After entering the room, Matthew gently laid Dolores on the bed.
He proceeded to the bathroom, dampened a towel, and offered it to Dolores to wipe her face. The more he gazed at her countenance, the angrier he became. Tossing the towel aside, Matthew positioned himself in front of Dolores. In a somber tone, he posed a question, “What happened? Why do you look like this?”
Dolores trembled as memories of Sampson’s actions resurfaced.
She struggled to find the words to convey what she had experienced. She didn’t know where to begin.
“Tell me,” Matthew grasped Dolores’ shoulder, peering into her eyes. “Did you sleep with him?”
A tempest brewed within his gaze.
Dolores shook her head.
If she hadn’t awakened in time… She dared not fathom what would have ensued.
She would have never expected such behavior from Sampson.
The hurricane persisted in Matthew’s eyes. “Who did this to you?”
Dolores pressed her lips tightly together, remaining silent.
She hugged herself, shivering uncontrollably.
“I asked you a question!” Matthew could no longer contain his anger.
Dolores widened her eyes, tears streaming down her face.
She remained silent, the tears forming a trail on her cheek.
Matthew paced back and forth beside the bed.
He had never lost his composure like this before.
Dolores closed her eyes. Eventually, Matthew’s movements ceased. The room fell into an eerie silence, disrupted only by the sound of his breathing and her quiet sobs.
A shadow approached Dolores. Matthew embraced her, still trembling. His warm hand tenderly caressed Dolores’ face before he kissed her nose.
Throughout the process, Dolores felt a mix of nervousness, shock, and helplessness. She sensed it-this was the love Matthew had never shown.
“Go take a shower,” Matthew carried her and led her into the bathroom.
The bathtub was filled with warm water, steam gently rising.
Dolores looked at Matthew in astonishment.
She never imagined that a man like Matthew would do something like this for her.
Matthew turned around, facing her. “Do you need any assistance?”
What?
Dolores shook her head, quickly declining, “No. No.”
“I’ll wait for you outside. Call my name if you need anything,” Matthew assured her.
“Alright.”
As soon as Dolores closed the door, she locked it. She needed to ensure the lock was secure before she dared to undress.
She was still haunted by what Sampson had done.
Dolores eased herself into the bathtub. The water temperature was perfect. Her hair floated atop the water, resembling water grass. Beneath the surface, her body warmed the water.
She diligently scrubbed every inch of her skin, determined to rid herself of Sampson’s touch.
Outside the bathroom, Matthew could discern that Dolores hadn’t revealed the truth to him. She must know who was responsible.
The only reason she hadn’t disclosed it was that she didn’t want to.
Matthew picked up the telephone from the bedside and called Abbott. “Help me find out who accompanied Dolores to the KS Club tonight.”
“Yes, Mr. Nelson,” Abbott responded.
After setting down the phone, Matthew rubbed his forehead.
Dolores was taking a long time in the bathroom. Matthew approached the door and knocked, “Are you finished?”
“Yes,” Dolores replied, wrapping herself in a towel. She had no clothes to wear in the bathroom.
After over an hour immersed in the water, she had regained her senses and composure.
She opened the door and saw Matthew standing outside the bathroom. His collar was unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his chest. He wore black trousers that accentuated his long legs. Matthew’s gaze fixated on her.
Dolores’ hair was still wet, water droplets glistening on her shoulders like crystals against her fair skin.
Dolores held onto her towel with care, as if afraid it might slip. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Yes,” Matthew averted his gaze from Dolores and replied softly.
“Can you find something for me to wear? Anything.”
Matthew regarded Dolores. “Do you know what time it is?”
Dolores shook her head.
“It’s already one o’clock in the morning. Where do you expect me to find something for you to wear?” Even the shops in the malls had closed by now.
Matthew handed Dolores one of his shirts. “Wear this for now. I’ll buy you something tomorrow morning.”
Dolores hesitated before putting it on. “I want to go home.”
Matthew’s expression turned cold. “Don’t you remember your situation?”
She had made a promise to him. Had she forgotten?
Matthew reached out and held her waist. Their bodies drew close. Just as Dolores was about to resist, her hands were caught. Matthew locked eyes with her and said, “You have to get used to this.”
Dolores lowered her gaze, remaining quietly in his embrace.
“I’m tired.”
“I’ll hold you until you fall asleep,” Matthew whispered as he lifted Dolores and tucked her into bed. He then lay down beside her and embraced her from behind.
Dolores wasn’t accustomed to this closeness.
She shifted her body, attempting to distance herself from Matthew.
Frowning, Matthew cautioned Dolores, “Stop moving.”
Dolores was taken aback, sensing Matthew’s rising body heat.
She wasn’t as naive as a little girl. She understood what was happening.
Dolores dared not make any further movements. She even slowed her breathing, trying not to provoke the man behind her.
Although she had agreed to maintain a husband-wife relationship with him, she wasn’t ready to take things to the next level.
“Relax. It feels like I’m hugging a boulder,” Matthew murmured, closing his eyes and doing his best to conceal his desire.
Dolores struggled to control her body.
She couldn’t relax at all.
She was completely unclothed, and he was holding her. How could she possibly feel at ease?
Moreover, he had already been aroused.
The sensation was potent too.
“Behave,” Matthew kissed Dolores on the top of her head.
Dolores swallowed hard. “Yes, I promised you… but… you have to ask for my permission before…”
“Before what?” Matthew opened his eyes and smirked playfully.
Dolores buried her face in a pillow. “You know what I mean.”
“I don’t.”
Matthew’s smile grew wider.
Dolores pretended to be asleep and remained silent.
It was evident that Matthew had asked that question on purpose.
It made her feel bashful.
Matthew lay flat on the bed, staring at the ceiling, and inquired, “When will you agree to it?”
Agree to sleep with him?
Dolores blinked, uncertain of the answer to this question. All she knew was that she didn’t want it now.
She didn’t want to surrender herself like this.
The first time, she had no choice.
But this time, she had to be the one making the decision.
“When I feel confident in dealing with men.”
Matthew was speechless.
He couldn’t touch her until she felt capable of dealing with men?
That was absurd!
Did she want him to become a monk?
Dolores closed her eyes once more, remaining silent and pretending to be asleep.
Yet her body was tense. It didn’t feel at all like when she was genuinely asleep.
Matthew turned around and observed her. He smiled, then embraced her from behind and drifted back to sleep.
Dolores slept soundly, only awakening after six in the morning.
Matthew was still asleep. Dolores removed the blanket and attempted to slip out of bed. However, she failed to notice that the towel had become loose while she slept, and Matthew was lying on it. She only realized this when she stood up and felt the coldness against her skin.
As she tried to retrieve the towel from beneath Matthew, he stirred.
Fearful that he might wake up and see her naked, Dolores hurriedly returned to the safety of the blanket.
Matthew turned over and placed his leg across hers. He continued holding her as they both drifted back to sleep.