Chapter 6
Five years ago, Jackson Gray and Victoria Hawthorne met by chance in a charming French village.
At the time, Jackson was dealing with a major business failure and had been stripped of all his positions at his company.
The project had been a collaboration with Vanessa Monroe, who, fearing responsibility, not only failed to support Jackson but actually threw him under the bus, pushing all blame onto him.
Deeply disappointed, Jackson went to France alone to clear his mind.
There, he met the warm–hearted and kind Victoria Hawthorne.
It was love at first sight, and they quickly fell for each other.
Partly to get back at Vanessa, partly to rebel against his family, and partly due to the romantic atmosphere of their foreign setting, Jackson proposed to Victoria.
They held an intimate, low–key wedding in a French estate.
Cinderella had found her Prince Charming, and everything seemed perfect, like a fairy tale.
Until they returned to America. As soon as her feet touched home soil, Victoria realized her glass slipper would shatter at midnight.
All those promises made among roses collapsed silently in the harsh light of reality.
Jackson quickly grew tired of the ordinary Victoria Hawthorne.
She had no prestigious background, no outstanding education. She didn’t understand jewelry or know how to appreciate fine wine.
She was exactly as Vanessa described–just a pretty face with nothing to back it up, completely unworthy of being seen with him.
He began to feel annoyed.
Victoria’s very existence seemed to remind him of what a foolish mistake he’d made.
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Chapter 6
So he allowed Vanessa to torment her.
At a party, he watched as Riley “accidentally” bumped into Victoria, spilling red wine.
Riley had actually poured the wine on herself, but she screamed and grabbed Victoria, demanding she pay for her designer dress.
Victoria’s face flushed red as she looked to Jackson for help, completely lost.
Jackson turned away, pretending not to see.
Riley smiled triumphantly.
“This dress costs $1.7 million. You couldn’t afford to replace it if you sold everything you own!”
“Pay up now, or I’m calling the police.”
Vanessa played peacemaker.
“Come on, we’re all friends here. Let’s not make this uglier than it needs to be.”
“How about this, Victoria? Kneel down and apologize to Riley, and we’ll forget about this. Okay?”
Victoria stood motionless, head down, like a wooden statue.
Riley kicked her knees.
“What are you so proud of? You think your apology is worth that much? If it weren’t for Vanessa’s sake, who would even want your apology?”
Victoria fell to her knees.
Jackson coldly stood up and left.
With such a mismatch in status and wealth, the naive Victoria was completely out of her depth in this world of power and influence.
Reality wasn’t a fairy tale.
Cinderella only lived happily ever after with the prince because she was actually a count’s daughter.
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Chapter 6
But Victoria had nothing except her brave love.
Vanessa could humiliate her with the simplest schemes, leaving her unable to hold her head up.
Designer dresses stained with red wine, rare handbags scratched, expensive high heels broken.
So costly yet so fragile.
Just like Jackson’s affection.
Victoria couldn’t measure up.
Riley was still ranting.
“What kind of nobody would grab Jackson’s attention? Who is he pretending to miss? What’s he performing? Has he lost his mind?”
“That bitch is dead and gone. If she were alive, I’d slap her to death. She should know her place and understand her level.”
This was straight–up bullying.
I listened, growing angrier by the second, and straightened up in the stall.
The toilet automatically flushed with a loud “whoosh.”
The conversation stopped. Riley immediately rushed over and banged on the door.
“Who’s hiding in there? Eavesdropping on my conversation? Get out now!”
Oh crap.
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