Filed to story: Unmasking the Billionaire: Don’t Mess with the Ex (Victoria & Carter) Book PDF Free
“Hear that?” Landon’s laughter echoed through the speaker. “Not that I didn’t try to help! Blame yourselves for challenging the wrong man. Would’ve been easier to follow the rules, but no – you had to make trouble. Now you’re finished…”
Bruce hung up amid Landon’s laughter, his expression remaining calm as he walked away.
*****
In the hospital room.
Robert leaned against the bedside, his worried eyes fixed on her bandaged face.
With her face wrapped and hair down covering most features, Victoria looked quite pitiful.
“Mommy, does it hurt?” Robert’s voice was heavy with concern. “If this leaves a scar, I’ll make them pay.”
Victoria reached out to ruffle his hair, shrugging lightly. “Even if it scars, so what? I don’t rely on my looks, and I’ve already got you. What do I have to be scared of?”
Robert scrunched up his face into an immediate pout. “Mommy, how can you say that? Now that you’ve dumped that scum, you need to shine even brighter! From now on, I’ll handle making money and taking care of us. You just focus on being beautiful and living your best life. Let those two jerks – Carter and Isabella – eat their hearts out with jealousy!”
Victoria couldn’t help a soft laugh at her son’s passionate declaration. “Alright, alright, don’t worry! This is St. Mary’s Hospital – the doctors are the best. They said my face won’t scar and it’ll be completely healed in a week!”
Hearing that, Robert finally broke into a satisfied smile. “That’s more like it! My mommy’s a total knockout. You need to make a grand entrance and blind those losers with her beauty!”
“Yeah, let’s blind them together,” Victoria agreed, playing along with a straight face.
“Yep, blind them!” Robert chirped. Then he tilted his head, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “You know, Mommy, I just had a thought. You wouldn’t even need to try hard to make them jealous!”
Victoria leaned back against her pillow, took a sip of water, and humored him. “Oh? What’s this brilliant idea?”
Robert met her eyes, a sly little grin playing on his lips. “My mommy’s so pretty! If you just put in a tiny bit of effort, you could have any guy you want! Why not find someone tall, strong, super handsome, and loaded for a second marriage? That would finish Carter off on the spot!”
“Pfft…”
“Seriously! As long as the new guy is hotter and richer than Carter, that’s all that matters!” Robert muttered with utter conviction.
Victoria choked on her water, her breath catching at Robert’s outrageous suggestion. She sputtered into a coughing fit.
Snapping out of his scheming, Robert looked alarmed. “Mommy! Are you okay? I’ll get the doctor!”
“No… no, I’m fine.” Victoria managed between coughs, grabbing his arm before he could dart off. She caught her breath. “You just… surprised me, that’s all.”
Robert pouted slightly.
Once she recovered, Victoria held his hand and spoke gently but firmly. “Sweetie, watch your mouth next time. You’re making me sound like some pathetic divorcee.”
“Okay,” Robert mumbled, still looking a little put out. He was just trying to help.
“Ahem…”
Victoria was about to ask Robert about his schoolwork when a quiet cough came from the doorway. She looked up and saw a tall figure standing there.
Eugene. How long had he been there?
“Mr. Rosewood,” Victoria greeted him. Robert spun around at the sound. When he saw Eugene’s strikingly handsome face, the boy’s eyes lit up.
“Sorry to interrupt. I just came to return something.” Eugene walked in, holding a simple canvas bag.
Victoria recognized it immediately as her own.
She’d taken a small tote bag shopping but had completely forgotten about it after the accident.
“You left this in my car. Check if everything’s there.” Eugene set the bag down near Victoria, then casually pulled up a chair and sat by the bed.
Victoria peeked inside, spotted her phone, and then just tossed the bag onto the nightstand.
“Thank you, Mr. Rosewood.”
Eugene watched how she ignored everything else in the bag and gave a soft smile. “Ms. Lewis, I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
Victoria’s bag had only contained three things: her phone, her divorce papers, and a job application.
A little while earlier, a bodyguard had brought the bag to Eugene.
“Mr. Rosewood, we found Ms. Lewis’s bag. It was left in the car during the commotion.”
Normally, Eugene wouldn’t have bothered with its contents, but some items had spilled out, forcing the bodyguard to gather them up.
“Mr. Rosewood, Ms. Lewis’s job application is for Cosmos Group.”
That single sentence had caught Eugene’s attention.
Before putting everything back, Eugene had taken a moment to look over Victoria’s application.
Apart from her basic personal information, the “work experience” section was completely blank. Eugene’s brow had furrowed slightly as he read it. Just then, a design sketch had slipped from among the papers.
When he saw it, his gaze sharpened. He’d bent down and picked it up himself, studying it carefully.
It was a dress design. Cosmos Group’s design division was always hunting for talented designers, and the composition and lines of this sketch revealed serious skill.
But Victoria’s “work experience” section was blank!
Somehow, this didn’t surprise him. It fit the pattern – Victoria was full of quiet surprises.
A faint smile had touched his lips as he carefully reassembled the papers and handed them back to the bodyguard to be returned to her bag.
“Mr. Rosewood, I’ll deliver this to Ms. Lewis,” the bodyguard said, turning to leave.
“Wait.”
The bodyguard froze mid-step.
Eugene stood and took the bag directly from the bodyguard’s hands. “I’ll handle this myself.” With that, he strode out of the room.
The bodyguard stood there, completely baffled. What’s with Mr. Rosewood today? This is such a simple task. Does he really need to do it personally?
From her hospital bed, Victoria glanced at Eugene sitting nearby, then at Robert keeping her company. Ever since Eugene entered the room, Robert’s curious eyes hadn’t left him.
“Mr. Rosewood, this is my son, Robert,” Victoria offered as a quick introduction.
Eugene looked at the boy and smiled warmly. “Hello, I’m Eugene.”
Robert stared back, muttering the name under his breath, then clicked his tongue. “Your name sounds way cooler than Carter’s.”
Victoria raised an eyebrow. This kid was starting something again.
Robert stretched out his small hand toward Eugene. “Hi, I’m Robert Lewis.”
Hearing the name, both Victoria and Eugene paused for a second.
