Chapter 13

Victoria Montgomery sat by the hospital bed, her fingertips lightly brushing her mother's pale face. Since the wedding fiasco, Mrs. Montgomery's condition had taken a sharp turn for the worse, and she had only just been moved out of the ICU today.

Three soft knocks sounded at the door.

Her assistant entered, holding a file.

"Did you find him?" Victoria rubbed her temples.

"Mr. Sinclair is in France," the assistant said, handing her the documents. "He's now the head designer at Santa."

Victoria stared at the familiar name on the file, her fingers trembling slightly. "Book a flight. As soon as possible."

The moment she stepped out of the hospital building, a dark figure lunged at her. Lucas Whitmore clung to her desperately, still wearing the same wrinkled suit from the wedding day.

"Victoria..." His voice was hoarse. "Why won't you answer my calls?"

She shoved him away, her gaze icy. "My mother is lying in a hospital bed. Do you really think I have the patience for you right now?"

"I'm your husband!" Lucas suddenly raised his voice, gripping her wrist. "We're legally married!"

"Married?" Victoria sneered. "A certificate obtained through deceit doesn't count as a marriage."

Lucas's expression darkened. "You're bringing up Ethan again? Didn't you say you hated him the most?"

"My life is none of your business." She wrenched her hand free.

"None of my business?" Lucas suddenly laughed, the sound twisted. "If you hadn't allowed it, how could I have driven him away? The hospital blood bank clearly—"

"Shut up!" Victoria seized his throat.

Lucas's face turned red, but he kept laughing. "You're worse than me... You were the one who—"

"Victoria!"

A shocked cry came from behind. She turned to see her mother standing on the steps, her face deathly pale. The next second, Mrs. Montgomery stumbled and fell down the staircase.