Chapter 110: Chapter 110

For Victoria Sinclair, divorce wasn’t the end. It was the beginning of her reclaiming her life.

Timothy Sinclair often asked, "Eugene Vaughn is a good man. Do you two still have a chance?"

Victoria replied nonchalantly, "Since we’re divorced, I won’t look back. I won’t harbor any fantasies or expectations about him. I’ll treat myself well and avoid internal conflict."

But suddenly losing both marriage and career, not feeling sad would be a lie.

She knew that what would heal her wasn’t time, but letting go and being at peace with the past.

She chose to go on a road trip.

Driving alone, in one car, heading towards Cryos in Northpass to see the aurora borealis.

In January, the weather in the south at around ten degrees wouldn’t be too cold.

With ten days until Chinese New Year, Victoria Sinclair ended her six-month journey and drove back.

She intentionally didn’t tell her parents and brother, wanting to surprise them.

Victoria stood in a dark alley, looking at the mostly demolished house, feeling a bit scared.

She got in the car and took out her phone to call Timothy Sinclair.

"Bro, why has the rental house been demolished?"

"That place was under demolition, the landlord kicked us out two months ago. Have you come back?"

"Yeah, just arrived."

"I’ll send you a location."

After hanging up, Victoria started the car and left the dark alley.

As she drove, she entered the address Timothy sent her into the navigation.

The city at night was particularly bustling, the neon lights dazzling.

The more she drove, the more something felt off, as the road seemed very familiar.

Until the navigation guided her back to the entrance of the community where she had lived for two years, she was completely baffled.

She took out her phone, carefully checking the address Timothy sent her, confirmed it was indeed here.

She was puzzled and dialed.

"Bro, is the address you gave me wrong?"

"No mistake. Eugene is letting us live in your old marital home for free."

Victoria felt a tug at her heart, unable to speak, experiencing an indescribable sense of helplessness and annoyance.

Before she left, she had given her mother a year’s rent money, not expecting them to disturb her ex-husband.

It was really frustrating.

Victoria drove into the community, took out her suitcase, and pushed it as she walked inside.

Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.

In the distance, Eugene was walking towards her.

He was tall and straight, wearing a black wool coat over a white shirt, simple yet stylish, calm with a hint of cold tenderness.

Victoria was startled. Seeing him again after six months, her heart tightened, her breath hurried inexplicably, and she forgot how to react.

Eugene’s deep gaze fixed on her face, his voice magnetic and steady, "Victoria, long time no see."

Victoria was flustered, softly responding, "Long time no see."

She had thought about not contacting each other post-divorce but hadn’t pondered how to interact gracefully.

She certainly had no intention to become friends with her ex-husband.

Eugene extended his hand to her, "Let me take your luggage."

Victoria snapped back to reality, "No, I can handle it myself."

As soon as she spoke, Eugene ignored her refusal and reached out directly.

His warm hand covered down, touching the suitcase handle as well as her hand.

She quickly withdrew her hand, her heartbeat accelerating.

"Your hand is a bit cold. Let’s go in."

"Hmm." Victoria replied.

Eugene took a step forward.

The night was deep, and the weather was cold.

Victoria didn’t want to waste too much time here.

There’s no rule that says you must cut all ties with your ex-husband post-divorce.

Why would she need to be so conflicted?

Victoria caught up, "Are you living with my parents?"

"No, I bought a small place upstairs."

Victoria breathed a sigh of relief, walking beside Eugene, polite yet civil, "Thank you. After the New Year, I’ll find a place to move out quickly, so I won’t disturb you for too long."

Eugene’s lips curled wryly, his gentle tone carrying a slight resignation, "You truly tell me nothing. Your dad got sick, your brother got scammed, you sold the company, and you..."

Victoria cut him off, "Eugene, we’re already divorced."

Eugene’s eyes dimmed, silence settling in.

In the quiet alley, under the dim light casting shadows, a heavy pressure hung between them, only broken by the sound of their unhurried footsteps.

In the past six months of separation, Eugene hadn’t contacted her once.

This lack of contact was actually a kind of extremely humble deep love.

No disturbances, only longing, inquiring about her through others. Even when longing reached the point of breakdown and madness, he refrained.

Upon entering the lobby, Eugene broke the silence between them, "Did you see the aurora borealis?"

Victoria was surprised. She hadn’t told anyone about her trip, nor posted about it, even Angela was unaware of her destination.

"How did you know I went to see the aurora borealis?" Victoria asked, suspicious.

Eugene pressed the elevator button, tilting his head to gaze at her pretty face, "Just a guess."

Eugene’s eyes, deep and intense, lingered on her for a moment, his voice exceptionally gentle, "You’ve lost weight."

Victoria lowered her head, her mood inexplicably melancholic. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ɴovelfire.net

Throughout the six-month journey, she had found peace, but upon seeing him, a ripple inexplicably stirred in her heart.

Perhaps she was not rational enough, or maybe it was residual affection from past feelings.

But it didn’t matter much.

The elevator doors opened, and the two of them walked in, standing side by side.

In the narrow space, their breaths were heavy, the air becoming sultry, both staring straight ahead.

"What’s next on your agenda?" Eugene asked.

Victoria answered without hesitation, "After the New Year, I’ll find a job."

"Kyanite’s R&D department is hiring. How about at my..."

Victoria Sinclair resolutely declined, "I don’t want to work at your company."

"Is it because I’m your ex-husband and you want to draw a clear line?"

Eugene Vaughn chuckled softly, turning to look at her, "Since when did you become so emotional, Victoria?"

"Other companies have already extended olive branches to me." Victoria’s voice was light; she felt increasingly stifled by the hot air. She looked up and realized she hadn’t pressed the elevator button.

She quickly pressed the elevator button.

Eugene lightly pressed his lips together, seemingly amused.

The elevator doors opened, and Victoria stepped out, turning to face Eugene.

She blocked his way out, extending her hand, "Give me the suitcase."

Eugene understood her intent and handed over the suitcase, "There’s something I feel I should tell you."

Victoria took back the suitcase, "What is it?"

"Your brother is with Sarah Lowell now."

"How could that be?" Victoria was shocked, her eyes wide, feeling she heard something unbelievable. So many things were hard to believe.

"According to your brother, it was Sarah who pursued him."

Sarah? Her former best friend, a high achiever who graduated from Sterling like her. How could she downgrade herself, being with a middle school graduate who didn’t have a car, a house, carried a son, and wasn’t even divorced yet?

There’s no way Sarah would be interested in her brother. Something was suspicious.

Victoria hurriedly turned around, just took a big step when Eugene came out of the elevator and grabbed her wrist.

A surge of warmth spread from her wrist, through her limbs and bones, even making her heart skip a beat nervously.

Victoria stopped, turning to look at where her wrist was held, her gaze moved to his long and handsome fingers, then looked up to meet his warm and tender eyes.

Her heart was beating chaotically.

"It’s almost the New Year, let’s go to the flower market together tomorrow." Eugene’s tone was extremely gentle.

Victoria’s tone was firm, "Eugene, we’ve been divorced for half a year, we shouldn’t have any more interactions."

"If we can’t be husband and wife, we can be friends."

Victoria forcefully pulled her wrist away, stepped back, "I have friends already, I don’t want to expand my circle."

Eugene’s demeanor turned somber, his lips pressed bitterly.

Leaving those words, she strode forward, unlocking the door with her fingerprint, pushing it open and entering.

Her parents and little Ze were already asleep. Timothy Sinclair was waiting in the living room.

"Sis, you’re back." Timothy stood up excitedly to greet her.

Victoria stood in the center of the living room, looking at the home that was now unrecognizable, her heart bleeding.

Is this still the home where she lived for two years?

Before, Eugene kept it spotless, the floors gleaming, furniture arranged neatly, spacious and comfortable.

But now, toys were everywhere, furniture disarranged, corners piled with dirty cardboard and plastic bottles, the floors seemed uncleaned for two or three days; not filthy, but certainly not clean.

Victoria felt her head throbbing painfully, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She had already divorced Eugene, and it was distressing to see her family turn his home into such chaos.

Timothy took her hand, worried, "What’s wrong, sis? Are you unwell?"

Victoria took a deep breath, adjusted her mood, and asked the urgent question, "Bro, are you with Sarah?"

Timothy was stunned, faltering slightly, spoke awkwardly, "Did Eugene tell you?"

Victoria said sternly, "Bro, break up with her."

Timothy explained helplessly, "I didn’t expect Sarah to like me either, she doesn’t mind that I have a son, or my education level. She’s a good girl, not materialistic at all, she..."

Victoria couldn’t listen anymore, interrupting, "Bro, wake up. She can’t possibly be interested in you."

Timothy frowned, "I have no house, no car, no savings, my debts were even paid back by you, Sarah knows all this. If she wasn’t interested in me, what would she want?"

"She’s not after you."

"The initiative is in her hands; I’m not losing out by being with her."

Victoria held her forehead in frustration, one hand on her hip, taking deep breaths.

"Sis, we just got together not long ago, let’s try it out first. I have nothing to lose." Timothy persistently continued, "The police haven’t caught Molly yet, I’ve already filed for divorce in court."

"Bro..." Victoria clenched her fists in anger, "I know what kind of person Sarah is. Her intentions in approaching you aren’t pure."

"You’re overthinking it." Timothy patted her head, pushing her by the shoulder towards her room, "Go to your room, wash up, and rest early."

Timothy turned the door handle, nudging her into the room, "Eugene specifically told us, other rooms are free to use, but yours is off-limits, and nothing inside can be touched; it’s clear he cares about you a lot."

With that, Timothy closed the door, "Goodnight, sis."

Victoria looked around her familiar room, her spirits low.

At this moment, the familiar scene stirred her emotions, her heart bitter, her nose sour. Surveying the surroundings felt like time had stopped here.

Every item in the room remained as it was when she left,

She gently caressed the cabinet door, her fingertips trembling slightly, a complex emotion surged in her heart.

She walked to the window, pulled open the curtains, the night outside remained deep, distant neon lights flickering in the night sky like countless stars winking at her.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the waves in her heart, but found her thoughts couldn’t settle.

"Eugene..." she murmured the name softly, a pang of sorrow welling up inside.

She shook her head, trying to cast aside these distractions.

She had more important matters to address—her brother Timothy’s relationship with Sarah.

Victoria sat on the bed, took out her phone, and scrolled through Sarah’s Weibo.

Sarah’s social media was filled with various exquisite lifestyle photos, high-end restaurants, luxury goods, travel snaps... Each photo revealed her quality of life and social circle.

The more Victoria looked, the more it didn’t sit right. Sarah’s lifestyle and Timothy’s circumstances were not on the same level. How could she suddenly take interest in Timothy?

"Something’s fishy here," Victoria thought secretly.

She decided to confront Sarah early the next day and ask her intentions directly.

No matter what, she couldn’t let her brother fall into a potentially harmful relationship.

Early the next morning, Victoria got up early, washed up, and left her room to find the home still in chaos. Timothy was sitting on the couch, holding a cup of coffee, looking a bit weary.

"Morning, bro." Victoria greeted.

"Morning, sis." Timothy looked up at her, forcing a smile.

Victoria sat down beside him, asking softly, "Bro, do you really think Sarah is sincere with you?"

Timothy was silent for a moment, sighed, "Sis, I know you’re worried, but I really feel Sarah is a good girl. She’s very good to me and caring towards little Ze; I believe she genuinely wants to be with me."

Victoria frowned, feeling more uneasy. She knew her brother was kind-hearted, but precisely because of that, people could easily take advantage of him.

"Bro, have you ever thought about why Sarah would suddenly take an interest in you? Her circle and yours are completely different, why would she choose you?" Victoria asked directly.

Timothy hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "I don’t know, but I feel that sometimes love is inexplicable. Maybe she just appreciates who I am, not my circumstances."

Victoria sighed, knowing further persuasion was futile. She decided to visit Sarah herself and find out the truth.

"Bro, I have to go out today, I might be back late." Victoria stood up, ready to leave.

"Where are you going?" Timothy asked somewhat puzzled.

"I’m meeting a friend." Victoria said no more, grabbed her bag, and left.