Nestled in Dolores’ arms, Simona seemed to hear him in a daze. Her voice sounded dull as she said, “I do.”
She wanted Daddy.
However, the weariness of sleep overcame her, and she didn’t make her way to him. Dolores covered her ears, preventing her from hearing, and gently patted her back, lulling her to sleep.
Simona mumbled and shifted deeper into Dolores’ embrace.
Dolores held her tightly.
Matthew turned on his side, his gaze fixated on Simona’s small, soft hand touching Dolores’ chest.
Even though he couldn’t physically touch it, he could imagine the sensation just by looking at it. Emotions stormed within him.
Sensing Matthew’s intense gaze, Dolores swiftly pulled the quilt to cover Simona’s hand and then closed her eyes, feigning sleep.
She wasn’t truly tired, but she didn’t want Matthew to touch her, so she pretended to sleep.
Matthew sighed, silently cursing his unfortunate life.
Despite being legally married, he still couldn’t touch her.
He rolled over onto his back, gazing deeply at the ceiling light, unable to hide his inner turmoil.
Dolores had actually fallen asleep during her charade, but Matthew tossed and turned in bed, unable to find sleep.
Suddenly, he sat up and glanced sideways at the mother and daughter.
Bitterness welled up in his heart as he muttered, “Are you two here just to make my life difficult? It’s as if I’ve committed some heinous crime against your family in a past life, and now you both are here to torment me.”
He was a healthy man who hadn’t been with a woman in a long time. It was only natural for his body to react upon seeing Dolores lying there.
With a sigh, he got up and decided to take a shower, hoping to alleviate the burning desire within him.
Sleep eluded him until dawn.
When he finally woke up, Dolores had already left for the store to make final preparations for the grand opening tomorrow.
Matthew left without touching the breakfast Coral had prepared.
Coral wanted to take Samuel to the supermarket and asked Jessica if it was okay. “I’ll keep him safe, and the driver will be with us.”
Since they all lived together, Jessica couldn’t refuse. “His head injury hasn’t fully healed, so come back soon.”
“Sure. Is there anything you need? I can buy it for you.” Coral beamed happily.
“No,” Jessica smiled back.
Samuel sat on the sofa, watching Coral. He trembled, his round eyes widening. She knew he was injured, yet she still wanted to take him to the supermarket? Something didn’t feel right.
Coral had been contemplating since the previous night. Once Dolores and Matthew left for work, she planned to take Samuel to Jaden’s place.
She couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling of uncertainty about whether these children were Matthew’s or not.
This matter consumed her thoughts, leaving her unable to eat or sleep well.
“I’m ready, let’s go.” Coral smiled. “Since you still have a head injury, let me carry you.”
“No, I can walk by myself.” Samuel wanted to see what Coral had planned.
He had only been living here for a short while, but he was confident that she wasn’t a bad person and that it wouldn’t be dangerous.
“Okay.” Coral led him to the hallway, helping him change his shoes before they set off.
The driver asked, “Are we going to the supermarket?”
“No. Take us to the mansion.”
The driver glanced back at Coral and then at Samuel, seemingly understanding her intentions. He turned his gaze forward again and drove in silence.
Deliberately, Samuel asked, “What’s the mansion?”
“It’s your grandfather’s house.” Coral subconsciously believed that these children were Matthew’s.
She couldn’t imagine Dolores being an easily swayed woman.
If Dolores had another man, why would she stay with Matthew?
Samuel understood that the mansion was the home of that heartless man’s father.
He felt more at ease now.
“By the way, do you know why my mom divorced him?” He never addressed Matthew directly, using only pronouns.
In his heart, despite Matthew being his father, he had abandoned his mother and sister. Samuel didn’t want to acknowledge him.
Coral’s face darkened a bit. Thinking about Matthew’s behavior during the divorce, it was difficult to discuss. After all, Samuel was just a child, and learning such things would make him sad.
“Please tell me,” Samuel pleaded, tugging at her sleeve like a stubborn child. “Please, please!”
Coral had no choice. “At that time, your dad had a girlfriend… so…”
“He was married and had a girlfriend?” Samuel knew there must have been a reason for the divorce, but he never expected it to involve cheating. What girlfriend? He thought of her as a mistress.
Samuel said angrily, “Men are terrible!”
Coral was amused by his words and asked, “But aren’t you a man too?”
Samuel was dumbfounded.
“I’m still a child, and I’ll never grow up to be like Daddy. He’s a heartless cheater who abandoned his wife.”
Coral’s eyes widened. Did Samuel know that Matthew was his father?
Were Jessica and Dolores intentionally concealing it from Matthew?
Was this some sort of revenge for the divorce? Not telling Matthew that the children standing before him were his own?
“Do you… Do you know that he’s your father?” Matthew asked, struggling to comprehend the situation.
“Of course! He’s Mommy’s ex-husband, so he has to be our father. Mommy hasn’t had a boyfriend since the divorce,” Samuel replied solemnly and with certainty.
Coral reached out, gently patting Samuel on the head. “You’re a good boy, Samuel. You’ve all been through so much.”
She understood all too well the challenges of raising two children on her own.
“We didn’t suffer. We had Mommy and Grandma!” Samuel’s expression gradually turned gloomy. There used to be an uncle too, but he was no longer around.
Coral let out a long sigh. “Your father will face the consequences.”
It was all his doing. If he were to find out that his children had grown so much, she didn’t know how he would react.
Perhaps this was his punishment for abandoning them.
It didn’t take long for the car to stop outside the Nelson mansion. Coral helped Samuel out of the car.
Standing before the grand building, Samuel blinked in awe. The mansion was enormous. Their own villa was sizable, but it paled in comparison to this magnificent structure.
Coral smiled. “Let me take you inside.”
Samuel hesitated for a moment. His mother still hadn’t told him about his father. Was she still angry with him?
He had just come here like this. Would his mother be upset when she found out?
“What are you thinking?” Coral observed his confused expression and smiled. “Don’t worry. You’re their grandson. They will surely adore you.”
“Really?” Samuel began to feel a glimmer of excitement.
His little heart pounded nervously.
He had always longed to meet his relatives, but everything was happening so suddenly, catching him off guard.
“Absolutely!” Coral took his hand. “Let’s go inside.”
Walking alongside Coral, Samuel felt like a lifeless puppet silently following her lead.
When she rang the doorbell of the massive gate, Thomas was watering the grass. He heard the doorbell and peered through the peephole. Seeing Coral standing there, he was taken aback. After Mrs. Nelson’s passing, Matthew had moved out of the house. Thomas was still in junior high at the time, and Coral had moved out with him to take care of him.
Matthew rarely visited this place, so Coral was seldom seen here as well.
Why had she suddenly come? And who was the little boy beside her?
Thomas opened the gate, setting down his watering can, and went inside to inform Jayden.