Chapter 187
Mia had wanted to refuse. Terry was a good ten-plus years older than her—old and ugly. The sight of him made her sick!
Every time she went to his place, she had to force herself through sex with him, feeling disgusted. Afterward, it always haunted her like a nightmare.
She'd gotten tangled up with Terry because after Tamsin's failed attempt to kill Victoria landed her in the hospital, Mia was worried the truth would come out and had turned to Terry for help.
Tamsin shouldn't have died in that operating room, but thanks to Terry's help, she did.
Mia had thought she could pay him off and be done with him, but instead he used it as leverage, forcing her to come whenever he called!
The words of refusal rose in her throat.
"Martin's about to make his move on Victoria. If you want to know the details, dress up pretty tonight and come see me." Terry's suggestive tone came through, and before Mia could refuse, he hung up.
Mia was so angry she swept all the bottles and jars off her vanity table. How dare he!
Always threatening her to keep him company like this!
But Mia quickly calmed down. She needed to use Terry to get rid of Victoria. Once she became Martin's wife, she'd have no hesitation cutting this bastard into a thousand pieces!
She knew Terry's preferences, so she deliberately wore nearly transparent lingerie underneath.
Putting on sunglasses and wrapping herself in a bright red robe that showed off her legs, she went to Terry's place.
When she asked Terry for details, he started being secretive, insisting he'd only tell her after they had sex.
Mia gritted her teeth and had to agree.
After climax, Terry finally told her about Martin's plan.
She was shocked, "Martin really stopped Hayden's medication?"
"That's right. And Mr. Collins said no one is allowed to give Hayden any medication without permission. The reason is that Martin found out Victoria lost the baby." Terry said, glancing at Mia, "You made Victoria lose that baby, didn't you?"
Mia's eyelids twitched as she quickly denied it, "How is that possible?"
"Why not? The baby was fine when Martin and Victoria went on their trip, but when they came back it was gone. Based on the prenatal checkup I did for her, I can tell the baby was lost right around the time you went after her!" Terry narrowed his eyes, touching her chin, "You woman, you're so evil it's outrageous."
Mia slapped his hand away, "If you know I'm evil, stay away from me. Stop groping me."
"No matter how evil you are, can you be worse than me? Who told me to like you, to treasure you like a precious thing." Terry suddenly pulled her into his arms, trying to kiss her.
Mia couldn't help but dodge, suppressing her disgust, "Does your wife know you're cheating? Terry, we're just a fling. Don't act like it's true love. If you really loved me, would you cheat on your wife with me and make me wreck your family?"
"What? You want status now?" Terry sneered, "Be more enthusiastic with me, and maybe I'll divorce for you."
At these words, Mia barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.
Who wanted him to get divorced?
She'd only ever wanted Martin!
"I know you want to be Mrs. Collins. I like you, so I'll help you achieve that. But if you dare cross the bridge and burn it behind you, kick me aside..." Terry grabbed Mia's chin again, pausing for a long moment.
Mia shot back, "What, you'll kill me?"
"Baby, I'm not someone to mess with either. If I can help you scheme against Martin, I can naturally drag you down to hell too. Though I can't bear to kill you, destroying you would be easy for me." Terry kissed her neck.
Mia tried to dodge, but Terry forcibly kissed her, "Don't try to escape. Now that you've gotten involved with me, you can't get away. Even if you become Martin's wife, don't think you can shake me off. You're mine in life and in death."
Hearing these love words made Mia feel sick to her stomach.
Terry was a complete psycho!
Just one transaction, and he'd latched onto her like this.
How could she possibly be willing to be controlled by him for life?
How could she possibly accept being defiled by this old bastard forever!
She had to find a way quickly to make Victoria disappear!
Only when Victoria disappeared could she be with Martin.
Once she became Martin's wife, she would behave herself, be a good wife to Martin, cherish him, take care of him. All these dirty, sordid things would be buried in the dirt, never to be discovered again.
After leaving Terry's villa, Mia drove to a bar to drink.
At the bar, she saw a familiar figure.
It was Martin.
Wearing a black suit, expressionless, drinking heavily.
There were already quite a few empty bottles in front of him.
Clearly he really cared about the child Victoria had lost.
Mia thought about how she'd been by Martin's side for so many years, and he'd never really cared about her.
But Victoria was his enemy's daughter, and she could stir his emotions.
Jealousy and resentment made Mia grit her teeth.
She walked over to Martin's side, had the server bring over a bottle of wine, poured the red wine into a glass, and clinked it with his, "Don't drink alone. Let me drink with you."
Martin looked up and saw Mia in her red robe, having removed her sunglasses. His face was slightly flushed, and he was about to refuse.
Before he could speak, he heard her bitter laugh, "You're already unwilling to marry me, and now I can't even have a drink with you?"
Martin's gaze fell on the scabbed wounds on her face—Victoria had done that.
The scars covered Mia's entire cheek, and even makeup couldn't hide them.
"Do the wounds still hurt?" Martin thought of how Mia had helped him financially, how understanding she'd been about his reluctance to marry her.
His heart filled with guilt.
Mia touched the wounds on her face, "It would be a lie to say they don't hurt. But you get used to the pain. Do I look really ugly now?"
"No, you've always been beautiful."
"No matter how beautiful I am, you've never really looked at me, have you? People are really different. Victoria doesn't have to do anything to get your affection, your love, your care." Mia smiled bitterly, "But I've figured it out now. I won't compete with Victoria for you anymore. I just don't know if, looking like this, I'll ever be able to get married."
Martin said guiltily, "I'll get the most professional cosmetic surgery team to help repair it."
"Martin, is something bothering you? Why are you drinking alone in the middle of the night? Didn't Victoria ask you to come home?" Mia asked with concern.
Outside the bar window.
Victoria and Aaron were passing by. Victoria immediately spotted Martin and Mia sitting at the same table. Mia was looking at him with a proper, gracious smile, her eyes full of admiration.
Women understand women—Victoria could tell at a glance that Mia's gaze at Martin wasn't innocent.
Victoria blinked her dry eyes, watching for a long moment. Her feet seemed frozen, unable to move.
Just now he'd acted like he cared so much about the baby, and now he was drinking with Mia?
After drinking, what would they do? Get a room?
Victoria's heart ached unbearably, her breathing quickened. Martin, are you really this eager to be intimate with Mia?