Chapter 439

No.1

“Help!” Richard shouted desperately. “Fire! Somebody help!”

He suddenly remembered an critical contract hidden in the shelves. Three months of relentless negotiations would be destroyed. He had to save it.

Richard charged through the flames toward the shelf. His sleeve caught fire. The heat seared his skin.

“Aargh!”

He cried out in agony and stumbled back. Frantically, he beat at his burning clothing.

The contract was moments from being incinerated. It would be lost forever.

Suddenly, a slender figure burst into the room.

“Father, get out!” Someone shoved him forcefully into the hallway. The figure dashed past him into the inferno.

It was Victoria!

Victoria actually ran into the burning study!

No.2

“Victoria! Come back! Get out!” Richard yelled while extinguishing his sleeve.

She ignored his shouts completely.

Flames engulfed the entire room. Bookshelves groaned and collapsed around her. Burning volumes crashed at her feet.

She pushed forward relentlessly. Her target was the deepest shelf.

Victoria snatched the contract from its hiding place. She also grabbed the laptop from the desk.

A massive bookshelf cracked loudly overhead. It plummeted directly toward her.

“Victoria!” Richard screamed. He tried rushing back inside.

But it was too late. The heavy shelf slammed down onto Victoria with crushing force.

“Argh!”

She was pinned beneath the burning wreckage.

No.3

Maids finally arrived with fire extinguishers. They battled the blaze furiously. Several minutes passed before the last ember died.

Richard and the staff heaved the shelf off her. Victoria’s clothes were charred. Soot blackened her face. Deep cuts marred her arms.

Yet she lay protectively cradling the contract and laptop. Despite her severe injuries, the documents were completely unharmed.

Richard’s eyes stung with emotion. “Victoria! Why… why would you be so reckless?!”

“My Victoria! Oh, my poor girl!” Eleanor Kensington helped lift Victoria from the debris. She carried her out carefully.

Victoria moaned painfully as consciousness flickered. She lay limp in Eleanor’s arms, dazed and confused. Her voice emerged as a strained whisper. “The contract… Father’s contract…”

Though barely audible, her sole concern was the document.

Eleanor’s heart clenched at the raw worry in her voice. “The contract is safe. You saved it,” she soothed. “Don’t speak now… The doctor is coming.” Victoria relaxed hearing this. Her eyes fluttered shut as darkness took her.

"Victoria...? Victoria?! Doctor! Someone get a doctor!" Eleanor screamed in pure panic.

Medical staff rushed into the room immediately. After a thorough examination, the lead physician announced, "She's extremely fortunate to have received immediate medical attention. Any delay could have resulted in severe burns. She has a minor spinal fracture, but considering the circumstances, it could have been fatal. Her survival is nothing short of miraculous."

No.4

Richard and Eleanor both collapsed into nearby chairs, overwhelmed with relief.

Just then, Benjamin's excited call came through. "Father! I'm going to Westhaven! Takashi Yamamoto himself agreed to train me! He said he'll make me the next gaming champion! I'll leave right after my sister's wedding ceremony. I'll return as a champion and make our family proud!"

Richard's expression darkened instantly. Westhaven? Now of all times?

While he was drowning in corporate responsibilities and family affairs, his son wanted to chase gaming dreams in Westhaven?

"Are you deliberately trying to provoke me?" Richard's voice turned icy. "Do you have any awareness of our current situation? Your sister is holding our company together while you, a grown man, waste your life on games! What could possibly be going through that empty head of yours?"

"What's wrong with pursuing gaming? It's a legitimate career path! Do you think traditional business is the only way to succeed? I'll bring honor to the Kensington name! You'll all regret underestimating me!" Benjamin ended the call abruptly.

The dial tone echoed in the silent room. Richard's face contorted with fury. "Useless! Absolutely worthless!" he roared. "What did I do to deserve such a failure of a son?"

"Unbelievable!" Eleanor seethed, her anger palpable. "He keeps sinking lower every day! Not only is he addicted to those ridiculous games, but now he's abandoning us for Westhaven? We never should have had him! He's nothing like Victoria—not even comparable!"

She paused, watching Victoria's unconscious form on the hospital bed. "Richard, we can't rely on Benjamin anymore, and Isabella isn't our biological daughter. We should transfer our shares to Victoria. She promised to continue managing the company even after marrying Alexander, and we know she's capable. If we transfer the shares now, they'll be considered pre-marriage assets, so they'll remain solely hers rather than becoming marital property."

After a long silence, Richard glanced at the fire-damaged document that had miraculously survived intact. "Very well," he agreed finally.

No.5

Victoria lay perfectly still, internally celebrating her triumphant success.

At long last... She had done it!

Meanwhile...

Isabella sat in the luxury vehicle with Nathaniel and Oliver heading toward Southern Cemetery. Both father and son had insisted on accompanying her despite her initial objections, leaving her no choice but to accept their presence.

As they neared the cemetery grounds, Isabella received a text from Maxwell: [Ms. Montgomery, numerous reporters have surrounded Southern Cemetery. They're positioned to capture photos of you and Mr. Blackwood together.]

Isabella's brow furrowed. Had this been a setup all along?

Was someone deliberately trying to photograph her and Nathaniel together?

Was Vivienne behind this again?

Her eyes narrowed dangerously as she turned to Nathaniel. "Stay in the car with the curtains drawn. I'll go alone."

Nathaniel saw the message on her phone screen. "We're already here, and she was important to you. It's only proper that we pay our respects together."

No.6

"Yes! I want to meet Mommy's aunt! I brought flowers for her!" Oliver added enthusiastically, clutching a bouquet.

Isabella hesitated. "But the reporters... I'm not ready to publicize our relationship yet."

"Don't worry," Nathaniel assured her with his characteristically firm tone as the car came to a stop. "I'll handle this."

He opened the door and stepped out before she could stop him.

Isabella's heart raced. What was he planning? With so many reporters watching, was Nathaniel about to officially reveal their relationship to the world?

Isabella's mind raced with chaotic thoughts.

Nathaniel had already circled the car to her side.

He opened the passenger door for her.

She remained frozen in her seat, studying him cautiously.

"Nathaniel," she said, her voice laced with warning. "You know I'm not ready for them to find out yet."

No.7

His gaze remained steady and unyielding.

"Trust me," he insisted, his tone firm yet reassuring.

Hesitation flickered across her features before she finally relented.

She stepped out of the vehicle, deciding to take the leap of faith.