Chapter 217
Victoria lay on the big bed in the master bedroom of the apartment.
Staring at the ceiling without blinking.
She had heard every word Martin said when he knocked on the door earlier, offering to take her to the hospital.
But she was too tired today.
She didn't want to put on an act anymore.
The whole night, she couldn't fall asleep.
Watching the dark master bedroom gradually grow bright.
There was a knock on the master bedroom door.
Victoria got out of bed, walked to the door, and opened it.
Kaida, wearing an apron, smiled apologetically at her, "Ms. Gonzalez, it's me. I've made some porridge. Would you like to eat it while it's hot?"
"I have no appetite." Victoria was telling the truth.
Kaida thought she was about to throw a tantrum and looked troubled, "But Mr. Collins told me to make sure Ms. Gonzalez finishes breakfast. If you don't eat, I can't explain it to him. Besides, you're pregnant now. The baby in your belly needs to eat too, right?"
The baby in her belly?
Victoria blinked. Kaida was a good person, hardworking and knew her place. There was no reason to make things difficult for her.
After washing up, Victoria changed her clothes and came to the dining table to eat breakfast.
Her phone suddenly buzzed.
She picked it up and looked. It was a WhatsApp message from Martin.
If she remembered correctly, he had blocked her a long time ago.
How ironic. She never thought she'd live to see the day he'd unblock her.
Martin: [Tell Kaida what you like to eat, and she'll make it for you.]
Martin: [If your cold gets worse, have Kaida take you to the hospital. The baby is what matters most.]
The baby again.
So all of Martin's concern for her was based on this.
She knew he wanted to torture her, reminding her over and over to look forward to the baby's birth.
Did he really look forward to the baby's birth?
Probably not. He was probably looking forward to her death instead.
Why did Martin keep reminding her? It's not like she had amnesia.
Turning off her phone screen, Victoria placed it face down on the table and focused on eating the porridge in her bowl.
The porridge was soft and fragrant, but it tasted like nothing in her mouth.
Kaida heard her phone buzz, pulled it out from her apron pocket, glanced at it, then looked up at Victoria with concern, "Ms. Gonzalez, you have a cold? Are you feeling any better?"
Victoria gripped the handle of her spoon tightly. No surprise, that text to Kaida was from Martin.
"You don't look very well. Do you need me to take you to the hospital?" Kaida asked anxiously.
Victoria smiled, "I'm fine. Go do what you need to do."
What good would going to the hospital do?
The baby in her belly couldn't be removed anymore.
Her body was already this broken.
Besides accepting it and facing it, she had no other choice.
Kaida nodded, turned and went to the kitchen, grabbed her shopping basket, and went out to buy groceries.
The potted plant in the corner had completely died, its leaves drooping.
Sunlight shone on the pot, like a final moment before death.
Victoria's fingertips touched the faded, withered leaves. She smiled bitterly. If she had known, she wouldn't have bought it.
It had been growing so well in the wind, lush and green, like hope spreading.
But after bringing it home, it died.
Victoria pulled the plant out by its roots. The roots had rotted with several holes, leaving only long root fibers.
She calmly threw it in the trash.
Then she went to the balcony.
The Gracula religiosa locked in the cage had been listless, head down as if dozing.
Hearing footsteps, the Gracula religiosa immediately looked up. Seeing Victoria approaching, its eyes lit up, "Gong xi fa cai, gong xi fa cai."
Victoria curved her lips and put all the feed from her palm into the food box.
It ate quickly, finishing everything in no time.
The Gracula religiosa must have been starving. Victoria added feed many times, and it ate everything clean.
Looking at its black feathers, Victoria fell into thought.
The plant was already dead.
If she kept the Gracula religiosa, would it meet the same fate?
She had already lost her freedom, lost her beautiful life.
The Gracula religiosa was so similar to her. Both had to please others, say nice things, put on smiling faces to win their master's favor. Both lived at their master's mercy.
Victoria opened the cage.
The Gracula religiosa flapped its wings and instantly flew onto Victoria's palm.
"Gong xi fa cai, gong xi fa cai." It spoke clearly and precisely.
Victoria used her other hand to stroke itsfeathers. Sunlight fell on its body, as if coating it withgold. Glittering with golden light. Its feathers felt soft and comfortable to touch.
"Fly away. You weren’t meant for an iron cage. The blue sky is where you belong." Victoria said gently, her lips slightly curved.
She couldn't have freedom, couldn't fight against fate, so let this Gracula religiosa soar freely in the sky without worries.
The Gracula religiosa smacked its beak, its eyes staring at Victoria without blinking.
Victoria knew it was reluctant to leave.
But she could collapse at any moment. After she was gone, who would take care of this Gracula religiosa?
Better to let it go sooner rather than later.
Victoria steeled herself and suddenly flicked her palm upward.
The Gracula religiosa skillfully flew up, finally landing on the balcony railing. It turned its head to look at Victoria for a long moment, then said with exceptionally clear pronunciation, "Goodbye! Goodbye!"
"Goodbye."
Victoria smiled. Actually, it was never seeing each other again. There would be no chance to meet again.
The Gracula religiosa turned its head back, flapped its wings, and soon disappeared into the sky, flying toward the blue sky, white clouds, green mountains, and clear waters.
Victoria looked at the iron cage again. Empty.
As if everything just now had been a dream.
As if nothing had happened.
As if nothing had ever been there.
Since Martin left the apartment, he never appeared again.
He didn't contact her on his own either.
Victoria saw that the trees lining the streets were gradually being decorated with colored lights, preparing for the New Year a week away.
But her body was getting worse day by day. She couldn't remember how long it had been since she had a good night's sleep.
But Victoria still ate a lot every day, stuffing herself. She had to wait until Hayden woke up.
So she took it upon herself to increase the dosage of painkillers.
Days passed like this, one after another. Victoria finally couldn't wait any longer. She took the initiative to contact Martin, sending him a WhatsApp message.
Victoria: [Three days have passed. When will my dad wake up?]
The message sank like a stone in the sea.
He didn't reply.
A few days ago, when he asked if her cold was better, she hadn't replied either.
Victoria thought he was doing it on purpose.
Now wasn't the time to care about saving face. She needed to follow up on this matter.
Just as she was about to call him, Aria's call came first. Victoria knew that when her mother called, it was usually about Hayden.
Victoria quickly answered the phone.
"Victoria, Mom has good news to tell you! Victoria, are you listening?" Aria's voice on the phone was choked with tears, extremely excited.
Victoria held the phone, "I'm listening."
"Your dad woke up! Victoria, your dad woke up! Come to the hospital quickly, your dad wants to see you!"