Chapter 167
Brian hesitated, unable to speak for a long while.
Martin was such a sharp person. How could he not understand what his silence meant!
So Victoria had been with Aaron all along. For the sake of the Hill family's illegitimate son, she'd taken his child and moved in with another man.
Thinking of this unbearable truth, Martin felt his anger flare.
The location provided by netizens was still in Rainbow Town. No wonder he couldn't find her. She'd never returned to Emerald City.
That evening, Martin barely touched his dinner before boarding a private jet to the rental house where Victoria was staying.
After landing, Brian drove them there.
Following the GPS, he drove for a full two hours.
The black Bentley turned onto a narrow country road.
On both sides were lush green wheat seedlings. The cold moonlight fell on the vast ground and wheat, adding a faint golden glow.
Like an unreal dream.
These past few days, Martin hadn't eaten or slept well because of Victoria's disappearance. Dark circles had formed under his eyes, stubble had grown on his face, and he hadn't had time to deal with it.
He was exhausted and sleepy, but he had to force himself to stay alert.
Thinking about seeing Victoria soon, Martin's emotions were all over the place—the excitement of finding what was lost, mixed with uncontrollable rage.
If he saw Victoria and Aaron together with his own eyes, acting intimate, he truly didn't know what extreme thing he might do!
The car finally pulled up to a villa—though calling it a villa was generous. It was really just a small two-story house with a chicken coop beside the yard.
As soon as he got out, Martin heard hens clucking.
He couldn't help but frown. He was used to this kind of environment, having grown up in one just like it.
But Victoria was different. She'd been pampered since childhood, a rich young lady who couldn't handle even the slightest hardship. Yet now she was living in such terrible conditions?
He looked around. This village was sparsely populated, with houses scattered here and there.
Martin's frown deepened. Victoria given up her luxurious life to come suffer in this poor village?
He didn't know whether to call her devoted or just stupid.
Brian was on the phone, contacting the landlord.
Soon enough, the peeling iron gate opened.
A middle-aged woman in a floral cotton jacket poked her head out. Brian exchanged a few pleasantries with her, then introduced Martin.
She looked Martin over—his crisp coat, leather gloves, and eyes behind his glasses that were as deep and unfathomable as a cold pool.
Just one icy glance from him made the landlady look away in fear.
"Take us to her," Martin said bluntly.
The middle-aged woman looked awkward, "Now's probably not a good time."
"You're not available?" Brian frowned at her.
She quickly waved her hands in explanation, "Not me—the Miss you're looking for isn't available. There's someone in her room. A man."
At these words, Brian glanced at Martin, whose face had darkened considerably.
Martin asked her, "What's his last name?"
"I don't know that. He never told me. But he's quite generous—he's tipped me several times. Asked me to keep that Miss's whereabouts secret," the landlady thought for a moment and answered honestly.
Brian saw Martin glance at him, so he pulled up a photo on his phone and showed it to the landlady for confirmation, "Is this the gentleman?"
The landlady looked and nodded, "Yes, that's him. So you know him."
Martin laughed bitterly. On the way here, he'd been clinging to hope.
He'd thought maybe he was wrong, maybe Victoria was here alone.
But she really had moved in with Aaron—and they were together right now!
"Lead the way!"
Martin's face was grim.
The landlady turned and headed up the stairs.
The stairwell was dark, with only one dim motion-sensor light that barely made a difference.
Martin's every step felt heavy, like there was a stone on his heart.
It felt suffocating, oppressive.
No wonder she'd cut off contact. No wonder she didn't even care about Hayden anymore. Aaron must really be important to her.
More important than him, her husband!
Martin suddenly felt very foolish, very stupid.
She'd been here these past few days living it up, while he'd been a mess—watering her plants, feeding her Gracula religiosa, unable to eat or sleep.
"She's staying in this room."
The landlady stopped at a room door and spoke to Martin and Brian.
Brian looked at Martin anxiously, "Mr. Collins, maybe we should come back tomorrow to see Mrs. Collins?"
Even if they really caught them in the act, Martin and Victoria's relationship would be over!
Any man who saw his wife in a room with another man would lose it!
Martin took a breath. He was actually afraid to go in, too.
Even more afraid to knock.
He didn't dare imagine what he might do if he saw what he was picturing—would he strangle her with his own hands?
Probably. He wouldn't allow his woman to be touched by another man!
And he definitely wouldn't want a woman who'd been defiled!
But Martin wasn't the type to deceive himself. Things had come to this point—he wouldn't back down.
No matter how difficult or painful the road ahead, he could only face it!
As if making a huge decision, Martin commanded in a low voice, "Knock!"
The landlady actually admired his courage. His wife was cheating, and he could still stay this calm.
The landlady reached out and knocked on the door.
The hallway was silent, no response.
"Ms. Gonzalez, it's me, the landlord. Are you asleep? I need to talk to you about something," the landlady spoke with a smile.
Still no response from inside.
The landlady looked at Martin, unsure what to do.
Martin's face was cold and dark, staring hard at that door.
Victoria, you can't hide today!
I want to see how you're going to explain this to me!
Martin's eyes were ice-cold. "Get the key and open the door!"
"That doesn't seem right, does it?" The landlady was confused.
Brian pulled out a checkbook, wrote a check for five hundred million dollars, tore it off, and handed it to her. "This is a check for five hundred million dollars. Can we open the door now?"
"Yes, sir, you're very generous. I'll open it right away." Seeing all those zeros on the check, the landlady eagerly took a string of keys from her waistband, found the right one, and inserted it into the lock.
Martin felt the air around him growing thin. The landlady quickly turned the lock, then pushed the old wooden door open with force!