“I…”
Her heart was torn, she had to admit it. It wasn’t that she didn’t have some feelings for Matthew, it was simply that she didn’t dare to acknowledge them.
She didn’t want to dwell on it.
What appeared to be near was not actually within reach, and what seemed distant was not truly far away. She didn’t want to delve into these ambiguous emotions and uncover whether it was love or something else entirely.
It hurt to think so much.
When Jessica posed the questions, Dolores didn’t know how to respond. Her heart felt like a jumble of conflicting emotions.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Jessica’s eyes were red. “Perhaps, now that he’s treating you well, have you thought about the future? Can Samuel and Simona accept it? Won’t you ever consider it?”
“Mom, I don’t want to think about it right now. By the way, we might have to stay here for a while. I’m afraid our residence isn’t safe,” Dolores purposely changed the subject.
Jessica wasn’t willing to let go of the topic. “Was it because of him that you wanted to come back from abroad?”
If she hadn’t returned, maybe none of these things would have happened.
Dolores lowered her head and remained silent, clearly agreeing with Jessica’s assessment.
Jessica had wanted to say more, cautioning her not to be blinded by what was in front of her.
But instead of expressing her thoughts, Jessica abruptly changed direction and said, “The decisions about your life are yours to make.”
Dolores was an adult now, with her own thoughts and ideas.
Excessive interference would only create pressure.
Jessica sighed. “If it’s for the safety of your children, then we must stay here.”
Recalling what Sampson had done, she still felt lingering fear.
Dolores understood her concerns and reassured her, “Don’t worry, I’ll protect myself.”
Inside the villa…
Matthew carefully laid a sleeping Samuel in the downstairs room.
Coral stood at the doorway, watching him.
Since Matthew had arrived, she had been following him closely, as if she had a lot to say.
“Do you already know?” Coral asked from the doorway.
Matthew adjusted Samuel’s blanket, stood up, and looked at her. “Know what?”
Coral appeared anxious. “That they’re your children!”
Matthew’s gaze turned gloomy, as if Coral had touched a sensitive nerve.
It was something he had intentionally ignored, and now she was bringing it up, forcing him to confront it directly, which left him feeling unhappy.
Frowning, Coral wondered if she had made a mistake. Why was he looking at her like that?
Coral let out a sigh, hurriedly fetched a photo, and walked over to the bed, comparing it to Samuel’s face. “Look…”
Samuel had injuries, and his face was swollen, looking completely different from when she had last seen him.
She stared in disbelief.
“Why is he hurt?” Coral felt a surge of distress. He had been so adorable and clever when she saw him before.
Matthew didn’t want to discuss this matter with anyone. “Don’t mention his identity in the future.”
“But…”
Refusing to give up, Coral attempted to continue.
“She was pregnant before we got married. The children aren’t mine,” Matthew quickly interrupted her.
He had never been intimate with her. Wouldn’t she know?
The mere thought of her being with someone else in bed made him feel dejected and suffocated.
Therefore, he didn’t want anyone to bring up the children’s identity to him.
He didn’t want anyone to discuss her past with him.
He didn’t want to know!
“What… What are you saying?” Coral was shocked. Her hands trembled, and it took her a while to find her voice.
Matthew had married someone who was already pregnant?
How was that even possible?
“I know the truth, and I don’t want to hear speculations from others,” Matthew stated before stepping out of the room.
This was Coral, and he wouldn’t have revealed so much to anyone else.
Coral’s mind was in turmoil. She looked at the photos in her hands and at Samuel lying in bed. Despite his swollen face, she still remembered how he looked when he wasn’t injured.
How could Dolores have conceived him before their marriage?
How?
He clearly resembled Matthew when he was a child.
Coral couldn’t shake off the shock of this revelation.
Feeling adrift, she didn’t know how to return to her room. It felt as if she were floating in space.
Dolores and Jessica entered the villa.
Jessica went to check on Simona in the guest bedroom, while Dolores headed to the kitchen to search for ice cubes in the freezer. She wrapped them in a towel and gently applied it to Samuel’s injured face.
As the sun began to set, the sky gradually darkened, painting a reddish hue.
Coral had managed to collect herself and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Simona woke up, finding herself in an unfamiliar environment. She clung to Jessica and remained in her embrace.
Since Jessica was also unfamiliar with the place, she stayed in the room with Simona, not venturing out.
In the study, Matthew hung up the phone and glanced at the time. It was five o’clock. He stood up and left the study, entering the quiet living room. Occasionally, sounds of Coral preparing dinner drifted from the kitchen.
Opening the bedroom door, Matthew spotted Dolores seated on a chair beside the bed, with a towel on the table.
Samuel was still asleep.
It seemed Dolores was keeping watch over him.
He walked over, gazing at the child lying on the bed, his eyelashes fanned out on his cheeks. Matthew reached out, cradled Dolores’ head, and drew her into an embrace, comforting her. “Don’t worry too much.”
She hummed in response.
With Matthew standing and Dolores seated, her head nestled against his abdomen, she could feel the heat and firmness of his abs through his shirt.
“Thank you,” Dolores sincerely expressed her gratitude, extending her hand to wrap it around his waist.
This incident had unfolded suddenly, and if it weren’t for Matthew’s help, she didn’t know what would have happened.
Thankfully, both children were now safe.
Matthew’s body stiffened, momentarily overwhelmed by a jumble of thoughts.
Dolores rarely initiated physical contact with him. Could this be a sign that she was slowly opening up to him?
He gently cupped her head, caressing her ears and the skin behind them, occasionally kneading her earlobes.
Seemingly more sensitive, her body quivered slightly at his touch.
Sensing her response, Matthew leaned down, placing kisses on her hair, forehead, the corners of her eyes, and her cheeks…
“Hmm…”
A soft moan escaped, followed by Samuel’s slightly hoarse voice, “Mommy.”
Dolores quickly withdrew, pushing Matthew away, and hastily turned her attention to Samuel. “Are you awake?”
Matthew didn’t know what to say.
“Yeah,” Samuel replied, looking at Matthew. He slid his hand under the quilt, gripping the bedsheet tightly. In truth, he had been awake when Matthew entered the room.
He had remained silent on purpose, wanting to observe how his mother and Matthew would interact.
But he hadn’t anticipated this. They were divorced, yet he still saw them kiss.
He despised him!
Samuel gazed at Matthew, a forced grin stretching across his lips. He hissed through the pain, “Thank you, really!”
Frowning, Matthew observed his smile, detecting a hint of mischief.
“Stay quiet! Your mouth is wounded,” Dolores admonished, feeling sorry for her son as she noticed the injured corner of his lips while he spoke.
“Mommy, don’t you know?” Samuel pretended to be surprised.
“Know what?” Dolores looked at her son, perplexed.
Matthew shot him a warning glare.
Unperturbed, Samuel continued to feign innocence. “Mommy, I was kidnapped, but it was intentional.”
“What?” Dolores couldn’t help but interject.
Was something wrong with his mind? Why was he claiming it was an intentional kidnapping?
Samuel carried on with his act, “Yeah, it was his idea to have Sampson kidnap me.”
He pointed at Matthew.