Chapter 2 Violent Debt Collection

Afterward, Victoria went to the bathroom to rinse her mouth. When she came out, Nathaniel had already left.

She put the hood back on, and the bodyguard escorted her home.

Everything had happened so quickly that Victoria's mind was a chaotic mess.

Before she could sort through her thoughts, the car had already stopped at the base of the rundown apartment building.

Cries and curses flooded her ears in a rush.

"David! If you don't pay up today, I'll take one of your legs!"

Victoria pushed open the car door and rushed home in a few quick strides.

The living room was in shambles, with several tattooed thugs standing around.

Her father, David Chase, was sprawled on the ground, pleading through tears and snot. "Just give me a few more days, just a few..."

"Go to hell!" The thug raised his fist.

Without thinking, Victoria charged forward and shielded David.

"Stop!"

The leader eyed her up and down. "Oh, your daughter's pretty hot. How about using her to pay off the debt?"

With that, he reached out to yank at Victoria's clothes.

A ripping sound echoed as her dress tore open at the seam.

Victoria was both ashamed and furious, clutching her chest tightly.

"What you're doing is illegal—violent debt collection!"

Just then, a calm male voice came from the doorway.

"Miss Chase, do you need help?"

It was the young bodyguard who had brought her home.

"Where'd this kid come from? Mind your own business!" One thug snarled and swung a punch at the

young bodyguard.

The bodyguard grabbed the thug's fist with one hand and flipped him to the ground.

The leader squinted, and his face suddenly paled.

Anyone who mixed in the gray areas knew about the young man who followed Nathaniel.

His bravado instantly deflated, and he stammered, "We... we're just here to chat with Mr. Chase."

The bodyguard remained expressionless. "Chat's over?"

"Over, over!" The man nodded obsequiously and fled with his men in a panic.

The bodyguard nodded at Victoria and turned to leave.

The world finally quieted down. Victoria slumped against the wall, utterly drained.

"Buzz—" Her phone vibrated with a reminder for her evening job.

She was juggling piano gigs everywhere these days, and tonight she had a banquet performance.

Without time to comfort David, she grabbed her bag and rushed out.

She had to earn money, even if it was just a drop in the bucket...

In the backstage dressing room of the banquet, Victoria hurriedly changed into her white evening gown for the performance.

As she prepared to do her makeup, an unfamiliar number called.

"Hello?"

"Miss Chase, Mr. Cross has something to say to you." A young voice came through the phone.

Victoria's heart tightened. The line switched, and a low, husky voice spoke.

"Someone's collecting debts at your house?" Nathaniel's tone was flat.

"Yes." Victoria's voice trembled as she gripped the phone, mustering her courage. "Mr. Cross, could you

please..."

"They won't come back anymore." Nathaniel cut her off directly.

Victoria's face lit up with joy, and she blurted out, "Thank you, Mr. Cross!"

A soft chuckle came from the other end, laced with mockery.

"I'm the type who prefers practical thanks."

Victoria understood immediately.

She hung up, hurried to the venue's bathroom, and locked herself in a stall.

Since she'd already sold her body, there was no point in being coy. Victoria thought to herself, taking a deep breath. She pulled down the zipper of her gown, exposing her soft, full breasts.

She snapped a selfie and sent it.

Her phone vibrated soon after.

[Not enough.]

Two words, cold and greedy.

Then another message: [This underground lending company is tricky. Not a huge hassle, but it did take some connections.]

This was a reminder that her "thank you" wasn't valuable enough.

Victoria bit her lip hard, her face draining of color.

She slowly sat on the toilet, hiked up her skirt, and slipped off her panties, spreading her legs slightly.

She aimed the phone camera at her private area, where her delicate labia were tightly closed from tension.

“Click.” The photo was sent.

This time, Nathaniel's reply came faster.

[Still not enough. Not wet enough.]

This was clearly toying with her!

But she had no choice.

Humiliation washed over Victoria like a tidal wave.

She closed her eyes, trying to imagine Nathaniel taking her—those rough hands, his scorching chest, and that cock thrusting wildly inside her.

Gradually, a warm flow escaped uncontrollably from her entrance.

Enduring the shame, she snapped another photo and sent it.

The labia were now slick and glistening, slightly parted, as if silently inviting.

As soon as the photo sent, Nathaniel's video call came in.

Victoria's hand shook, nearly dropping the phone.

She hesitated, but eventually answered.

On the screen, Nathaniel seemed to be in a car, the camera aimed at his crotch.

His suit pants were unzipped, and his thick cock was freed, standing erect with bulging veins, the tip already leaking precum.

"I was left wanting more earlier, and now you've stirred my desire again." His voice came through the speaker, hoarse with lust. "I want to watch you touch yourself."

Victoria's face flushed crimson.

She had no choice.

Her trembling fingers slipped under her skirt, gently parting her wet labia to find that sensitive clit.

The slightest touch made her stifle a moan.

"Let it out." Nathaniel commanded.

"I... I'm in the backstage bathroom. People outside might hear." Her voice carried a sob.

Nathaniel acted as if he hadn't heard. On the screen, his hand gripped his cock and stroked it firmly, his voice raspy. "These are things you should be doing. Now, take responsibility."

Victoria didn't dare disobey anymore and quickened her movements.

Her slender fingers plunged in and out of her wet folds, producing crisp, squelching sounds.

She bit her lip hard, not daring to make a sound, only suppressed gasps echoing in the tiny stall.

But no matter how hard she tried, Nathaniel remained an unyielding mountain, watching her self-pleasure on the screen with amused interest, showing no sign of release.

Just then, urgent knocking and shouts came from outside the bathroom.

"Victoria? Are you in there? It's almost time to go on stage—where are you?"

Victoria froze, staring at the phone screen in terror.

With a sob in her voice, she begged, "Mr. Cross, I... I really have to go to work. Please!"

Nathaniel stared at her tear-streaked face on the screen, his eyes dark and unreadable.

After a long moment, he chuckled lowly.

"I'll let you off this time."

He ended the video call unilaterally.

Before the screen went dark, Victoria heard his final words.

"Next time, I won't go so easy on you."

Victoria collapsed on the toilet, gasping for air.

Then, she quickly fixed her clothes, splashed water on her face, forced herself to calm down, and pushed the door open.

"Coming, coming! Just let me do some light makeup—I'll be ready soon!"

She lifted her skirt and hurried back to backstage under the staff's urging.

"Wow, Genesis Corporation sure is loaded—this banquet is over-the-top!"

Someone entered the dressing room, exclaiming in awe.

Victoria paused. "Whose banquet is this?"

"The Cross family's! Their family gathering is fancier than a gala—pure luxury."

"I heard that the CEO of Genesis Corporation, Adrian Cross, will be here. He's hotter than a celebrity!"

Victoria's mind buzzed—talk about bad luck!

After what just happened in the bathroom, if she ran into Nathaniel at the banquet, she wouldn't know how to face him.

"It's a shame the real power behind the Cross family won't show."

"Huh? Mr. Nathaniel Cross isn't coming?"

"Mr. Nathaniel Cross never attends banquets, of course."

Hearing this, Victoria secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Once her makeup was done, the banquet had already started.

Victoria had two pieces tonight. one for the opening, one for the finale.

She wore a tacky red sequined strapless gown, her golden waves of hair cascading down, and gracefully walked to the piano in the corner of the banquet hall.

She sat down with quiet dignity, her fingertips landing on the black and white keys, playing swiftly.

As the notes danced, a man amid the clinking glasses paused with his wine cup, his gaze falling on Victoria.

"Xavier, what are you looking at?"

A sugary voice cooed as Emma Cross pressed her soft chest against Xavier's arm.

"I saw someone familiar and was wondering if I should go say hi."

Xavier casually shifted his gaze away from Victoria.

"Then I'll go with you."

"No need—it's not anyone important."

When Victoria finished her piece and walked to the front to bow in thanks, she looked up and locked eyes with a scorching gaze.

In an instant, sparks flew—intense hatred burst from her eyes.

It was Xavier!