Endless Night, Swaying Hearts

The next few days were pure hell for Victoria. The once-spoiled and flamboyant daughter of the Calloway family endured unimaginable torment in the detention center.

Her cellmates seemed to have received special instructions. They subjected her to relentless abuse—kicks, punches, and worst of all, the deliberate, brutal stomping on her already injured wrist. The fragile bones splintered further with each cruel impact.

When she was finally released several days later, she was barely recognizable, nothing but a broken, battered figure clinging to the last threads of life.

What dragged her out of that abyss was a single message on her phone. Her visa had finally been approved.

She hailed a taxi back to the Calloway residence, intending to grab her suitcase and head straight to the airport.

But the moment she stepped through the door, she ran straight into Pamela Larkson—her best friend, who had just returned from a whirlwind world trip and rushed over the second she heard everything.

Pamela took one look at Victoria's miserable state and burst into tears. She threw her arms around her, sobbing uncontrollably as she apologized profusely.

"Vicky! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! Back then, I hated Uncle Cade's ex. I only egged you on to get close to him on a whim because I knew that he was still hooked on her.

"I never imagined it would come to this. I didn't know his first love was Cassandra! If I had known, I never would have let you get near him…"

Victoria shook her head weakly, her voice a raw scrape. "It's not your fault. It's all in the past now. I've… I've let it all go. Pam, I'm leaving the country. I probably won't be coming back."

Pamela was stunned. "Vicky, don't go… Stay here. I'll take care of you. I'll protect you…"

"No," Victoria said softly. "There's nothing left here worth staying for."

Pamela cried harder, but seeing the deadened resolve in Victoria's eyes, she knew she couldn't change Victoria's mind. With red-rimmed eyes, she helped Victoria pack her final belongings.

Before leaving, Victoria took one last look at the house that held all her childhood memories, now defiled by her father, his mistress, and their illegitimate daughter.

She retrieved the gasoline she had prepared long ago and, ignoring the housekeepers' pleas, expressionlessly doused the building and set it alight. Flames roared skyward, consuming everything from the past.

Suitcase in hand, she turned away without a backward glance.

Pamela drove her to the airport, still apologizing profusely, offering her entire garage of luxury cars as compensation.

Victoria shook her head, leaning against the window, watching the scenery fly by.

"I don't need them," she whispered. "You have to say goodbye to the wrong things before you can meet the right ones."

She forced a smile, one tinged with the exhaustion and fragile peace of a survivor. "I'm beautiful. As long as I want to, the men in my future will only be better, richer, and more devoted than the one before."

Pamela hurriedly agreed, "Yes! You're the most beautiful woman out there, Vicky! You'll definitely meet someone who treasures you!"

At the airport, Pamela clung to her, sobbing uncontrollably. "Vicky, you have to live well, so very well, and make those people regret everything they ever did to you!"

Victoria returned the hug, patting her back gently before pulling away. With a final, carefree wave, she turned and walked toward the security checkpoint.

Pamela watched her figure disappear into the passageway, then finally crumpled to the floor, weeping. After what felt like an eternity, she mustered her anger and indignation and dialed Caden's number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.

"Uncle Cade!" Pamela exclaimed, her voice thick with tears and fury. "I know you love Cassandra, but Vicky was with you for three years! And she's leaving now! For good! Are you… Are you not even going to see her off?"

Dead silence answered her from the other end.

Several seconds later, Caden's voice came through, carrying a rare, almost imperceptible strain and hoarseness, "What? Who's leaving?"