Before she could finish her sentence, Matthew suddenly seized the back of her head. He forcefully pressed his lips against hers, leaving no room for escape.
Matthew was consumed by lust and overwhelming aggression.
It felt as though he wanted to devour her with his mouth.
Dolores couldn’t bear it any longer. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she felt completely out of control in the presence of this man.
Her rationality reminded her of what Matthew was doing.
Matthew knew it was futile. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?
With just a fraction of his strength, Matthew had already gained complete control over Dolores.
Dolores struggled to push him away.
“You know nothing can happen between us. Why won’t you leave me alone?” A thin layer of mist veiled her eyes as her voice trembled. “Don’t do this again. It’s not good for anyone.”
She turned her head away, wiping her eyes.
Matthew remained still, unmoving from where Dolores had pushed him away. He stared at her silently, taking in her appearance. After a few seconds, he sat back in his seat and reclined with his head raised.
Matthew rolled down the car window, allowing the fresh air to flood in and dilute the previously secreted hormones.
Resting his arm on the open window, he fixed his gaze on a buttonwood tree by the roadside, its leaves gently swaying in the wind.
Matthew closed his eyes. He was an adult. He understood why he cared so much about Dolores.
“I can’t accept your children. I’m not that generous or forgiving. I can’t raise children who belong to you and another man. Watching them grow up in front of me might drive me insane.” Matthew grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the console and opened it. He took a sip before looking up, his long neck casting a slender silhouette. His alluring Adam’s apple protruded as well, exuding an indescribable sense of determination and pride.
“But I also can’t bear to let you go and watch you live with another man.”
Dolores mustered all her strength to wipe her face. She had never felt so close to despair.
Matthew grasped her wrist and cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his gaze. In his eyes, Dolores saw a woman in turmoil.
However, in her eyes, Matthew appeared as a man consumed by madness.
He desired her.
“We can be a legitimate couple. As for your children, I will arrange for their care by someone else.”
“Impossible!” Dolores immediately rejected.
There was no room for discussion.
“We can have our own child too. A child who belongs to both of us…”
“Ridiculous!” Dolores pulled away from him. “You’ve never been a parent, and you don’t understand how crucial a child is to their mother. In my eyes, they are my life. You’re asking me to give away my entire life. Isn’t that absurd?”
Waves overflowed in Matthew’s eyes. “Are they truly that important to you?”
“Yes,” Dolores responded without hesitation.
Matthew tugged at his collar and laughed wildly and wickedly. “You’re right. I’ve never been a father. You can bear a child for me as well and let me experience what it means to be a parent.”
Dolores could no longer find the words to describe him. She unfastened her seatbelt and opened the car door, ready to leave.
She couldn’t communicate with this man. After taking a few steps, suddenly Matthew grabbed her waist and lifted her up. Dolores screamed and pounded on Matthew’s back. “What are you doing? Let go of me!”
Matthew opened the back door and placed her inside the car. He then pressed himself against Dolores, using one hand to restrain her restless hands above her head. His other hand gripped her chin firmly. “Impossible? But what if I hide your children away and keep them separated from you forever? Have you thought about that? You know I’m capable of it.”
“Bastard!” Dolores glared at him in fury.
Matthew showed no sign of anger. Instead, he smiled. “I don’t mind being even more of a bastard.”
Then, his hand that was holding her chin trailed along her jawline, neck, and delicate collarbones without pause…
Dolores shook her head. “No…”
“How did you manage to protect yourself?” Matthew lowered his head, his lips hovering near hers, teasing and questioning.
From her face to the roots of her ears, everything turned red with shame and shyness.
Her entire body trembled.
Anger consumed her.
“Have you seriously considered it?” Matthew asked, his voice near her ear.
“Maria was responsible for the car accident. If I don’t want her to go to prison, there’s nothing you can do about it,” Matthew whispered, his teeth grazing her ear. He continued to persuade her, “If you accept my proposal, I’ll help you bring her to justice. What do you say?”
In desperation, Dolores closed her eyes. Tears welled up and trickled down, vanishing in her hair.
“I can agree to be with you and drop the divorce talk, but I must be with my children as well. And there’s something else. You want me to bear your child? I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you. My body was damaged, and I’m infertile now. If you agree to this, I’ll say yes. If not…”
“If I don’t agree, what will you do?” A tinge of red tinted Matthew’s eyes. She was infertile now?
He tightened his grip on his fingers.
Dolores winced from the pain, but she pressed her lips together tightly and remained silent.
“The world is vast. I refuse to believe there’s no place for me. If I can’t escape from you, I’ll end my life. How about that?”
Matthew stared at her for two seconds and finally relented.
Matthew didn’t dare push too far. All he wanted was this woman. If he drove her to death, where would he find another Dolores?
He straightened her clothes. “From now on, you can’t get too close to other men. If I want to see you, you must be in my sight as soon as possible.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll drive you back.” Matthew stood up and fixed her slightly disheveled clothes.
Dolores didn’t move.
Matthew started the car and began driving.
The landscape outside raced by.
“Will you truly help me?” Dolores asked, then fearing he might misunderstand, she added, “Help me solve the case.”
After all, Matthew had a history with Maria.
Dolores wasn’t certain.
“Yes,” Matthew replied without further explanation.
If he said yes, he would follow through.
Resting her head against the car window, Dolores thought that was it.
This man was too dominant and forceful. She couldn’t fight him.
For now, he agreed to help her, and she wouldn’t be separated from her children. There was nothing inherently bad about that.
In this country, being under his protection might actually be beneficial for her.
Matthew gripped the steering wheel with one hand and covered her hand with the other.
“Your hand is so soft,” he remarked, a smirk playing on his lips.
Dolores’ fingers were slender and soft, as if they had no bones. They were just as delicate as her body. Whenever he held her in his arms, the instincts of a man would take over.
Dolores pretended not to hear it.
Soon, the car entered the neighborhood.
On the side of the road, Jessica, accompanied by her two children, was being approached by a man. Jessica seemed reluctant to engage in conversation.
But the man persisted.
When the man turned around, Dolores caught a glimpse of his face.