The night enveloped them in tranquility.
Matthew’s car came to a halt in front of the villa, its headlights fading into darkness. He swung the door open and stepped out.
Making his way through the front yard, he reached the entrance of the villa and pushed it open, revealing a living room bathed in a gentle, yellow night light. Silence hung in the air, as if everyone had already drifted into slumber.
Removing his jacket, he casually tossed it onto the sofa. Adjusting his collar, he proceeded towards Samuel’s room.
Upon pushing open the door, he noticed the light still aglow. Dolores lay on one side of the bed, cradling Simona in her embrace.
Simona’s eyes appeared red, as if tears had recently streamed down her face. Although asleep, occasional sobs escaped her lips.
Matthew had not yet returned. Dolores had anxiously waited for him on the sofa, unwilling to surrender to sleep. Despite Dolores’ persistent efforts, she failed to console Simona.
Approaching midnight, the weariness in Simona’s drooping eyelids was no match for her resistance against slumber. Dolores scooped her up and carried her into the room, yet she erupted into tears, questioning whether her daddy still wanted her.
Dolores enveloped her in a tight embrace, peppering her with kisses on the cheek, assuring her it wasn’t true.
But Simona remained skeptical. Such insecurities plagued children raised by a single parent, and Simona was no exception.
Buried within Dolores’ arms, she repeated the words, convinced she was a child without a father.
Both mother and daughter shed tears in unison.
Eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed Simona, and she succumbed to sleep within Dolores’ comforting hold.
Dolores clung to her tightly, unwilling to let go, eventually drifting into slumber alongside her.
On the other side of the bed, Samuel peacefully slept. The bed provided ample space, ensuring the three of them didn’t appear cramped. Matthew approached, gently shifting Dolores’ arm from around Simona and draping it around his own neck. Encircling her waist with his arms, he carefully lifted her up.
Dolores sensed a presence moving her, rousing her from her slumber. As her eyes fluttered open, she beheld Matthew. In a drowsy state, she uttered, “You…”
He silenced her with a glance.
Suppressing her words, Dolores acquiesced, allowing Matthew to guide her out of the room.
Matthew led her upstairs.
“Have you been drinking?” Dolores inquired.
The potent aroma of alcohol, intermingled with perfume, emanated from his body.
“Yeah.”
Dolores lowered her eyes, “Who did you drink with?”
He didn’t want to mention Maria so he said, “No one you should be worried about.”
Dolores smiled but said nothing.
Looking at her care-free smile, Matthew asked, “Why the smile?”
Dolores said half-truthfully, “You are a married man, don’t mess around outside.”
Matthew smiled faintly and pressed his forehead on to hers, “Then satisfy me so I don’t look outside.”
While speaking, he opened the door of the upstairs room with his foot.
Dolores had never come into this room. The light in the bedroom was very dim and there are shadows everywhere. Compared to the room downstairs, this one was deep and dark. The main color theme was of black and gray, full of a sense of oppressions and aggressiveness.
Matthew placed her on a large soft bed. Her body sank down in the mattress as he leaned on top of her, his arms propped on her sides.
He looked down at her.
Dolores felt a little uneasy and she turned her head slightly.
Matthew held her chin, not allowing her to escape.
“Look at me.” He commanded.
He took her hand and placed in on his heart. He could feel her hand on his chest through his shirt. His voice was deep and low, “How are you willing to repay me?”
“Repay… What are you…?” Dolores was stiff and dared not to move.
She was afraid that he would lose his control.
His arms softened as he leaned into her body, pressing close into her body. He buried his head in her neck and greedily kissed her fragrant hair, neck and earlobes…
The heat of his breath shattered her into a million pieces, making her feel numb and itchy at the same time.
She was really nervous.
He was also forbearing, “I have done so much for you, shouldn’t you repay me?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Dolores pretended to be calm, but her hand was already clenching the quilt tightly, wrinkling the smooth fabric.
Her held her earlobe between his teeth, biting on it. Dolores pushed him away forcefully, “You are drunk…”
“I’m not drunk. I know exactly what I am doing.” He spelled every word clearly, especially the word I.
The tip of his tongue was playing with her earlobe, “I let you to stay here with the children. How will you satisfy me?”
Dolores heart trembled with her body.
Simona seemed to like him very much and had become very dependent on him in such a short amount of time.
She had never seen her daughter cry with that much sadness before, especially her sentence ‘I am a child without a father’ hurt her deeply.
Tears slid down the corners of her eyes down her temples, getting lost in her hair.
She said in a hoarse voice, “You keep your promise.”
“I will.”
He inhaled her fragrance deeply, his fingers dexterously stripping her of her clothes.
Dolores shivered.
Matthew hugged her and calmed her heart, softly soothing her, “Don’t be afraid.”
With just one sentence, he tore apart her heart that was hiding fear and dread.
Her body was trembling uncontrollably.
Tears fell down on his shirt, soaking it. Matthew looked down at her teary face, his eyes dark and deep, “I am not a wolf, I won’t eat you. Why are you crying?”
Dolores sniffed and said stiffly, “I didn’t cry.”
Matthew was speechless.
His shirt was all wet and yet she was lying?
Matthew wiped away her tears and said softly, “If you are unwilling, I won’t force you…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he was suddenly kissed on his lips.
Dolores took the initiative to kiss him.
For the first time.
Mathew was taken aback.
He stared at her kissing him with his eyes wide open.
His heart went wild with emotions, he couldn’t control it.
Soon, he regained his senses and responded enthusiastically, holding her head and deepening the kiss.
The temperature in the room began to rise, getting hotter and more passionate.
Just as he was about to go further, the door was knocked suddenly.
His movements paused as he looked at Dolores.
Her face flushed instantly, as if on fire.
The door was knocked again.
Who was it at this time?
Matthew frowned, suddenly interrupted. He finally let Dolores go very reluctantly.
He was just a normal man, and he had desire for his woman.
Who bothered him at this time?
Dolores pushed him away as the door was knocked again, “It might be Simona…”
“Don’t move.” No matter how reluctant he was, being interrupted at such a moment he couldn’t ignore it and continue. He got up and pulled the quilt over Dolores. Then he went to open the door.
Simona stood at the door with her little eyes open and red, looking up. When she saw that it was Matthew, she began to cry aggrievedly, “Daddy.”
She sobbed softly, “I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”
Matthew squatted down and stared at her, “Of course, I want you.”
Simona jumped into his arms and hugged his neck tightly.
His neck became wet and sticky from her tears.
Matthew silently looked up at the sky, “You love to cry so much. You sure take after your mommy.”
Dolores quietly curled up in the quilt, quietly listening to the movements at the door.
Matthew coaxed Simona patiently and Dolores smiled lightly.
It was a smile full of bitterness and pain.
If he was willing to give her daughter a little warmth, it was also worth it.