“You despicable jerk!”
Samuel glared at Matthew, his eyes almost bulging out of his head.
Matthew chuckled, finding an odd sense of satisfaction in witnessing the anger of this little boy.
Dolores, with a panicked expression, quickly evaded Matthew’s hand, lifted Samuel into the car, and drove away from the scene.
Samuel looked out of the window and stuck his tongue out at the bothersome Matthew.
Matthew furrowed his brow and silently cursed the “troublesome child.”
Bryan approached and, like Matthew, watched the departing car. He asked, “Should we go after them?”
Matthew removed his suit jacket, tossing it towards Bryan, before heading towards his own car.
Taking the suit jacket, Bryan grimaced. Suppressing any complaints, he followed Matthew with determined strides.
Seated in the car, Matthew ran his hand through his hair, unable to suppress a chuckle as he thought of Dolores’ appearance earlier.
Bryan, driving the car, observed Matthew through the rearview mirror, feeling immensely curious about their relationship.
Who was that woman?
She had managed to make Matthew laugh like a carefree person.
Oh, my goodness, it’s quite rare, indeed.
“Mr. Nelson, is that the kind of woman you’re interested in?” Bryan couldn’t help but inquire. Granted, the woman was attractive, but she already had two children who were around five or six years old. Why would his boss be interested in her?
Was it because he preferred young married women?
Certainly, young married women possessed a certain allure, but why would his boss be attracted to someone who had already given birth to two children?
What if the woman had a husband?
Would Matthew become a homewrecker and engage in a secret affair with her?
The more Bryan entertained these thoughts, the harder it became for him to contain his urge to burst into laughter.
Merely imagining such a scenario filled him with excitement.
Matthew slowly opened his eyes and asked in a cold, emotionless tone, “What kind?”
“Do you prefer women who have given birth…?”
Bryan suddenly sensed that something was amiss. He promptly halted and forced a subservient and apologetic smile. “Women who have given birth possess their own unique charms. Judging from her beautiful child, I can tell she hasn’t undergone any cosmetic surgery.”
Upon hearing the words “given birth,” Matthew inexplicably grew restless. He adjusted his collar and snapped, “Will you drop dead if you shut up?”
Bryan immediately fell silent and periodically glanced at the man with fluctuating moods through the rearview mirror.
He had been in a good mood, only to suddenly turn gloomy. Oh God, was it even possible to have a pleasant conversation with him?
Bryan proceeded to arrange a hotel for Matthew.
Matthew spent the entire night there, restlessly tossing and turning as he couldn’t stop thinking about that woman.
Sleep eluded him.
She had truly changed. In the past, people would have perceived her as innocent and submissive, but now she exuded confidence, and her eloquent discussions about her profession gave her a particularly captivating demeanor.
However, had she spent these years with another man while she was here?
Lost in his thoughts, he retrieved his phone and dialed Abbott’s number, instructing him to investigate Dolores’ living conditions over the past years and the people who had been in her company.
“All of the boss’s recent phone calls revolve around Dolores. Could it be that he has fallen for her? When has he ever cared so much about a woman? He never even showed this level of concern for Helen, who is now Maria Herbert. He has become increasingly detached over the years, but now he suddenly becomes passionate, all because of a woman who has been absent for a long time. It’s hard to believe he has no feelings for her,” Abbott contemplated to himself.
Nevertheless, Abbott couldn’t comprehend why Matthew would be interested in Dolores. Although they had been married in the past, they didn’t get along for long.
He didn’t understand, and no one seemed to have an answer to his question.
Just as Matthew ended the call, he received a call from Jayden.
Matthew could anticipate Jayden’s intentions without even picking up the phone.
With a flicker of light in his eyes, he closed his eyes slowly, attempting to conceal his emotions. The tenderness that had filled his eyes when he thought about Dolores vanished, replaced by coldness. He then pressed the answer button.
“What’s going on between you and Maria? She told me that you want to call off the engagement…”
“Let’s discuss this when I return,” Matthew gazed out the window gloomily. This was precisely why he hadn’t chosen to stay and had asked Abbott to investigate Dolores instead.
The engagement wasn’t just about his marriage; it also held significant business ties between the Nelson and Herbert families.
News of their engagement had spread like wildfire. Now that he wanted to cancel it, he had to explain to both his family and the Herberts.
Therefore, he returned to the country the following day.
Since Abbott had gone to Country A to investigate Dolores’ past, a driver came to pick up Matthew. Despite the hours-long journey, Matthew didn’t appear tired. He instructed the driver to head directly to Nelson Mansion.
The scenery outside the car window passed by quickly, and soon the car came to a stop in front of a magnificent yet understated mansion. The tall and imposing doors, along with the courtyard, exuded grandeur. The rounded arched windows and the marble accents added to its opulence.
After parking the car, the driver walked to the backseat door and opened it. Matthew stooped down and calmly got out of the car. He stood in front of the main gate, expressionless, before striding purposefully towards the house.
Walking along the broad marble-paved path, he entered the house.
“Young master,” Thomas, the family butler, stepped forward and greeted Matthew. He continued, “The master is waiting for you inside.”
Matthew nodded slightly to acknowledge the message.
The living room was spacious, grand, and stylish, with a vintage decor that lent a somber tone to the space. A man was leaning against the cushioned black wood sofa – that was Jayden Nelson, Matthew’s father.
As for the woman seated beside Jayden, Matthew couldn’t be bothered to even spare her a glance.
He removed his suit jacket, handing it to the servant, and then walked towards the sofa, taking a seat next to Jayden.
“What’s the matter with you?” Jayden, sitting upright on the sofa, inquired. He appeared composed and reserved, his voice deep and commanding yet tinged with helplessness and anxiety.
“I will handle it,” Matthew replied curtly, devoid of any emotion.
Jayden understood well why Matthew was so indifferent. It was all because of what happened to his mother back then…
Matthew rarely visited home and had been acting willfully…
However, this marriage was tied to the future development of the Nelson family.
The Nelsons were like newcomers in City B. While their company was sizable, they lacked a certain foundation.
On the other hand, the Herbert family, with a century-long history, was quite different. Though they currently don’t excel in the business field, they still hold a reputable name.
It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement if the two families could be connected through marriage.
“I can let you act willfully in other matters, but you absolutely cannot cancel this engagement,” Jayden’s tone grew stern.
In a cool and casual manner, Matthew replied, “Only I can decide on my own marriage.”
“You…” Jayden was left speechless with anger, his chest heaving.
Victoria Forbis, seated beside him, hurriedly patted his back. “Take it easy and don’t get too worked up.”
“How can I not be worked up?” Jayden’s face grew somber.
“Matthew, just follow your father’s wishes this time…” Victoria attempted to persuade him.
Matthew’s voice turned even colder as he sneered, “And who do you think you are to persuade me?”
Victoria’s expression contorted with rage.
“She is your senior after all. You shouldn’t speak to her in such a manner,” Jayden slapped the armrest and stood up.
Victoria also rose to support him. “Don’t get angry. I can understand Matthew’s feelings.”
Jayden let out a sigh and reached out to hold Victoria’s hands. “You must have had a tough time all these years.”
Matthew stood up, no longer interested in witnessing his father’s affection towards this woman.
He took his suit jacket from the servant and turned his back on Jayden. “I will explain things to the Herbert family.”
With those words, he strode out of the house.
Jayden pointed at his retreating figure. “How… How can he still be so stubborn? Is he still a child? Doesn’t he understand what is more important?”
After a moment’s pause, Victoria let out a sigh. “Perhaps he doesn’t like the lady from the Herbert family.”
“No.” Jayden didn’t think so. He added, “He agreed to it before.”
After a brief consideration, Victoria agreed. Matthew had agreed to the engagement in the past, but he suddenly changed his mind as the engagement ceremony approached.