Chapter 155 Zachary smelled of another woman's perfume.

Zachary returned to the villa around 7 p.m., finding Victoria had already eaten.

Lately, her spirits had improved.

However, Zachary hadn't dismissed the guards. They remained vigilant, especially during snowy days, stationed around the villa.

As he stepped out of the car, Zachary intentionally left the gifts inside, planning to surprise Victoria.

Walking through the door, he handed his coat to a servant and casually inquired about Victoria.

The servant, with a warm smile, replied, "Victoria has eaten! In the afternoon, she and Joseph watched the snow together. Joseph, being so young, seemed to enjoy it, laughing all the while."

Zachary's expression softened as he made his way upstairs to the master bedroom.

The warm, well-lit room welcomed him, and there he found Victoria, in a pale pink wool dress, tending to Joseph.

Her long hair, casually styled, accentuated her delicate features.

Zachary felt a wave of emotion and almost moved to tears, but he refrained from disturbing them. The scene before him was so tender, as if all past hurts had vanished, leaving only a loving couple and their child.

Victoria looked up, meeting his gentle gaze.

Zachary approached, joining her by the crib, and whispered, "I bought you both gifts! I left them in the car. Could you fetch them?"

He then turned his attention to Joseph, bringing a smile to the child's face.

Victoria, now in her coat, prepared to go downstairs.

Zachary stopped her, offering a down jacket, his voice caring and gentle. "It's cold outside. Please wear this."

Victoria smiled, then left the room.

Outside, the storm raged, but Victoria insisted on walking a few steps without an umbrella.

As she opened the car door, the interior light revealed two boxes on the back seat, one containing Joseph's Christmas outfit and the other, an LV scarf.

Just as she was about to close the door, a long, fine hair caught her eye. It was about 0.4 meters long, dyed with a hint of chestnut.

Victoria remained silent, realizing who the hair belonged to. It must be Melissa!

She gently closed the door, her mind filled with thoughts.

Perhaps Zachary had found a new love and was ready to let her go. But Melissa's presence also reminded her of Yara and the pain she had caused.

These were wounds deep within Victoria, easily triggering her depression.

She returned to the villa, snowflakes dusting her white down jacket. A servant brushed off the snow, remarking, "Zachary would worry if you caught a cold!"

Victoria smiled faintly.

As she ascended the stairs, the servant's gaze was filled with complex emotions.

Back to the warm bedroom, she removed her coat.

Zachary stood by the French window, holding Joseph, and they were both enjoying the snowfall.

He appeared to be the most gentle husband and father in the world.

Victoria opened the gift, a set for the baby's crib.

Zachary placed Joseph in the crib.

He embraced her from behind, his voice husky as he asked. "Why don't you open your gift? See if you like it."

She didn't appreciate his touch.

Gently, she freed herself from his embrace and opened the box, revealing a pale pink scarf.

Zachary wrapped it around her, saying, "It suits you."

It had been a while since they had been intimate, and he felt a desire to be close to her.

Besides, it was Christmas Eve, and he wanted to be romantic.

He held her from behind, his warm breath on her ear, his voice hoarse. "Victoria, let's try. If you're uncomfortable, I'll stop."

With that, he carried her to the sofa. Supporting himself with one hand on the back of the sofa, he caressed her face and kissed her. He whispered at her lips, promising to make her comfortable, expressing his willingness to prioritize her pleasure.

Her black hair cascaded over the snowy backdrop.

She looked down at him, observing the tender and affectionate expression on his face. She thought he probably didn't know he carried the scent of another woman.

The scent of an emotionless orange, which indicated the scent of a young girl.

She refused, not allowing him to serve her.

She turned her head to look at the black-clad bodyguards downstairs, her voice low and hoarse. "Zachary, I'm not in the mood! When will you let me go?"

Zachary paused, looking up at her.

In her eyes, there was no desire, only indifference.

Zachary's physiological needs were strong, and he always wanted a response from her. Her indifference made him feel disinterested.

So he no longer felt the mood for intimacy. He lay beside her, breathing heavily, and said expressionlessly, "We'll talk about it later!"

When a man can't get tenderness, his mind will wander.

Zachary spent less time at home, moving his work to the company. He no longer accompanied Victoria all the time, nor did he pester her for intimacy, nor did he try to make her happy.

He treated her with gradual indifference.

But he still came home every night, playing with Joseph for a while, then taking a shower and going to bed.

Sometimes, he would lie next to Victoria, but he would no longer initiate intimacy in case of her rejection.

In the late hours of an evening a few days later, Zachary's phone rang, a call from a young girl filled with uncontrollable emotions.

Zachary glanced at it and found it was Melissa.

It was already midnight. He quietly hung up, turned off his phone, and placed it on the bedside table.

As he lay back, he noticed that Victoria's eyes were open, but she didn't say anything, just staring at the ceiling as if she had become accustomed to every sleepless night.

Zachary lay beside her, and after a long while, he turned to her and whispered, "Aren't you going to ask me?"

Victoria, of course, guessed who it was.

She didn't care, yet she wouldn't inquire.

In her heart, Zachary was already dead! She only cared about when he would be willing to let her go.

But now, Zachary forced her.

Victoria looked into the darkness and spoke softly. "Didn't you let her sit in your car? Aren't you already flirting with her? Zachary, what are you asking me now?"

She turned her face gently, looking at him.

She said calmly, "If you really want to know, then I'll tell you, Zachary, even if you go to her now and make love, I don't mind!"

In the dim light, Zachary kept staring at her.