Chapter 160
Martin came out of the hospital looking pretty upset.
He asked for the car keys, planning to drive himself back.
Brian could tell he was in a bad mood, so he didn't say much. He handed over the keys and went off to investigate what happened to Mia.
Martin sat in the driver's seat, rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and smoked with a blank expression.
The cold wind blew in through the window, making the burning tip of his cigarette flicker on and off.
Where on earth had Victoria gone?
Was she throwing a tantrum just because someone caught a photo of him helping Mia with her luggage?
Martin felt both angry and amused. Did Victoria even know what her position was?
She was just his enemy's daughter, constantly talking about making a deal with him!
She wanted to atone for the Gonzalez family's sins!
But after she got fifty percent of the Gonzalez Group shares, after she got three hundred million dollars in cash, after she got one hundred million dollars in prepaid medical expenses for Hayden, after she got his promise to help the Gonzalez family.
After signing the contract, Victoria had become so temperamental, so pushy.
Before, to please him, she could say anything sweet, even put aside her pride and kneel in the snow outside the Gonzalez Group building!
Now she'd gotten bold. She wasn't replying to his messages, she'd blocked his calls.
Martin was lost in thought when the ash burned his finger.
A whole cigarette had burned down so quickly!
Just like him and Victoria. He thought they had all the time in the world. He used to be so confident, thinking that because her family owed him, no matter how badly he treated her, she would never leave.
But things were developing in the opposite direction.
Martin felt incredibly frustrated, irritated, impatient, and more than anything, angry.
He drove like crazy on the road.
Mia's face was ruined, and it didn't even stir his emotions!
But Victoria just ran away, went into hiding, and he lost control.
The car sped off.
Martin didn't know where he was heading. He only knew that right now, he was very agitated and really wanted to let it out.
Eventually, the car pulled up at the apartment building.
A flash of surprise crossed Martin's eyes.
So his subconscious had brought him home!
After parking in the garage, Martin got out with a cold expression, closed the car door, and took the elevator to the first floor.
He entered his fingerprint to unlock the door.
The apartment door opened.
After entering, he didn't change his shoes but went straight up the spiral staircase.
Martin realized that everywhere he looked, he saw traces of Victoria.
Even when he reached the second-floor living room.
Usually, whenever he came home from work, she would definitely be lying on the sofa, lost in thought.
With a thin blanket over her legs. Even if she didn't talk to him, at least she was there by his side.
Martin spoke in a cold tone, as if he could see her on the sofa, "Victoria, who said you could leave without saying goodbye?"
Just then, a surprised voice came from behind, "Mr. Collins, Mrs. Collins hasn't come back. Who are you talking to?"
Martin turned around to see Kaida, wearing an apron, looking at him in shock.
He looked back at the sofa. Yes, there was no one on the sofa. It was so empty.
Who was he talking to?
With a glimmer of hope, Martin turned and went to the master bedroom, the guest bedroom.
And the walk-in closet.
Sure enough, she hadn't come back.
He returned to the living room and glanced at Kaida, "She's not back, you don't need to come. You can take a few days off."
Kaida said with a smile, "Mr. Collins, I have to come. Mrs. Collins bought a mynah bird and some plants. She really likes them. I need to feed the bird and water the plants. Otherwise, when Mrs. Collins comes back and sees I didn't take good care of them, she'll be upset. I don't want to see Mrs. Collins frown."
Martin looked at her, puzzled, "Plants?"
Kaida, holding the bird feed and watering can, led Martin to a corner, "Yes, this pot here. Before Mrs. Collins left, it was blooming beautifully. Let me show you."
Martin indeed saw a potted plant, its leaves withered, having lost their former glory.
He couldn't help but frown.
Kaida exclaimed, "It was fine just yesterday, how did it suddenly wither? This is bad—Mrs. Collins will be upset when she comes back and sees this."
Martin took the watering can from her hand, then crouched down and carefully watered the plant.
As if he wasn't just doing simple watering, but carrying out a very important task.
Not a single detail could go wrong.
"If Mrs. Collins knew you were watering it for her, she'd definitely be happy."
"Would she?"
"Of course. Mrs. Collins has you in her heart; she just doesn't like to express it. Mrs. Collins loves to sit in the sun and daydream. Once I asked her what she was thinking about, and she said she was thinking about many things, like the past. I think she must have been thinking about you."
"Why didn't she tell me before?"
Kaida said, "Mrs. Collins thought you were busy with work and told me not to disturb you."
After watering, Martin put down the can.
He noticed the plant's leaves were covered with a layer of dust.
He found a cloth and wiped the leaves clean, making the plant bright green again.
On the balcony, he opened the glass door.
Martin saw the listless mynah bird in the cage. When it saw someone coming with food, it immediately lifted its head, its eyes widening, hopping and jumping excitedly.
Kaida handed the feed to Martin, smiling, "Mr. Collins, this mynah is very smart. It can even talk and make people happy. Mrs. Collins really likes it."
Kaida looked at the mynah, "Say something!"
The mynah hopped around, squawking loudly, "Happy New Year! Happy New Year!"
Kaida beamed, "What else can you say? Talk, and I'll give you food!"
The mynah continued, "Happy New Year! Welcome!"
Martin told Kaida to go do her own thing, and Kaida left.
The mynah kept talking. Martin finally showed a long-lost smile, his slender fingers picking up a few pieces of feed and putting them in its food bowl.
The mynah lowered its head, ate it all in a few bites, then raised its head again, squawking "Happy New Year!"
Martin smiled, "Do you know any other words?"
It stared at him for a moment, then started squawking, "Martin! Martin! Martin!"
Martin froze. Did it know his name?
Clearly, Victoria had often said his name in front of this mynah.
"Martin! Bastard!"
"Martin, ungrateful jerk!"
"Martin, not human!"
The mynah stared intently at the feed in Martin's palm, flapping its wings, "Martin, bastard! Martin, ungrateful jerk! Martin, not human!"