The Heir

chapter 15

Victoria was a bit surprised that he sounded giddy at that moment. She had never heard him spoke that way whenever they were in the Griffith mansion or whenever they were with them. Perhaps the happiness has not faded away.

“Yes, they are all inside the study room, waiting for your arrival.” The maid took her leave after informing her.

Victoria sauntered to the study room with her husband. But just when she was about to open the door, she heard a commotion from the inside that made her stop from opening the door.

“Do we really need to bet about this? For sure, dear cousin Victoria didn’t make it,” said Iris, following it by a laugh.

“Of course, Victoria was a failure. Just like what I expected her to be. I can only imagine the humiliation she put us through by presenting her proposal in front of the LS Group higher-ups. When she sent us a message that the presentation was done, I could not help but raise a brow. I was like… No, not that fast!” Franklin sneered. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you that she will only bring disgrace and disappointment to this family,” his cousin said.

“Mother, I think you made the wrong choice this time.” Her uncle, Franklin’s father, scoffed. “How can you send someone so irresponsible to represent the Griffith Group when we have Franklin here, who knows the business very well?”

Victoria heard the voices of other family members agreeing to what her cousin and uncle said about her. Suddenly, it was hard for her to breathe.

Seriously? Just because she was done with her job at the LS Group earlier than expected, they judged her too quickly? Why were they so sure that she failed when they have not heard what happened back there? Everything she heard from them hurt her so much.

She withdrew her hand.

“Victoria.” Maximillian hugged her from behind.

Her husband heard everything, and that hurts her even more.

“It seems to me that no matter what I do, I cannot please everyone in the family—” Her voice trailed off.

“You did a great job, Victoria. You always do. It’s just that they didn’t know because they always choose to ignore all your efforts,” her husband muttered and kissed the top of her head. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She turned to face Maximillian and buried her face on his sturdy chest. For a moment, she let herself cry, poured her heart out. And when he wrapped his arms around her, Victoria cried even harder, without a sound.

“Hush…” he said as he caressed her head and back. “You shouldn’t be crying over their snide remarks about you.”

“I know… but—”

“You have the sweet triumph in your hands now, Victoria. Pull yourself together and slam it to their faces.”

She distanced herself a bit and looked at him. “What would I do without you, Max?”

“That is why I am here. Don’t you think?”

Victoria wiped her tears with the back of her hand and smiled at him.

“I will just go to the powder room to fix myself.”

“Sure. I don’t want you to scare everyone with your mascara dripping on your cheeks.” He laughed.

Maximillian made her laugh at that.

“I will be back in a jiffy.”

WHEN his wife went to the powder room to touch up, Maximillian opened the door to the study room.

“Hello, everyone,” he greeted them with a high-pitch tone that made everyone’s brows furrowed and eyes narrowed.

“How long have you been there?” asked old Mrs. Griffith.

“Oh.” He pocketed his hands. “Well, not that long.”

“Oh, well… he must be eavesdropping.” Iris sneered.

“Where is Victoria?” Franklin’s father asked.

“She went to the powder room.” Maximillian tilted his head to the side. “Don’t worry. She will be here any minute now.”

“Perhaps your wife is trying to hide her puffy eyes.” Franklin smiled arrogantly, just as he expected from him. “`Bet she cried a river when she didn’t get to sign a deal with the LS Group.”

“Why are you always certain that she will fail?” Maximillian’s lip twitched. “As if you can foresee what will happen next. Are you a seer? A fortune-teller?”

Franklin’s jaw clenched.

“I don’t need a special power to know that. It’s all about critical thinking, which I think you—”

“Critical thinking, my foot. All you do is to judge.”

“You! Son of a—”

Franklin was not able to finish his sentence when the door opened, and Victoria went inside the study room. She was walking towards them confidently with her head held up high. Seeing his wife like that made him a proud husband.

Maximillian whistled as he stepped to the side to give way to Victoria.

“I guess everyone’s dying to hear the news.” Victoria put her attaché case above the table.

No one dared to speak as she opened the zipper. And when she pulled out a folder, each and everyone who saw it caught a breath.

“This folder…” Victoria held the folder up high with a smile on her face. “Contains the signed contract of the cooperation between the Griffith Group and the LS Group for that billion-dollar estate project.”

And just like what he told her earlier, his wife slammed the folder on the table.