After waiting about five minutes, the door opened and Grace walked straight in.
"Matthew, you wanted to see me?"
"Did your sister-in-law tell you to talk to me?"
Grace's words took Matthew aback, not because he didn't expect her to know the ins and outs of the matter, but because she referred to Flora as her sister-in-law.
It suddenly occurred to him, could the girl he saw as a sister have figured things out on her own?
He let out a sigh and said softly: "She's quite worried about you."
"In the past, we used to head to the beach at this time, swimming and discussing everything under the sun.
In the blink of an eye, several years have passed, and you have brought your wife and children here, even proposed on this island..." Grace looked up at the sky: "I used to think that I would marry you someday, become your wife.
Only now do I realize it was all a fantasy of mine.
You have already found your happiness, and perhaps I will too, with someone truly suitable."
Matthew had been about to say something, but Grace carried on: "Last night, you set off fireworks to propose to my sister-in-law. I also saw those enchantingly beautiful fireworks illuminating the sky. I thought I would feel despondent and anguished, but to my surprise, it was merely a slight disappointment. Perhaps my sister-in-law was right: I've mistaken familial love for romantic love." This was why she had spent years believing she was in love with Matthew, neglecting to pursue her own happiness.
Matthew nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips: "My little sister has indeed grown up." His gaze on Grace was filled with affection: "You are a wonderful girl, destined to find someone who truly loves you. I will forever love you as a brother does a sister."
The day passed in cheer and tranquility. All the turmoil in Grace's heart finally seemed to dissolve. Grace returned to her life as an exuberant and innocent young woman, with the addition of a brother, a sister-in-law, and a few little nieces and nephews.
The next morning, when Flora awoke in bed, the spot next to her was empty. Matthew had left early. Suddenly, a groggy voice called out from beside the bed: "Finally, you're awake? The sun's already high in the sky! If you don't get up, I'll tell my brother to throw water at you."
Flora blinked: "Don't you want to sleep?" As she spoke, she pulled the blanket up, wrapping herself completely.
Grace's attitude and words made one thing clear: the young woman had truly let go. Flora was not petty enough to reject a sister-in-law who was not only beautiful but also talented, so she wisely avoided rehashing old matters.
Seeing Flora's nonchalant behavior, Grace playfully yanked the blanket off her, then grabbed her hand to pull her up: "Get up now! Time for swim practice! If you don't want to drown, get up and practice immediately!"
The glittering sunlight scattered across the sea, landing on the endless white sand. After a swimming session, Flora lay on the beach, panting: "I can't go on, I'm too tired! Let's take a break!" She playfully grabbed Grace's leg, making it impossible for her to walk away. Grace had no choice but to sit beside her.
"You've made a lot of progress today. At this rate, you'll be as good as my brother in no time." Every time Matthew was mentioned, Grace referred to him as her brother, as if proud to have such a sibling.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and the sky darkened. Grace looked up, glancing around: "It looks like it's about to rain. We should start heading back."
The island's weather was quite unpredictable, switching from blazing sun to pouring rain in the blink of an eye. Not long after Grace finished speaking, raindrops began to patter down.
"Come to my house to take shelter from the rain!"
"No need." Flora shook her head in refusal: "I should get home. The kids will be scared of the rain."
When she reached home, she tried calling Matthew, but he seemed to have switched off his phone. After multiple failed attempts, she frowned, casually asking Grace: "Do you know where he is? Or maybe he's at the under-construction hospital... I have to find him..."
"Wait." Grace grabbed her arm, pulling her back: "Sister-in-law, don't rush out there. You're unfamiliar with the island's paths, and getting lost in this rain could make it hard to find your way back. My brother knows his way around the island and is adept at survival skills. He can take care of himself."
Despite Grace's logical words, a sense of unease overwhelmed Flora: "But... I'm worried..."
Grace closed the door: "Worrying won't help." Sensing that her tone was a bit harsh, she softened her voice: "My brother is an excellent swimmer, you don't have to worry about him."
At that moment, Flora was certain that Grace was hiding something, and it was definitely related to Matthew. She looked straight at Grace, asking: "What are you hiding from me? Where is he?"
Just then, a young girl's voice echoed from behind: "Don't worry, auntie, Uncle Matthew took a big plane, he said he will be back soon." It was the little girl who was always following Charlie around.
"A plane?" Flora's gaze returned to Grace. There was definitely something she wasn't told. Even Matthew's plane trip was kept a secret from her. In such weather, flying could be perilous.
Charlie came running, pulling the little girl away: "Don't blabber."
But it was too late. Flora already knew about Matthew's flight off the island. Looking at the calendar on the wall, she realized it was the time when Paul was supposed to leave the special care unit that Andrey had mentioned. So Matthew must have left the island to pick up his daughter. But in this weather...
Thunder rolled, followed by a flash of lightning. Everyone was startled. Flora was increasingly worried.
Recalling the morning's events, Grace remembered how early Matthew had knocked on her door, seriously asking: "Could you do me a favor?"
"What kind of favor?"
"My daughter is about to be discharged from the hospital, I need to go pick her up. Please don't tell Flora about this." Matthew glanced up at the sky.
Grace frowned: "That's not advisable. People experienced with the island's weather predict a big storm tomorrow. Flying could be dangerous."
Yet Matthew was adamant: "You're not a parent yet, you wouldn't understand the depths of a parent's heart." He sighed heavily: "My daughter has been in the special treatment unit of the hospital for nearly a month now.
She must miss her mother and me terribly.
On such an important discharge day, I must be there to receive her."
What he really needed was...
"I understand that there is likely a storm landing tomorrow.
If Flora finds out, she'll insist on accompanying me.
But I don't want her to face danger.
Could you help me keep this a secret from her, keep an eye on her, and prevent her from any rash actions?"
Grace recounted their conversation to Flora, hoping it would convince her to stay on the island estate.
After all, if she went to the island's airport area now, she wouldn't be able to meet Matthew.
His plane had already taken off much earlier.
The short exchange made Grace realize that he wasn't the man for her.
He had his burdens, his concerns, and a family of his own.
He was a dutiful husband, a responsible father.
And Grace was obliged to help him fulfill his wishes.
Flora gazed at the ominous storm clouds swirling outside, shaking her head: "Did he ever consider, if anything happens to him... what am I to do..." Her voice held a hint of loneliness that even an outsider like Grace found hard to bear.
Persuaded by Grace and the children, Flora finally gave up her plan to leave the island to find Matthew.
Seeing his mother's unease, Charlie started thinking about a way to locate his father.
Suddenly, a thought flashed in the boy's mind: "Mom, I know who we should call." Knowing that his father would be picking up his sister, reaching out to this person seemed promising.
"Hello." Andrey answered swiftly: "Miss Flora, right? Please proceed."
"Andrey, I apologize for bothering you.
But... has Matthew arrived at your hospital yet? He mentioned he was returning to the mainland to pick up Paul, but I've lost contact with him and I'm really worried. I just don't know..." Her voice faltered, increasingly choked with emotion.
Andrey, inexperienced in comforting women, scrambled to reassure her: "Calm down, take a deep breath... don't panic..."
"He still hasn't arrived? There's a storm out at sea, and I'm afraid the plane he took..." She left her sentence unfinished, but everyone understood what she feared: "He still hasn't reached the hospital?"
Andrey frowned slightly: "Keep calm, we don't know where he is right now.
The journey from the airport to here is not short.
How about this, I will call you back as soon as he arrives."
Learning that Andrey also had no news, Flora reluctantly agreed to his proposal and hung up.
The entire day, she felt as if she was walking on clouds.
Everyone around her was worried, even her parents had to call to comfort her.
"Dad and I have dispatched a search party at sea, we will update you as soon as there is any news.
Don't worry too much.
Nothing bad will happen." Her mother reassured her: "Your husband has overcome so many dangers to get to where he is today.
He will definitely return safely.
You have to trust your man." To lighten the mood, she joked: "That whimsical boy, when he returns, I'll give him a good lesson!"
The phone call ended.