Chapter 112
Martin flicked his cigarette butt out the window.
He floored the gas pedal, his face dark with anger. The veins on the back of his hand gripping the steering wheel bulged prominently, showing just how furious he was at that moment.
The black Bentley shot forward like an arrow, kicking up a cloud of dust.
He'd been waiting here for Victoria, worried she'd buy too much and have trouble getting a cab back.
But she'd gone off with Aaron again. He had originally planned to deal with Aaron, but Aaron had retired overnight.
Now he was back.
Back at the apartment.
Martin opened a bottle of red wine and expressionlessly drank the dark red liquid in his glass.
The wine going down his throat was unusually bitter.
Martin stood on the balcony and waited a full half hour.
Finally, an SUV pulled up in front of his apartment building.
The SUV door opened.
Aaron, wearing a dark green hoodie and baseball cap, got out and opened the passenger door like a gentleman.
Victoria still had a man's jacket draped over her shoulders.
The two said goodbye reluctantly, clearly not wanting to part. Victoria returned the jacket to Aaron and smiled at him with exceptional sweetness—the kind of smile she used to only give him.
Martin sneered. What was wrong with him? After their divorce, naturally Victoria would be this intimate with other men.
But an inexplicable rage surged in his chest. He drained the wine in his glass, irritably loosened his tie, and went back to the living room.
No wonder Victoria was in such a hurry to divorce—Aaron was coming back.
No wonder she told him to go back first—she wanted to go on a date with Aaron.
Victoria said goodbye to Aaron, carrying shopping bags in both hands, and walked toward the apartment.
She didn't have Martin's access card. She pressed the intercom button many times until her hand was sore before the door finally opened.
Victoria knew he was doing it on purpose, but she didn't want to make a big deal out of it. Life was hard enough as it is—if you got hung up on every little thing, how could you get through it?
When she got to the villa, she'd barely put down her plastic bags when she heard Martin's mocking sneer. "I heard you threw water on my secretary today?"
Victoria pressed her lips together tightly. Here it comes, just as she expected.
Before she could speak, Martin came up to her and grabbed her chin. "Who gave you the right to throw water on her?"
Victoria winced in pain and stared at him intently.
He seemed to have been drinking. His face was flushed, looking slightly drunk.
But even drunk, Martin still looked impatient with her.
They weren't even divorced yet. She was still his wife in name. A low-level employee had provoked her—wasn't she allowed to fight back?
Victoria's heart ached, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Drop that pitiful act. I'm not buying it. Victoria, if you ever lay a hand on my people again, you and I are done!" Martin saw her on the verge of tears and felt even more irritated. He let go of her chin, stuck one hand in his pocket, and without even looking at her, went into the bedroom.
Victoria forced back her tears and took all the toiletries from the plastic bags and placed them on the bathroom counter.
Next to Martin's.
Then she went to the bathroom to shower and wash away the day's exhaustion.
After her shower, Victoria dried her hair and went to make the bed in the guest room.
In the past, making beds was something maids and servants did.
She never thought that one day, she would become the lowest of the low.
She'd just finished making the bed.
"Who told you to make the bed? What, we're not even divorced yet and you're already planning to sleep separately?" An displeased voice rang out.
Victoria turned her head slightly and saw Martin in a business suit standing in the doorway, his face clouded with anger.
Victoria smiled bitterly. "I'm just a live-in housekeeper. I wouldn't dare share a bed with Mr. Collins."
"You have one minute. If you don't come over, our contract ends right now!"
With that, Martin slammed the door and left.
Victoria blinked her dry eyes. He was using Hayden to threaten her again.
Trampling her dignity underfoot.
But Victoria had no way to resist. She needed this agreement. She needed Martin to help the Gonzalez family.
Only then could she die in peace.
Victoria swallowed her pride and went to the master bedroom.
Martin stood in front of the mirror and glanced at her coldly. "Come help me change."
She walked over and helped him take off his dark suit jacket.
Her eyes stayed on Martin. He had a slender figure and stood straight.
His Adam's apple moved subtly, incredibly sexy.
Martin was taller than Victoria. She stood on her tiptoes and reached up to help him with his tie.
In the past, she used to help him with his tie every day.
Back then, Martin would give her a good morning kiss and a goodbye kiss every day.
When he came home from work, he'd bring her a bouquet of roses.
Because she loved roses that bloomed so passionately and beautifully.
But now, their positions had reversed.
Thinking about this, Victoria felt a wave of sadness. Her fingers trembled slightly, and she couldn't undo the tie.
"You can't even undo a tie without spacing out. What are you thinking about?" Martin suddenly grabbed her throat and pulled her in front of him.
"I wasn't."
Victoria bit her lip, coughing from the pain.
"Let me guess what you're thinking. You must be thinking about Aaron, right? Your date at the supermarket wasn't enough? He dropped you off and you're still not happy? Do you need to be in his bed to be satisfied?" Martin sneered, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "Did you even read the contract carefully? During the contract period, stay away from other men. Can't you read?"
Victoria tried to pry away the hand gripping her neck, but he suddenly roared. "Making a deal with me and pulling this crap—you think I'm an idiot?"
Victoria had never seen Martin this fierce. Her body trembled with fear, and she nervously swallowed.
She didn't dare argue or talk back. She was afraid he'd get angry and terminate the contract.
"Think I can't satisfy you? Think I've been neglecting you, so you want to cheat?" The veins on Martin's forehead bulged. His face was red, the tendons on the back of his hand standing out. He wanted nothing more than to strangle Victoria right then and there.
But he restrained himself. He couldn't bear to strangle her, because there was only one Victoria.
The rage in his heart rolled wildly, burning hotter and hotter.
Victoria was terrified by Martin's furious appearance. She stared wide-eyed in fear, not daring to make a sound, not even daring to beg for mercy.
She hadn't even reacted yet.
He yanked her neck hard, and her whole body fell against Martin.
Victoria's soft lips lightly brushed against his cheek.
Then his forceful, angry kiss came crashing down.
Martin's kiss was rough and domineering, crushing her lips wildly. When Victoria didn't open her mouth, he bit down hard on her lips. Victoria opened her mouth in pain.
His tongue slid into her mouth, forcing her to respond. "Kiss me."