Although the divorce certificate had not been applied for, it had already been six long years. Didn’t a normal married couple automatically dissolve their marriage if they lived apart for that duration?
Trying to maintain her composure, Dolores replied, “A married couple who live separately for two years can mutually dissolve their marriage…”
Matthew taunted her, “And who taught you that law?”
Six years ago, this woman vanished without a trace.
In life, he had grown accustomed to her presence at home. But since she left, his villa had become eerily quiet. It lacked the warmth of human companionship, and it no longer felt like home. His heart was empty as well.
Coral found his behavior absurd.
“You’re about to get engaged soon, and we still have marital relations? What do you gain from it? Don’t you realize that bigamy is a serious crime?”
Matthew remained calm, silently gazing at her.
She was as sharp-tongued as ever.
Feeling anxious under his unyielding stare, Dolores trembled and stammered, “I still have work to attend to.”
She desperately wanted to escape after saying that.
Matthew grabbed her arm and pulled her forcefully, causing her to stumble backward. He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, drawing her close. They were so intimately pressed together that she could feel his warmth and hear his heartbeat.
Dolores stared at him, her body stiffened as she dared not move, and she pleaded, “Let me go, or I’ll sue you!”
Matthew rubbed her wrist with his fingertips and guided her hand toward his chest. His voice turned husky as his eyes held a captivating gaze. “Sue me for what?”
Without waiting for Dolores to reply, he continued, “Sue me for sexual harassment?”
“…”
Before Dolores could react, he leaned in, holding the back of her head, and kissed her.
It was a familiar kiss, just like before.
A kiss that had always captivated him.
Dolores took a gasping breath, her face instantly flushing crimson. Her heart pounded like a storm in her chest. She forced herself to regain composure and, in a moment of desperation, she opened her mouth and bit his lip.
Matthew winced in pain, slightly loosening his grip. Seizing the opportunity, Dolores quickly pushed him away.
Then, she turned around and fled.
Matthew watched as Dolores hurriedly disappeared. He raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth, noticing blood on the back of his hand.
She had bitten him. She had never been like this before.
He swallowed the blood from the corner of his lips where Dolores had bitten him.
“Matthew.” Maria stood at the stairwell entrance, trembling with anger.
From her appearance, it seemed she had witnessed everything that had just transpired.
Matthew raised his gaze, showing no concern for her emotions. “Our engagement is off. I won’t marry you.”
Maria panicked, rushing towards Matthew and grabbing his arm. “Matthew, our families have already agreed. Besides, this is what your father wanted…”
Matthew forcefully pushed her away. His strength caught her off guard, causing her to stumble back several steps. If there hadn’t been a wall behind her, she would have surely fallen to the ground.
“As for my father, I’ll talk to him.” Matthew had no intention of supporting her. He took a step forward and walked away.
Maria clung to his leg, sobbing, “Matthew, it’s been so many years. Can’t you forgive me?”
Matthew’s gaze turned fierce and resolute. “You should have considered the consequences when you lied to me.”
Six years ago, she had claimed to have had a miscarriage, and he had believed her. Despite not loving her, he had been ready to take responsibility.
But she had deceived him.
She hadn’t been pregnant at all.
That’s why he hadn’t married her six years ago.
This time, it was merely a marriage for the sake of family connections.
It was his father’s decree.
He had been willing to accept it without Dolores, but now he couldn’t!
“I made a mistake, Matthew. Please, forgive me this time.” Maria disregarded her image and dignity. All she wanted was for the man she loved so dearly to return to her.
“I can give you anything you desire, except marriage.” He turned around and gently removed her hands from his own. “You’re the young lady of the Herbert family. There are countless men in this world. Why must you demean yourself?”
“Matthew… please…”
No matter how Maria begged, Matthew couldn’t care less as he promptly walked away.
Leaving LEO Corporation, he swiftly dialed Abbott’s number while opening the car door. Matthew requested his assistance in finding out Dolores’s current whereabouts.
Abbott was taken aback for a moment. Why had this name resurfaced after disappearing for so long?
“Mr. Nelson, aren’t you about to get engaged? Why the sudden interest in investigating her location? She’s been gone for so long, there hasn’t been any news about her. How am I supposed to find out where she’s staying?”
“Abbott.” Matthew’s voice remained calm, but Abbott sensed that something was amiss.
“The capital of A Country.” With those words, he ended the call. Matthew had speculated that Dolores might be in A Country. He had even checked her previous residence, but there was no trace of her at all.
Someone had intentionally erased any evidence of her leaving the country.
She claimed she wasn’t hiding?
Then who had done this? And why?
His mind was consumed by the thoughts of Dolores to the point that he didn’t realize someone else was in the car with him.
Samuel witnessed Dolores being mistreated by this man, and anger surged within him. Yet, he knew he couldn’t overpower the man as he was clearly stronger.
But he wasn’t strong, he was smart.
So, when Matthew was on the phone, he seized the opportunity to sneak into the car.
Lowering the window, Samuel cried out, “Help! Save me! I’ve been kidnapped!”
Matthew’s car was cruising through downtown, and Samuel’s cries drew the attention of passersby who looked in the direction of the car.
Samuel’s eyes were red with tears as he shouted, “This man is a human trafficker! He’s trying to sell me! Please, everyone, save me! Call the police!”
Matthew’s face turned gloomy in an instant. Since when had this kid gotten into his car?
And who did he say was a human trafficker?
Who was trying to sell him?
“How can someone have the heart to sell such a beautiful child?”
Tears welled up in Samuel’s eyes as fear and anguish painted his face. His distress caught the attention of onlookers, and some brave individuals stepped forward, blocking Matthew’s car to prevent it from moving any further.
He had no choice but to halt the car.
Samuel was rescued, crying and expressing his gratitude. “Thank you for saving me. Otherwise, I would have been sold. They might have even traded my organs.”
The more Samuel spoke, the more frightened and sorrowful he became.
“Only the scum of the earth would do such a thing to a child!” Human traffickers, regardless of the country, were universally condemned.
“He may appear respectable, but he’s actually a human trafficker.”
“What a waste of his handsome face!”
Matthew faced severe criticism, and no one listened to his defense.
They were all convinced that he was the villain.
After all, a charming child had accused him.
No one would doubt a child’s words.
The police took Matthew into custody, while Samuel was brought to the police station to aid in the investigation.
Dolores locked herself in her office. Matthew’s sudden appearance reignited the fluttering in her calm heart.
Resting her hand on her chin, she contemplated whether she should find a new place to stay.
She yearned for solitude.
Buzz…
Her cell phone, resting on the table, suddenly vibrated.
She stared at the phone for a moment. The call persisted, so she reached out and answered it.
“Is this Ms. Dolores Flores?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Your son was abducted by a human trafficker, but a kind-hearted man rescued him. He’s currently at the police station. Please come here to pick him up.”