Just when Mia thought Victor had changed, she learned a dangerous truth—
Victor didn't change.
He only had moods.
The day Victor lost a contract, the house felt it before anyone spoke. He had never lost a contract before. Never. And the loss ignited something violent inside him.
He returned home in silence.
No greetings.
No orders.
He rushed upstairs, ripped off his tie, and smashed the mirror in his bedroom. The sound echoed through the mansion.
Mia ran toward the noise, fear twisting in her chest.
"Victor?" she asked softly. "Is everything okay?"
Before she could react, he grabbed her.
His grip was brutal. His eyes were red, burning with rage.
"This is your fault!" he shouted. "Because of you, I lost the contract!"
Mia trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks as his hands tightened around her arms.
The moment a tear rolled down her face, reality struck him.
He was hurting her.
Victor released her abruptly. Mia collapsed to the floor, her palms cutting against the shattered glass from the broken mirror. Blood stained the marble floor.
For the first time, Victor looked horrified.
He reached out to help her, but Mia shrank away in fear.
"No," she whispered.
She stood up on her own, hands bleeding, body aching. She went downstairs where the chief maid rushed to her side, washing the blood from her wounds and treating her injuries.
The pain was unbearable. Her arms throbbed where Victor had held her.
The entire house was stunned.
Mr. Hale didn't hit women.
This—this was new.
That night, Mia bathed and went to bed without saying a word.
The next morning, Victor couldn't bring himself to apologize.
Instead, he called his personal doctor.
The doctor examined Mia and confirmed she would heal in a few days. He left ointment for the bruises on her arms. Victor handed it to the chief maid.
Mia said nothing. She only stared at Victor—and cried silently.
He couldn't stand it. He left the room.
How can he be this wicked? Mia thought later. I was brought here without consent. Why do I deserve this pain?
The chief maid tried to console her.
"This is the first time we've ever seen him like this, Mrs. Hale. He must truly regret it."
Mia didn't respond.
Three days later, her wounds were healing, but something inside her had hardened. Victor avoided her completely. She ate alone in her room.
One evening, Victor came home and found Mia sitting in the living room. Their eyes met.
Mia stood up immediately and went upstairs.
Victor took a step after her—then stopped.
That night, after his bath, he finally gathered the courage to speak to her.
Mia had forgotten to lock her door.
Victor entered and heard the sound of running water. When Mia stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, his gaze lingered—but he said nothing.
She dressed silently.
Victor asked her to sit. She did.
He handed her a bag—a gift. A phone and a dress. It was his apology, the only way he knew how to.
Mia opened it after he left.
The next morning, she went to Victor's room and returned the gift.
"So after everything you did to me," she said calmly, "instead of saying sorry, you bought me things?"
She placed the box on the table.
"I never said I was running out of clothes. I don't need this."
She paused."I appreciate the thought. But I don't want it."Victor was stunned.
Again.
He watched her walk away.Later, he placed the gift inside his wardrobe—not to discard it,but to give it back to her one day.