Chapter 6: Heartbroken Over Another Man

"And you still have the nerve to call me uncle." William sneered and slowly approached. "Grabbing and pulling a woman in public - that's called sexual harassment, understand? This lady is being generous. Otherwise, you'd be at the police station right now."

"What have I been teaching you all this time? You've ruined the Ashford family's reputation! If your grandfather saw you acting like this today, he'd break your legs!"

William's presence was overwhelming, his words sharp as he vividly imitated Wayne's way of scolding people. Ethan broke out in cold sweat, not daring to say a word.

After finishing his lecture, William finally turned his gaze to Victoria. When he saw the glaring red mark on her delicate wrist, the hostility in his eyes suddenly intensified.

He lifted his leg and kicked Ethan's shin without mercy. "Still not embarrassed enough? Get lost!"

Ethan winced in pain but didn't dare linger for a second. He turned and scurried away, even forgetting about Sarah. Sarah stood frozen for a few seconds before hurriedly grabbing her bag and chasing after him in her high heels.

Once the unwanted people were gone, William walked up to Victoria with one hand in his pocket. He looked her up and down from his height, his gaze intense and penetrating.

"Sorry you had to see that embarrassing scene." Victoria avoided his eyes, trying to maintain her last shred of dignity.

William let out a low laugh, his voice deep and pleasant. "When bad people attack you, you should hit back hard. I can't accept the humiliation of my wife being bullied like this."

He tilted his chin at her. "Let's go, time to go home."

Victoria didn't argue and obediently followed behind him.

Once in the elevator, Victoria finally couldn't hold back her curiosity. "Why does Ethan call you uncle?"

William frowned slightly and answered casually, "Because his father is my older brother."

"But his last name is Ashford, and yours is Nelson."

Before she could finish, the elevator doors opened. William strode out with his long legs, cutting Victoria's words short.

The two walked one after another to the underground parking garage.

Perhaps the earlier confrontation had drained her energy. Victoria now dropped her pretense, looking unusually downcast.

William looked back and saw through her forced composure to the dejection beneath. He sighed softly and deliberately teased, "What's wrong? Heartbroken? Why so down?"

In the dim light, that remark precisely shattered Victoria's last psychological defense.

Three years of feelings, five years of devotion, exchanged for betrayal and public humiliation. It would be a lie to say it didn't hurt.

Her shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes reddening beyond her control.

Seeing this, William dropped his joking expression. He walked closer step by step until his warm breath brushed the top of her head.

Victoria fought back tears and looked up to jab at him. "Does mocking me give you a sense of achievement?"

William looked down at her, his lips curving into a barely perceptible smile, but his voice softened. "No. I just feel a bit annoyed seeing my wife sad over another man."

Victoria frowned slightly and stepped back half a step, creating distance between them. "Mr. Nelson, we're just in an arranged marriage. You don't need to act so convincingly."

The words "Mr. Nelson" made the air around them freeze for a few seconds.

A trace of helpless amusement flashed in William's eyes. It seemed Victoria still didn't even know his name.

A bit silly, but oddly cute.

He didn't correct her form of address, just turned aside and pressed the key to an extremely eye-catching limited edition sports car nearby.

"Even if it's just an arranged marriage, you're still my legal wife. Get in, I'll take you for a drive to clear your head."

Victoria glanced at the priceless luxury car and shook her head. "No thanks."

Victoria's refusal made William raise an eyebrow.

He looked at her with a half-smile. "What, afraid I'll take advantage of you?"

"No." Victoria pointed somewhat awkwardly at an unremarkable pink economy car nearby. "I drove here myself."

One was a top-tier supercar worth tens of millions of dollars, the other an ordinary car worth tens of thousands. Parked together, the contrast was brutal.

"Sorry about that." She said quietly. Compared to William's luxury car, her refusal to get in did seem a bit ungrateful.

William gave the pink car a meaningful glance.

"Nothing to be sorry about. I just want to remind you - now that you're married to me, stop letting people push you around." He stood with one hand in his pocket, the night breeze ruffling his hair, his stunningly handsome face radiating fatal attraction in the dim light.

Looking at this impossibly handsome man, Victoria's pent-up feelings inexplicably eased a bit. She nodded. "I understand."

William watched her obedient manner and suddenly asked, "You dated Ethan?"

Victoria didn't hide it and admitted frankly, "Yes, I did. But we've completely broken up. There won't be any connection in the future. Don't worry, I'll handle my personal matters and won't cause you trouble."

This straightforward answer satisfied William.

He took the opportunity to suggest, "Since it's completely over, why not move in with me? Now that we're married, I don't want people thinking we're playing house."

Victoria froze, clearly not expecting things to move this fast.

She hesitated. "Let's not rush, okay? We haven't even met each other's parents yet."

In fact, she was waiting for Charles to finalize the hotel equity transfer agreement. That was her mother's legacy - she had to get it in hand. Otherwise, once they lived together, she'd lose her leverage over Charles.

William saw through her concerns but didn't push. He dropped a casual "suit yourself," got into his flashy supercar, and drove off with a deafening roar of the engine.

Victoria watched the taillights disappear into the night, unable to read William's mood.

Was he angry?

Late at night.

A drunk Ethan returned to his villa.

His stomach churning, he loosened his tie and collapsed onto the sofa, habitually shouting toward the kitchen, "Victoria! Get me some hangover medicine."

His voice echoed through the empty villa, but no one answered.

A few minutes later, footsteps approached. Ethan thought it was Victoria and looked up impatiently, only to find it was the housekeeper.

"Where's Victoria?"

"Mr. Ashford, Ms. Hughes already moved out."

"Moved out? Who gave her permission?" Ethan's drunkenness instantly cleared by half. He stormed upstairs and pushed open Victoria's door.

The room was empty. In the closet, the designer clothes and bags he'd casually bought for her were all still there. Victoria had only taken the few old outfits she'd bought herself and that worn suitcase.

Looking at the luxury items she'd abandoned like trash, Ethan felt an inexplicable panic, but it was quickly suppressed by his arrogance.

He sneered. Playing hard to get, was she? Did she really think this little running-away-from-home trick would make him lower himself to coax her back?

Without his protection, Victoria was nothing in Silverstone City! Once she suffered outside, she'd naturally come crawling back like a dog wagging its tail, begging him.