Chapter 281: Like a Thorn, Piercing Martin’s Heart

Brian called Martin to report.

"Mr. Collins, Mrs. Collins has arrived safely at the Gonzalez Villa. But Mrs. Collins doesn't look happy, and she won't let me follow her. I'm worried she might do something to hurt herself."

He didn't want to think the worst of anyone, especially Victoria. She had been kind to him, too. If Victoria hadn't introduced them, he wouldn't have found the love of his life. But in just two days, Victoria had lost both her parents and become an orphan.

Anyone would break down under such circumstances, let alone Victoria, who was just a woman.

"I'm coming over now. Wait until I get there before you leave," Martin said over the phone, his voice tired.

Then he hung up.

Martin was at the Gonzalez Group, his desk covered with piles of work and high stacked folders.

Today was the second day of the New Year. A holiday. But Victoria had suffered such a terrible loss.

Martin hadn't wanted to disturb her. He wanted to let her have a few quiet days to process her emotions. But he was worried about her. Before, when she was trying to raise money for Hayden, she had even hurt herself.

She was carrying his child.

Martin couldn't help but worry. He tiredly stood up from his chair.

He picked up the coat draped over the back of his chair and placed it over his arm. Ever since Hayden died in front of him and Victoria and Aria kicked him out of the hospital, he had been working nonstop at the Gonzalez Group, trying to numb himself with intense work.

To ease the rage inside him.

Martin had been so busy these past few days that he even forgot to eat. He didn't know what hunger felt like anymore. He only knew that this New Year had been ruined by the Gonzalez family.

Martin's face was cold as he put on his coat and quickly walked out of the CEO's office. He didn't know how Victoria would react when she saw him.

Would she cry and make a scene? Scream at him, hurl the most hurtful words she could find?

No matter how hard it was, he still had to be there for her.

Martin drove to buy Victoria's once-favorite food and had it packed. The restaurant was very expensive—a meal there cost six figures. Back when he was very poor, when they were dating, he couldn't afford such expensive meals. The few times he ate there, Victoria had paid the bill.

Now that he had money, he was willing to cover any bill and get her anything she wanted as long as it made her happy

Martin held the beautifully packaged food, heavy in his hand, just like his anxious heart at this moment.

Would she accept his kindness, his concern?

After two exhausting days, knowing Victoria as he did, she probably hadn't eaten. He bought two portions, wanting to eat with her.

He drove to the Gonzalez Villa.

Brian was standing outside the car, waiting for him.

Seeing the food Martin was carrying, he remarked, "Mr. Collins, you're paying more and more attention to Mrs. Collins."

"She's my wife. If I don't care about her, who will?" Martin sneered, glanced around, then looked back at Brian. "Where's Aaron?"

Brian answered honestly, "After bringing Mrs. Collins back, he left."

Martin's heart clenched. So that bastard had been with Victoria all alongHe really knew how to show off. The fake bastard.

Martin turned to leave.

"Mr. Collins." Brian called out.

Martin turned back. Seeing Brian hesitate, he frowned. "If you want to say something, say it. Stop beating around the bush. Are you hiding something from me?"

Brian hesitated. He didn't know if he should tell Martin that Aaron and Victoria had known each other for a long time.

Would it add to his conflict with Victoria if he told Mr. Collins what he knew?

But if he didn't say anything and Mr. Collins didn't pay attention to Victoria, wouldn't that give Aaron an opportunity?

After weighing the pros and cons, Brian looked up, as if making a big decision, and said, "Please pay more attention to Mrs. Collins. Aaron has ulterior motives toward her."

"You think I don't know that?" Martin laughed coldly.

Brian continued, "Before Mrs. Gonzalez passed away, she went somewhat mad and entrusted Mrs. Collins to Aaron. Aaron didn't refuse—he agreed."

Martin's expression became unfathomable.

That Aria, causing trouble even in death, couldn't stand to see Victoria happy.

"And Aaron asked me to give you a message."

"What message?"

"He said he's known Mrs. Collins much longer than you have, and if he wanted to make a move, he'd have as many chances as you." Brian frowned, paused, then voiced his doubt, "But Mrs. Collins doesn't seem particularly close to him. Maybe Aaron is just trying to stir up trouble."

With that Brian left but Martin didn't immediately go to the Gonzalez Villa. He stood downstairs, looking at the landscaping outside the Villa.

Thick tree trunks with bare branches swaying in the cold wind. White strips of snow fell from the branches, landing on Martin's face, icy and cold.

Martin remembered Victoria calling out in her dreams for the mute boy. The person she really missed in her heart wasn't him, but a man called the mute boy.

How much did she miss him? Enough to keep an old, worn photo of his back, with 'mute boy' written all over it.

Out of jealousy, Martin tore up the photo of the mute boy's back for the first time, only to find she had secretly picked up the pieces and taped the photo back together.

The second time, he tore the photo to shreds and threw it out the window. He destroyed it completely.

But while he could destroy the photo, he couldn't erase the mark the mute boy had left in her heart. She said she'd only seen the boy once, that she'd forgotten what he looked like, that the mute boy was dead.

But judging from her attitude toward Aaron, Martin could tell that something was up.

Martin deduced that Aaron was very likely the mute boy, and they had already recognized each other. Plus Aria's deathbed request, adding fuel to the fire.

Martin felt very angry, his jealousy overflowing.

If it were his old self, he would have rushed up there immediately to confront her, to demand why she was treating him this way. But the current Martin didn't dare. Hayden was dead. Her family was all dead. He had no more leverage over her.

These small matters couldn't be fussed over.

Once Victoria gave birth to the child, if he treated her better, maybe she would change her mind.

Martin smoked several cigarettes in the snowstorm, the smoke harsh to his lungs.

Thinking that Aaron was a bastard child who must have suffered a lot before being found by the Hill family, it wasn't impossible that Victoria would help him.

The fact that Aaron was the mute boy stuck in Martin's heart like a thorn.

He had suspected everyone of being the mute boy, but never thought that he himself was the real mute boy. When he learned that whom he had always seen as an enemy, had helped him, and that he had just thanked the wrong person.

But by the time he found out, it was too late, because karma had already come. Fate hadn't even given him the chance to repent.