The Clutches Of Hell Novel

Chapter 119

Christian’s gaze rested on her without a word, the emotions in his eyes undistinguishable.

Victoria didn’t hang her head low like she usually did. Instead, she held onto his gaze this time. Her expression was neither humble nor haughty, but it had a hint of challenge and smugness.

For a moment, he thought he was watching her from two years ago. Swallowing hard, he landed his gaze on the red spot on her neck. “Did Lucas come to you?” This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

His words came out as a question, but his tone was affirmative with a hint of jealousy he didn’t even notice.

A distressed look emerged on her face as she mocked, “Thanks to you, the people in your social circle have known me as a promiscuous woman. Even Mr. Spritz is planning to keep me as his mistress.”

“His mistress?” Christian’s finger was tapping on the bedside at an increasing speed. Ignoring the frustration building in the bottom of his heart, he stated coldly, “I bet you’ll willingly throw yourself at him even if he doesn’t pay you.”

Victoria’s eyes bored into the man before she chuckled to herself and turned her gaze away. “His identity isn’t important. As long as he can free me from the Delta Club, I’ll do whatever I can to throw myself at him.”

Victoria bent and leaned over to his face, her voice lower and her smile restrained. “Mr. Thatcher, do you like my answer?”

The tapping of Christian’s finger on the bed stopped for a beat as he clenched his hand into a fist. He got closer to her and held her chin in a firm grip. “Lucas isn’t able to do that. You’re wasting your efforts

on him.”

Victoria then pushed his fingers away before straightening up and taking a few steps backward, distancing herself from him.

“You should remember that you’re the culprit of breaking his sister’s legs, and he’s engaged to Scarlett recently. You shouldn’t dream that he’ll care about you. Even if he’s thinking about freeing you from the Delta Club, as long as his mother, sister, or his fiancée voice their disapproval, he’ll change his mind. The guilt he’s holding toward Bella, the so-called justice he insists on, and the reputation of his family will become his reasons to abandon you without a second thought. At that time, you’ll lose more than you gained.” Christian maintained his usual expression but had unclenched his fist. His slender finger was now tapping on the table, indicating he was in an extremely bad mood.

Victoria cast him an indifferent glance and she answered, “As if I care.”

He furrowed his brows at her words before undoing a button of his hospital gown. His expression sank and the emotions were surging in his eyes like a wave.

Victoria felt good watching him in such a state. “I have delivered the soup Miss Charlotte asked me to. I have to go now; I have work to do.”

Victoria didn’t spare him another glance as she left the room with her lips curled up, all under the watchful gaze of Christian.

After she left the room, the vibration of her phone caught her attention. As she looked at the caller ID, her gaze turned soft and she pressed the button to answer. “Teresa?”

“Long story short.” Teresa’s voice sounded more rushed than usual on the other side of the phone.

Victoria clenched her phone tighter and tensed her body at Teresa’s words. “Teresa, what happened?”

A hint of worry escaped Teresa’s tone. “Yesterday, Dad came home losing his temper after he and Mom went to see you. He took Vincent’s cards, cell phone, and laptop away, and prohibited him from giving you money or reaching out to you. Vincent didn’t want to obey Dad, so Dad grounded him at home, and he isn’t allowed to go anywhere. Mom tried to reason with Dad, saying you’re their daughter after all, but he wasn’t listening.”

Teresa sighed, changing the topic instead. “Enough of all this nonsense. Vincent wants to know how you are feeling. I heard that Christian has discovered the drug and pinhole camera. Did he make things difficult for you?”

“No, he didn’t.” He hadn’t done anything to Victoria yet since the incident. She had no idea about his thoughts, but she didn’t have the impression that he would ever let her off.

At that, Teresa sighed deeply and a few sniffles escaped her and reached Victoria. “Vincent is such a moron! He always causes more harm than good, and troubles you the whole time. Tori, you don’t need to avoid making us worried and not telling us anything. You can tell us if Christian picks on you. M- Maybe I can help you with that.”

Teresa stuttered at her last sentence, betraying her lack of confidence.

Victoria, on the other hand, was glad to have Teresa as her sister-in-law. “Teresa, don’t worry about me. I—”

“Tori, Dad’s home. I need to go. I’ll call you later!” Teresa muttered in a frightened tone from the other end of the line and ended the call abruptly.

Watching the screen of her phone darken, Victoria smiled bitterly before she walked over to the elevator.

The elevator chimed when it reached its destination.

Matthew stepped out of the elevator with his briefcase, looking ever like a gentleman, while another hand was tugging Janice, who was crouching in the elevator and resisted moving even a bit.

“Mr. Buckley, what’s the point of bringing me along when you’re visiting Ice Man? You can do this by yourself. No! I don’t want to go… Ah—I got my period and it hurts. I want to go home.” Scrunching her face as she crouched in the elevator, Janice looked like she was about to cry.

Matthew turned around with a raised brow as he watched his shameless student. Then, he put the briefcase under his arm as he bent over and carried Janice, who didn’t want to go, in his arms with ease.

Being carried in his arms, Janice flopped around like prey caught in the trap as she yelled, “Help! He’s harassing me! Is there anybody there? The man’s kidnapping a woman in broad daylight! He—”

The second “help” didn’t manage to make its way out as Janice greeted the woman before her. “Hi, Victoria! What a coincidence to run into you here.”

Victoria hummed in response and replied in a low voice, “Good evening, Miss Mooney.”

“Perfect timing!” Pinching the spot under Matthew’s armpit, Janice finally got to her feet as Matthew had no choice but to release her. Her eyes rolled as she was thinking, and she spoke afterward. “Mr. Buckley is planning to treat you to dinner and apologize. Let’s go to dinner together after we visit Ice Man.”

Victoria cast a glance at Matthew, who was acting as if nothing happened through the pain fnovelxo.com fast updateor the sake of his image, before she turned her focus back to Janice. “I—”

“Did you have dinner?” Janice interrupted with a question. Before Victoria could even answer, Janice continued, “It’s still early, so you’ve surely not had your dinner. What kind of cuisine do you like? I’ll

book a place first.”

Then, Janice took out her phone and began to swipe on several icons.

“Miss Mooney, I’m good.” Victoria tried to stop her. “Mr. Buckley and I are merely acquaintances, and he has never wronged me. Instead, you guys helped me several times in the past, and I’m the one who should be grateful.”

Shoving the phone back into her pocket, Janice pouted. “He was accusing you of getting closer to me on purpose and wanted you to stay away from me. He wronged both of us in such a statement.”

She harrumphed before her round and sparkling eyes glared at Matthew, and she began with a drawl, “Mr. Buckley—”

“Miss Coleman, I apologize for being offensive with my phrasing when we last met.” He caressed Janice’s hair with full tenderness and a hint of resignation before turning to Victoria. “I hope you can honor us with your presence at the dinner.”

Victoria, however, tried to excuse herself. “Mr. Buckley, don’t mention it. Miss Mooney isn’t from an ordinary family, so it’s normal if you think of me like that. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Victoria…” Holding Victoria’s hand, Janice pleaded in a sweet tone, “Do you not want to have dinner with me because you are mad at me?”