Victoria stood in the visitor's room, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared at William.

He remained completely unmoved by her emotional display.

"Was it worth it?" she finally whispered, her voice trembling. "Sacrificing everything for Elise Scott?"

"This isn't about her," William replied coolly. "The circumstances demanded this course of action."

"I know you did it for her," Victoria insisted, her voice growing stronger with conviction.

"I don't play games when my life is at stake."

"You would die for her!"

William fell silent at her accusation. Victoria laughed bitterly even as tears streamed down her face, making her appear almost hysterical.

"Did you know, William?" she asked suddenly. "I'm getting engaged again."

His eyes flickered with something unreadable.

It seemed he still had some capacity for emotion after all.

Meanwhile, Victoria's tears continued to flow freely, though she seemed completely unaware of them. "That's my family for you—we're all just tools from the moment we're born. My parents, my brother, myself—none of us are exceptions. I always believed I was blessed to be born into this family, even though I had no freedom in life. Even though I don't get to choose who I marry, at least it was someone I loved."

"Even if you didn't love me back, I would have been content just having you by my side after we were married... So how could you do this to me? How am I less than Elise Scott? I met you before she did. I've been with you far longer than she ever was. I love you more than she ever could! Why can't you love me? Why do you refuse to even look at me?"

William's gaze remained distant and detached throughout her emotional outburst. Victoria was working herself into a complete state of distress.

The moment William had been taken away, she had wanted to confront him immediately. But her family had kept her under strict surveillance, forbidding her from leaving. Her grandfather only permitted this visit after she agreed to marry another man.

"I'm sorry," William finally said.

Victoria gasped in disbelief. After everything she had poured out to him, he offered only these two cold words?

She laughed harshly as she glared at him. "You'd rather die than marry me now, wouldn't you?!"