“I’ve never been in a relationship before. Anyway, do you still need ‘that stuff’?” Boyce asked cautiously.
Matthew’s mind raced. He already had a wife and children. Was Boyce implying something else? Matthew furrowed his brow, trying to decipher Boyce’s words.
Boyce widened his eyes and blurted out, “Are you…?”
But Boyce quickly dismissed the idea. Matthew wasn’t the type to be involved in casual flings. He had shown genuine concern when Dolores got lost, which indicated his deep affection for her.
Matthew’s expression turned serious as he recalled Dolores’s piercing gaze. He wanted to fulfill her desires, to satisfy her in every way.
Boyce glanced at Matthew, sensing his determination, and asked carefully, “Is she hesitant about it?”
Matthew shot him a cold stare. He couldn’t possibly reveal that Dolores wasn’t hesitant at all. Otherwise, Boyce would mock him.
Boyce pursed his lips and said, “You should ask Armand for advice on how to please a woman.”
Ding!
The elevator returned to its original position, and the doors opened. In the lobby, Dolores hadn’t gone to the VIP room. Instead, she stood there, engrossed in conversation with Charles. Matthew kept his distance, unable to overhear their discussion. His expression changed as he watched them chat.
He took a step forward, and Boyce slowed down, maintaining a distance between them. Matthew appeared visibly upset, and Boyce didn’t dare to approach him.
Charles was dumbfounded when he saw Dolores with the two children. She had mentioned being married and having children, but he wasn’t sure if it was true.
“Why haven’t you gone back?” Dolores hadn’t expected to run into him.
Charles responded honestly, “I was waiting for you.”
Surprised, Dolores asked, “Waiting for what?”
Charles had hoped to discern the relationship between Dolores and Matthew. However, his assumptions were proven wrong the moment he found out she was married.
Although he felt disheartened, Charles managed a smile and said, “Looks like our paths were meant to cross.”
Dolores didn’t understand his remark.
Charles had indeed seen Dolores jump into the river that day. He had acted out of humanity and called for help to save her, not wanting a life to be wasted. Observing the jade bracelet on her hand, he assumed she was Victoria’s daughter and took her home, leading to Sampson’s inability to find her.
To fulfill his late foster father’s final wish, Charles had prevented Dolores from contacting her family. He asked her to stay at his home and planned to marry her, believing they should spend more time together. He intended to pursue her romantically since they were friends in the past and knew each other well.
But now…
He had made a grave mistake. Dolores wasn’t Victoria’s daughter; she was a married woman.
His gaze shifted to the children Dolores held in her arms. They were adorable, resembling both her and the man she was married to.
“Can you tell me how you obtained the jade bracelet?” Charles inquired. If she wasn’t Victoria’s daughter, how did she come to possess it? What was the connection between Victoria and Dolores?
Unaware of Charles’s thoughts regarding Victoria, Dolores remained cautious, keeping a close eye on him.
“It might look similar to what you’ve seen, but they’re not the same,” Dolores replied, evading the truth.
Charles couldn’t help but glance at the children and asked, “Are you planning to have a meal?”
Dolores nodded.
“I know a great restaurant nearby. Can we dine together?” Charles attempted to extend an invitation, hoping to spend more time with her.
“I’m sorry, we’re waiting for our father,” Simona quickly rejected him.
The uncle sat in a wheelchair, not as handsome as her father.
Samuel had a different perspective. He had never seen a man more handsome and wealthy than Matthew.
Although the man in the wheelchair wasn’t as attractive as Matthew, he had a positive aura when he smiled.
Samuel felt a pang of sympathy for the disabled man. If he weren’t disabled, Samuel believed Matthew would support him in pursuing his mother. He wanted Matthew to see how charming his mother was.
But he didn’t want a disabled man to pursue his mother. That seemed beneath her.
Charles wasn’t embarrassed by the rejection; he simply smiled at Simona and said, “I don’t mind having a meal with your father.”
The little girl blinked, her expression filled with confusion.
Why did the uncle want to join them?
Just then, she spotted Matthew walking toward them. She let go of Dolores’s hand and ran to him, exclaiming, “Daddy!”
Matthew bent down and lifted her up.
Samuel also reacted quickly, saying, “Uncle, you want to eat with us, right? Let’s all have a meal together.”
Samuel didn’t pay much attention to Charles. Even though he was disabled, Samuel wanted to show Matthew that his mother was amazing, but Matthew never seemed to appreciate her enough.
Samuel wouldn’t easily allow his father to bring them home.
His father needed to be sincere and truly love his mother.
Otherwise, Samuel would object.
Charles looked at Dolores. The child seemed to have many thoughts running through her mind.
Dolores gazed at her son, understanding his intentions because he was her own child. She reached out and gently stroked his head.
“I heard you saved my wife,” Matthew said as he held Simona and approached them.
“The sauce was better than the fish,” Charles replied, as if to convey to Matthew that Dolores was his wife and he had no intentions of taking her away.
“It was just a small feat, nothing worth mentioning,” Charles smiled.
Matthew held Dolores’s hand. Her fingers were delicate and soft, fitting perfectly in his large palm. His deep voice resonated with stability as he said, “I don’t like owing anyone. Mr. White, if you need anything, just let me know.”
His words indicated that he would take responsibility for repaying Charles’s act of kindness instead of Dolores. Matthew made it clear that if Charles wanted anything in return, he should come to him. Charles shouldn’t have any expectations concerning Dolores.
Dolores looked at him, feeling a sense of warmth. He was considering her feelings so she wouldn’t owe Charles a favor.
Returning a favor to someone was never easy.
Regardless of Charles’s initial intentions, he had indeed saved her life.
Charles’s gaze briefly lingered on the hand holding Dolores’s, then he shifted his attention. He understood what Matthew meant. He glanced at Dolores’s high heels and asked, “Why are you wearing high heels? Don’t you know your leg injury hasn’t fully healed?” Dolores was too excited to see her children, so she hadn’t paid much attention to her legs. Besides, her legs felt better now.
“I’m fine,” she reassured him.
Matthew’s expression changed, and he seemed less calm than before. He didn’t know about her leg injury.
He held her hand tightly. “We should go now.”
“The VIP room is right this way,” Boyce interjected. The space belonged to Charles, but he couldn’t exercise his authority.
“Right this way, Mr. White,” Boyce gestured, welcoming them.
Charles looked at him and said, “Let’s go.”
Tom then pushed the wheelchair.
Boyce had reserved the hotel’s largest VIP room. The dining table in the center could accommodate twenty people. The room was spacious and well-lit.
Simona kneeled on her father’s legs and hugged his neck, their faces close together. “Daddy, when will we eat?”
Matthew pinched his daughter’s soft cheek and replied.
As they conversed, Matthew’s gaze fell to the underside of the table. He noticed Dolores’s legs, and there were no visible scars on her ankles.
Where was she injured?
While they waited for their meal, Charles spoke to Dolores. “Are you free tomorrow? Can I take you to see the master?”