Matthew remained silent, not offering her any response.
Dolores had no other option but to sit patiently and quietly, waiting for him to speak.
After a while, the car came to a stop at the hotel she had previously visited.
Dolores remained seated, puzzled. “Why did you bring me here?”
Matthew opened her door, grasped her wrist, and forcefully led her into the lobby.
“What are you doing?” Dolores struggled to free her hand, but his grip was unyielding, like iron cuffs.
Through the lobby, into the elevator, and up to a room, Matthew dragged her along.
A beep sounded as he unlocked the door.
“What the hell is going on? I need to go back. Samuel’s injury hasn’t fully healed, and I should be there with him…”
Damn it!
Before she could finish her sentence, Matthew pulled her into the room and closed the door behind her.
Dolores’ heart trembled, its rapid beats echoing in her chest. She had witnessed his anger before, but this was different. She had never seen him this furious.
The air in the room felt heavy, like the calm before a violent storm. His deep voice resonated from within, chilling her to the bone. “Tell me, what is wrong with you?”
Dolores leaned back against the closed door, her palms becoming sweaty.
She didn’t speak, but rather stared at him, attempting to see into his heart. What kind of heart lay hidden behind his handsome face?
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” His voice remained cold, sending shivers down her spine.
“I met Maria,” she finally gathered the courage to speak, her hands clenched into fists by her sides, sweat clinging to her palms.
Matthew’s brows furrowed slightly. “So what?”
Was this the reason for her sudden anger?
“She told me something.”
Matthew remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
Summoning all her courage, Dolores uttered, “She said that you had her raped.”
She locked her gaze onto him. “Is that true?”
She desperately wanted him to deny it, to prove that he wasn’t so cruel and heartless.
That he hadn’t orchestrated such a heinous act against Maria.
That his heart wasn’t so cold.
But Matthew’s answer chilled her to the core.
“Yes.”
Her ears buzzed, and her throat felt constricted, rendering her speechless for what seemed like an eternity.
After a long silence, she finally found her voice. “Why?”
“Why did you do that? Did you never love her? How could you do this to her?” Dolores couldn’t comprehend it.
She couldn’t accept that he was capable of such actions.
She had grown accustomed to his kindness. Somewhere deep within her heart, something shattered.
All because of this man.
His actions left her utterly lost.
“Are you angry simply because of this?” Matthew’s eyes slowly transitioned from anger to a calm state as she continued to gaze at him.
“Is this a trivial matter? Is your heart made of stone?”
Matthew reached out to brush away a strand of hair that had fallen onto her forehead, but Dolores turned her face away, evading his touch.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Does it anger you that much?” Matthew kept his hand extended toward her forehead and then gently caressed her nose. “Why are you so angry?”
“I don’t want you to be such a cruel person,” she blurted out the words from her heart.
Only after speaking did she realize the depth of her anguish.
She couldn’t bear the thought of him being such a person.
As she observed her angry expression, Matthew felt an inexplicable attraction toward her.
Though she didn’t reject his touch at that moment, she had never opened herself up to him like this before.
She had always remained reserved.
His fingers grazed her cheek, pausing on her brow bone. After a long while, his smile deepened. “Why don’t you want me to be cruel?”
Dolores panicked, avoiding his gaze. Her heart felt like a turbulent ocean, unable to find calm amidst the tumultuous waves.
Why did she hope for him to be kind?
Because it seemed she already cared about him.
Matthew’s smile persisted, and his sharp gaze pierced through her. “Are you afraid that I will treat you the same way?”
Almost instinctively, Dolores remained silent.
Yes, she feared he would treat her with the same cruelty.
“I will never do that to you.” Matthew pulled her into his arms.
Dolores had the impulse to break free, but as she attempted to react, Matthew firmly grasped her hands, using only a fraction of his strength.
“I will never do that to you!”
“How do I know?” Dolores had never felt so out of control in his presence, but she was genuinely afraid.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, bringing her body closer to his, and released her hands. Her fists fell upon his chest; she was too agitated, and Matthew was concerned she might inadvertently harm him, so he held her hands once more.
“Let go… Ugh!”
Before she could finish speaking, he cupped her head and passionately kissed her lips, leaving her unable to voice her thoughts. His kiss was forceful and domineering, denying her the chance to catch her breath.
The unexpected kiss was like an unanticipated storm, and his taste lingered strongly on her tongue.
Her resistance was futile in the face of his passion.
All her emotions became entangled within his deep kiss.
Gradually, her body softened in his embrace.
He kissed her forehead, then her eyebrows, and finally the corners of her eyes. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I just like you.”
There was no explanation needed.
If there was one thing that truly captivated him, it was her inexplicable sense of familiarity. It drew him in, deepening his attraction.
Tears cascaded down her cheeks without warning.
Matthew gently brushed away the tears, his voice filled with concern. “Why are you crying?”
She couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of her pain, but her heart ached immensely.
When she heard Armand mention Matthew’s involvement with Maria, it had left her feeling despondent.
She knew she shouldn’t care about his past relationships, considering her own history, but her heart couldn’t help but ache.
And then, the revelation that Matthew had orchestrated Maria’s assault shattered her to the core.
Matthew held her close, his hand soothingly caressing her back. “There’s a boundary that not just anyone can cross. Those who cross it without my permission must face the consequences.”
Dolores closed her eyes, her lips trembling as she poured out her hesitation and fear.
Bitterly, she asked, “What is it that you like about me? Isn’t it all too impulsive?”
His gaze was deep and intense, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “I’ve never been more certain in my life. Sometimes, confusion and impulsiveness can be quite thrilling.”
Dolores was at a loss on how to handle him. Should she leave? The thought crossed her mind.
But everyone she cared about was right within his reach. It was unrealistic to believe she could slip away unnoticed.
Ever since she had crossed paths with him again, her fate had become a tangled mess.
Returning to this place, where memories held no joy, was never in her plans.
But everything had changed because of him.
Was this her destiny?
Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She wiped away her tears and retrieved it. It was Samuel calling. She answered.
“Hello, Samuel!”
“Mommy, it’s me, Simona. When will you come back? Is Daddy with you? When will Daddy come back?” Simona’s soft voice came through, carrying her longing.
“Daddy has been gone the whole day. I miss him,” Simona said, sitting cross-legged on the sofa. She had secretly used Samuel’s smartwatch to call Dolores when he wasn’t around.
“Mommy, Daddy won’t abandon us, right?”
Dolores tightly gripped the phone, her gaze shifting to Matthew as she replied, “… No.”
She reassured her daughter.
“Really?” Simona’s voice resonated with joy and excitement. “Mommy, I’m so happy. I won’t be a child without a father anymore. I’ll have a father too. Mommy, I’m really happy. No one can say we’re orphans… Simona… who are you calling? No… show me quickly…”
Samuel’s voice interrupted, followed by some commotion before the call abruptly ended.
Dolores held onto the phone for a long moment, stung by Simona’s words. She had raised them both on her own, enduring the judgment and gossip surrounding her unmarried pregnancy, being labeled a promiscuous woman.
It hadn’t been easy to hear.
Simona must have overheard such comments, or else she wouldn’t have said what she did.
Until now, Dolores had believed she had shielded her children from the pain, but it seemed they had suffered more than she realized.
Matthew enveloped her trembling shoulders with his arms. “Let’s go back.”
Dolores nodded. For her daughter’s sake, she couldn’t leave him now.
If a day ever came when she had to part ways with him, then it would be her destiny, and nothing could alter its course.