Chapter 279

Chapter 279

Victoria had calculated everything perfectly. She knew full well that Amelia wouldn't want these servants—because right now, Amelia's goal was to completely sever the bond between Victoria and Orion. Any servant who'd had ties to Victoria would be dismissed.

But when that happened, it would be Amelia bearing the fury of these working-class people.

The servants didn't want to leave, but with Spike and his men standing beside Victoria, glaring at them menacingly, they had no choice. They packed their belongings, took this month's wages, and left.

Once again facing a massive staff turnover, the Howard Villa sank into a deathly silence.

Spike looked at Victoria, noticeably thinner now, and felt a pang of heartache.

He edged closer to her side, keeping his voice low. "Ms. Brown, should I find some trustworthy people to serve you?"

Victoria had been lost in thought. Spike's sudden voice startled her, and she nearly snapped at him—but when she met his concerned eyes, all the harsh words died on her tongue.

She'd almost forgotten when someone had last cared about her like this.

Spike, the man she'd always viewed as a beast, was now showing her a beast's loyalty.

With that thought, Victoria decided not to lash out at him.

"Not for now. I can manage on my own. I have something more important I need you to do—it's about Ori."

She beckoned him closer. He leaned in, and she whispered a few instructions in his ear.

Spike had been nervous about their proximity at first, but after hearing just a few words, he couldn't think about that anymore.

"Ms. Brown, are you sure you want to do this? I'm afraid it'll scare him."

A flicker of conflict crossed Victoria's eyes, but when she recalled how decisive and resolute Orion had looked when leaving with Amelia, she steeled herself instantly. "It's fine. My son shouldn't be so timid. Besides, you won't actually hurt him, will you?"

When it came to Victoria's orders, Spike always obeyed completely. As for Orion and the others—they all came after Victoria.

After dismissing Spike and his men, Victoria collapsed onto the sofa, showing a hint of exhaustion.

What woman in the world had fallen to her level? Husband missing. Son taken by her mother-in-law. The man who loved her, the man she loved—both gone. Yet the woman she hated was thriving?

Victoria bit down hard on her teeth. She absolutely could not give up.

With that resolve, exhausted as she was, she refused to rest. She dialed Zephyr's number directly.

Zephyr had been discharged today. Despite his injuries, he hadn't gone home or looked for Sophia. Instead, he'd found a newly opened bar to mess around in.

When Victoria's call came through, he was drinking with his arm around a young woman he'd just picked up. Seeing Victoria's name on the screen, he felt utterly annoyed.

The little beauty in his arms had a bold, outgoing personality. Seeing Zephyr staring at the screen without speaking, she snatched the phone and answered it herself. "He's with me right now. Get in line!"

She hung up immediately, then cupped Zephyr's face and kissed him.

Zephyr had been a bit angry at her presumption, but when she offered her lips voluntarily, he decided not to hold it against her.

Victoria nearly exploded with rage. Her vision even started going dark, but she managed to hold on through sheer willpower.

She sat in the darkness, thinking for a while, then contacted Zephyr's assistant, Gavin.

He was Zephyr's childhood friend and the person Zephyr trusted most. If you were to rank Zephyr's trust levels, Gavin would even come before Zephyr's biological parents and older brother.

Based on this relationship, Gavin knew everything—about Zephyr and Victoria's relationship, about Orion's parentage.

"I need to see Zephyr. Tell me where he is right now."

Gavin was working overtime at the office. Zephyr had dumped all the preparatory work for the Harbor Village project on him. Right now, he was overwhelmed and had no patience for Victoria. "I don't know. Just call him yourself!"

Normally, Victoria might have understood that Gavin didn't know everything. But today, Victoria had been through too much—most of it infuriating—so she threatened him directly. "You don't know? What if I said that last Sunday, I saw you having dinner with Zephyr's sister-in-law? Still sure you don't know?"

Gavin's fingers froze on the keyboard. "Ms. Brown, what are you implying?"

Victoria laughed coldly. "Nothing much. I just want to know Zephyr's whereabouts. I'm sure you have ways to find out."

Gavin fell silent, but his mind raced.

He had no interest in knowing every detail of Zephyr's love life. He only knew his childhood friend never lacked women, that Victoria was Zephyr's favorite—but not his only one.

Now Victoria was demanding Zephyr's location from him. Clearly, the two had a falling out.

With that realization, Gavin knew exactly how to handle Victoria. He relaxed. "Ms. Brown, you've misunderstood. My meeting with his sister-in-law was at Zephyr's request. But of course, your matter is important to me. How about this—give me a few minutes to look into it. I'll tell you once I find out. How's that?"

Since Gavin had backed down, Victoria relented, snorting twice before hanging up.

Gavin couldn't help but spit at his phone. "Really thinks she's Zephyr's wife? Just wait till your affair gets exposed—let's see which man in our circle will still marry you, you slut!"

Angry as he was, Victoria was still someone he couldn't afford to offend right now. So Gavin called Zephyr.

He didn't have high hopes—after all, if Zephyr wouldn't even answer Victoria's calls, why would he answer his? This call was mainly to create a paper trail, to show Victoria he'd tried.

Unexpectedly, Zephyr picked up.

Hearing the slightly drunk voice on the other end, Gavin's brain stalled for a moment, then he couldn't help speculating—looks like Zephyr and Victoria had a serious fight. This wasn't just an ordinary lovers' spat.

While he was spacing out, Zephyr was already getting impatient. "If you've got something to say, say it. Since when did you become so wishy-washy?"

Gavin snapped back to reality and laughed bitterly. "I'm so exhausted I could keel over, and I'd love nothing more than to turn into a woman and get some rest! By the way, where are you right now? I hear a woman talking in the background."

Hearing this, Zephyr deliberately made out with the little beauty in his arms until she made some noise, then gave Gavin an address and invited him. "How about it? Want to come have some fun too?"