Chapter 8
Victoria stood by the hospital bed, gently adjusting Yara's blanket. Only after the sleeping child's breathing became steady did she reluctantly get up to leave.
Night had fallen. She dragged her exhausted body back to Veda's place.
The moment she pushed the door open a crack, bright light from the living room spilled out, illuminating her pale face.
Veda sat cross-legged on the sofa with her laptop in her arms. She looked up, and her brow immediately furrowed.
"What happened to you? Did you run into that bastard Aiden?"
She'd been full of energy when she left this morning, but now she looked completely worn out.
If this had nothing to do with that couple, Veda wouldn't believe it!
Victoria forced a bitter smile, her voice slightly hoarse, "Bianca was there. She wanted to feed Yara mango cake."
She paused, a flash of coldness crossing her eyes. "I got into a fight with her."
Aiden wanted custody, so at least on the surface, he wouldn't dare do anything to Yara.
But then there was Bianca...
Victoria's brow furrowed tightly, her expression darkening.
Bianca wouldn't let Yara off easy.
Victoria's heart sank, her fingertips ice cold.
"She wouldn't dare!" Veda snapped her laptop shut with a "thwack," her temper flaring instantly. "Bianca needs to be taught a lesson!"
She jumped off the sofa, poured Victoria a glass of water, and pressed it into her hands, speaking as Yara's godmother, "You focus on finding a job. I'll keep an eye on things at the hospital. If needed, we'll hire a caregiver. Consider the money a loan from me—you can pay me back when you're earning again."
Veda knew what Victoria was like.
If she offered to pay directly, Victoria would definitely refuse.
But framing it as a loan—that was different.
Sure enough, Victoria hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded, her voice soft, "I sent out my resume last night. I'll pay you back once I find work."
Just as she finished speaking, Veda's computer chimed.
"Email!" Veda's eyes lit up. "Come look—it might be an interview notice!"
Victoria leaned in, her heart jumping to her throat.
"Victoria! It's the Windsor Group! Your resume got through!"
Veda cried out in excitement. "The Windsor Group's benefits are top-tier. If you can get in there, you'll finally be set!"
Victoria stared at the email, checking it several times before her tense nerves finally relaxed.
Her right hand had been badly fractured. She hadn't touched a paintbrush in a long time. What she'd submitted were just old, unpublished designs. That the Windsor Group had taken an interest was an unexpected blessing.
Veda had no idea what was going through her mind.
She stared at the screen. "The email says the interview is at 3 PM today. It's already 1,30. Shouldn't you get ready and head over?"
Victoria snapped back to attention at the reminder and quickly got herself together.
All her savings had been swallowed by the bottomless pit that was the hospital. She couldn't even afford a taxi now and had to take the bus.
Fortunately, she left early, and the Windsor Group wasn't far away, so she didn't end up late.
The Windsor Group's building towered into the sky. Victoria stood at the base, swallowed hard, then approached the reception desk. "Hello, I'm here for an interview. Could you tell me where it's being held?"
The receptionist was professional and courteous, showing no hint of judgment toward Victoria's simple clothing.
She warmly pointed Victoria in the right direction and even gave detailed instructions on how to get there.
The interview was in a conference room on the third floor.
When she pushed open the door, two interviewers were already seated inside.
"Hello, I'm Victoria. I received an email about the interview."
The male interviewer cleared his throat twice. "I've looked at your resume. Did you design all these pieces yourself?"
Victoria nodded calmly. "My hand was injured before, so I used tools to help complete these designs. But rest assured, these are definitely my own work. I'm not hiding anything."
She didn't mention her former alias, "Q."
That glory belonged to the past. Now, she just wanted to start over on her own merit.
The two interviewers exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes. They discussed in low voices for a moment.
Those five short minutes felt like a century to Victoria.
Finally, the interviewer looked up with an appreciative smile. "Ms. Spencer, we've made our decision. Although your hand is injured, your designs have real natural energy. Congratulations—you're hired. Please report next Monday."
The huge surprise hit her like a ton of bricks. As Victoria walked out of the conference room, her steps felt light and unsteady.
Her mind was full of this good news and thoughts of what delicious food to make for Yara tonight. Distracted, she stepped into an elevator.
It wasn't until the doors closed and the elevator began smoothly ascending that she realized something was wrong.
The elevator's interior was mirror-bright, and in the corner, a small metal plaque read—CEO Only.
Her heart skipped a beat.
The elevator arrived.
The doors slid open slowly. Outside stood a man with an upright posture.
Edward was looking down at some documents, about to step in out of habit, but the moment he looked up, he froze.
Inside the elevator stood a familiar woman.
Today, she wore a professional suit that showed off her slender figure perfectly, her pretty face wearing a slightly confused expression.
It was her.
Clearly, she hadn't expected to run into him either.
Edward's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, his tone cold, "This is the CEO's private elevator."
Victoria's head buzzed as she finally recognized the man before her.
She really hadn't expected to see him here.
But thinking about it, this was the Windsor Group's building.
It made perfect sense for Edward to be here.
She awkwardly clenched her fingers, head lowered as she explained, "I'm sorry, Mr. Windsor. I'm here for an interview. I didn't know this was your private elevator. I'll get out right away."
The air pressure around them suddenly turned cold and hard, as if telling her—Edward was angry!
