her every step.
---
Meanwhile.
The night Aiden returned to the Smith Manor, Jasper was sitting in the living room waiting for him.
Only a single floor lamp was on. Jasper's figure was half-hidden in shadow.
"Kneel."
Aiden knelt.
His knees hit the tile floor with a dull thud.
Jasper stood and walked over to him. "Bianca taking a knife to Victoria—did you know about it?"
"I found out after."
"And before?"
Aiden was silent for a beat. "I didn't stop her."
"Didn't stop her?"
Jasper's voice stayed level. "She's your wife. She went after someone with a knife, and you're telling me you didn't stop her?"
He paused, letting the words settle.
"You have two options. First—divorce her. Cut ties. The Smith family will have your back. Second—stay married. I won't lift a finger to help you. You deal with every last mess yourself."
Aiden knelt there, fingers digging into his knees.
He opened his mouth. "She's still in the hospital. The knife damaged a nerve in her hand."
"She brought that on herself."
Jasper turned away. "If you still have feelings for her, don't say I didn't warn you."
He waved dismissively. "Get out."
Aiden rose and walked out of the Smith Manor.
The night wind cut through his collar. He stood on the front steps for a long time before his phone buzzed.
A hospital billing statement.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket, stood there a few more minutes, then got in the car.
---
The next day.
Outside the CEO's office at Creative Haven.
The assistant stood in the doorway clutching a stack of files. "Mr. Smith, the board sent a formal notice. Emergency meeting next Wednesday."
Aiden took the documents, flipped through them briefly, and tossed them onto the desk. "Got it."
After the assistant left, he sank into his chair and dialed an overseas number.
It rang several times before someone picked up. A middle-aged man's voice came through, tinged with a faint accent. "Mr. Smith."
"I'm barely holding things together over here."
Aiden lowered his voice. "When is the funding coming through?"
Silence on the other end. A few seconds passed. "There's been a change of plans on the funding. Hold steady for now."
"A change?"
Aiden's voice rose. "We had a deal—"
"We're still assessing the situation on our end."
That was all the man said before hanging up.
Aiden threw his phone onto the desk and slumped back in his chair, his temples throbbing.
The board wanted him out. The overseas funding had fallen through.
And now Jasper was demanding he divorce Bianca while she was still lying in a hospital bed.
He pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. Behind his closed eyes, an image flashed—Victoria, turning her back on him and walking away.
Aiden's eyes snapped open. He shoved the image out of his mind.
No.
He wasn't going down without a fight.
Jasper bringing this up now—it had to be because Edward said something behind the scenes.
He needed a plan.
That afternoon, Aiden drove straight to the Windsor Group tower.
Security stopped him at the front desk. "Sir, do you have an appointment? No entry without one."
Aiden frowned, impatience sharpening his tone. "I'm here to discuss a deal with Edward. Since when do I need an appointment? That was never the rule before."
His temper was short to begin with. Right now, it was worse.
The receptionist blinked, checked the computer. "Mr. Windsor has no business meetings scheduled today. Are you sure you have the right time?"
Aiden's expression darkened instantly. Something cold and dangerous flickered in his eyes.
The receptionist flinched. A security guard stepped forward, eyes locked on him.
Aiden had no choice but to back off.
But he didn't leave.
He'd come here for one reason—to see Edward.
There was a waiting area nearby with sofas and a coffee table. He sat down, his gaze sweeping the surroundings, watching for any opportunity.
When Victoria walked out, that was exactly what she saw.
Her brow furrowed slightly. She looked away, pretending to flip through something in her hands.
Honestly?
She still despised Aiden.
She had never forgotten the humiliation he'd put her through.
But that was a separate matter.
Victoria didn't think marching over and tearing into him would make her feel any better.
She'd rather crush him through her own achievements. In ways that actually mattered.
That was more satisfying than trading insults.
But while Victoria chose to take the high road—
Aiden had other ideas.
A shadow fell across her path. Victoria looked up.
Aiden had walked over and stopped right in front of her.
"Victoria."
She didn't respond. She sidestepped him and headed for the door.
Aiden followed a step. "Wait."
Like hell she would.
Victoria let out a quiet scoff, didn't slow down, and pushed through the door.
Aiden stood rooted in place, his fists clenching and unclenching.
She'd ignored him completely. Hadn't even bothered to throw an insult his way.
The anger surged through him like wildfire.
She was never like this before.
Edward must have said something.
Why else would she have pushed Bianca to that breaking point?
He stood there, staring at Victoria's retreating figure, his gaze dark and brooding.
---
At the same time, in Edward's office, a lawyer sat across from him.
He placed a manila envelope on the desk.
"We traced the funds Valeria provided back to their source. The money ultimately flowed to a domestic trading company."
The lawyer pulled out a photocopied page. "The company's registered agent is Michael Spencer—Victoria's uncle. He took over part of the family business after the Spencer family fell apart."
Edward turned a page. "When did Michael's connection with Aiden begin?"
"Within six months of Ms. Spencer's hand injury, Michael signed a partnership agreement with Aiden through an offshore shell company. On paper, it was for overseas building materials development. In reality, no actual trade ever took place. The entire money trail is fabricated."
The lawyer flipped to another page. "This is a copy of the agreement. The signatures and seals have been verified."
"What's Michael's motive?"
Edward's brow creased, his eyes clouded with something unreadable.