Chapter 111
Go home with him.
When Victoria heard these words, she felt completely dazed.
Did they even have a home anymore?
Before Hayden's accident, their relationship had been inseparable. Whenever Martin made her angry, he would hold her just like this and say, "Victoria, be good, stop fussing, come home with me."
Thinking about the past, and then about how they'd been drifting further and further apart, Victoria's heart ached.
She was too tired today, and she didn't want to struggle anymore. Leaning against Martin's solid chest, she felt secure and grounded.
When they got downstairs, he put Victoria down with disgust. "Why are you so unhygienic now? You're wearing such dirty clothes, go change back into your own!"
The warmth from moments ago vanished instantly.
Victoria really wanted to curse at Martin—weren't you the one who made me wear these?
But she hadn't eaten all day and was too hungry to have the energy to argue with him. She obediently went to the storage room and changed back into her own clothes.
Victoria wanted to sit in the back seat of the Bentley, but Martin seemed determined to oppose her, insisting she sit in the passenger seat and reminding her of her status—they weren't divorced yet.
She was too lazy to argue with him. She knew he was just trying to torment her now.
Martin floored the gas pedal, and the car's speed instantly picked up.
Racing at breakneck speed.
He heard Victoria's stomach growling with hunger, so he turned the steering wheel and pulled up in front of a small restaurant.
Victoria followed him out of the car and into the restaurant.
Martin told her to order, and she asked back. "Don't I need to go home and cook for you?"
"By the time you get home and cook, I'll probably starve to death waiting." Martin snorted coldly with dissatisfaction, then placed his phone and car keys on the table.
He was mocking her for not completing what the contract required.
Victoria was too hungry—filling her stomach was the most important thing.
Victoria didn't actually like eating this kind of cheap food. She'd grown up well-off.
It was only after being with Martin that he'd gotten her used to it.
Victoria pointed at the menu and ordered a spaghetti bolognese, then ordered one for Martin too.
It was his favorite. Once upon a time, she'd made his preferences her own.
Martin wasn't really hungry and only took a couple bites of his rice bowl.
Across the table, Victoria wolfed down her food and even asked for another serving.
This was the first time he'd seen her eat so sloppily, gobbling down her food.
"You can eat that much?" Martin mocked.
Victoria complained. "I haven't eaten all day. You can't expect the horse to run without feeding it grass, right? Even capitalists aren't as heartless as you."
"Why haven't you eaten all day?" Martin's eyes showed surprise. Was it because Tatum bullied her and she had no appetite?
Victoria sneered. "Mr. Collins knows perfectly well."
"Now that you're full, you have the energy to be sarcastic again?"
Martin's eyes were quite cold. He paid the bill, then picked up his car keys and phone and left the restaurant.
Victoria jogged after him. Martin opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.
She asked him if he wanted to go to the supermarket. Since she didn't have time to move today, she needed to buy toiletries.
Martin looked at Victoria's eyes full of anticipation, her eyelashes fluttering like two little fans.
The word "yes" almost slipped out.
He couldn't be good to her, couldn't accompany her doing this and that. Being together was about tormenting each other, not building feelings.
"Who do you think you are? You're just a housekeeper in my home. Victoria, do you think you deserve to have me go shopping with you?" Martin sat in the passenger seat, looked away, lit a cigarette, and spoke quite decisively.
Disappointment flashed in Victoria's eyes as she snapped back to reality.
Right, she was just a housekeeper in Martin's home. How could she still fantasize about holding hands and shopping together like before?
What was she dreaming about?
Victoria pressed her lips together self-mockingly, her slender fingers gripping tightly together. "That's my mistake. You go back first. I'll buy what I need and go home on my own later."
After speaking, Victoria turned and entered the mall.
She clearly knew Martin hated her, knew he was only trying to torment her, but hearing his cold words still made her so sad she could barely breathe.
Crystal-clear tears welled up in her eyes.
Entering the mall, a wave of heat hit her.
Victoria wiped away her tears with her fingertips.
She asked a sales clerk and found the toiletries section.
Leaving the cart to the side, she carefully looked at the dazzling array of shelves, selecting a toothbrush holder she liked.
Then toothpaste, toothbrush, bath towel, hand towel, pajamas.
Soon, her items filled the small cart.
Victoria was a bit worried about how she'd carry all these things back later.
Just as she was paying, a large hand suddenly slapped her shoulder.
Victoria's body trembled slightly as she turned around.
"Ms. Gonzalez, didn't expect we'd meet again!"
Aaron was wearing a dark hoodie and baseball cap, dressed in jeans, flashing a cheerful smile at her.
Victoria was stunned. "Officer Hill? What are you doing here?"
The cashier reminded Victoria to take out her items for pricing.
Victoria took out the toothpaste and toothbrush.
Aaron also helped her take things out.
She kept saying. "Thank you."
"I'm also a local from Emerald City, is it that surprising?" Officer Hill asked with a smile.
Victoria quickly waved her hand. "No, I went to your station looking for you before, and they said you suddenly quit. I thought—"
"You thought Mr. Collins had something to do with it?"
Officer Hill asked back.
After the cashier finished scanning, she announced the total. Victoria was about to scan the QR code when Officer Hill had already shown the cashier his payment screenshot. "I paid for her."
"Officer Hill, you're too kind."
"It's nothing, besides, it's not that much money."
Aaron paid for his own items—he'd bought very little, not even filling one plastic bag.
Victoria's things were quite heavy, so he volunteered to carry the bags, making Victoria feel embarrassed.
The two walked toward the supermarket exit.
Aaron said with a smile. "Actually, it wasn't a sudden resignation. My family wanted me to retire and help with the family business. So it has nothing to do with Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins shouldn't be that petty."
"Then why was your WhatsApp deactivated?" Victoria looked at him suspiciously.
He explained again. "I changed my phone number."
Victoria finally understood—she'd misunderstood Martin. She'd always thought Aaron's retirement was related to Martin.
"I'm relieved to see you're okay."
Victoria murmured.
Coming out of the supermarket, a blast of cold air hit their faces.
"Officer Hill, thank you so much. You can give me the bags now." Victoria said, reaching for the shopping bags in his hands.
Not far away, a shiny black Bentley was parked.
Martin was smoking, squinting as he watched Victoria and Aaron at the supermarket entrance, chatting enthusiastically, seemingly reluctant to part.
Martin called Victoria, but her phone was still turned off.