The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of the city beyond the balcony doors. Oscar's grip on her shoulders was steady, but his heart thundered in his chest as though he could will his sister's pain away by sheer force.
"Vic," he said softly this time, dropping the roughness from his voice. His eyes searched her face, finding the remnants of tears clinging stubbornly to her lashes. "Talk to me. Don't shut me out."
Victoria pressed her lips together, fighting the storm inside her. She wanted to say she was fine, that it didn't matter, that she was stronger than this. But the words caught in her throat, strangled by the ache in her chest.
Her gaze flicked to the shattered glass on the floor — her fruit punch glass, now in pieces. Just like me, she thought bitterly. No matter how many times she tried to piece herself together, something — a memory, a betrayal, a smiling face on a screen — always shattered her resolve.
"I saw their announcement," she whispered finally, her voice cracking like fragile porcelain. "Daniel and Mabel. The date's set."
Owen's jaw clenched, his expression darkening instantly. Rage flickered in his eyes, hot and protective. He drew in a sharp breath, fighting the urge to curse out loud.
"Those bastards," he muttered under his breath, his fists curling. "How dare they parade their filth in front of you like this."
Victoria shook her head, forcing another breath past the lump in her throat. "No more tears," she said firmly, more to herself than to him. "Tonight was the last time I'll ever cry for Daniel."
Owen studied her, a flicker of pride cutting through his anger. She sounded convincing, but he knew her too well — the wound was deeper than she let on. And if she couldn't take revenge for herself… then maybe big brother would.
As he pulled her into a protective embrace, a dangerous thought settled into his mind like a seed waiting to sprout.
No one hurt his sister and walked away unscathed.
Later that evening, Victoria didn't step out of her bedroom. Not even when her mum personally came to call her for dinner—she didn't budge. The smell of food drifted faintly into her room, but for the first time in her life, food irritated her. She never thought she'd be the type to get angry at food, yet somehow, she had lost every bit of appetite she once had.
Her phone suddenly rang, vibrating against the wooden nightstand. It was Ann on the line. Victoria sighed and swiped the answer button.
"Hey, babes. Hope you're good. I saw the news," Ann said, her tone laced with disgust.
"Yeah… I'm okay," Victoria replied quietly, though even she knew her voice betrayed her.
"You don't sound fine. Don't tell me you've been crying over that scum."
"I… I don't know, I just..." Victoria's voice cracked, her throat tightening.
"Oh, Vic." Ann's tone softened, almost pleading. "I understand, but please don't. He's not worth it, okay? I so, so wish I was there with you right now." There was a pause on the line, filled only with Victoria's shaky breathing.
"I understand. I'm fine," Victoria muttered, though she didn't believe her own words.
"Hmph. I'll come see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay."
"Thanks," Victoria whispered as the call disconnected, leaving her alone with the silence of her room and the heaviness in her chest.
The next day, Victoria finally stepped out of her bedroom looking calm, collected—almost unreadable. She wore a fitted black suit over gray pants that gave her a simple yet elegant charm. There was something complicated about her aura; her silence was intimidating, yet her calmness had a soothing pull that no one in the house could ignore.
She approached the dining table with quiet poise.
"Morning, Mum. Morning, Dad," she greeted, dropping her bag neatly on the table before sitting close to Owen.
Her parents replied in unison, careful not to stir up the memories of yesterday. The atmosphere was tense, but Owen, ever observant, caught it and decided to lighten the mood.
"You look really stunning, milady."
Victoria laughed softly, the sound easing some of the heaviness in the air. "Thanks, bro."
"Yeah, you're welcome. I love it when you smile, so always do that, okay?"
"Yeah, I will."
"I guess you're heading to the company after breakfast," he said, sliding an omelet onto her plate with some fresh fruit.
"Thanks." She picked up a warm glass of milk, letting it soothe her empty stomach since she hadn't eaten the night before. "Yes, remember that deal I made with the Sterling Group?"
"Yeah," Owen replied between bites.
"We're making it official today."
"My princess has grown so fast," her father said proudly, his eyes shining.
"Yes, she has," her mother added warmly.
Victoria's chest swelled with pride at their words.
"I'll accompany you then," Owen said, downing his juice in one gulp. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he stood up. "I'll be outside. Meet me when you're done eating."
"Sure," she replied, turning her attention back to her food.
---
Ten minutes later, Victoria slid into the passenger seat. "The weather sure is nice," she murmured as she buckled her seatbelt.
"Yeah," Owen said, fastening his own.
"So, aside from the deal, what else do you have planned today?"
"Nothing much. Just some documents that need to be attended to. Then the signing of the collaboration for the new orphanage home. The Winstons are ready—we just need to review, make adjustments if necessary, then sign, and the construction kicks off immediately."
Owen watched her as she spoke fluently, his lips twitching into a smile. "I feel useless at this rate," he joked.
"Don't say that." She chuckled. "Besides, if you don't sign, the deals won't be properly approved. I'm a CO-CEO, not the CEO… so." She let her words hang.
"Yeah, that's one hundred percent true."
The drive to the company was quick, smooth. Soon, the car came to a slow halt as Victoria stepped down gracefully, but as soon as her heels touched the ground, she took her first step she froze.
Dennis.
Her eyes widened slightly, and she quickly cleared her throat to mask her surprise. "Dennis," she said in a low voice. "I… I didn't expect to see you this early."
Before Dennis could reply, Owen appeared behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder in a way that almost screamed possessive. His tone was casual but carried a protective edge. "And who might this be?"
Victoria giggled nervously. "Come off it, wens He's a friend. No need to be so protective."
"I don't care. He's a he… and a he is not what you need right now."
Dennis, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a polite smile. "I'm Dennis. Nice to meet you." He extended his hand.
Owen's eyes flicked to the outstretched hand, his jaw tightening. For a moment, he looked ready to ignore it, but Victoria nudged him discreetly.
"I'm Owen," he said curtly, shaking Dennis's hand without enthusiasm. "Not very pleased to meet you."
Dennis chuckled lightly. "I understand. I figured you're her elder brother."
"Still doesn't change the fact that I'm not pleased to meet you."
Sensing things spiraling, Victoria stepped in quickly, her voice firm but calm. "Okay… Dennis, this is my brother Owen. And Owen, this is Dennis, my…" She hesitated, searching for the right words as her heart skipped a beat.
"Her soon-to-be fiancé." Dennis said.