Observing this, the middle-aged woman shot him a disapproving look. Sighing helplessly, Victor stood up and walked over. Taking the bowl from her, he extended it toward Estelle, saying, “Eat something. You wouldn’t want to go hungry here, would you?”
Shaking her head, Estelle said, “I’m not hungry.”
“Okay,” Victor replied, then started eating the food in the bowl.
Seeing this, the middle-aged woman patted him on the back, signed something, and stamped her foot. She looked worried and helpless. Estelle, who didn’t understand sign language well, asked Victor in confusion, “What is she saying?”
Victor smiled while chewing his food and explained, “She’s scolding me. I told her that you’re my wife, and she went out of her way to catch a chicken and make chicken soup for you.”
Estelle thought, ‘This is supposed to be chicken soup? It doesn’t smell like chicken soup.’
“A wealthy lady like you might look down on chicken soup made by a poor village woman and not even want to taste it. But when I was young, such plain chicken soup was a rare treat, something I might only get once a year,” Victor shared.
Estelle hesitantly asked, “Is this woman related to you?”
“Adoptive mother,” Victor replied with a chuckle as he took another sip of the chicken soup. “She’s also the one who bought me. She paid fifty thousand dollars to human traffickers back then. York wouldn’t have sold me without people like her, and I would have lived a comfortable life like Cristofer without all the suffering.”
“You might think I’m ungrateful,” Victor continued, “She raised me as her own son, and here I am saying such things.”
Estelle didn’t know how to respond for a moment. After a brief silence, she asked, “So, you’ve brought me to your home?”
“Yes,” Victor confirmed, finishing the chicken soup. “This is a remote area. Even with Cristofer’s power, it’s difficult for him to find us here.”
Estelle frowned and said, “But bringing me here won’t change the fact that the police will eventually find us.”
“I’m aware of that. That’s why I need to execute my plan before they arrive,” Victor replied.
Estelle’s heart sank upon hearing this. She said, “The option I proposed at the hotel is the most advantageous for you…”
Victor chuckled and said, “Yes, having half of the Hans family’s assets would set me up for life. But that’s not what I want the most. You’ll have to stay here for a few days. Once I finish what I need to do, the police will come to take you away.”
Hearing his statement, Estelle asked, “Are you still planning to take revenge on the Hans family?”
“Of course,” Victor affirmed and slightly glanced at her. “You know, initially, I thought taking all his wealth would drive Cristofer mad and cause him great pain. But I was wrong. Money means nothing to him. What matters most to him is you. So the only way to deeply hurt him is to make him witness your suffering.” Victor turned to Estelle with a cold, chilling look in his eyes.
Estelle shuddered and instinctively pressed herself against the wall, hugging her arms tightly around her. She asked with fear in her voice, “What are you planning to do?”
Victor, wearing a faint smile, responded, “You were so composed and even negotiated with me back at the hotel. Why are you suddenly so scared now? You really are an intelligent and captivating woman. I finally understand why Cristofer loves you so deeply, willing to sacrifice everything for you.”
“You brought me here, and you didn’t stop your adoptive mother from making food for me. I don’t believe you intend to kill me,” Estelle snapped.
Victor’s expression turned mocking as he said, “I didn’t plan to kill you before. But while I was having that chicken soup just now, I had a change of heart. What if I cut off your hand or leg and sent it to Cristofer? Would he break down and lose his sanity? Hahaha! I’m eager to see his reaction.”
Estelle’s face turned pale when she heard this. ‘Victor, you’re crazy!
“Miss Hudson, it’s hard to predict which meal might be your last, so you should eat and drink what you can while you’re here. The food might not be to your liking, but it’ll keep you from starving,” Victor commented casually. He seemed preoccupied and left after his words.
Once he left, his adoptive mother, appearing somewhat frail, offered Estelle an apologetic smile. She gestured towards where Victor had gone and shook her head. Estelle understood that Victor’s adoptive mother was apologizing for Victor’s behavior and asking her not to hold it against him.
Since Victor hadn’t tied her up, Estelle had some freedom of movement. After resting for a while, she regained a bit of energy and slowly stood up with the support of the wall. She noticed that the house was even smaller than she had initially thought.
The bed and various everyday items cluttered most of the space. Seeing no signs of a woman living there, she assumed this small house was Victor’s exclusive space. Peering out the door, she spotted another small house opposite the one she was in.
‘It should be Victor’s adoptive parents’ house. Victor once mentioned that his adoptive mother was in poor health, his adoptive father was disabled and confined in bed, and he had to support the family since he was a child. Fifty thousand dollars was an astronomical amount of money for such a poor family. How did Victor’s adoptive parents manage to raise so much money to buy Victor back then? For his own interests, York sold Victor and destroyed his life. What a wicked man!’ Estelle thought.
Suddenly, Estelle felt a gentle tug on her sleeve. When she turned her head, she saw Victor’s adoptive mother.
With an expectant expression, Victor’s adoptive mother pointed towards the house opposite, indicating for Estelle to follow her. Estelle nodded and followed her outside.
The house across from Victor’s was roughly the same size. Estelle was hit by a strong medicinal smell as soon as she entered.
An old man lay in the bed at the far end of the house, coughing persistently. Upon seeing them, he quickly sat up and regarded them with a hint of pleasant surprise in his eyes. He talked with an accent, “You must be Victor’s wife, right?”
Before Estelle could respond, Victor’s adoptive mother happily nodded in agreement.
“There aren’t many young ladies willing to marry into our village. It’s a relief that Victor has finally found a wife,” Victor’s adoptive father remarked. “What’s your name?”