Chapter 161 Victoria is Struggling to Survive, and Zachary is Completely Unaware!
After Victoria left, Zachary began to suffer from insomnia.
He always dreamed of her, of their intimate moments.
In his mind, he preferred to remember the good times, which would please him.
He didn't go to see her.
The doctor told him that Victoria was responding well to treatment, spending her days reading and writing at the private villa. Her emotions were stable, and she was recovering.
'If her health is improving, that's good.' Zachary thought.
Joseph cried a lot, missing her mother.
Zachary took care of her at night and brought her to the company during the day.
Secretary Thomas helped take care of Joseph.
She patiently comforted Joseph, feeding her and saying, "Children always need their mother! Crying so much will hurt her body."
She choked up before continuing. "Zachary, bring Victoria back to take care of the child!"
Secretary Thomas and Zachary were alumni, and she rarely called him by his name.
At that moment, she was pleading with him on a personal level, as she couldn't bear to see Joseph suffer, and see Victoria in such isolation and torment.
'Surely, Victoria also missed her child. Which mother wouldn't?' She thought.
Zachary didn't hesitate.
He said softly, "She's still recovering and not suitable to take care of the child. When she's better, I'll let her take care of her."
Secretary Thomas felt he was being heartless.
She lowered her head and said coldly, "It's all just an excuse! In fact, you're angry with her because she ignores you and doesn't appreciate you. You're angry that so many women outside covet you, but she doesn't care about you! Zachary, you're just avenging your unrequited love!"
"Secretary Thomas! Mind your position."
Secretary Thomas continued to comfort Joseph, her voice becoming colder. "I know my place! I can't persuade the high and mighty Zachary."
She was being sarcastic, but Zachary couldn't do anything about it.
Joseph's favorite person now was Secretary Thomas.
During lunchtime, Joseph fell asleep.
Zachary looked at the face that resembled Victoria's, feeling indescribable. He kissed her on the forehead and gently closed the door to the lounge, sitting on the sofa in his office to rest.
He was really exhausted and fell asleep.
A pair of hands gently embraced him. Zachary opened his eyes slightly and, in a daze, saw Victoria. He looked at her, her face shy, and she softly called his name, "Zachary."
Zachary's laryngeal rolled lightly. "You're back?"
Victoria answered softly, her eyes full of admiration for him.
Zachary pulled her closer, couldn't help but caress her slender waist. Their posture was wanton, reminiscent of those nights of mutual desire.
His lips were close to her ear, whispering sweet words.
He said he missed her, that he longed for her every night, that he wanted her so much. And he asked if she was willing to make love with him.
The young girl in his arms blushed and said, "Zachary, I'm willing."
'Zachary? Victoria never called him that!' He thought.
Zachary immediately came to his senses. He looked at the pure and shy Melissa, who was happily snuggled in his arms, her eyes full of admiration, expecting more from him.
Zachary pushed her away, his eyes filled with anger, his tone icy. "Who let you in?"
She fell on the carpet.
She was extremely embarrassed, her face wet with tears that made men feel sorry for her. "Why do you want to suppress yourself like this? Didn't you send her away? I'm willing to dedicate myself to you; I'm willing to do anything, even if I don't have a name; I don't mind!"
The pure young girl slowly unbuttoned her coat.
Zachary squinted. "Then you really are cheap! And as you keep talking about her, I wonder what qualifications do you have to talk about her and compare with her? Just because we were alone in the car for a while?"
Melissa's face turned pale.
She didn't expect Zachary to use such words to insult her.
Zachary took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and then exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice heavy. "I think you've misunderstood; I'm not interested in you at all!"
Melissa was extremely ashamed.
Zachary told her to get out of the office. If she didn't leave, security would come and escort her out. Melissa held back her tears and said, "I know you still love Victoria underneath."
How could Zachary talk about his memories with Victoria to her?
He let Secretary Thomas in, had her take the person away, and let her deal with Melissa.
Until she left, Melissa still didn't know why she had lost to Victoria; she didn't know why Zachary didn't want her. She was Yara's cousin, and she looked like Victoria, didn't she?
In front of the elevator, Secretary Thomas pressed the button.
She said expressionlessly, "Flirting with a man like Zachary is like playing with fire! If Zachary really wants to be with you, it's all for his benefit! Do you have an excellent appearance? No, you are not even close to Victoria. Do you have talent? No, you still need to learn more in this society and zaachary has to take care of everything for you! If he really wanted you, he would have kept you secretly outside early. Think about it, has Zachary ever actively approached you?"
Melissa's face was pale. "I won't be a mistress!"
Secretary Thomas sneered. "Then you even don't have self-awareness! With Zachary's status, even if he remarries, it will be someone like Claire, a noble and wealthy lady! And you, you are just a pastime in Zachary's life, just a tool he uses to provoke Victoria!"
Melissa was completely stunned.
The door closed gently, and Zachary felt lost underneath. He lay on the sofa for a long time, murmuring Victoria's name.
Even if he let her go, she could still break his heart.
She had been gone for half a month.
He thought he should go and see her, even if he just looked at her from a distance outside the wall.
In the middle of the night, Zachary went to the sanatorium.
The 20-year-old building stood tall, blocking the outside world.
There is no internet and no phone, but other living supplies are complete, quiet enough and suitable for recovery.
Zachary's car was parked outside.
The snow was thick, even reaching the bottom of the car.
Zachary got out of the car and stepped on the snow, which was also 0.2 meters deep. The snow quickly melted, wetting his trousers, which made him feel cold and uncomfortable.
But he didn't notice. Under the moonlight, he looked at the second floor of the villa expressionlessly.
Victoria was inside, just a wall away from him.
He wanted to go in and see her, but then he thought it was better not to see her as he had decided to let go, to set each other free.
He stayed for a long time before driving away.
The black Land Rover drove farther and farther. Zachary saw in the rearview mirror that the moon's clear light shone on the castle-like house, giving it a somewhat eerie atmosphere.
He didn't know that Victoria was huddled in a corner on the second floor of the villa.
There was no heating, no doctor on duty, not even hot water.
She held herself tightly to ward off the cold. Her thin arms that were stretched out were covered with needle marks, which were the sedatives injected by the doctor every day to prevent her from becoming emotionally unstable, as ordered by Mrs. Sackler.
Zachary knew nothing about this.
He thought Victoria was being well taken care of and receiving treatment.
But Victoria was struggling to survive.
She was shivering with cold; she couldn't get a bowl of hot soup; she couldn't get hot water for a bath. She endured the torment here every day, and she supported herself to live on.
As she had Joseph, she had to live on.
She kept calling Joseph's name. Only in this way would she not have wild and crazy thoughts. She was waiting for Zachary to remember her.
Outside the window, the moon was setting.
Victoria knew that Christmas was coming soon!
She had never waited for Zachary's coming, never waited for Zachary to remember her. She thought Zachary had probably forgotten her here.
But she was not willing to die like this!
She believed that the flowers would bloom in the warm spring.