Chapter 114
The next morning, Victoria was woken up by the alarm at six o'clock.
Since she didn't have any days off, she planned to get up early and go to the Gonzalez Villa to bring her essentials to Martin's place.
Opening her eyes, Martin was already gone from the bed.
Victoria touched the blanket beside her. It was already cold. He must have gotten up a long time ago.
Last night, she had a dream.
In the dream, she was nestled in Martin's arms, her legs draped over his narrow waist as usual, and he didn't push her away. Instead, he held her very, very tight.
But even the most beautiful dreams must end, leaving only the cold, cruel, harsh reality.
After washing up, Victoria took a taxi to the Gonzalez Villa. Since her health wasn't great lately, she rarely drove anymore.
The moving company she'd contacted last night was already waiting at the door.
By the time everything was moved to Martin's villa, it was only seven o'clock.
She quickly organized everything, hanging all her clothes in the walk-in closet alongside Martin's.
Then she put the laptop Martin had bought her in the master bedroom drawer and locked it with a small lock.
In her rush, a photo of the mute boy's back fell from the laptop onto the floor. Victoria didn't notice, and by the time she finished tidying up, it was already eight-thirty.
She couldn't be late for work.
Victoria hurriedly changed out of her dirty clothes, threw them in the washing machine, put on sneakers, and went downstairs for breakfast.
While eating her tasty breakfast, her phone on the table rang - Aria was calling.
Victoria answered, and Aria immediately started worrying about her, telling her to take care of herself. The weather was getting colder, and Victoria had always been sensitive to cold since childhood. She absolutely couldn't get sick - the Gonzalez family couldn't handle any more trouble.
Aria hadn't been this chatty before, but Victoria was still moved to tears, quietly listening and responding.
Finally, Aria got to the point, "Victoria, Director Mr. Perez notified me that we need to pay the fees again the day after tomorrow. Talk to Martin about it, okay? Don't forget."
"So soon? Didn't they say it would be half a month later?" Victoria was a bit surprised.
Aria explained, "Their hospital requires payment ten days in advance - they're worried about patients defaulting."
"I got it. I'll tell him in a bit." Victoria sighed softly and hung up.
She thought about last night, when Martin caught her taking birth control pills. He was probably still angry. She needed to do something to smooth things over before she could bring up the medical fees.
Martin loved breakfast from this place. Victoria packed him a portion too, adding an extra egg and burger.
Because Martin had suffered so much as a child, even though he was financially free now, he still ate these simple breakfasts.
When she took a taxi to the company, the executive office area was still dark.
Only Martin's office was brightly lit.
He wore an expensive, simple-styled business suit, sitting in his black leather chair, handling his work.
Martin was so focused that he didn't even notice when she walked up to him.
"Mr. Collins, have you had breakfast?" Victoria smiled awkwardly at him.
He didn't even glance at her.
Victoria was used to this by now. She placed the breakfast on his desk. "I brought you breakfast."
Martin still ignored her. Her behavior reminded him of a saying. When someone's being extra nice for no reason, they're up to something.
Besides, last night she'd called out for the mute boy. He still felt sick thinking about it.
So much so that he couldn't sleep at midnight and came to the office to work until now.
He hadn't even had time to eat breakfast.
"Mr. Collins, I was wrong last night."
"Oh? Then tell me, what did you do wrong?"
Martin asked coldly, still flipping through documents and signing his name.
Victoria didn't actually think she'd done anything wrong, but when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Getting the money was what mattered most right now.
"I shouldn't have taken birth control pills. Even if I did, I should have waited for you to say so first."
"From now on, I'll remember the contract terms and do everything you say without talking back. When you sleep with me, you're giving me a chance, showing me respect. I should thank you - how could I disgust you?"
"Also, I ran into Officer Hill at the supermarket yesterday. He told me his sudden retirement had nothing to do with you - I misunderstood you before. He drove me back because I had a lot of stuff and he was being nice. I paid him for the ride - it wasn't free."
Only then did Martin slowly lift his eyelids, staring at her intently, "Who's the mute boy?"
"He's a boy I saved."
"So you're his savior? I didn't know you were so caring?" Martin's smile didn't reach his eyes, his lips curling mysteriously.
Mia saved him, but Victoria saved the mute boy?
She saved him once and can't forget him?
Victoria was about to explain when Martin's smile faded, and he sneered, "Before the divorce, stay away from other men!"
"I'll listen to you. Don't be angry anymore. Eat your breakfast. It's bad for your stomach when it's cold." Victoria changed the subject.
Martin's stomach was indeed hungry, so he picked up the warm food from the plastic bag.
Victoria watched his expression carefully. Once she was sure he was in a decent mood, she tentatively asked, "Mr. Collins, the hospital is asking for the medical fees. Do you think—"
Martin's expression changed. So her sudden softness, her sudden apology, was all because of Hayden's medical fees.
Martin threw the breakfast in his hand into the trash.
"Victoria, you think buying me some breakfast will make me soft-hearted about your father? You think way too highly of yourself!"
"But we signed a contract, didn't we? In black and white. I fulfilled my part last night!" Victoria was confused. What did Martin mean? Was he going back on his word?
Victoria didn't realize that her words were like adding fuel to fire. His face visibly darkened inch by inch. He pointed at the door impatiently, "Get out and go clean your office building! Stop hovering around me!"
"You're really hard to please." Victoria was also angry now. She'd kindly brought him breakfast, and not only did he not appreciate it, but he wanted to go back on his word and not pay?
He'd tricked her again - he'd tricked her so many times!
Victoria trembled with anger, feeling both wronged and helpless. Tears came immediately, "I'll clean every floor I'm supposed to. But you suddenly won't pay - what's that about? Martin, you can't bully people like this! I quit!"
In her anger, Victoria grabbed the pen holder from the desk, about to smash it on the floor.
"You dare throw that, and I'll make sure your father dies right now. Believe me or not!" Martin's voice rose sharply, roaring. So it was all for money, for the transaction. That's why Victoria came to please him, to get close to him. She wasn't even pretending anymore.
Victoria, who gave you the nerve to treat me like this?