From start to finish, Matthew’s face remained impassive, though his injured hand was concealed behind him. There was a coldness in his expression, but his composure seemed somewhat strained.
His gaze fixated on Beulah, who hurled insults at him, and his lips tightened into a thin line. A chilling aura surrounded him as he spoke in a commanding tone, “What are you still doing here?”
The security guards immediately subdued Beulah and escorted her out of the premises.
Acting like a madwoman, she behaved hysterically and even bit one of the guards.
“Matthew, you sexually harassed my daughter and refused to take responsibility. You will suffer a painful death! Do you think your wealth gives you the right to do as you please? Do you believe you can escape punishment just because you have money? Should we, the poor and powerless, be subjected to your bullying?” Beulah screamed at the top of her lungs. She aimed to paint herself as the victim, trying to manipulate the perception of those around her.
Everyone who overheard her words sensed something amiss.
Matthew, accused of harassing her daughter?
It was an utterly shocking revelation.
Not only the company’s employees but also the arresting guards were eager to learn more about this startling claim.
Unconcerned about embarrassing herself, Beulah sat on the ground and wailed loudly, “I’ve had a difficult life. I had only one daughter, and you violated her. There is no justice left in this world. Why must the poor suffer such bullying?”
A crowd began to gather at the entrance, all eyes fixed on Matthew.
Matthew felt insulted. Dolores turned to look at him, observing the prominent blue veins on his profile. She knew he was seething with anger.
While she was pleased that he despised Beulah, now was not the appropriate time to let emotions run rampant, as they were still being watched.
This esteemed man had become the subject of a scandal. People would undoubtedly start gossiping about him.
“She’s clearly deranged. Remove her from here immediately. Can’t you see she’s causing a scene?” Dolores spoke coldly.
“You’re the crazy one!” Dolores’ words seemed to trigger Beulah. Taking advantage of the guards’ momentary distraction, she lunged at Dolores with pure hatred, hissing, “I’ll kill you!”
Terrified, Dolores retreated a few steps and heard a voice shout, “Do you want to die?”
Beulah was forcefully ejected once again, this time with even greater humiliation. She was shoved to the ground, landing on her back.
Matthew glared at the security guards who had failed to apprehend her. “What were you doing? Are you waiting to be fired?”
The guards broke out in a cold sweat. Beulah had already been given an opportunity to harm someone due to their negligence earlier. This time, they dared not overlook the situation, lest they truly lose their jobs.
“Take her to the police station and charge her with attempted murder.” Matthew’s irritation was palpable. He showed no leniency towards Beulah. The severity of attempted assault paled in comparison to attempted murder.
The guards seized Beulah, forcefully shoved her into the car, and drove off to the police station.
Even when fully confined inside the vehicle, Beulah continued to spew curses and insults.
“It’s finally over,” Matthew uttered in a cold tone, and the crowd slowly dispersed. The man who had conversed with Dolores earlier approached her quietly. “I never expected you to be so brave as to stand in front of Mr. Nelson.”
“If you establish a connection with Mr. Nelson, he will surely take notice of you in the future. After all, you risked your life to shield him from the knife,” the man said with a hint of envy.
Dolores hadn’t realized the implications until now.
He believed that she had deliberately positioned herself in front of Matthew?
But she knew she hadn’t.
She glanced at Matthew’s injured hand, pondering the extent of his injury.
She never imagined that he would catch the knife with his bare hand.
How excruciatingly painful it must have been!
“What’s your name?” the man suddenly inquired.
Dolores’s mind was preoccupied, and she responded absentmindedly, “Dolores Flores.”
“Are you free tonight? Let’s have a meal together. I’ll wait for you after work.”
Huh?
Dolores turned to face the man, taken aback. Was he asking her out?
This had to be a joke. They had only just met.
Dolores was utterly bewildered.
“I…”
“Come with me!” Matthew’s face was filled with anger. Was she trying to seduce another man right in front of him?
Did she have no sense of shame?
Dolores quickly followed him, aware of the tension in the air.
The man behind her persisted, saying, “Ms. Flores, I’ll be waiting for you in front of the company after work. Let’s have dinner together.”
Matthew halted and glanced back at Dolores.
Just as she was about to respond to the man, she noticed Matthew’s piercing glare, filled with anger. His expression seemed to convey that he would strangle her if she agreed to have a meal with that man!
Dolores felt a strange satisfaction and asked cautiously, “Are you upset?”
He remained silent, simply staring at her.
His eyes examined her thoughtfully.
Dolores swallowed nervously and turned to look at the man. “I’m sorry, I already have plans.”
When she faced Matthew again, his mood visibly brightened as he seemed content with Dolores’s response.
She paused for a moment and asked, “Is your hand, okay? Should we go to the hospital?”
Dolores imagined the pain he must have felt while holding the knife barehanded.
Matthew didn’t answer. He entered the elevator, and Dolores followed suit.
She took the initiative to press the button for their floor and stood to the side, gazing at her own reflection on the metal surface. Lost in thought for a moment, she said, “When Ms. White arrives at work, ask her to bandage your wound.”
Regardless of the circumstances, he was injured because of her. Therefore, she felt obliged to show care.
Matthew glanced at her reflection on the wall, unable to discern her emotions, and calmly replied, “She’s on a business trip to A Country.”
Dolores looked up abruptly, locking eyes with him. Didn’t he attend the dinner party with Helen just last night?
Why such a sudden change?
Matthew held her gaze and explained, “It’s work-related arrangements.”
He wouldn’t divulge that he intentionally sent Helen away.
He wasn’t foolish. Perhaps his overwhelming feelings for Dolores were an indication that he liked her, even if he didn’t fully comprehend what love entailed.
“I understand,” she replied, and fell silent.
Ding! The elevator arrived at their floor, and the doors slowly opened.
Matthew exited the elevator, and Dolores followed suit. She glanced at his blood-stained hand. There was so much blood that she couldn’t clearly see the wound.
Matthew was about to enter his office when Dolores quickened her pace and called out, “Should I… dress your wound first?”
Matthew remained silent, standing at the door of his office like a statue.
Dolores interpreted his body language and rushed to open the door of his office. She recalled the medical supplies in the pantry cabinet for emergencies and said, “I’ll go fetch the first aid kit.”
Matthew turned around, observing her hurried departure. A gentle smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Dolores returned with the first aid kit. Matthew sat on the sofa, his injured hand resting on his knee. The blood had coagulated. She approached him, placing the kit on the coffee table and opening it. She located the disinfectant and gauze, her gaze lowered as she said, “We have limited medical supplies here. If the wound is severe, you’ll have to go to the hospital.”
She had mentally prepared herself during her words. Her focus was solely on his hand, not thinking about anything else. She took hold of his hand, examining the wound on his palm.
The knife had cut across his palm. If he hadn’t applied pressure by clenching his fist, he would have lost even more blood.
Dolores’s hand trembled slightly as she murmured, “This might sting a bit. Please bear with it.”
She picked up the alcohol-soaked cotton swab and gently cleaned his wound. Though she had never done this before, she remained composed, handling the injury with care.
Matthew lifted his gaze, fixating on the woman before him. She looked down at his wound, her long, curled eyelashes framing her eyes in a mesmerizing manner.
Ouch!
“Did that hurt?” Dolores raised her head, meeting his gaze.
The proximity between them was intimate, their breaths mingling. Matthew’s breathing grew slightly heavier. His breath occasionally brushed against the hair on her collarbone.
“Ease my pain,” he softly requested.