After dinner, Matthew took the children stargazing.
Flora, feeling upset, decided to sit back and rest in a corner.
A man in his early forties, presumably the owner of the house, seized the opportunity when Matthew was not around to bring a plate of fruits over, setting it on the table: "Try some island specialties.
These are all fruits you can't find on the mainland." Seeing her pick up a piece of fruit, he continued: "Grace was a bit impolite today, please don't take it to heart.
We've spoiled her too much."
"She... seems to have a liking for my husband." The affection in her eyes when she looked at Matthew and the hostility when she looked at Flora were easily discernible, even to a blind person.
The man nodded, recounting: "The girl's a good swimmer.
A few years ago, she saved two men out at sea.
One of them was Matthew.
He stayed here for nearly a year, learning to swim with her.
During that time, he became quite close with everyone on the island.
The girl... has wanted to marry him since then." He paused a little before continuing: "But I understand a man of his caliber doesn't belong on a small island like this.
He deserves someone more accomplished than her."
Flora nodded.
This Grace was not the first, nor would she be the last, to meddle in her relationship with Matthew.
She always trusted that they wouldn't part easily, for they had been through countless hardships together.
However, she was still upset, not just because of others' admiration for him, but also because he never declined that admiration.
The night at the beach was beautiful.
As she sat hugging her knees, gazing at the glittering sea under the moonlight, a sense of loneliness inevitably arose in her heart.
Just then, a coat was draped over her bare shoulders.
Following came the familiar voice of Matthew: "The night at sea is chilly. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"Where are the children?"
"Exhausted from playing, they've retired to their rooms." Matthew replied.
Flora merely nodded, saying nothing more, her gaze steadfastly fixed on the inky ocean before her.
"What's troubling you, Flora?" Having noticed her despondent spirit, Matthew was hesitant to pry in front of others, but now that they had a moment alone, he decided to address the matter: "You needn't say it... it's about Grace, isn't it?
My feelings for Grace are purely fraternal.
She saved my life, taught me survival skills, took care of me for nearly a year. I am deeply grateful..." He took a seat beside Flora: "But it's not love.
It's only you that I truly love."
Flora remained silent, taking a deep sigh and resting her head on Matthew's shoulder. Sensing the moment, he too held his peace.
Unbeknownst to both, behind a tall bush, a girl had been standing there for a long while, listening to the entirety of their conversation.
The following day, for some inexplicable reason, Matthew proposed that Grace teach Flora how to swim. Both girls were profoundly resistant to the idea, but given it was Matthew's wish, they had no choice but to reluctantly accept.
"I don't want to learn to swim... You mustn't let go of me... I'll sink..." Like countless beginners, Flora was tremendously apprehensive and terrified upon entering the water, clutching the buoy relentlessly.
However, Grace was a stern teacher. Coldly pulling the float from Flora's grasp, she retorted: "I don't want to teach you how to swim either! But how will you ever learn if you don't let go of the buoy?"
By evening, when Matthew came to pick her up, Flora was still struggling with her newfound skill, earning his playful ridicule for her floundering. Annoyed, she shot back: "I don't want to learn anymore! It's humiliating!" Despite the obligatory lessons, the last person she wanted to learn from was a woman intent on marrying Matthew.
"Swimming is a vital survival skill on the island. You cannot not learn to swim." Matthew consoled her: "Try a little harder.
Grace is an excellent swimmer, I'll rest easier knowing she's teaching you." Before Flora could object, he took her by the hand and led her towards the white house with the brown-tiled roof they had seen the day before: "Come, let's see our new home."
Their new house was spacious, each person having their own room. Matthew specifically chose a well-ventilated, bright room for Paul, taking into account his delicate health, and prepared a room filled with various art supplies for Charlie.
"Come here and look." He stood at the balcony, beckoning Flora.
She walked towards him, her gaze following his to the scenery beyond. Before her was the nighttime sea, even more breathtaking than the view from her previous spot.
"Winky, the view here is stunning!" She exclaimed, immediately circling back to the swimming issue: "It would be even better if there was no need to learn swimming."
"No, you have to! If you want to live here, you must learn how to swim. And it's not just about swimming, you need to learn other survival skills too. Many of my brothers lost their lives to the sea because they couldn't swim." This was a rare subject he approached with utmost seriousness, showing no signs of leniency: "No matter how difficult it is, you must learn...
Because of past incidents, I've vowed to ensure the safety of everyone around me, including our children, and especially you."
"Why are you... so cheesy today..." Flora blinked, looking at the man standing beside her.
Matthew reached out and pulled her into his embrace: "Flora, will you marry me?"
The proposal was startlingly sudden.
The night sky was ablaze with fireworks.
Every islander only had to look up to witness the spectacle.
Matthew's deep black eyes sparkled like stars.
Flora stammered: "I... I..." She was utterly unprepared for Matthew's proposal at that moment.
"Will you marry me, allowing me to love, care for, and protect you for the rest of our lives?" He reiterated his proposal: "No matter the hardships, we will never part."
"I do."
Matthew grinned: "Once Paul's a bit better, we'll bring him here and hold our wedding ceremony."
Naturally, Flora agreed with his decision.
Meanwhile, two little ones sat on the balcony, gazing up at the brightly lit sky. The adorable little girl looked at Charlie, tilting her head: "Charlie, when can we get married, like his parents?"
"What?" Charlie widened his eyes at her: "Are you crazy? Do you even know what marriage is?"
"I don't know either." She shook her head: "But as his parents said, marriage seems to be a very good thing, right? After marriage, we can live together for a lifetime. I want to live with Charlie forever too."
Charlie stood up, leaving her sitting alone: "We should go to sleep."
Seeing the boy leave, she also stood up and followed. The two children, one following the other, walked under the dazzling firework light that fell to the ground.
Flora and Matthew, standing on the second-floor balcony of the building, looked down.
Matthew furrowed his brows in sudden consternation: "And what about this little girl? She's not ours, after all, we can't just..."
"Our future daughter-in-law she is!" Flora cut him off sharply.
"Do you realize you're worrying too early? Our son is barely seven years old." Matthew laughed heartily: "I agree that the boy matures quickly and is indeed quite intelligent, but one cannot make life-long decisions at the age of seven." Even Matthew himself was well into his thirties before he could settle on his life's course.
Flora laughed along with him: "The little girl follows our son like a small tail.
Besides, we couldn't find her mother, so we might as well adopt her.
Who knows, she might indeed become our daughter-in-law in the future." Of course, whether that would happen or not depended on the children, it wasn't just a matter of her saying it.
But having another peer around for their children, she thought, wouldn't be so bad.
Upon hearing the story about Matthew's siblings, Flora decided to set aside her prejudices against Grace and was determined to learn to swim well.
Seeing her filled with energy and determination, Grace couldn't understand what was happening but still led her to the shallow water with a resigned shake of her head.
Once out of sight of the others, Flora finally spoke up: "Grace... I can sense that you have strong feelings for my husband."
Grace's steps faltered, followed by a voice filled with sorrow and regret: "He... never brought any other woman to this island.
You are the first." So, when she saw Flora accompanying Matthew, Grace knew that this beautiful woman was the one he cherished.
"He said this is his home, that he would return here, would live here..." Grace's memories drifted back to distant days, the same sandy beach, the same radiant sunshine: "Back then, he used to take me to collect seashells, to tell me about the beautiful world outside.
And I would teach him to swim, teach him how to survive on the island.
I always waited for him to fulfill his promise to take me out to see the world, to return here and live with us... Little did I know, when he returned, he brought you with him..."
Flora could understand Grace's hopeful yet disappointed feelings.
All she could do, however, was sigh softly: "Human emotions are complex.
Not all stirrings of the heart are love.
And beyond love, there are familial bonds, friendship... countless types of emotions." According to Matthew, his feelings for Grace were merely fraternal, without a hint of romantic involvement: "Matthew and I have weathered numerous trials, even teetered on the brink of death more than once.
Through all the storms, we have affirmed that the other is our soulmate, and nothing can tear us apart.
That is love.
Your feelings for him, perhaps they are just admiration, or sibling-like affection.
When you meet the one who truly belongs to you, you will understand what I am saying today."
Grace stood silently staring at the sea, not saying anything, but Flora knew she was listening.
She gently patted the slender shoulder of the girl who was probably a few years younger than herself: "Let's leave it at this for today.
Take some time to reflect, and we'll continue later."
Some of Flora's words, Grace understood, others not so much.
From her adolescence to the present, the most outstanding man Grace had encountered was Matthew.
Over the years, Grace had always believed she would marry him.
So when he brought another woman and introduced her as his wife, Grace couldn't accept it at first.
Maybe Flora was right, she needed time to think more clearly and balance her emotions.
Leaving the beach, Flora went in search of Matthew.
Upon seeing her, he expressed surprise but was also pleased: "What brings you here?"
"Came to visit you, is that not allowed?" Flora teased with a smile, running up to him and whispering in his ear: "I've just spoken with Grace... I think you should also have an honest conversation with her."
Matthew pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement with Flora's suggestion.
He acknowledged that letting things remain as they were wasn't the best approach, it would be better to clear everything up so Grace understood fully.
He sent a message to Grace, asking her to meet him in a rather private place, suitable for their private conversation.