As the car window rolled down slowly, Dolores couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of the mysterious woman before her. It was Sampson’s mother, wearing her usual graceful demeanor, who returned Dolores’ gaze with a small nod of acknowledgment.
Dolores wondered why she had come looking for her. She turned to the driver and inquired, “Do you know why she wants to speak with me?”
The driver shook his head. “She didn’t say. I’m just the messenger.”
Considering that Sampson had treated her well and advocated for Jessica’s best care, Dolores assumed that his mother had no malicious intentions.
Deciding to go along, Dolores said to the driver, “Okay, let’s go.”
She approached the car and greeted Camilla with a polite smile. “Hello, Mrs. Herbert.”
Camilla sat with poise, and her smile brightened as Dolores joined her. “Ms. Flores, are you free at the moment? There’s a caf? nearby. How about we go there for some drinks?”
Dolores briefly pondered the invitation before nodding. “Sure, I’d be happy to.”
“Please, get in, and we’ll be on our way,” Camilla said, gesturing for Dolores to enter the car. The driver also climbed in, and they drove off.
Before long, the car stopped in front of a building, and Dolores followed Camilla into the caf?
Camilla selected a quiet table in the back corner and motioned for Dolores to take the seat opposite her.
Within moments, a server approached their table. “Good day. What can I get you?”
Camilla placed her handbag on the bench beside her and turned to Dolores. “Order anything you’d like, dear. It’s on me.”
“Just a glass of water for now, please,” Dolores replied in a subdued tone.
“I’ll have the same. We’ll call you if we need anything else,” Camilla added.
“Very well.” The server left, and the noise of the caf? faded into the background.
Dolores sat in silence, waiting for Camilla to initiate the conversation. It was Camilla who had sought her out, so Dolores suspected there was more to their meeting than just a cup of coffee.
Taking a sip of water, Camilla spoke. “How did you meet my son, Sampson?”
“He was my younger brother’s doctor several years ago, and we gradually got to know each other,” Dolores replied honestly.
Camilla smiled and examined Dolores from head to toe. “I see. And how long have you two been together? You look quite young. Is Sampson your first love?”
Camilla’s question caught Dolores off guard, and she nearly choked on her water. Why did Camilla assume Dolores was Sampson’s girlfriend?
Suddenly, Dolores remembered that when Sampson introduced her to everyone at the banquet, he referred to her as his “girlfriend.” That must be why Camilla assumed they were dating.
Just as Dolores was about to explain, Camilla continued. “I don’t want to see the two of you fall in love,” Camilla said with complete seriousness. “I want Sampson’s wife to come from a similar family background. I’ve heard about the recent troubles your family has faced.”
Dolores’ lips pressed into a tight line as she finally understood why Camilla had sought this meeting.
“With your current family situation, I have even more reservations about you being his girlfriend. I’m sure you understand my concerns,” Camilla added, her tone softening. She reached into her handbag, retrieved a card, and pushed it toward Dolores. “There’s some money in the card. Although it may not solve all your family’s problems, it can alleviate some of the stress.”
Dolores pushed the card back to Camilla and smiled. “Mrs. Herbert, I’m fortunate to still be in good health and relatively young. I can work and provide for myself. How can I accept your money?”
Internally, Dolores bitterly smiled, realizing that Camilla might be using the money to scare her away. She had experienced how her father had sent her and her mother away when she was eight, and it was only Matthew’s supposed paralysis that allowed her to return home.
She had never enjoyed the privileges that came with the Flores family’s reputation, but now she had to suffer the consequences of its downfall.
“Mrs. Herbert, I understand your desires and concerns. You needn’t worry about me falling in love with Sampson because I have always seen him as my brother. Now, if there’s nothing else, I must return to work. There are important translations I need to complete,” Dolores explained as she stood up, signaling her intention to leave.
“Wait a minute,” Camilla called out, halting Dolores’ departure.
Camilla had prepared extensively for this meeting, but she found her persuasive words would only work if Dolores refused the request to break up with Sampson. However, now that Dolores had agreed, Camilla found herself appearing callous.
“I don’t know if Sampson told you about the accident his younger sister went through. It was a tremendous shock for both him and me. He has been abroad, taking care of her. Now, he has finally returned, having mustered the courage to confront the past,” Camilla revealed, her tone laced with relief. “And I must say, seeing you here, I am quite relieved indeed. You remind him of his younger sister, Maria. You have such a charming resemblance.”
Dolores had come to the same realization when she learned about Sampson’s lost sister. She surmised that Sampson cared for her because she reminded him of his younger sibling.
Camilla’s expression turned crestfallen as she struggled to discuss her lost daughter. She had three children, and her only daughter was no longer with them.
However, as the matriarch of the Herbert family, Camilla couldn’t allow herself to dwell on the past or display her sorrow in front of her husband. She had to handle every matter, big or small, that concerned the family.
“As the saying goes, uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” Dolores reflected quietly.
Naturally, Camilla was required to put in efforts in exchange for enjoying the reputation and status of the Herbert family.
“I wish my son will one day be with a woman whom he loves and one that appreciates him. However, he was born in the Herbert family and has enjoyed the honor given by the family without having to want for anything, so he will most likely have to sacrifice something for the family’s reputation.” Camilla reluctantly put the card back in her bag and handed Dolores a business card instead. “Since you’re so kind and I want to help you, so if you need any help in the future, please don’t hesitate to find me.”
Dolores knew it would be impolite to keep refusing Camilla’s help, so she gratefully accepted the business card. “Thank you, Mrs. Herbert. I will be certain to reach out to you if the need arises.”
Dolores then got to her feet. “If there’s nothing else, I have to leave.”
“Wait? one more thing, please. I hope you won’t tell Sampson about our meeting today. He’s a stubborn person. If he knows about this, I’m afraid?
“Mrs. Herbert, rest assured there’s no reason to worry. I won’t tell him about this.”
Dolores originally had no romantic feelings for Sampson anyway. People like her were told they didn’t deserve to be in love. No matter how pure the intentions were, Dolores was no longer a virtuous woman and therefore wasn’t permissible for her to be in a romantic relationship.
Dolores politely excused herself and walked out of the caf? She subtly rubbed her belly as she walked outside. “Don’t worry, Mommy won’t feel lonely or helpless with you by my side.”
Her unborn child was her source of courage as well as her future. So, she took a deep breath before departing.
Dolores walked back to work, people watching along the way, and was surprised to run into Abbott Baron who was just pulling up in front of the office building.
“Where did you go?” Abbott asked as he closed the car door and walked toward it. Dolores. “Didn’t you say you were going to the hospital? Why is it I didn’t find you there then?”
Dolores had informed Matthew of her planned visit to the hospital because she was working for his company and wouldn’t be available during normal business hours that day.
“I came back early but I ended up bumping into an acquaintance and we went to a local caf? to chat. What’s wrong?” Dolores asked, bothered by Abbott’s anxious expression. “Did something happen?”
“Please, follow me.” Abbott turned and strode into the building, not waiting to see if she was following.
Dolores hurried to catch up, uncertain of how to feel about the situation. “What happened? Is it related to me?”
Abbott stopped at the doors of the elevator and clicked his phone while stealing glances at Dolores from time to time.
“See for yourself.”
Dolores moved her lips, trying to say something. What did he mean by ‘see for yourself?’
Just as she was about to ask what he meant, the elevator dinged softly, and the doors opened. Abbott hustled into the elevator, whereas Dolores, who was growing quite anxious herself, was slow.
Abbott tapped his foot. “Quickly.”
Dolores hurried into the elevator and glanced at Abbot as the doors closed. “Does it have something to do with my father?” Dolores asked again, trying to glean information.
She had just seen her mother at the hospital no more than half an hour ago, so it couldn’t have anything to do with Jessica. So, then, by default, it had to be something involving Randolph. After all, Jessica and Randolph were the only two people left in Dolores’ life that mattered to her.
Abbott scoffed, and the elevator dinged again as they reached their destination. The doors rolled open, and Abbot strode out of the elevator toward Matthew’s office. Dolores struggled to keep up.
When they arrived at the office, Abbot gave a few quick raps on the door.
“Come in,” a low voice called.
Abbott pushed open the door?