Chapter 235: Breakdown and Breakaway
Morty’s mockery struck a nerve with Victoria. The financial backbone of her company had snapped; her family maintained only a facade of affluence, secretly robbing Peter to pay Paul. If she couldn’t secure Easton, climb the social ladder as Easton’s wife, and use his resources to fill the gaps in her company and household finances, her disappearance from high society was imminent.
Having lived a life of luxury for over two decades, Victoria couldn’t stomach a fall from grace, from the upper echelons of the social pyramid to scrambling for daily meals like an average person, hustling non-stop just to make ends meet. It was Ellis who had thrown her and her family’s plans into disarray, blocking their path back to former glory.
Victoria glared at Ellis like a madwoman. “Ellis, it’s all because of you! You’ve ruined me; don’t think you’ll have an easy time. Morty can protect you temporarily, but not forever. Once he tires of you, you’ll meet a grisly end!”
Morty’s promise of protection didn’t evoke much feeling in Ellis. But when Victoria mentioned Morty protecting her, it felt oddly significant—significantly because Morty had no obligation to protect her. Moreover, the more Ellis listened to Victoria and Morty’s exchange, the stranger it seemed. She was pretty sure she hadn’t misunderstood Victoria’s implication.
Was Victoria insinuating that Morty and I were involved in a scandalous relationship? A romantic one? Was Victoria delusional? Making up rumors! We were absolutely innocent!
Ellis rolled her eyes in disbelief and retorted, “You’re the one being played out, sicko.” She wanted to accuse Victoria of being played by Easton, but she wasn’t as low as Victoria. An important point was that mentioning Easton, arguing about him, would look like they were desperately fighting over a worthless man, making both look desperate and even more pathetic.
“Not tired of Morty, you think you could ever be part of the Unity family?” Victoria let out a derisive laugh. “The Unity family would never allow Morty to bring someone like you in; you’re just doomed to be played by men.”
Ellis, as if she hadn’t heard, looked away. “I’m leaving; you can stay here.” That was directed at Morty. With that, she turned and walked out, away from this madhouse. It wasn’t that she couldn’t out-argue Victoria; it was that trading insults was pointless and a waste of her breath. Besides, while Victoria might be willing to degrade herself, Ellis certainly wasn’t.
Morty called out from behind her, “Wait for me downstairs for a few minutes; I’ll be right down.” Ellis didn’t respond, contemplating whether to wait for Morty. As Ellis’s figure disappeared, Morty released Victoria.
What should have been a triumphant day for her had also become a day of her own disgrace. Victoria thought to return the slap to Morty right there, but as she raised her hand, Morty stopped her again. “I’ll tell Easton you got involved with his ex-wife, embarrassing him. Just wait and see what happens!”
Victoria was so infuriated she wanted to get back at Morty, needing to use Easton’s influence to do so. Easton would surely care about his reputation if his ex and his close friend got together.
“Oh, who said Easton and I are close friends?” Morty’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “You’re mistaken; we’re not buddies.” I have once considered Easton a friend, but had Easton ever really regarded me as one?
Furthermore, since Easton had married the woman he loved but hadn’t treated her well, leading her into danger and nearly getting her killed, Morty couldn’t see him as a friend anymore. If Easton was married to Ellis, why wasn’t he treating her right? Was his beloved supposed to endure Easton’s neglect and cruelty?
Unable to stand her current reality, Victoria screamed again, her shrill cries echoing through the room. “Stop yelling!” Morty had no desire to see Victoria lose it. “Slapping you today is just the start, not the end. If you don’t want to vanish from high society soon, you’d better start thinking of a solution.”
If Victoria had faced Ellis herself, maybe he would have been lenient, given their past. Because both women were of similar strength, a fair fight would have meant less harm to Ellis. But his investigators had detailed that it wasn’t just a simple beating Victoria arranged against Ellis; one of the men had brought a knife, aiming to disfigure Ellis. Ellis had made mistakes, sure, but Victoria had already hit her once. The second time, not dirtying her own hands and resorting to such vicious tactics, left Morty no choice but to intervene harshly.
As Victoria crumbled under the pressure, not able to handle being targeted, “Easton’s after me, and now you all…” She had never been so humiliated before returning to her country. Thinking of Ellis waiting downstairs, Morty didn’t linger with Victoria. The reason he had brought Ellis here was to let her vent her frustrations in person. Having done that, it was naturally time to leave.