Chapter 477

Victoria offered a faint smile.

"Everything was handled, so I came over."

Truthfully, she hadn't felt settled at all.

The meeting wasn't even halfway finished before she departed NovaTech.

She was aware Alexander didn't need to attend the specific meeting Isabella was in today.

Yet, just as she predicted, he had indeed come down from his office specifically to observe Isabella's presentation.

That thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Her expression tightened slightly.

Alexander checked his watch.

"I have a video conference starting in about ten minutes."

"It will run over an hour."

"Would you like to come upstairs with me and wait?"

"Alright," Victoria agreed.

Victoria returned to the Kensington residence that afternoon.

Diana noticed her immediately.

"You're back so early?"

"I thought you and Alexander were going out for lunch?"

"He had pressing matters to attend to," Victoria replied flatly.

"I see," Diana said, noting her daughter's weary demeanor.

Victoria kicked off her heels, intending to head upstairs and rest.

Her mother, Eleanor, observed her closely.

"Is something the matter?"

"You haven't seemed yourself lately."

Victoria paused for a brief moment.

She then answered as if it were nothing.

"It's nothing."

"Just feeling a bit tired."

Recently, NovaTech had been swamped with issues.

Their core technology still lacked any significant breakthrough.

It was understandable for her to feel strained and frustrated.

Because of this, Eleanor didn't push further.

She simply instructed a staff member to prepare some nourishing soup and told Victoria to eat something.

Penelope was already home from her outing.

When Victoria sat down beside her, she greeted her casually.

"Victoria."

Victoria responded with a noncommittal hum.

As Victoria ate her soup, Penelope cracked open some sunflower seeds.

"Oh, that reminds me."

"The Fairchild family's daughter, Eleanor, had her engagement called off by the Pembroke family."

The Fairchild and Pembroke families she mentioned were from Geneva.

Both families were considered social equals.

Eleanor Fairchild and the Pembroke family's eldest son, William, had grown up together.

Both were refined, accomplished, and reportedly shared an excellent relationship.

Eleanor was quite beautiful and academically brilliant.

While still at university, she had secured several patents, significantly boosting her family's company's standing.

The Pembroke family had always expressed great satisfaction with their future daughter-in-law.

Rumors even suggested the wedding was imminent.

Unexpectedly, the Pembroke family broke off the engagement.

Diana was instantly intrigued.

"Why was it called off so suddenly?"

"Did something happen?"

"It's rather dramatic, actually," Penelope said between seeds.

"Apparently, William cheated."

"With Eleanor's personal assistant, of all people."

"The assistant is supposedly a graduate student."

"Quite capable in her own right, though nowhere near Eleanor's professional league."

"But people say she has a much more vibrant personality."

"Unlike Eleanor, who's all business—very serious, always buried in her work."

"William is now absolutely determined to end the engagement."

"Didn't everyone say he greatly admired Eleanor before?"

"Praised her talent?"

"And she is genuinely beautiful."

"William is known for being so composed and self-disciplined."

"It's hard to picture him doing something like that..."

"Exactly!"

"But you know how men can be."

"It's not always about a woman's accomplishments or how talented she is."

"Just because you're more accomplished doesn't guarantee a man's love."

"Too true," Genevieve chimed in, her own mood lifting slightly with the gossip.

"What's the real use of a woman just being capable and talented?"

"If that's all she offers, a man will inevitably grow bored."

"William losing interest was only natural."

Victoria had been listening with only half an ear, merely passing the time.

But hearing this particular part, she suddenly paused and looked up.

Isabella was undoubtedly exceptional in her professional field.

But in virtually every other aspect, she couldn't compare to Victoria.

Even if Alexander didn't yet know Isabella was a protégé of Frederick, he was already well aware of her capabilities.

So far, he had only shown a degree of professional appreciation for her—nothing more...

Then she remembered that morning at Whitmore Industries.

From the moment Alexander learned she had arrived, he hadn't glanced at Isabella even once.

He had simply escorted her upstairs immediately.

The dark cloud that had loomed over Victoria's head for days suddenly dissipated.

A genuine smile finally touched her lips.