Coral donned an apron as she entered the kitchen, intending to make breakfast. But to her surprise, she found Dolores already awake and muttering to herself while preparing breakfast.
“Oh! It’s nothing,” Dolores replied, avoiding eye contact and unable to meet Coral’s gaze. “Where are the eggs?”
“In the refrigerator,” Coral replied, opening it only to find the eggs missing. She turned around and spotted them next to the sink. “Aren’t they right there, next to you?”
“Huh?” Dolores turned to see the eggs on the counter, realizing she had already taken them out earlier. Her attempt to divert the subject had failed miserably. She smiled in embarrassment. “I forgot!”
Coral smiled in understanding, sensing that Dolores was hiding something but choosing not to press further.
“Let me help you. Tell me what the kids like to eat, and I’ll make it for them,” Coral offered.
“They aren’t too picky,” Dolores replied, beating the eggs together to make steamed eggs. After a few days of living there, she had become familiar with Coral’s cooking skills. Coral’s dishes were always balanced and nutritious.
With Coral’s cooking, there was no need for any additional preparation.
“It’s good that they’re not picky,” Coral commented.
Picky children often lack essential nutrients.
“Yeah,” Dolores replied with a smile.
Together, they prepared breakfast. Their prior acquaintance seemed to make them comfortable working together, and they complemented each other well.
By seven o’clock, the once-quiet villa had become lively.
Samuel’s swollen face had subsided a bit. Jessica helped him get dressed and washed his face, knowing he must be getting bored staying in the room. He hurriedly ran to the living room in search of his sister.
He had slept well the previous night. He didn’t know when his mother and sister had left, leaving him alone in the room.
His disappointment was palpable.
Feeling wronged, he sat on the living room sofa with an unhappy expression on his little face.
In contrast, Simona was filled with joy.
She had slept in her father’s arms for the first time, and the excitement kept her from getting much sleep. Exhausted, she had finally fallen asleep at dawn, her face half-buried in the pillow, small pink lips slightly parted with a drool stain at the corner.
Matthew sat on the edge of the bed, observing her and wrinkling his nose in disgust. “Still drooling.”
She had no idea he found it distasteful.
With a contented smile on her face, as if she was having a pleasant dream, she sleepily called out, “Daddy.”
Matthew’s expression changed as he looked at her, then he reached out and pinched her cheek. Simona sleepily turned her head, prompting Matthew to retract his hand. He thought to himself, ‘It would have been nice if you were actually my daughter.’
But dwelling on that thought wasn’t productive. He got up and headed to the bathroom. He had returned late the previous night and had fallen asleep without even taking a shower, leaving his shirt wrinkled and clinging to his body.
Sounds of running water soon emanated from the bathroom. After a while, Matthew emerged, a towel wrapped around his waist.
Simona, awakening from her slumber, noticed that her father was no longer beside her. Pouting, she felt the urge to cry.
But when she saw the closet door open, she quietly climbed out of bed and tiptoed barefoot to the closet door to catch a glimpse of her Daddy.
Luckily, he hadn’t left her.
She leaned against the door frame, observing him in secret.
Matthew stood in front of the full-length mirror, fastening the metal buckle on his belt.
The trousers clung elegantly to his slender legs.
His upper body was bare, revealing well-defined, honey-colored muscles glistening with droplets of water. In Simona’s eyes, the overhead lights cast an ethereal glow on his tall, lean physique, giving him an air of nobility and rebelliousness.
He grabbed a nearby towel and began drying his hair and upper body, obstructing Simona’s view.
She couldn’t help but sigh. Daddy was truly handsome.
His appearance seemed unreal.
Thinking back to sleeping in his arms the previous night, she blushed and grinned, revealing her small, pearly teeth.
Quietly, she turned around and climbed back into bed, attempting to fall back asleep.
She was truly exhausted.
This was her Daddy’s bed, filled with his scent. She wanted to lie here for a little while longer.
Nuzzling her face into the quilt, she inhaled deeply, trying to saturate herself with her father’s fragrance. She closed her eyes, feeling his warmth enveloping her, and gradually drifted back to sleep.
Matthew, now dressed neatly, discovered her still sleeping in bed. He gently placed her back under the covers, realizing she wouldn’t wake anytime soon, and made his way downstairs.
Coral stood at the bottom of the stairs, about to call him down for breakfast. Spotting him descending, she turned to Dolores and said, “It’s time to eat.”
Dolores nodded and brought the prepared breakfast to the table.
Samuel stared intently at the man who had just come downstairs.
This heartless man attempted to separate him from his mommy.
He was furious, filled with anger!
Matthew shot him a disdainful glance. Why was the kid wearing such a sour expression so early in the morning?
“Your face doesn’t hurt anymore?” Matthew taunted.
“No.” Samuel replied coldly, sliding off the sofa and following Dolores to the dining table. Today, he would keep a close eye on her to ensure Matthew couldn’t take advantage of anything.
Dolores looked at her son, who stuck to her like a shadow, and said, “Sit down and eat!”
“Sit with me,” Samuel insisted.
“Alright.” Dolores smiled at him, but she could tell he wasn’t truly happy. “Does your head still hurt?”
Samuel wanted to say it didn’t hurt, but when he noticed Matthew approaching, he immediately threw himself into Dolores’ arms, pretending to be a little child. “My head hurts, it hurts.”
Dolores lifted him up. “Let me see.”
“No, just hold me.” Samuel clung tightly to her neck.
Matthew was at a loss for words.
There was Simona at night and Samuel during the day. Did they not want him to be a part of their lives?
Samuel sat on Dolores’ lap while eating, even asking her to feed him.
This was the most disdainful he had ever felt.
Simona enjoyed these kinds of things.
But now, he was genuinely enjoying himself, and it made his mommy happy too.
“Is Simona still sleeping?” Jessica asked.
“She stayed up late,” Dolores replied.
Jessica nodded, aware that Simona had cried and waited for Matthew last night.
Suddenly, Dolores’ cellphone on the table rang. It was Theresa calling, informing her that the store had been renovated and Mrs. William would be there in the morning.
“I’ve booked a hotel. You go pick her up from the airport. Her flight lands at nine o’clock,” Theresa informed her.
“Okay.” Dolores hung up, confirming the arrangements.
“I need to use the bathroom,” Samuel suddenly declared.
“I’ll take you.”
“No need.” Samuel waved dismissively. He wanted to handle his business alone and didn’t want his mother to wipe him.
He could take care of himself.
After Samuel left, Dolores focused on eating her porridge.
“Are you going out today?” Matthew initiated the conversation. He felt like she was avoiding him since she hadn’t spoken a word to him since he woke up.
Dolores hummed in response.
“Where are you going? I can drop you off.”
“No, you need to go to the office. I have my own car,” Dolores declined.
Recalling her boldness from the previous night, she felt embarrassed.
She didn’t even have the courage to face him alone.
Matthew’s eyes narrowed. The car he gave her?
Why did it feel like shooting himself in the foot?
He only wanted to be kind to her. How did it end up becoming an obstacle?
After breakfast, Dolores left the house after Matthew, just to stagger their departure times.
But little did she know that when she stepped outside, Matthew was still waiting for her, leaning against his car.
Summoning her courage, she approached him. “Why didn’t you leave?”
Matthew answered her question with a question of his own. “Are you avoiding me?”
Dolores denied it. “No.”
Matthew said, “Alright then, come on.”
Dolores lowered her head and whispered, “We’re not heading in the same direction…”
Matthew noticed her ears turning red. Was she shy?
What was she feeling embarrassed about?
Why was the atmosphere so awkward?
Suddenly, he remembered that she had kissed him last night.
Matthew grabbed her waist, his arms encircling her, and leaned closer to her lips. “You should kiss me a few more times. If you get used to it, you won’t feel so embarrassed.”
Dolores was stunned.
This man…
“Let’s get going,” Dolores said, regretting her actions. If only she had quickly gotten into the car, she wouldn’t have been teased like this.
Matthew smiled, released his grip on her, and got into the driver’s seat.
As the car approached an intersection, a dark figure suddenly leaped out and stood in front of the vehicle.