Chapter 10

Leon was utterly stunned. He was pretty sure Victoria had done that on purpose. "How could you treat something Leon gave you like that?" Eva quickly picked up the card and held it as if it were a treasure. "No matter what, this is…" Before she could finish, Victoria grabbed her suitcase and got into the car. Instead of going home, she headed straight for Susie's place. She hadn't found a new apartment, and keeping her belongings at Susie's place was the safest option for now. Seeing how haggard Victoria looked in just half a day, Susie's heart ached for her. "Did Leon mess with you again?" Victoria nodded. "What a jerk! He's the worst!" Susie cursed. "When I returned to pack my things at noon, he insisted on checking my suitcase right in front of Eva and accused me of stealing from him." Victoria calmly recalled what happened, though her heart felt hollow. "And when I called him in the afternoon, I heard Eva in the background telling him she'd just finished her shower." "What a lunatic!" Susie was furious. Listening to the way Susie stood up for her, Victoria pressed her lips together. After a moment, she looked at Susie and said, "Susie." "Hmm?" "Could you hug me?" The pain finally swept through Victoria's heart after all the numbness. Susie wrapped her arms around her tightly to give her the warmest and safest hug. VIctoria had wanted to hold on a little longer, but for some reason, her nose tingled as she thought about everything that had happened in the past few days. She couldn't stop her uncontrollable tears as her shoulders trembled with her sobs. The pain clenched her heart so much that it ached. "If you want to cry, just do it. Don't hold it in. "After you cry it out, it'll be a fresh start. And from now on, you're mine, and I'll take care of you." Susie patted her back gently and offered her warmth. Victoria cried even harder, while Susie continued holding her. It took ten minutes before Victoria's sobbing gradually subsided. Susie wiped her tears away and gently smoothed her slightly messy hair. "You have me, understood?" "Got it," Victoria muttered in a hoarse voice. "If you're set on moving out, just bring Edwin here. My place is close to his school, and if you stay here, I'll help take care of him so it won't be as hard on you," Susie said. She didn't want to see Victoria tire herself out for money. Victoria was about to refuse, but before she could speak, Susie glared at her. "Don't think about rejecting me! If you do, it means you don't see me as a friend." "Fine." Victoria agreed for now, but deep down, she was determined to find a place of her own. "What about Edwin's custody? Does Leon really not care?" Susie asked as her sensitive instincts kicked in. She'd been around wealthy circles long enough to know how things usually worked. In most high-profile divorces, the father usually took custody if the child was young. More often than not, a mother would lose custody even if she fought a legal battle. It was the first time she'd seen a case like Leon's. He didn't seem to care at all. Victoria shook her head. "No, he doesn't." Suesie frowned and was slightly deep in thought. "What about his parents?" "I don't know if he's told them." Victoria hadn't interacted with Leon's parents much. "Keep an eye out. His parents aren't the type to sit back and let things happen. If they find out Edwin is staying with you, they won't just let it slide," Susie warned. She knew the two well enough to understand how they'd react. Victoria nodded. "Okay." "If things get out of hand, call me. I'll curse them out for you!" If there was one thing Susie was good at, it was putting people in their place. Victoria nodded to all her reminders, but she hadn't expected them to come so soon. As soon as she left Susie's place and returned home, she saw Leon's parents sitting in the living room waiting for her.