Hospital.
“Dolores” was escorted to the examination room, while Matthew sat on a row of chairs in the corridor, glancing at the door of the examination room from time to time.
Soon, the door opened, and “Dolores” emerged with the nurse’s assistance. Matthew stood up, walked over, and reached out to support her. He then turned to the doctor who had followed them out and asked, “How is she?”
The doctor removed his mask. “It’s nothing serious. Psychologically, she seems distressed, probably quite frightened. She has only suffered a minor sprain in her foot, with no damage to the bone or muscles. She just needs a few days of rest and recuperation.”
“Dolores” took this opportunity to lean into Matthew’s arms and said shyly, “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Suddenly, Matthew furrowed his brow and looked down at her. Her voice…
“Oh, I inhaled smoke when the van caught fire, so my voice turned hoarse,” “Dolores” quickly explained. She clutched Matthew’s arm and said, “Let’s go home quickly. I miss Samuel and Simona.”
Matthew didn’t move. He sensed that something was amiss ever since Boyce easily found “Dolores.”
Although he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly felt wrong, he couldn’t shake the feeling that “Dolores” was different.
“Did you inhale smoke?” the doctor asked.
“Dolores’s” hands trembled slightly. Unable to bribe the doctor, she worried he might say something unfavorable. She struggled to come up with an answer.
“If heavy smoke was inhaled, it could temporarily affect the voice, but it should recover after a period of rest,” the doctor said, oblivious to her unease.
But Matthew, who was in close proximity, instantly noticed her nervousness.
What was she anxious about?
Why was she nervous?
Why hadn’t she mentioned hurting her throat before?
“Thank you, Doctor,” “Dolores” sighed with relief.
After all, while facial features could be altered with plastic surgery, the voice was difficult to imitate.
“Don’t mention it! I’m just doing my job. For patients referred by Mr. Nelson, we should do our best,” the doctor said, displaying respect for Matthew. Many advanced medical equipment in the hospital had been funded by WY Group, and he held Matthew in high regard.
There were numerous wealthy individuals, but how many were willing to contribute to society without expecting anything in return?
Thanks to WY Group’s support, they had saved significant costs on medical equipment, reducing fees for patients and assisting many financially disadvantaged families in seeking medical care.
“Dolores” observed the doctor’s admiration for Matthew and how her own value had increased as a result. It made her feel good. She took the initiative to hold Matthew’s hand and said, “Matthew, let’s go home.”
Matthew, lost in thought, was jolted back by “Dolores’s” voice. He glanced at her feet and asked, “Can you walk?”
“It’s a bit painful,” “Dolores” used the opportunity to lean further into his arms, acting coquettish. “Or, how about you carry me? I’m so thin, hardly any weight at all.”
Suddenly, Matthew felt nothing in his heart. Whenever he was with Dolores or had any physical contact, his heart used to race. But now, as she took the initiative, he felt nothing at all. He scrutinized “Dolores,” searching for something. However, her face was unmistakably hers, with the same nose, mouth, and eyes…
“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?” “Dolores” cautiously reached out to touch his face and asked, “What’s the matter with you?”
Matthew shook his head. “Nothing.”
Saying so, he bent over and lifted her up. “Dolores” wrapped her arms around his neck, gazing at his face. Handsome and resolutely cold, his sharp, sword-like eyebrows, noble aura, and straight nose resembled a beautiful sculpture. His facial contours and tightly pressed lips exuded an air of reservation and determination. He exuded an inscrutable perfection.
“Dolores” stared at him dumbfounded.
Even when Matthew placed her in the car, she continued staring at him. Matthew furrowed his brow, inexplicably disliking being scrutinized by her.
His movements became somewhat heavier. “Dolores” snapped back to reality, once again acting spoiled towards him. “You’re hurting me.”
Her tone was clearly intimate, but Matthew’s mood remained unaffected. This feeling was too strange.
He pondered the comforting words he had on the tip of his tongue for “Dolores” but decided against saying them. He silently got into the car and drove away.
“Are we going home?” “Dolores” inquired.
Home?
Matthew glanced at her.
She smiled at him. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
With that, Matthew fell silent.
Noticing Matthew’s reluctance to speak, “Dolores” refrained from further conversation to avoid arousing suspicion.
It wasn’t until the car stopped at a hotel that “Dolores” sensed something was amiss. Shouldn’t they have returned to the villa?
“Why are we here?” But she immediately fell silent, as if a realization had struck her. A shy blush appeared on her cheeks.
Could it be that Matthew wanted to…
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. It was only the first day, and Matthew was already becoming intimate with her. How could she not be thrilled?
Matthew stepped out of the car and opened her door. Her cheeks flushed.
“Why is your face red?”
“Dolores” lowered her head and shyly said, “You brought me to a hotel, and now you’re asking what I’m doing? Stop it! I hate you!”
Going to a hotel room… Did it imply they would spend the night together?
What else could a man and a woman do in such a situation?
No matter how clueless Matthew might be, he understood what she meant. Since when had Dolores become so bold?
Moreover, she had been to a hotel before. Why was she thinking like this now?
He didn’t feel happy; instead, he felt repulsed.
This sudden repulsion caught him off guard.
He used to long for her reliance, but now he detested it.
He furrowed his brow.
“Dolores” noticed the change in his expression and asked anxiously, “Did I say something wrong?”
He composed himself and replied casually, “No, this is where I live.”
His residence was here?
Panic surged within “Dolores.” How could this be his residence? Wasn’t he living in the villa? And what did he mean by saying Dolores had been here before?
She felt beads of sweat forming on her back but suppressed her panic, forcing herself to remain calm. “Oh, yeah! I must not be thinking clearly. I forgot.”
Matthew pursed his lips and remained silent. He assisted her in getting out of the car and said, “Let’s go.”
“Why are we staying here instead of going home?” “Dolores” inquired.
“I told your mother that we were on a business trip when you disappeared, so we’ll stay here for a couple of days before going back,” he explained.
“Oh!” “Dolores” responded, trying to hide her disappointment.
Shouldn’t he want to stay with Dolores if he cared for her so much? If Dolores was unwell, shouldn’t he be by her side?
“I need to go out for some work,” Matthew stated, his tone and expression distant.
He didn’t reflect any of the excitement or affection that “Dolores” had anticipated.
“Dolores” didn’t dare to cling to him too much, fearing that he might notice something amiss. “Then, come back soon.”
“Hmm. Get some rest,” Matthew replied briefly before turning around and leaving the room.
His coldness made “Dolores” feel as if he didn’t truly love Dolores.
As he walked downstairs, Matthew glanced back. Unable to detect anything out of the ordinary, he took out his phone and dialed Boyce’s number.
After a short wait, Boyce answered the call. “Where are you?”
“I’m at home.” After a night of searching, Matthew had returned home, taken a shower, and changed his clothes.
Matthew ended the call, got into his car, and drove towards Boyce’s residence.
Boyce had just finished showering and was wearing a white bathrobe, revealing his chest slightly through the open neckline. When the doorbell rang, he tied the belt of his robe and walked over to answer the door.
Having anticipated Matthew’s visit since their phone call, Boyce wasn’t surprised, but he couldn’t help but feel a little perplexed. “What about Ms. Flores’s injury? Shouldn’t you be with her right now?”
Why was Matthew free at this moment?
It was then that Boyce noticed the absence of joy on Matthew’s face, despite having successfully found Dolores.
“Did something happen?” Boyce asked as Matthew entered the house.
Matthew walked in and, after a brief moment of silence, said, “Tell me the details of how you found her.”
Boyce couldn’t help but ask, “What are you suspecting?”