Chapter 451 The Only Person I Care About
Victoria wasn't sure why she agreed to speak with Zephyr.
Perhaps it was because she knew he was an old acquaintance of her mother's, and she wanted to ask about their relationship.
They didn't leave the hall, merely moving to a more private spot. Alexander wheeled her to the designated area, then stepped back a few paces to keep watch.
What happened next stunned everyone present.
Zephyr knelt on one knee before Victoria.
This gesture shocked those watching from a distance.
He was the President of the Kingdom of Serenia, a man of the highest status, kneeling before a woman—how could it not cause astonishment?
Harry was particularly alarmed. "Mr. Windsor," he began.
He started to approach but stopped when Zephyr raised his hand in a gesture to halt.
Victoria sat in her wheelchair, her star-bright eyes flashing with confusion.
She furrowed her brow, not understanding what Zephyr intended.
Alexander narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed Zephyr, momentarily glimpsing something in the man's expression that reminded him of Victoria.
Though Alexander rarely showed emotion about anything except matters concerning Victoria, in this moment, his heart tightened with tension.
Victoria looked at Zephyr, who knelt at eye level with her, and spoke first, "Mr. Windsor, this isn't necessary."
His prestigious position alone made such deference inappropriate.
Zephyr gazed at her, his usual stern authority replaced with unexpected warmth and tenderness.
Those who knew Zephyr recognized how unprecedented this was.
"It's all right. You're in a wheelchair, and I didn't want you to strain your neck looking up at me," he said with a gentle smile, his perfectly proportioned features softened.
Victoria pressed her lips together, not responding.
"Your mother—is her name Esme?" Zephyr asked, barely containing his emotion.
Victoria studied him for a moment before answering, "Yes."
That single affirmation made Zephyr's eyes grow misty.
Victoria expected him to ask about her mother next, but instead he inquired, "How did your hands get injured?"
His sudden concern caught her off guard.
She didn't answer.
Zephyr noticed the confusion and wariness in her eyes and didn't press for a response.
"You look very much like your mother," he said.
"Yes, I've been told that," she replied calmly.
"What's your name?"
"Victoria Kennedy."
"May I call you Victoria?"
Victoria hesitated but didn't refuse outright. "As you wish, Mr. Windsor. It doesn't matter to me."
Zephyr sensed the distance in her tone, likely due to his position making it difficult for her to refuse him directly.
But her not objecting was enough.
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-five."
Their conversation continued with simple questions and answers.
Finally, he asked about her mother.
"How is your mother doing?" Zephyr's voice trembled slightly, his question laden with guilt and restraint that others couldn't fully comprehend.
Victoria, naturally perceptive, noticed the change in his demeanor.
But she couldn't give him a straightforward answer.
"She's both well and not well," she answered.
Zephyr looked puzzled.
Time had left only slight wrinkles on his face, and one could still see he must have been quite handsome in his youth.
Before he could ask for clarification, Victoria directly questioned him, "If I may ask, what was your relationship with my mother? Were you close?"
She already had her suspicions based on the photo album she'd found in his office safe, but she wanted to hear his version.
"Some matters are between adults, but I can tell you your mother was the only person I've ever truly cared about. I thought I'd never have the chance to see her again in this lifetime."
From a distance, Waverly watched them talking, unable to hear their conversation.
She stared at Victoria's profile, her eyes flashing with malice.
When she glanced back at Anouk, she noticed her mother looked unwell, almost pale.
Her mother had been acting strangely today, showing no reaction to her father's presence despite usually doing everything possible to see him.
In the Presidential Palace, apart from her father, Anouk was the only person Waverly couldn't read.
Their relationship wasn't as good as people believed. When alone, they barely communicated, though Anouk would occasionally check on her.
Only because Waverly was the sole daughter among all the children Zephyr had adopted, and clearly his favorite, did Anouk pay her special attention.
Waverly had leveraged her father's affection to gain everyone's respect. Though her family wasn't perfect, she was content.
At least to outsiders, she had a complete family, and that was enough.
But now, why was her father treating Victoria so specially?
His attitude toward Victoria alone made her uneasy, not to mention the sight of him kneeling.
He had knelt to accommodate Victoria in her wheelchair—an action that inevitably raised questions.
When had he ever lowered himself to accommodate someone he'd just met?
Waverly's unease grew exponentially.
After finishing his conversation with Victoria, Zephyr approached Octavia.
Octavia ignored Zephyr's special treatment of Victoria and immediately began complaining, "Mr. Windsor, you must help me! This woman from nowhere not only ruined Aunt's charity event but falsely accused me and had me beaten like this."
She sat disheveled on the floor, looking up at him with a swollen face, her eyes filled with tears and grievance.
Zephyr's expression had returned to its usual stern demeanor, looking down at her with the commanding presence that naturally intimidated others.
But Octavia was too desperate to notice.
She only knew Zephyr was her last hope.
"And this woman even dared to talk back to my aunt! She has no respect for either of you. Please have her arrested!" Octavia continued.
Zephyr narrowed his eyes. On his way here, Harry had briefed him about what had happened.
He had never been interested in the Montgomery family's affairs; he had fulfilled his promises to them, and the rest was no longer his concern.
"Is this how the Montgomery family teaches its members?" he asked coldly. "To make mistakes and then falsely accuse others? The Montgomery family values continue to be... remarkable." He directed these words at Anouk.
His repeated emphasis on "the Montgomery family" made the distinction painfully clear.
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