Warner’s expression grew even colder as he disliked Maria’s condition. “Don’t forget that you’re the one responsible for all of this. You should be the one taking responsibility to solve these problems. And now you’re using it as a bargaining chip with me? If Dad finds out, he’ll be furious.”
Maria smiled and curled her lips. “Warner, are you afraid I’ll steal your thunder?”
“What a joke.” Warner didn’t want to engage in conversation with her. “Is it really that easy to manipulate Matthew? If you have something to leverage, you could simply threaten him into marrying you. Why did you go through all those plans? Are you insane?”
Warner had calmed down and didn’t believe that Maria had found Matthew’s weakness. If she had something to use against him, she could have directly forced him into marriage. There was no need for all these complications.
“You’re the one who’s insane.” Maria was angered. “I wanted to help you, but since you don’t care, don’t blame me for staying out of it.”
She turned around and went upstairs, leaving Warner behind.
Warner sneered. “Just stay at home and don’t anger Dad.”
Camilla happened to come out of the bedroom and reprimanded Warner in a low voice. “Your dad has been in a bad mood lately. Don’t speak loudly at home, it might anger him.”
She had put in a lot of effort to console Landon and make him rest in the bedroom.
“I understand.” Warner went into his bedroom to change clothes. He took out his clothes from the closet but didn’t rush to change. Instead, he sat on the sofa, took out his phone, found Abbott’s number, and made a call.
He cleared his throat and pondered what to say once the call was answered. Contacting Abbott at this moment was primarily because of the news, so Abbott might not be willing to take his call or agree to meet him.
Abbott didn’t pick up the call until the ringtone ended. Warner wasn’t discouraged. He put down his phone, unbuttoned his suit jacket, and walked into the bathroom. After taking a bath, he changed his clothes and left the house.
Meanwhile, Maria stood by a window on the second floor, pushing aside the curtain to watch Warner drive out of the mansion through the back gate.
Regardless of whether Matthew loved her or not, no one could deny that after being by his side for so long, she knew him quite well. She was confident that Matthew would definitely refuse to meet Warner.
Maria smiled. “Brother, I gave you a chance, but you didn’t take it. Don’t blame me then.”
She took out her phone and sent a video to Matthew’s phone and private email, ensuring he would notice it.
In the villa, Coral cooked a table full of dishes as if they were celebrating a festival. Jessica helped her serve rice, and Simona played alone in the living room. Samuel remained in his bedroom, refusing to come out, claiming that he looked ugly and didn’t want to see anyone.
Two streaks of light illuminated the villa as a black car arrived. Dolores and Matthew got out of the car and entered the villa together.
When Simona heard the sound of the door opening, she quickly raised her head from the sofa and looked towards the door. When she saw the man entering, her eyes lit up.
Samuel had told her that this man was their father.
She swiftly slid down from the sofa and ran towards the door with her short legs. Dolores thought she was coming to welcome her and squatted down, preparing to hug her. “Simona.”
But instead of embracing Dolores, Simona stopped in front of Matthew, raised her head, blinked her eyes, and fixed her gaze on the tall man. He was so tall and so handsome.
“Daddy.”
Both Dolores and Matthew were left speechless.
“Daddy.” Simona reached out to hug Matthew’s leg. “Daddy, carry me.”
Dolores tried to coax her. “Simona, be obedient and come to Mommy.”
Simona shook her head. “I want Daddy to carry me.”
Dolores felt awkward and distressed. Although Simona lacked paternal love, she had never called anyone “Daddy” randomly before.
“Simona, come to Mommy. He… He’s not your daddy.”
“No, I want Daddy.” Simona refused to accept Dolores’ words and held on to Matthew’s leg even tighter. She pressed her face against his leg, raised her head, and blinked her big, bright eyes. “Daddy, can you carry me?”
Matthew was frozen in the moment when Simona clung to his leg. He looked down at her with her watery, clear eyes filled with anticipation.
He bent down to pick her up. Simona’s skin was fair, and perhaps because she was light, Matthew didn’t exert too much force.
Simona was amazed to see him up close. “Daddy is so handsome!” she exclaimed inwardly.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, as if she was afraid he would put her down, and nestled her head on his shoulder.
Dolores wanted to take her into her arms. “Simona.”
“Mummy, I want Daddy to carry me.” Simona interrupted Dolores with a sobbing tone. Deep down, she yearned for a father and longed for his embrace.
She longed for a father.
“Let me carry her.” Matthew didn’t mind her resistance. After all, no one would reject such a cute girl.
Dolores felt helpless and explained, “She never behaved like this before.”
Matthew glanced at her blankly and curled his lips into a scornful smile. “Since she has never had a father since birth, it’s natural for her to lack paternal love.”
Dolores was taken aback. Although she appeared calm on the surface, her heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by an iron hand, making it hard to breathe. The pain was evident.
She walked into the house with her head lowered to put down their things.
Matthew carried Simona into the living room and let her sit on his lap. He carefully examined her features. Simona resembled Samuel but was even more adorable.
Her face was as fair as flawless porcelain, soft to the touch, and he had the urge to pinch it.
Acting on his impulse, Matthew pinched her cheek, feeling its elasticity and tenderness. “Your name is Simona?”
Simona nodded and curved her lips into a smile, revealing her white teeth. “Mommy said Simona means tenderness and the morning sun. My name is a symbol of hope.”
Dolores hoped that her daughter would be gentle and shine like the morning sun.
She hoped there would be no darkness, only brightness in her daughter’s life.
Simona blinked and looked at Matthew. “Is it a good name?”
“Very good.”
It wasn’t a half-hearted response. Matthew genuinely believed that Dolores had chosen a beautiful name for Simona.
Simona couldn’t contain her joy and eagerly threw herself into his arms. She pressed her face against his chest, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. “Daddy.”
Matthew tensed up once again. Despite living for over thirty years, this was the first time someone had called him “daddy.”
He felt an inexplicable sense of excitement, like throwing a stone into a stagnant pond and witnessing the ripples spreading across its surface. It was a feeling he couldn’t easily calm down from.
Simona playfully traced her fingers along his collar, exploring his skin.
Matthew remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
He wanted to remove her hand, but Simona held onto his collar tightly. “I want to drink milk.”
Matthew was rendered speechless once again.
He didn’t have breasts, after all!
“Mummy has milk.” Simona blinked curiously, wondering why daddy didn’t have it.
She continued to explore his chest with her tiny hands, finding it flat and firm.
“Mummy’s chest is so soft. Why don’t you have milk?” Simona expressed her disappointment.
Matthew’s expression grew even more tense.
He took deep breaths, trying to regain his composure.
Weren’t Simona and Samuel supposed to be twins?
Why were their personalities so different?
Samuel was independent, while Simona was an extremely clingy child.
Just then, Matthew’s phone began to ring in his pocket. However, he wasn’t in the mood to check it.
Curious, Simona reached out toward his pocket and reminded him, “Daddy, your phone is ringing.”
“I see.”
“I’ll get the phone for you.” Simona tried to please him.
She wanted Matthew to like her, so she felt the need to impress him.
Simona retrieved the phone from Matthew’s pocket and saw a video message on the screen. Blinking her innocent eyes, she accidentally opened the video.
The video started playing.
“Mummy’s breasts,” Simona recognized the people in the video.
Matthew furrowed his brow and lowered his head to watch the video…