Chapter 4

Three years ago, Victoria promised that after the product launch, she'd announce our marriage to the media.

But when I changed into my clothes, I saw Victoria walk onto the stage with Blake.

She not only praised him as a tech genius but also blushed and looked down when reporters asked about her love life, letting the public assume they were a couple.

I wanted to suppress my anger and confront her after the press conference.

But then an intimate photo of Victoria suddenly appeared on my phone.

The man in it was Blake, on stage, smirking at me, as if I was already a defeated man.

Back then, I was young, hot-headed, and couldn't stand any disrespect.

I stormed onto the stage and landed punch after punch on Blake's face, beating him senseless.

Victoria also recalled the scene, giving me a bitter, slightly fearful smile.

"If you had been as calm then as you are now, maybe we wouldn't have ended up this way."

As soon as she said that, Blake's face instantly went pale.

I remained silent, not responding, inwardly calculating how much time I had left.

Her eyes, complex, lingered on me, then she finally sighed.

"Blake's behavior just now was inappropriate. I apologize for him."

She took the card from Blake's hand, carefully wiped it clean, then handed it to me.

"Please take it. If you don't, I'll feel terrible."

Blake's eyes were red with anger, but he still pretended to be magnanimous.

My gaze was calm as I looked at Victoria, then I stepped back, creating distance between us.

"Since your husband is here, I won't bother you two anymore."

"I don't need this money."

Saying that, I pulled out a few bills from the money Victoria had just given me.

"I originally planned to be your guide for two hours. It's half an hour short, so I'm returning a quarter of the money."

I pressed the money into Victoria's hand and turned to leave.

"Alex!"

She yelled at me.

"Can't you just give in a little!"

"Three years ago, just because Blake went on stage before you to introduce himself, you beat him deaf and refused to apologize."

"And now, because of your pride, you're refusing my help."

"Don't you know you're only hurting yourself?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to build a career, to make something of yourself? Look at you now...Your mom's dying wish was to see you settled down with a family, have you forgotten?"

Seeing the shift in my expression, Seeing the shift in my expression, Victoria pressed on.

"Take this. Live a decent life. Find a wife, have a child. Consider it...my compensation."

Just as she was about to press the card into my hand, a little girl rushed into my arms.

"Daddy, why aren't you home yet? Mommy and I were so worried about you."

I broke into a wide smile, hugging my daughter and kissing her.

"I'll take you home right now."

Victoria's expression instantly froze, and her voice trembled.

"This...is this your daughter?"