Departure with a Belly ( Victoria Selwyn & Alaric Cadogan’s )
Departure with a Belly Chapter 523

Was Testing to See If You Truly Didn’t Need Me 

He had contemplated various possibilities, such as the idea that her anger stemmed from his failure to inform her or that he had said something hurtful. However, the notion that she would blame herself had never crossed his mind. 

As he witnessed her eyes welling up and her struggle to hold back her tears, Alaric couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of heartache. 

At that moment, his mind couldn’t entertain any other thoughts. Acting swiftly, he reached out and enveloped her in his arms. “Silly, why are you blaming yourself?” 

Victoria leaned against his chest and blinked. “Now that I’ve told you everything, can you grant me some time alone?” 

go, but her yearning Alaric was caught off guard by her request. He genuinely didn’t want to let her for solitude was apparent. If he remained there, it would likely only make her feel more uneasy. 

Reluctantly, he decided to grant her space to take a bath and compose herself before they could resume their conversation later. 

Once he had come to this resolution, Alaric released her from his embrace. “Alright, then. Go ahead and shower. I’ll wait for you in bed.” 

Victoria was left momentarily speechless. 

Amid the gravity of the situation, she even felt a sense of heaviness in her heart. Little did she anticipate his unplanned remark about waiting for her in bed. 

Although she recognized it as an innocent slip of the tongue, her thoughts couldn’t help but drift. She pushed Alaric gently and gestured for him to leave quickly. 

Meanwhile, Alaric remained oblivious to her misunderstanding and failed to recognize any error in his words. Obediently, he turned and left. 

Once he had exited, Victoria shut the bathroom door and leaned against it. Then, she gradually closed her eyes. 

Finally, she found the solitude that she longed for. 

Ever since losing her memory and being rescued by Alaric, Victoria had felt that everything around her was unfamiliar. However, she was willing to embrace it. While she cherished being by his side, it was evident that they needed to find a way to navigate their relationship. 

Perhaps it wasn’t necessary at all. It was the recent series of events that stirred up turmoil in her heart. 

Nearly half an hour had passed by the time Victoria finished her shower. 

Meanwhile, Alaric patiently waited by the bed. 

Initially, he managed to sit quietly, but after ten minutes, he couldn’t resist glancing at his phone to 

check the time. 

Girls always take their time to shower, he thought to himself. 

Therefore, he set his phone aside and refrained from rushing her. 

As twenty minutes elapsed, the bathroom remained eerily quiet. Alaric pressed his lips together, fighting the urge to get up and knock on the door. 

His concern wasn’t driven by impatience but rather the fear that she might faint due to her weakened condition if she stayed inside for too long. 

past, Alaric Reminded of instances where he might have inadvertently disturbed her in the restrained himself and turned to his phone for guidance. He searched for information on how long women typically took to shower, only to be overwhelmed by the myriad of answers that left his head spinning. 

Nevertheless, he gleaned that women often took extra time due to washing their hair, applying conditioner, using body wash, and occasionally indulging in exfoliating rituals. Alaric didn’t delve further into the details after confirming that twenty minutes was within a reasonable timeframe. Thus, he patiently waited outside. 

As thirty minutes elapsed and Victoria remained inside the bathroom, he decided to rise from the bed and check on her. 

Just as he got off the bed, he heard the sound of the bathroom door opening. 

As the bathroom door swung open, Victoria emerged from the steam–filled room and walked out. 

Noticing that she was wearing a thin set of autumn pajamas, Alaric swiftly grabbed one of his long coats and approached her. “You shouldn’t be wearing so little, even when showering,” he said as he draped the coat over her. 

Instantly, Victoria found herself shielded from the chilly air outside. Her eyes glistened, and her fair cheeks blushed, making her look particularly enticing. “I could only find autumn pajamas in the closet. I thought they would be comfortable enough for sleeping,” she explained. 

As she was still wrapped in the coat, Alaric guided her to the side of the bed. “If you’re going to accompany Grandma to the fair tomorrow, make sure to get yourself a few sets of thicker pajamas.” 

Buy some pajamas? 

In truth, they hadn’t brought much luggage with them when they arrived, Alaric intended to purchase whatever they needed once they reached their destination. 

However, upon hearing his words, Victoria couldn’t help but ask, “Are we planning to stay here for a long time?” 

At her question, Alaric fell silent for a moment before answering, “It depends on you. Do you like it here? If not, we can always go back.” 

She pondered for a moment, realizing that she didn’t particularly dislike being there. However, as she earnestly considered her options, she couldn’t think of any specific place she longed to be. 

If she had to choose, it would likely be by her children’s side. 

Even her decision to come here was driven by the desire to see her children and be with them. 

With this in mind, she responded, “It’s not just about whether I like it or not. Ultimately, it depends on our two children.” 

At her words, Alaric finally grasped the depth of her intentions. 

Indeed, she had come here solely because her children were present. Without them, she might not have had the desire to come at all. 

Initially, there hadn’t been much more to contemplate. However, for some inexplicable reason, Alaric’s thoughts began to drift to another level. 

It seemed as if Victoria only had concern for the children. 

As long as they were by her side, perhaps she wouldn’t even care about anything else, including him. 

Alaric knew he shouldn’t entertain such thoughts, but at that moment, he couldn’t help but subconsciously allow them to creep in. “However, Grandma truly seems to adore them. I did mention to my mother before that we could have the kids stay here during winter and summer vacations. We don’t necessarily have to stay for the same duration as them.”. 

Just as Alaric felt a sense of frustration in his heart, her words sparked a glimmer of hope within him again. 

Nevertheless, he responded, “Well, the decision is yours. If you want to stay here with them, then we will stay. Your happiness is what matters most to me.” 

“What about you?” Victoria raised her gaze and looked at him. 

“Me?” Alaric’s thin lips curled into a faint smile. “I’m responsible for earning money to support our family. If you need me, I’ll come over. If you don’t, I’ll stay in the city and work. How does that sound?” 

He presented himself as someone who would follow Victoria’s lead. Victoria met his gaze unwaveringly before giving a nod of agreement. “Alright, then. You can return tomorrow.” 

The smile on Alaric’s lips momentarily froze. 

“We’re going to the fair tomorrow morning. You shouldn’t join us, right?” she teased. 

As Alaric caught on to her deliberate teasing, he narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip around her slender waist, pulling her closer. “Are you teasing me?” 

The sudden closeness made Victoria’s heart skip a beat, and she instinctively cleared her throat. “No. Didn’t 

you mention that you’re responsible for earning money?” 

“I was testing to see if you truly didn’t need me,” he responded. 

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