On such occasions, the discussions inevitably revolved around business matters. Sampson reluctantly forced himself to socialize with others. Dolores could sense his dislike for such gatherings, so she took hold of Sampson’s arm and whispered, “I want to step outside and get some fresh air.”
Sampson held her hand. “I’ll take you to the back parlor.”
The lights, noise, conversations, and flattery gradually faded away as they walked through the corridor and reached the back parlor. It was a spacious, open space, much quieter than the bustling lobby. A few people conversed near the window.
“You don’t enjoy those conversations either, do you?” Sampson smiled faintly. “Truth be told, I’m not a fan either.”
He had no choice but to attend this event, as Camilla used both forceful and persuasive tactics to compel him.
He disliked social activities, cutthroat scheming, and making money by any means necessary. Perhaps it was because of his privileged background-he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and never had to worry about finances.
“I noticed that already. So, how would you like to thank me for whisking you away from all that?” Sampson drew closer. Dolores caught a whiff of his masculine scent, which seemed to linger near her ears. She felt the impulse to move away, but Sampson’s arms encircled her waist.
“I used to see you as young. Time flies, and you’ve grown up,” he said. He had paid attention to her before, but without ulterior motives. He couldn’t pinpoint when his feelings had shifted.
Dolores sensed a change in Sampson, different from the person she had known in the past. He became as gentle as a dove, perpetually wearing a soft smile. He had always cared for her like an older brother.
But now something had shifted, and he was constantly “teasing” her?
“You’ve changed,” Dolores turned her head, her hands clenched into fists.
“Well, you’re an adult now, so I can’t treat you like a child anymore, can I?” he grinned.
Dolores pushed him away. “But I’m your sister.”
Surprised by the unexpected push, Sampson took a step back. Regaining his composure, he looked at her. “Not a biological sister.”
Dolores walked to the window and gazed up at the star-filled sky. “I want to see you as an older brother.”
Sampson observed her from behind. Was she rejecting him?
“I think I know who the father of the child in my belly is,” she spoke lightly, as if speaking to herself, but also directed at Sampson.
Sampson’s initially grinning face turned serious. “Who?”
“I’m not sure. There are still many things I haven’t figured out.” Dolores took a deep breath and turned to face Sampson. “I’m in a difficult situation, at a loss… I don’t know.”
She struggled to put her feelings into words.
“Who are you suspecting?” Sampson furrowed his brow. “Could it be someone local?”
Recalling that night’s incident, he felt a surge of annoyance. “Why didn’t you come to find me then?”
Dolores lowered her head. “I did try to find you, but I couldn’t.”
She didn’t want to owe anyone favors, but it concerned her younger brother and mother’s safety, so she couldn’t hesitate for too long. She did search for him, but it was the woman who came to see her shortly after.
At the time, she had no choice but to seek help as she needed money to save her mother and younger brother.
Sampson carefully replayed that night in his mind. It was the day Maria went missing, and he was in a terrible mood, drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Perhaps he had fallen asleep and didn’t hear her knocking on the door.
He had always believed that Dolores hadn’t sought him out at all.
His heart sank at this realization.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice filled with regret. If he hadn’t been intoxicated and heard her knocking, perhaps everything would be different now.
She wouldn’t have been accused of promiscuity and facing an unmarried pregnancy.
And he could have taken care of her without a doubt.
But none of that happened because he was drunk.
“You don’t owe me anything. I’m embarrassed to hear you say that” Dolores replied with self-deprecation.
It was her choice and her fate.
“I want to go back.”
“Let me take you home.”
Sampson approached and clasped her hand tightly in his palm. “From now on, I won’t let you fail to find me again. I’ll take good care of you, I promise.”
Dolores remained still, not resisting. In that moment, she began to grasp that his feelings for her might not be romantic love, but rather a brotherly affection for his younger sister.
It was just that he couldn’t distinguish between the two.
They exited through the back door, where the neon lights outside the building continued to flash and illuminate the night with a vibrant glow, making it feel as bright as day.
Sampson opened the car door for her, and Dolores bent her body and got in.
During the journey, neither of them spoke, lost in their own thoughts.
When they reached a junction, Dolores requested to be let out. “I’ll get off here.”
She unbuckled her seat belt and opened the car door.
“Lola,” Sampson called out.
“Yes?” Dolores stood by the car window, leaning forward to look at him.
Sampson hesitated for a moment. “Who do you suspect?”
Dolores lowered her gaze. She had no concrete evidence, only speculations. “I’m not sure.”
Sampson pursed his lips and fell silent for a moment. “I’ll help you,” he finally said. “But first, tell me who you suspect.”
His emotions were conflicted-he didn’t want to know, yet he desired to know.
Dolores pondered for a moment. She couldn’t unravel the hidden truth on her own.
“Matthew.”
As Dolores uttered those words, the air around them seemed to freeze.
Sampson was taken aback for quite a while.
He hadn’t expected Dolores to suspect Matthew.
How could this be… possible?
Or was she deliberately finding an excuse to reject him?
“You know where I lived in Country A. The woman who introduced me was named Melanin. If you can find her, you might uncover what happened that night.”
“Why do you want to find the man?” Sampson interrupted her.
Initially, Dolores had no intention of finding him.
It was just that she unintentionally discovered some clues on Matthew’s person.
“Didn’t you mention that a child growing up in a single-parent family might have character defects…”
“I said I can take care of you and your child,” Sampson interrupted her once more.
Dolores pursed her lips and gazed at Sampson. “But you’re not the child’s biological father.”
She deliberately said it because she knew that a relationship between her and Sampson was impossible.
She wanted to make it clear that being with him was out of the question. On the other hand, she truly desired to uncover the truth.
And she couldn’t be with Matthew either. She was fully aware of that.
She simply wanted to know if he was the father of her child and what transpired that night.
In the future, when the child was born, she could at least inform them about the kind of person their father was.
Perhaps it would be a form of redemption.
“I think it’s best not to bother you. It’s late. You should go back and rest,” Dolores stood tall and smiled. “Drive safely. I’ll head back first.”
After speaking, she turned and walked along the road toward the villa.
After a few steps, Sampson called out to her, “Since I’ve made a promise, I’m bound to help you. However, I hope that when the time comes, you’ll leave him.”
“You two are strangers. He won’t love you or accept you solely because of the child.”
She understood this fact, so she had no ulterior motives. All she wanted was the truth.
As she walked along the roadside, her slim figure cast a shadow on the ground under the streetlight.
Not far away, a black car was parked, and a tall figure leaned against it. The warm light cascaded over his profile, making him appear even more handsome, less stern, and gentler.
Dolores halted her steps. She thought he hadn’t returned yet, but she hadn’t anticipated that he would arrive earlier than her.
Though he wasn’t far from her, her legs felt as if they were chained, preventing her from moving an inch.
He turned his head and gazed at her for a few seconds. With an intriguing tone, he beckoned, “Come here.”