Chapter 162 The Truth Revealed! It Was Victoria Who Awakened Zachary

Zachary had asked the doctor many times.

He inquired whether Victoria had shown any signs of changing her mind. Still, the doctor always replied in the negative, emphasizing that Victoria was relentless in her decision to divorce and never wanted to see him again.

Each time Zachary heard this, he felt a sense of loss. 

Before you know it, Christmas had arrived.

On that special evening, Zachary arranged for some delicacies to be sent to Victoria and also sent over some photos of Joseph.

He thought that Victoria would be pleased. 

The Christmas banquet was held, as usual, at the Sackler family's mansion. However, this year, it felt particularly empty as Zachary's grandmother had passed away, and Victoria was not at home. 

Despite this, Mrs. Sackler was in high spirits.

The mansion was still adorned with festive decorations, even more splendid than in previous years as if anticipating a great celebration. 

As Zachary arrived with Joseph, he furrowed his brow.

A servant discreetly informed him. "Mrs. Sackler has invited Claire for dinner, and she has already arrived."

Zachary glanced at the white Bentley parked nearby, realizing it was Claire's car, and he understood Mrs. Sackler's intentions. 

The servant, who had served Zachary's grandmother for a long time, couldn't help but add. "Victoria is still your legal wife. Claire's eagerness is unbecoming of a lady from a prestigious family."

Zachary remained silent, his expression unreadable, which only deepened the servant's concern. 

During the meal, Mrs. Sackler's words were filled with implications. She even presented Claire with a pair of gem-encrusted bracelets, suggesting they were meant to be worn together.

Claire accepted them,feeling shy, and looked at Zachary, who remained impassive. 

After dinner, Zachary stood on the terrace, smoking.

Claire joined him, leaning against the railing.

She gazed at Zachary's handsome face and spoke softly, "Zachary, I know I'm being shameless! Although Mrs. Sackler invited me, I shouldn't have come, considering you are still married to Victoria. But I couldn't help myself. I wanted to see you in a legitimate setting. I dare not say that I love you as passionately as 18-year-old Victoria did, but my love is restrained and mature, which is more suitable for the present you." 

She paused and continued. "I will take good care of Joseph! Not only because she is your flesh and blood but also because my brother is very fond of Victoria. He would want me to treat Joseph well."

She said many things, yet Zachary remained silent, smoking.

Finally, he extinguished his cigarette and said, "You just said that I am a married man! How can you take care of Joseph? With what kind of identity?"

Claire felt embarrassed.

She had not expected that her confession would be met with rejection.

However, she did not lose her temper. After the recent events, she had become more restrained and composed. 

Later, Zachary returned to the hall and saw Claire holding Joseph, gently soothing her with a red apple in her hand, her face showing a tender expression.

Joseph, for the first time, smiled.

Zachary, feeling a pang of guilt, knew that Joseph needed someone to care for him. 

Mrs. Sackler, spoke softly aside, "Zachary, Claire is the best match for you!"

Zachary remained silent.

He had not gone through with the divorce proceedings with Victoria. Deep down, he still held onto a glimmer of hope, hoping that Victoria would recover and change her mind, and that there would be a chance for them to reconcile. 

Seeing Zachary's softened expression, Mrs. Sackler added, "Joseph also needs a mother."

Zachary's voice was cold. "I will consider it!"

He did not give many illusions to Claire, nor did he give her any false hopes. He knew that he had to end his marriage with Victoria before he could accept another woman. 

On the way back to the mansion, Zachary sat in the back seat, lost in thought as he held Joseph.

When the car reached the entrance of the mansion, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, causing Joseph to cry.

Zachary comforted her and asked, "What's wrong?"

The driver recognized the young girl ahead and turned to Zachary, saying, "It's Melissa! She seems to be out of her mind! Zachary, I'll go check." 

Zachary pondered for a moment, then handed Joseph to the servant and said, "I'll handle it."

In front of the car, Melissa saw Zachary, her face filled with hope.

She knew that Claire had gone to Zachary tonight and was likely to become Zachary's next wife, as designated by Mrs. Sackler. 

She hurriedly ran over, wanting to evoke some nostalgia in Zachary with the help of her cousin Yara.

She had stood in the snow for three hours, her whole body freezing.

But Zachary, with an air of nobility, seemed like a person from a different world. His attitude was even more indifferent as if all her care for him had never happened. He told her not to come again! 

Melissa took out a film.

The film still carried her body temperature, and she carefully handed it to Zachary. "This is what Yara left behind; it should be that piece of 'Meditation.'"

How could Zachary not see through her intentions?

He took the photo and said in a cold tone, "I'll have Secretary Thomas give you a check." 

He didn't say another word to her, turned and got into the car. Behind him came Melissa's urgent voice. "Zachary, are you going to marry Claire?"

Zachary did not answer her and got into the car directly.

The black van slowly drove into the black gate, leaving Melissa alone in the snow, her tears falling one by one, dropping on the snow. 

Back at the mansion, Zachary did not immediately listen to the song. He put Joseph to sleep and waited for her to fall asleep for a long time.

He suddenly woke up. It turned out that he had just fallen asleep.

He had a dream, a dream of the argument in the study that day. He dreamed that Victoria said that the film was not Yara's but her creation. He didn't believe it, and that day, he slapped Victoria. 

Zachary listened quietly for a long time.

Suddenly, he walked towards the study and put the film that Melissa had given him into the antique record player. It was that piece of "Meditation".

However, the sound quality and rhythm of this piece were completely different.

If this was what Yara played, then the previous one could never have belonged to her. 

Zachary looked utterly lost!

As the truth began to unravel and surface, his heartache was almost unbearable.

He couldn't accept the fact that it was not Yara who woke him up that year but Victoria. It was all Victoria from beginning to end!

Victoria had told him the truth, but he didn't believe it and slapped her.

Now, the person who once woke him up was locked in a private sanatorium by him! 

He said that when she recovered, he would return Joseph to her, but he knew that she would probably never come back!

Was he lying to her, or to himself?

In the late night, Zachary's eyes were slightly red, and he gave himself a hard slap.