Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)

Chapter 231

Victoria never expected something like this would happen at her children’s school.

At first, she decided to send them there because she liked the environment. While

abroad, Nicole and Nathan were still young and did not understand the complexity

of societal taboos. As they gradually grew older, the disadvantages of being in a

single–parent family would slowly be exposed to their peers.

Then, she remembered having similar experiences during her childhood. Her father

doted on her, and being the young lady of the powerful Selwyn Family, the others

dared not band together to bully her. Instead, they kept flattering her because of her status.

At first, she was happy that everyone was willing to befriend her because she considered herself an

outcast. Coming from a single–parent family, she thought others would think of her differently and

collectively exclude her. Therefore, when everyone seemed willing to befriend her, she thought

everyone around her was kind.

That was until she eavesdropped on them badmouthing her.

“Hey, tell you what. Victoria Selwyn is a freak.”

“A freak? How so?”

“I heard that her mother was a wh*re and ran off with another man right after giving

birth to her. My mom said we shouldn’t be friends with her because she’s a bad

influence.”

“Gosh! Is Victoria’s mother really a wh*re?”

“It’s true!”

“That’s terrifying! We should stay away from her.”

www.

When the young Victoria heard that discussion, her eyes reddened. Ever since then,

she did not wait for the others to ghost her because she avoided them first.

She was depressed at a young age. It was until the time that group began

badmouthing her again that things changed. Back then, she was hiding in the

corner, listening to them talk, but their conversation fell into the young Alaric’s ears.

He immediately kicked over a chair in the classroom and gestured to beat them,

making the crowd disperse immediately.

Once the group left, he pulled Victoria out from the corner. “Snowball, are you going

to hide here while they say bad things about you?”

She bowed her head and said nothing.

He stared at her for a long while and embraced her. “From now on, no one will dare

to badmouth you with me by your side.”

Afterward, Victoria gradually grew bolder and had a healthier mentality because of

Alaric’s presence. However…

She returned from her daze and looked toward Nicole. Every child was different, and

the things they encountered while growing up also varied. Sometimes, she would

regret her decision to maintain her children in a single–parent family and not do

‘enough‘ for them. Still, there was one thing she did not regret–giving birth to them.

#

While thinking of that, Victoria held Nicole in her arms and closed her eyes. “Don’t

Nicole. No one will ever laugh at you or Nathan with me here.”

worry,

Nicole did not think much about it and smilingly commented, “I’m fine, Mommy. You

have nothing to worry about because Nathan will protect me if they laugh at me.”

“Hm. Mommy will protect both of you.”

Inside the penthouse suite in a hotel, Alaric entered his room with a solemn

expression and saw two people on the couch. One was his assistant, Terrance, and

the other was Claudia.

When Alaric saw her, a trace of surprise flashed across his eyes.

“Al.” After seeing him, Claudia immediately shot up. “You’re finally home.”

However, the surprise only lasted for a moment because Alaric returned to his

emotionless self while heading further into the room. “How did you get in?” Once he

asked, he glared sternly at Terrance, who guiltily looked away, knowing Alaric

blamed him for letting her in.

Naturally, Terrance would not just let anyone into the room, but that woman was

Claudia. Although she and Alaric were not a couple, everyone in the city knew she Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

had frequently visited Alaric’s mother. Hence, everyone thought it was in due time.

before she married him.

In the meantime, Claudia understood what Alaric meant and felt somewhat

embarrassed, but she could only explain, “Don’t be mad at Mr. Levane. I demanded

him to let me in. I told him I would cause a scene if he didn’t.”

Hearing that, Alaric paused and gazed at her. “Is that so?” She nodded weakly but

heard Alaric sneer. “You’ll cause a scene if he doesn’t let you in? When have you

become so unreasonable?”

Somewhat pale, she tried to explain, “Al, I was just…”

Chapter 21 almen

Not expecting Alaric would be so mean to Claudia, Terrance knew a storm was

coming and was afraid to stay any longer. He immediately packed up his things and

announced, “Miss Johnson has something to tell you, Mr. Cadogan, so I’ll take my

leave.”

His act of escaping after causing trouble earned him a scoff from Alaric. Seeing he

was not asked to stay, he grabbed his things and ran.

Once he was gone, the hotel room fell silent.

Claudia stared at Alaric, feeling embarrassed. Luckily, Terrance was Alaric’s

assistant because if it had been someone else, she would not have been able to

withstand such humiliation. “Al, you’ve been gone the whole day. I tried to call, but

your phone was off. Were you busy today? Have you eaten? If you hadn’t, why don’t

we-”

“Claudia,” Alaric coldly uttered her name.

She looked at him, stammering, “W–What’s the matter?”

“I told you. Stop wasting your time on me.”

When she heard that, her eyes instantly reddened. “H–How is that wasting my time? I

like you and want to do something for you, and I believe that as long as I stay with

you, you’ll soon discover-”

“I won’t.” He rejected her without hesitation, leaving her frozen in place. Fixing his

gaze on her face, he frowned. “I thought I made myself clear five years ago. If you

don’t get it still, I can tell you again. I only see you as my savior, so don’t waste your

effort on me. It won’t work, no matter how long you try. Get it?”

Claudia’s eyes reddened even more following his words, and tears ran down her

cheeks while she bit her lips. “No, I don’t get it. We were on good terms five years

ago, and you promised me I would be Mrs. Cadogan. Why did things change after

Victoria left? Do you fall in love with whoever leaves you?”

Alaric frowned as he did not plan to continue this conversation. “It’s getting late. Go

home.”

“No, I won’t!”

After giving her a cold stare, he ordered, “I’ll get Terrance to send you home.”

“No!” She threw herself forward to hug him. “Al, don’t chase me away. Don’t do this

to me. I just like you a lot. That’s all…”

Suddenly, she smelled a faint scent of perfume on the man’s body.