Chapter 211

Chapter 211

Victoria pushed open the door, and Martin turned to look back as well.

He was holding his once-favorite coffee, took a sip and looked out the window. "You're finally here. I thought you'd stall for a while."

Victoria's voice was cold.

"Martin, why did you call me here today? Is your company bankrupt? Two hundred million in cash is pretty hard to come up with, isn't it?"

Martin suddenly laughed. "I thought you'd soften up. I was even planning to beg you, ask you to let me off the hook. Victoria, you look soft-hearted, but you're really ruthless."

Martin slammed his coffee cup down hard on the table, coffee splashing out.

He slowly wiped the mess off the back of his hand. "Victoria, I underestimated you. My idiot brother was played by you, wasn't he?"

Victoria didn't say anything. She sat down next to him and poured herself a cup of coffee. She took a sip.

"This coffee is good. Really good coffee."

Victoria's eyes moved as she looked up again. "What did you just say? I didn't hear you."

Martin froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Everyone thought you weren't cut out for business, that you were soft-hearted and kind. Turns out you're the most vicious one of all!"

Martin had been lying in that hospital room all day thinking about where things went wrong.

Finally, he thought of his older brother. That wasn't part of the plan.

If you can't find the culprit, look for whoever benefits most from the situation.

He thought it through carefully. If his brother completely broke ties with them, the biggest beneficiary would be Victoria.

So... this was all Victoria's setup.

Victoria had someone watching the whole time at that party. Brian was wavering, and Victoria was forcing him to make a decision.

Victoria smoothly made them the scapegoats, but the truth was, they did everything themselves. No one could suspect her.

"You deliberately had someone call his name so we'd know he was listening. You made him fall down those stairs. After that incident, my supposedly smart brother would be deeply tied to you. He must trust you a lot now, right?"

Martin's eyes gleamed, as if he'd seen through everything.

Victoria's lips curved slightly. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."

Martin didn't call her out on it, just smiled lightly. "You're clever, Victoria. I came to find you today because I wanted to chat."

His tone was as if he'd never had that kind of conflict with Victoria, calm and refined, just like before.

Victoria sat across from him, essentially confirming it.

"You must really want to know why I betrayed you, right?"

"Simple. For more profit. You were jealous of me, weren't you?" Victoria sighed, resting her head on her hand as she looked at the kindly old man in front of her.

Her eyes crinkled into a smile.

"Actually, I didn't plan to work with your brother at first. The person I really wanted to work with was you. After all, we had such a deep connection."

Martin's hand paused as he drank his water. "Impossible. How could you possibly work with me?"

Victoria placed both hands on the table. "Because I really did trust you, Martin. Believe it or not, that's my honest feeling."

Her fingers tapped the table rhythmically, as if breaking down his psychological defenses.

Soon, Martin pressed his lips together tightly, asking with a slight tremor, "Are you telling the truth?"

"At least I never lied to you before today." Victoria said it frankly.

"But looking at things now, there's no need for us to work together anymore, Martin. Don't worry, I'll take good care of your things."

Martin, who had been calm, now changed his expression. He pressed his hands on the table, eyes bloodshot, somewhat angry. "What do you mean? I'll give you the two hundred million! What are you planning to do with my company?"

"We're both in it for profit." Victoria leisurely drank her coffee, her eyes carrying a smile that wouldn't fade. "Just like you wanted my company, I want your things too. I originally thought we could work together out of respect for our relationship, but now, you've given me a perfect reason."

The previously refined and easygoing man suddenly exploded. "Impossible! Victoria, you absolutely cannot touch my company! That's my life's work!"

After saying this, his aged body seemed unable to support itself.

He fell back onto the sofa with a thud.

He gasped for air, his face dark. "You can't do this, Victoria. Don't you care about our relationship at all?"

Victoria slowly straightened her clothes, her tone unhurried. "Of course, Martin. You're old now. You should rest properly. I'm doing this for your own good."

She stood up, admiring the despair in his eyes.

If she hadn't prepared in advance, if she'd really trusted Martin, would she have a good outcome now?

Martin's aged body seemed drained of strength, his voice hoarse. "No!"

He was nothing like the high-spirited Martin from yesterday, more like a helpless, raging old man.

Victoria easily avoided his hand. "Martin, you lost. Two hundred million in cash is hard to come up with, and now your reputation is ruined. Many companies don't dare work with you anymore. Perfect timing—you handle raw stone mining, I handle processing and creation. Thanks for gifting me your company."

Every word Victoria said was like a knife stabbing Martin.

His face no longer showed composure, only regret and hatred.

"Victoria, where would you get enough money to take over my company? You're just trying to scare me. Plus your company still has so many problems to deal with. How could you possibly manage mine?"

Victoria laughed lightly, her smile contemptuous. "My company is already sorted out. The two hundred million you're giving me is enough to buy your company, Martin. See you in a couple days."

She got up to leave. Martin's body swayed, as if he'd encountered some terrible monster.

He tried to grab Victoria, but Victoria didn't give him the chance. She went straight to the door.

The bodyguards waiting outside blocked Martin.

As soon as Victoria came out, she saw Chris at the door.

The door hadn't been closed during her conversation with Martin, and Victoria didn't know how much he'd heard.

Chris winked and smiled at her. "Victoria, I'm done here. My leg's injured—can I catch a ride back with you?"

Victoria trusted him and didn't think to hide anything.

"Of course. Or we could go straight to my villa. I've kept guest rooms for you guys there."

The two got in the car.

Only then did Chris turn to ask her, "Victoria, did you really do all those things?"

Victoria drove, her tone completely flat.

"If I said yes, would you be scared of me?"