The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Almost overnight, the news that the Powell family was about to form a marriage alliance with the Aniston Group spread like wildfire across the internet.
Business forums, gossip bloggers, and even financial news outlets were all buzzing, debating whether the rumor was actually true.
Verified leaks confirmed that the two families had been in behind-the-scenes talks for months. The engagement party for the Aniston family heiress, Regina, was set for mid-next month, with Victor as the fiance.
Eliza's fingers trembled slightly as she scrolled through her phone.
After exhausting every scheme to return to Victor's side and finally managing to drive Serena away, Eliza thought she was finally going to marry Victor and become Victor's wife.
But this sudden marriage alliance storm struck her like a bolt from the blue.
Eliza shot to her feet, her chair scraping harshly across the floor.
Without a care for the stares around her, she grabbed her purse from the table and staggered toward the exit.
She rushed straight to the dark wooden door of Victor's office. But the secretary suddenly stepped out and blocked Eliza at the doorway.
The secretary politely stopped Eliza and said, "Ms. Stone, I'm afraid you can't go in right now. Mr. Powell is in a meeting."
Eliza clenched her teeth, swallowing her fury before forcing her signature gentle smile back onto her face. "Please inform him that I have something extremely urgent to discuss."
The secretary glanced at Eliza hesitantly. She was well aware of the special relationship between Eliza and Victor, so she dared not offend her lightly.
After a moment's hesitation, the secretary lightly knocked on the office door.
Only after receiving Victor's permission did she cautiously push open the door, walk to his desk, and lean over to whisper a few words in his ear.
In under three minutes, Victor emerged. "Ellie, what's wrong? What happened that's got you so worked up?"
"Vic, are those online rumors true?" Eliza pulled out her phone, opened the trending news article, and thrust the screen under his nose.
Victor glanced at it, his voice dropping noticeably lower. "Don't believe all that nonsense. It's completely fabricated."
"But everyone's spreading such vivid rumors, Vic. I'd never forgive myself if I became the reason you missed this marriage alliance," she said.
"But—" Her words caught in her throat as she looked up at Victor, her glistening, pleading eyes fixed on him.
Victor couldn't stand seeing Eliza like this. The moment she gave him that teary-eyed, vulnerable look, half of his rationality crumbled away.
He sighed, gently drawing her into his embrace, his tone unconsciously softening. "I've no idea where this rumor started, but it's completely fabricated.
"I don't like Regina at all, let alone talk of any marriage alliance. Don't worry, and stop overthinking it."
"Vic, this is all my fault. I never should have come back. If I hadn't returned, you wouldn't—" Eliza sobbed, her heart heavy with guilt.
Her words trailed off as she gently pushed Victor away and lowered her head. "Vic, if your marriage alliance with the Aniston family falls through because of me, it's all my fault.
"I was too willful. I never should have dared to hope for something I could never have."
Victor's heart ached for her. He tightened his embrace, gently cupped her face in his hands, and gazed at her intently. "Silly, don't talk nonsense. You're the only one in my heart, and that's never changed."
He gave Eliza a gentle, reassuring pat on the back. "I still have some paperwork to finish. Why don't you head back for now? Try not to pay attention to those unreliable rumors anymore."
Tears welling in her eyes, Eliza forced a smile and whispered, "Alright, I believe you."
Night fell, city lights flickered on.
In the study, the warm yellow light spilled over the mahogany desk, illuminating the mountain of paperwork piled upon it.
Victor took off his jacket, loosened his tie, and sank into the chair at his desk, rubbing his tired brow. Just as he picked up the fountain pen to sign the documents, his phone suddenly lit up.
His eyes caught sight of his father's caller ID. His hand paused mid-air, then he placed the pen back in its holder.
He glided across the phone screen, answering the call. "Hey Dad, it's late. What's up?"
"Victor, you've heard the rumors these past two days, haven't you? Since the news is already out, let's just go with it and set a date to finalize your engagement with Regina," Albert said.
At that moment, Eliza cradled a steaming cup of milk, tiptoeing toward the study door as the plush carpet swallowed her footsteps.
As her fingertips brushed against the door, just as she was about to knock, voices drifted out from the study, making her pause.
"Dad, I've made it clear. I will never marry Regina," said Victor.
Eliza froze as if turned to stone, her hand trembling slightly around the glass of milk.
Her eyes were fixed on the crack of the closed study door. For a split second, her pupils dilated, then she bit her lip hard, listening intently to the voices inside.
"You know, the Aniston family is currently expanding their business empire. Our marriage alliance is a win-win for both sides," Albert explained.
"I don't like Regina, and I don't want to use marriage to secure any business interests," Victor retorted.
"You don't like her? Do you really think this is the time for whimsical romance? There's no alternative to a family alliance. You will marry her," Albert demanded.
At the mention of a family marriage alliance, Eliza instinctively drew back slightly, her foot shifting just a little.
Lost in her anxiety, she unwittingly brushed her foot against the corner of the wall, the faint sound echoing in the quiet hallway. The phone conversation in the study abruptly stopped.
Eliza jumped in fright, instantly holding her breath as she pressed herself flat against the wall, her fingers gripping the rim of her glass so tightly her knuckles turned pale.
A moment later, Victor's voice came from the study again, slightly subdued. "Dad, can we talk about this another time? I've got a lot on my plate right now."
The call ended with a sharp beep.
Eliza dropped her gaze to the milk in her hands, her eyes shadowed with a deep, unspoken sadness.
She raised the glass to her lips and took a small sip, the warm liquid sliding down her throat. She slowly turned and quietly walked away.
Eliza returned to her room and set the glass of milk down on her vanity, her movements slow and heavy.
"Regina?" she sneered under her breath, the name dripping with contempt. "Hah, I really underestimated that old bastard."
Eliza sneered inwardly, 'Albert is just trying to manipulate Victor, using marriage to secure ties with the Aniston family and cement the Powell Group's business empire.
'Victor claims he won't trade marriage for profit, but what if the Aniston family decides to play dirty one day? With Serena gone, Victor has lost his strongest emotional attachment, but that doesn't mean everything is settled.
'If Regina really enters the scene, what chance do I have left?'
As Eliza collected herself, suddenly, a name shot through her mind, Leon.
With this thought, she rose slowly and paced pensively to the window, drawing back the heavy curtains. Her gaze followed the passing cars, and gradually, her thoughts fell into place.
'As long as Leon doesn't accept Regina,' Eliza thought with certainty, 'Victor will never yield to this marriage.'
Eliza's fingertips gently traced the patterns on the curtain, her gaze growing darker.
Remembering how Leon had once cowered at her harsh words, she bit her lip, absently pressing her fingers into the curtain.
'It's all my fault,' she wondered. Eliza squeezed her eyes shut, inwardly berating herself.
She exhaled slowly, smoothing down the stray strands of hair by her ear in a practiced gesture of composure before letting her gaze drift back to the stream of cars outside.
'Leon is Victor's only son. There's no way he wouldn't take the child's feelings into account,' Eliza thought with certainty.