Chapter 473
After a moment, he realized with a start that the scene felt eerily familiar.
The current rift between Theresa and Victor, her adamant refusal to stay by his side, all traced back to the Lockridges’ adopted son, Jason.
Years ago, Jason’s parents were both killed in a car accident. Old Mr. Lockridge’s car happened to be passing by, and the ten-year-old Jason had tearfully begged for their help, offering to become their son to repay their kindness.
Perhaps moved by the young but clever boy’s plight, or perhaps for other reasons, they had agreed.
After Jason’s parents died from their injuries, the Lockridges arranged for their burial and brought Jason home as their adopted son. He was tasked with accompanying Victor to school and helping him with his studies.
Back then, Victor, Theresa, and Evangeline were known in their circle as an inseparable trio.
Of course, Theresa was the heart of that trio.
In those days, Theresa only had eyes for Victor. She revolved around him, bringing him breakfast one day and hand-knit gloves the next.
Victor, though he’d feign indifference and call her actions silly, was clearly just as smitten. Everyone could see they were mutually in love.
“Our driver is stuck in traffic. I guess you’ll have to give me a ride today.”
“You did that poorly on your exam? Fine, I’ll come over tonight and help you study.”
“I have two extra tickets to a music festival. It’d be a waste to throw them away, so let’s go together…”
Victor savored Theresa’s affection and was always finding excuses to spend more time with her.
As Theresa’s best friend, Evangeline inevitably became the designated third wheel.
She once joked with Theresa, “When you two get married, I’m going to eat my weight in food at your wedding as compensation for my emotional suffering.”
But before the anticipated wedding could happen, their relationship, barely begun, was rocked by the most severe arguments.
For instance, if a boy at a party
spoke with Theresa for too long or shared a couple of drinks with her, Victor would find out and have the boy’s entire family run out of the country.
When another boy accidentally brushed against Theresa’s waist, Victor had his hand broken, leaving him permanently disabled.
At a shopping mall, a handsome waiter merely gave Theresa a flirtatious look, and Victor had someone scar the man’s face.
Theresa was furious. “Victor, what gives you the right to do that? They didn’t actually hurt me.”
Victor was just as angry. “You’re blaming me for them? But we’re a couple. Everything I do is for you.”
Theresa shot back, “Don’t you dare say it was for me! It was for your own pathetic, fragile ego and your possessiveness!”
“Victor, that isn’t love!”
Though Vietor still didn’t think he was wrong, he verbally agreed to stop because Theresa was angry. Secretly, however, he continued as he pleased, just making sure to hide his actions from her.
But secrets have a way of getting out. After Victor, in another fit of jealousy, broke another man’s leg, Theresa finally couldn’t take anymore and broke up with him.
Victor, caught up in his own anger, agreed on the spot.
It was precisely at this moment that Jason entered Theresa’s world.
Jason had a gentle temperament. Perhaps due to his background, he was kind to
everyone, and people easily let their guard down around him.
Victor, miserable, confided in him about the fight with Theresa.
“I just don’t get it,” he fumed. “How can she be so unreasonable?”