Chapter 108 - Family Is Her Burden

City of Faroh, State of Shanghira

Two Hours before the Deletion

Lady Regina was busy making a scrapbook for her granddaughter Victoria as she received lots of photos with her and her friends. From the time that Victoria was born, Lady Regina held her and had a photo with her. Every month, he would have someone take a photo of her when she was a baby, and every year, she would have someone take a photo of her and place it in a thick scrapbook. 

She knew that what she did was wrong. Taking her away from her real mother. But her real mother would be known as a mistress. She has to decide and save them both. She doesn't want Victoria to grow up without any luxury things and good food and to be known as the child of the mistress. She promised to give her best things and she did, but she failed on most things. 

Someday, Victoria has to meet her real mother and Lady Regina already settled the part of her Testament. Victoria's mother will have one billion as compensation and the special Villa. She's been searching for her for years and she wanted to give this scrapbook to her. 

"Milady!" The Secretary rushed and showed her the video. "This is the raw video taken by someone from the mall. Someone happened to send it to me. Also, it was all over the news. They also manage to crop and cut a few videos not to show any of their faces." 

Regina watched the raw video as Victoria was tearing and confused by Katarina's words. Her heart breaks seeing the real Katarina as she embarrasses Victoria. She had enough of it. This is something that shouldn't happen and how dare Katarina even put it in the media. 

"Call my lawyers now." She demanded. 

Her secretary quickly did what she wanted as she took out her special paper to write her will. She had enough with the pair of mother and daughter. She had enough of them. 

"Try to call Victoria and arrange a flight back to Lwazi. I have to see my granddaughter." 

"Yes, milady." 

She started writing and recording it. She's enraged at the moment and it's enough bullying to her precious granddaughter. She promised her mother that she will give her the love that she should. She failed multiple times but this time, she wouldn't let Victoria suffer again. She reached for her phone to call her granddaughter but she couldn't reach her. Then, she finally called Kenzo. After a few rings, Kenzo answered. 

"Grandma," 

"Where's Victoria?" She quickly asked. 

"She's asleep, Grandma." From Kenzo's voice, it seemed that he found it out. 

"I'm sorry, grandmother. But I won't stay still with this harassment. Victoria had a breakdown hours ago." 

"I know. I will deal with this. Stay with your wife." 

"No, grandma. I'm sorry. I have to deal with this on my own." 

"What do you mean?" Regina was confused. 

"You don't have to worry, but I have to at least protect my wife in my way. I have to make those people pay for what they did. I am apologizing in advance because I might taint your family's name." 

"Kenzo," Regina sighed. "I know that they were completely bad toward her." 

"I'm sorry, Grandma," Kenzo said. 

"I know that you want to protect her, dote on her…" She gently put down her pen. "Then, do as you wished, Kenzo." 

"Goodbye, Grandma." 

She hung up and felt depressed and anxious. Her family is a mess and she should be relaxing and watching her grandchildren grow. But somehow, they grew up differently.

<><><><> 

6:40 PM in Golden Palace Royal Hotel (After the Deletion of the News)

Before Victoria went to Shanghira Shopping Center, she had already settled on the cake that she wanted for her husband's birthday and she already told her secretary to buy lots of decorations with party poppers. Currently, Prince Philip is with them. Victoria apologized to him with tears. However, Prince Philip doted on her more than he doted on his grandson. 

"Happy Birthday!" 

They started singing for Kenzo happily. Kenzo was smiling at everyone and blew the candle after the song. Everyone clapped their hands and he hugged his wife, kissed her forehead, and thanked everyone. For a very long time, Kenzo never had this happy celebration with anyone. Now, he has everyone he loved, except for Maverick… and Kaisley left too early. But he's happier. Victoria made her happy despite the things that she's going through. 

"Alright, what did you wish for?" She asked him. He only grinned and kissed her ears. 

"Laters." He said as everyone snorted. 

The party goes on and at the moment, Kenzo approaches his grandfather and sits with him while they watch Victoria slicing cakes and distributing them to Caleb and Stacey and their staff that also attend the party. 

"The Duchess is kind." Prince Philip said. "She's naturally kind." 

"Yes, however, she doesn't want to claim that she's kind." Kenzo chuckled. "She's adorable and I know that her self-esteem is low, but I love her." 

"I know you do." Prince Philip said. "Why won't the two of you set up an appointment for counseling? It'll be better if she would open up to you more." 

"I'll speak to her." 

Kenzo checked his wife's phone from her pocket and she had a lot of missed calls from her father. Somehow, Kenzo has to steal her phone from her. He doesn't want her to be stressed over the things that he's going to do. At midnight, it'll be released. It'll be more interesting than any news. He muted all of the notifications and blocked her father's number. He slid the phone back into his pocket as Victoria came with two cakes and served them to them. 

"Thanks, darling." Prince Philip said. 

Victoria sat beside her husband and smiled at him like everything was fine. But Kenzo knows that she's trying to be happy since it's his birthday. 

<><><><> 

Marquess Astera's Residence

Currently, Vivien was printing Victoria's photo at Kenzo's birthday party and put it in the album. That moment when she met Victoria at Prince Philip's Birthday Party, she started compiling photos of Victoria together. Now, with their photos from the films of Polaroid, she has become a little obsessed with her daughter. Her husband was happy that she looked happy while compiling it. 

"Well, I always saw you happy every day after your visit from Lwazi," Hansen said as he hugged his wife from behind. 

"My dream to choose dresses for my daughter came true, Hans," Vivien said with a smile. "I hope that I won't make Harriet jealous… it's just, I couldn't help myself around Victoria." 

"Darling, don't worry about it. If it happens, I can speak to Harriet." He kissed her temple. "Just tell me when you are ready." 

"I will," Vivien said. "She looks beautiful, right?" 

"Yes. She looked so much like you." 

"Mom!" Harriet called out and knocked on the door. Vivien carefully closed the album as the door opened and Harriet cringed. 

"What is it dear?" Vivien asked. 

"Look at this!" Harriet approached her and showed the article and edited clips as Katarina's voice could be heard and Victoria's face. "They said that she's an illegitimate child of the Parson family," Harriet exclaimed. "I'm gonna bald that Katarina. She's the only person that I know who would do such a thing!" 

"I have the raw video!" Hardin entered the room. 

"Raw video?" Hansen asked. "Is it all over the news?" 

"No. It was deleted and I managed to download the copy." 

They watched as Katarina said harsh words toward Victoria. The painful look from Victoria's eyes was heart breaking. 

"Wait, is that Vienna of Belmont?" Harriet said as Hansen paused the video. 

While Vivien is watching it, the painful look from Victoria's face and how Katarina tells bad things toward, her heartache for her. 

"Alright, this is bad," Hansen said. "Okay, Harriet, Hardin, why won't you go downstairs and check the dinner?" 

The two were puzzled for a while but they didn't say anything else. The two of them never checked dinner before in their entire life. But they understand the situation. Once the two left, Hansen hugged his wife as Vivien burst into tears. 

"Hush," Hansen said softly. 

"My poor Victoria," Vivien cried as her chest tightened even more. 

For years, Hansen never saw her broken like this. She was happy for a few days after she came from Lwazi. But happiness can be easily shattered. He knew that her undying love for her daughter can't be replaced by anyone or anything. He felt pain whenever he saw his beloved wife like this. 

"It's alright, my love. I am sure that Duke Kenzo won't let anything bad happen to her." 

Vivien catches her breath and wipes her tears. 

"I don't understand why my daughter has to suffer like this. She's innocent…" 

"I know." 

Hansen quickly strode in front of her, knelt one knee, and wiped her tears. 

"I am here and I will protect her for you." 

"Thank you…" Vivien sniffled. "I wish that I was there. My daughter needs me." She sobbed. 

"I know," Hansen sighed. "I'm sorry, love. How about we ask the Duchess and the Duke to stay with us after the event? So, you can have time with her?" 

She nodded. 

"I'll talk to her." 

"I think you should talk to her tomorrow?" Hansen said. "I am sure that Duke Ivan is currently handling things. Please, don't stress yourself." 

Vivien nodded and reached the tissue to wipe her tears and nose. Hansen smiled and kissed her lips. 

"That's my love." 

Vivien held him and kissed his lips. Hansen responded and hugged her. 

"Don't worry.. I'll protect her for you too."