“Huh?” Dolores glanced at him as she changed her shoes. “Don’t you have any classes on the weekend? Aren’t you planning to rest at home?”
Samuel replied solemnly, “Simona is at home too. I don’t think I’ll have time to rest.”
Dolores was aware of Simona’s clingy nature.
She helped her son put on his coat and took him to her workplace.
Her son was generally quiet, so he wouldn’t cause her much trouble.
If it were Simona, she would never agree to bring her along.
That child was the epitome of normal behavior for her age. As for her son, Dolores wasn’t sure if his maturity was a good or bad thing.
She lifted her son and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Samuel blushed slightly and shyly said, “Mommy.”
Dolores smiled. Her son looked adorable when he was shy.
She picked Samuel up and placed him in the car, fastening his seatbelt.
Upon arriving at LEO Corporation, Dolores parked her car. She carried Samuel out of the car, holding his arm as they walked inside together.
“Ms. Flores, the guests who had an appointment with you last time have arrived,” her assistant Theresa informed her. “I’ve taken them to the reception room.”
The guests had booked an appointment last month to customize a wedding gown.
Dolores had designed several versions for them to choose from. She let Samuel entertain himself, saying, “Don’t run around.”
“I know.” It wasn’t his first time there, so he was familiar with the surroundings. The staff members also adored him.
“Make two cups of coffee and serve them to the guests,” Dolores instructed. After confirming that there were no mistakes in the designs, she took them and headed to the reception room.
She pushed open the door and saw a couple sitting on the leather sofa by the window. When she saw their faces, Dolores momentarily froze before quickly regaining her composure. She wore a pleasant smile as if she didn’t know them at all. “Hello.”
She calmly walked in with the designs.
Helen, or rather, Maria now, turned pale upon seeing Dolores. How could it be her?
She instinctively looked at the man sitting next to her.
Matthew stared persistently at the woman who entered the room.
After six years, she had let go of everything.
All she wanted now was a peaceful life. These people had nothing to do with her.
Dolores approached the sofa and sat in front of them, acting as though she didn’t know them. She wore a black suit, elegantly crossing her legs. Placing the designs on the table, she pushed them towards Maria. “These are the scheme designs. Take a look.”
Maria could feel the chill emanating from the man beside her.
If she had known that Dolores was the renowned designer, she would never have chosen LEO Corporation.
But since she had already insisted on choosing LEO Corporation, she couldn’t back out now.
She forced herself to pick up the designs and flipped them open, her hand trembling slightly. Each design had its own unique characteristics, especially the gown called “Initial.” It was a pink strapless gown with a slim waist. The design was simple yet elegant.
She didn’t want to acknowledge that it was Dolores’s design, but she couldn’t deny that she loved this gown.
Theresa entered with two cups of coffee. She bent down and placed them on the table in front of the couple. Dolores glanced at her. “Theresa, could you bring the finished product of the ‘Initial’ gown here?”
“Sure.” Theresa took the serving tray and left the reception room. Soon, she returned with a model wearing the wedding gown called “Initial.”
The gown looked even more breathtaking in person than it did in the pictures. The specially treated silk fabric shimmered, especially when the light hit it. The strapless neckline exuded both sexiness and elegance. The slim waistline accentuated her figure, giving her a modest and conservative look.
There couldn’t be a more fitting gown for her engagement.
Maria reached out to feel the fabric of the gown. It was soft and smooth, and just touching it made her feel comfortable.
“This gown is an award-winning piece by Ms. Flores. Many people wanted to buy it, but Ms. Flores was reluctant to sell. You have excellent taste to have chosen this gown, as Ms. Flores has decided to sell it,” Theresa proudly announced.
Matthew’s eyes were fixed on Dolores’s face, while her gaze remained focused on the gown. She had glanced at him briefly when she entered the reception room but hadn’t looked at him since.
He remained tight-lipped.
Maria lifted her head, no longer the helpless orphan. She was now the young lady of the Herbert family, so what if Dolores had become a famous designer?
Dolores still had to design her wedding gown and witness her engagement to Matthew.
Feeling empowered by this thought, Maria spoke arrogantly, “Why is it called ‘Initial’?”
Dolores lowered her gaze. When she designed this gown, she had thought of her initial dream of becoming an outstanding designer, but circumstances had prevented her from completing her studies. Later, she had been given the opportunity to pursue her dream and joined LEO Corporation, where she designed this gown.
This was her debut work, inspired by her initial dream. Hence, she named it “Initial.”
When it came to her work, Dolores could always speak confidently with a gentle smile, saying, “In my opinion, everything that happens initially is beautiful. It seems that when we’re young, we all have something we want to pursue. I call it the initial dream. When you first fall for someone, those initial feelings are undoubtedly the sincerest. Am I right, Ms. Herbert?”
She glanced quickly at Matthew, then fixed her gaze on Maria. “It’s just like the love between Ms. Herbert and Mr. Nelson. No matter what storms you may face, you’re destined to come back together, back to the initial point where you fell for each other…”
“That’s enough!”
Matthew abruptly interrupted their conversation. He stood up, stepped in front of Dolores, and grabbed her wrist.
Dolores frowned. “What are you doing?”
Matthew remained silent but forcefully pulled Dolores away.
“Matthew…”
Matthew turned around, his eyes filled with gloom, serving as a warning. Maria dared not speak further. She was afraid and could only remain silent.
Dolores tried to free herself from his grip, but Matthew’s hold was too strong. She couldn’t escape and sternly said, “You’re hurting me!”
Matthew paid no attention to her struggles and dragged her towards the stairwell. He pressed her against the wall, his anger boiling as he stared intensely at the woman before him. “Why have you been hiding from me?”
Dolores furrowed her brows. Why had she been hiding?
She had never purposely hidden him, even though she didn’t want to see this man.
It was simply due to her circumstances at the time. Sampson had informed her that the medical facilities here were suitable for her to undergo a surgical procedure.
Her injuries were severe, leaving her with no choice but to follow Sampson’s arrangements.
“What do you mean, Mr. Nelson? We’ve already divorced. Whatever I do now has nothing to do with you,” Dolores tried to calm herself down.
In truth, her heart wasn’t as calm as she appeared.
She didn’t want to admit that this man, who had briefly appeared in her life, had stirred her once-calm heart.
Her heart hadn’t felt this way in so many years.
That’s why she didn’t want to entangle herself with her past anymore.
Matthew sneered, “Divorced?”
He released Dolores and took a step back, standing a couple of steps away from her as he observed her. In six years, she had changed. She had become even more beautiful. Her black ponytail was neat and clean, and her professional attire and words exuded confidence. He laughed, “Are you certain we’ve divorced?”
Dolores’s heart jolted upon hearing his words. That day, when she was rushing to apply for the divorce certificate, she had gotten into a car accident. Subsequently, she was brought here by Sampson.
Their divorce certificate had never been applied for…