Departure with a Belly (Alaric and Victoria)
Chapter 498

Chapter 498

"Mr. Morison, wouldn't it be best to release Miss Selwyn while she's still in relatively

good health? It would benefit both her and yourself. When Miss Selwyn regains her memory, she will undoubtedly remember your kindness toward her. You need not become enemies, and surely you've always desired the best for her?"

After uttering these words, he continued, "Don't wait until it's too late when something calamitous occurs. Even if you were to seek redemption at that point, it would hold no meaning."

"That's enough!" Bane abruptly interrupted, his piercing gaze fixed on Ethan, sending at shiver down his spine. "Who granted you the authority to speak so audaciously? Do you think you can sway me? Ethan, you are meant to follow me, not Alaric!" His emotions seemed to be spiraling out of control, Ethan noticed.

Lately, there had been an increasing number of instances where Bane struggled to rein in his emotions. Ethan pondered whether it stemmed from unresolved past traumas, and surprisingly, he did not feel anger at that moment. Instead, he calmly replied, "Indeed, I am loyal to you and not Mr. Cadogan, but let us not forget that Mr. Cadogan spared you as well, didn't he? How did he end up with such grievous injuries back then while you stand here unscathed? I believe you are fully aware of the reasons. Mr. Cadogan and Miss Selwyn have always regarded you as a friend."

WASHES 3X MORE DISHES

Chapter 498 Distorted Men tality

2/6

"A friend?" Bane bit down on the word, his smile devoid of warmth. "What kind of friend attempts to steal my woman?"

"Steal your woman?" Ethan did not hesitate to counter his claim. "Mr. Morison, Miss Selwyn was initially in a relationship with Mr. Cadogan."

"So what? Have you ever considered how she felt when he openly declared in front of her that the seat beside him was exclusively reserved for Claudia?" Bane questioned

sharply.

Ethan fell silent, the weight of Bane's words sinking in. After a brief pause, he spoke again, "I may not know the entirety of your past, but based on what I observe now, both Mr. Cadogan and Miss Selwyn still harbor hopes that you will retrace your steps and choose a different path. I also understand that many things cannot be forced; attempting to do so will only inflict pain upon all parties involved in this complicated

situation."

Bane departed once more, leaving Ethan to contemplate the complexity of their

intertwined destinies.

That night, Victoría experienced a relatively restful sleep despite her memory loss. In her slumber, she was graced with a delightful dream where she found herself in the presence of two charming children. These little ones were not only adorable but also

2x 78%

Chapter 498 Distorted Men tality

displayed remarkable intelligence, their tiny arms clinging to her lovingly while they called her 'Mommy.'

3/6

The joy that filled her heart was immeasurable. She embraced and showered her dream children with hugs and kisses, relishing their playful company throughout the night. However, as she gradually awakened, the realization dawned upon her that it was all just a figment of her imagination. A profound sense of emptiness settled within her, mingling with a peculiar sense of fulfillment. The thought lingered that once she left her current circumstances, she could meet her children again.

In her dream, she had vividly experienced having two children, a pair of twins-a boy and a girl. Ethan had mentioned that she had kids, but he had not divulged how many. Was the dream a reflection of reality, or had it been conjured solely by her imagination? Victoria resolved to find an opportunity to inquire him about this one day. Turning over in bed, she closed her eyes once again, savoring the tender memory of

cradling her dream children, their presence filling her heart with warmth.

Outside her room, Jessie arrived with breakfast, the sound of her footsteps signaling the arrival of a meal. Victoria, upon hearing the news, did not require Jessie's presence to beckon her. She rose from the bed and prepared herself independently.

Compared to the previous day, she felt marginally better today. With growing familiarity, she ate her breakfast at a leisurely pace, stopping when she had consumed enough.

78%

Chapter 498 Distorted Men tality

Observing these improvements, Jessie felt a secret sense of relief. However, she

remained cautious when it came to disclosing Victoria's progress to Bane.

4/6

Arranging for a psychologist had been a challenging task in itself. Jessie worried that if

Bane discovered Victoria's willingness to eat and interpreted it as a sign that she no longer required psychological assistance, he might dismiss the need for their services altogether.

The more she pondered the situation, the stronger her conviction became that he should be kept in the dark about these developments.

Though he was her employer, she firmly believed that this course of action was in the best interest of Victoria. Bane appeared to be in a peculiar state of mind, and it would be for his benefit if Victoria continued to improve.

With her concerns somewhat allayed, Jessie collected the remaining food Victoria had consumed and departed from the room. As she made her way through the hallway, she passed by the study, where Bane beckoned her as he had done before. "How is she today?"

Initially, Jessie had hoped to hasten her pace, aiming to evade Bane if possible. The

prospect of lying in front of her employer required a significant amount of courage.

However, she had not anticipated that he would purposely wait there, effectively trapping her in an unavoidable encounter. Reluctantly, she halted her steps, hesitating

FRIGUE

OX

Chapter 498 Distorted Men tality

for a moment before mustering the courage to meet his gaze, unsure of what to say.

5/6

Yet, before she could utter a word, he took the initiative and inquired, "Is it the same as

before?"

Initially, she had contemplated how to speak without revealing any flaws, but now, she wondered if she needed to say anything at all. If he were to continually assume things on his own, perhaps, she would not have to say much.

As expected, upon witnessing her hesitation and silence, Bane presumed that the outcome remained unchanged. He waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to depart without further explanation. Once she left, she finally let out a genuine sigh of relief. She hoped she could continue passing through this situation until Victoria's condition

improved.

Meanwhile, Bane stood rooted in place, his countenance veiled in darkness. With Victoria's will to survive seemingly absent and still no news about the children's whereabouts, troubling questions plagued his mind. According to Ethan, he had not disclosed any information, so who could have leaked such crucial details? If, by some unfortunate chance, he failed to locate the children and something dire happened to

her...

The thought sent tremors through his body, his hands clenching into fists involuntarily. He bit his lower lip fiercely, his mind consumed by vivid memories of his mother's tragic

suicide. The image of her lifeless form, silently nestled amidst a pool of crimson,

Chapter 498 Distorted Men tality

haunted him relentlessly. No matter how others called out to her, she remained

unresponsive.

6/6

In the end, she could only lie motionlessly in that cold coffin, devoid of any expressions -neither a smile nor anger-just absolute stillness.

From the moment she began projecting her distorted men tality onto Bane due to his father's actions, he harbored a deep-rooted resentment toward his father. He despised why his dad, as a man, failed to take responsibility and why he entered into a marriage when he was unable to maintain his stability.

In Bane's mind, the solution was simple-he would never marry, have children, or

establish a family. That way, no one would ever experience pain. Simultaneously, he also harbored resentment toward his mother. In his view, a man who lost control and

became cruel to his child demanded her resolute decision to leave or the person's complete indifference as an alternative.

Under the weight of these influences, his mindset had gradually warped, festering into something strange and distorted.