Matthew leaned closer, causing Dolores to instinctively move backward. However, she had little space to maneuver as the car seat was pressed against her back.
His solid chest pressed against her, almost seamlessly. She could feel his warmth distinctly. She stiffened, unable to muster the courage to move.
Matthew brushed her hair behind her ear with his tongue, his lips inching closer to her cheek. In a deep voice, he spoke with a lingering tone, “You only wanted to use me and now you want to run away. Where is my reward?”
Dolores remained silent.
In that moment, she regretted using him as a means to get back at Maria.
Matthew sat up slightly and helped her fasten her seatbelt. During the entire process, Dolores no longer resisted.
It was true that she had used him.
Matthew withdrew his body and started the engine. The car roared to life and sped away.
Leaning against the car window, Dolores contemplated for a while before speaking again, “Earlier, I used you without your consent. I was abrupt. How much do you want?”
Matthew was speechless.
He wanted to yell at her, “Do I look like I need money?”
“I don’t need money.”
Upon hearing her words, Dolores couldn’t maintain her composure. “Then what kind of reward do you want?”
He tilted his head and looked at her, his black eyes filled with tenderness and playfulness. “How about repaying the favor with your body?”
Dolores was too shocked to respond.
All she could think about was how to escape from him as soon as possible.
How could she not have realized that he was shameless before?
Was he nothing but a scoundrel?
Matthew chuckled and glanced into her eyes. “Are you cursing me in your heart?”
Dolores’ face tightened suddenly, wondering if she had actually voiced her thoughts just now.
Did he hear her?
Stammering, she attempted to explain, “No, I’m not.”
Matthew curled his lips and remained silent.
Dolores felt a sense of guilt. Wanting to change the subject, she cautiously asked, “Where are we going?”
“I’m hungry,” he replied, looking straight ahead.
Dolores broke out in a sweat. She didn’t dare to say anything else.
No matter what she said, Matthew would surely twist its meaning.
“What are you thinking?” Matthew turned to glance at her.
He noticed that she appeared somewhat pale. As if he had realized something, he chuckled. “I won’t devour you. I meant I’m hungry for food.”
Dolores remained silent.
Her face suddenly flushed. She had misunderstood him earlier.
It was okay to have misunderstood.
But he discovered it.
She felt incredibly embarrassed.
Lowering her head, she wished she could disappear into the ground.
Matthew’s gaze fell upon her rosy cheeks, his lips curling up.
Soon, he parked the car in front of a restaurant entrance.
Dolores glanced outside the car window. It was a Chinese restaurant.
Unfastening her seatbelt, she pushed open the car door and got out. Matthew was waiting for her by the car. “The food at this Chinese restaurant is delicious.”
Dolores responded with a soft nasal sound but still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
As if she had realized something, she suddenly raised her head. “I’ll treat you to lunch.”
Matthew walked over and placed his arm around her shoulder, mirroring her previous gesture. He said ambiguously, “Do you think you can drive me away with just a lunch?”
As he spoke, his breath brushed against her ear.
It seemed like he was flirting with her.
Dolores looked away, regretting deeply.
If she had known it would turn out like this, she wouldn’t have provoked him just to get back at Maria.
She felt like she had dug her own grave.
She might have angered Maria, indeed.
But what about herself?
Now she had to endure his advances.
“I only borrowed your name. One meal is enough,” Dolores straightened her shoulders. With his support gone, Matthew had to lower his arm.
“Let’s go.”
Dolores took a step forward and walked inside.
She realized that she was always on the defensive when facing Matthew.
She couldn’t continue like this.
Otherwise, it would never end since he could always use this as leverage to make demands of her.
She had to change the dynamic and take control.
Matthew gazed at her slender back and touched the corner of his mouth, smiling.
After entering the restaurant, Dolores chose a table near the French window and sat down.
Matthew walked over leisurely and took a seat opposite her.
A waiter brought them the menu.
Taking the menu, Dolores handed it to Matthew. “I’ve never been here before, so I don’t know their specialty dishes. Please go ahead and order.”
Matthew glanced at her, understanding her intention. He didn’t expose it and took the menu from her. After ordering a few of the restaurant’s special dishes, he closed the menu. “That’s all,” he said.
The waiter took the menu back. “Certainly. Please wait a moment. The dishes will be served shortly.”
Then he left.
While they waited for the dishes to be served, Matthew rested his forehead on his hand, his gaze wandering over Dolores’ face.
Under his intense scrutiny, Dolores began to feel uneasy. She reached out to touch her face. “Is there something on my face?”
“Nah.”
“Then why are you staring at me?”
“Admiring the beauty.”
Dolores was at a loss for words.
She averted her gaze. “How boring.”
Shortly after, the waiter brought their dishes.
They were indeed special dishes, ones Dolores had never tried before. Seeing them made her stomach rumble, and she eagerly anticipated their taste.
Matthew served her a bowl of soup. “Try this.”
She couldn’t discern any specific ingredients in the soup, but it had a creamy white appearance and emitted a subtle fragrance.
She had originally planned to have lunch with Theresa, but they had encountered Maria and wasted a lot of time. Now she was truly famished.
Especially after catching a whiff of the soup’s enticing aroma, she couldn’t wait to dig in.
She used a spoon to take a sip of the soup. It was fresh and velvety.
“Do you like it?” Matthew observed her reaction.
Dolores nodded. “Yes.”
It truly tasted delicious.
“And this.” Matthew picked up a piece of shrimp cake and placed it on her plate.
Dolores lowered her gaze, focusing on her soup.
She wasn’t accustomed to Matthew’s kindness and consideration.
Suddenly, her appetite vanished.
She felt extremely uneasy.
“Why did you break off the engagement?”
She wondered if Victoria had been telling the truth… Was it all because of her?
Taking a sip of water, Matthew asked casually, “Why do you suddenly want to know?”
Dolores looked up at him. “I’m just curious.”
Matthew set down his water glass unhurriedly and glanced at her. “We weren’t compatible, so I ended it. There’s no other reason.”
As expected… Where there is hope, there is disappointment.
How could it be because of her?
She forced a self-mocking smile.
She laughed at her own wishful thinking.
She had known it was impossible, but she still held out hope.
“Mr. Nelson, Miss Herbert has been with you for so long, and you dumped her out of the blue. How heartless.”
Carefully chewing the shrimp cake, Matthew set down his chopsticks, seemingly lost in thought.
After a moment, he spoke slowly, “What did you just call me?”
“Mr. Nelson,” Dolores nearly answered automatically.
He gave her a serious look. “I don’t like that title.”
“Then, President Nelson?” Dolores suggested another option.
“Neither.”
Dolores was speechless.
Matthew picked up another piece of shrimp cake, resembling a piece of white jade, and placed it in his mouth. He chewed slowly, his lips slightly parted. “I think ‘Honey’ sounds more pleasing.”