"Matthew, I know someone like Flora will never catch your eye. I completely trust you, but I can't trust others. Besides... people talk like that..."
Matthew furrowed his brow, lost in thought.
The person in front of him was his fiancée, who, if nothing changed, would become the mother of his children. That is... if nothing changed.
"If you're afraid of what others might say, then quit. Last time you said you wanted to have a baby, right? I think it's time."
A long-awaited dream had finally come true. Selena beamed with joy and hugged the man in front of her tightly.
Outside, Flora quietly left.
Those two people were soon to be married and would have this day sooner or later.
But for some reason, when she heard Matthew mention having a baby with Selena, a sharp pain pierced through Flora's chest.
She buried herself in the pile of messy work and only looked up when it was almost time for lunch.
Suddenly remembering the task that Matthew had assigned her this morning, she quickly grabbed her phone and called Layla.
"Hey, Layla, have you arrived at H&H Corporation yet? Don't forget, and I need to report to the CEO."
The familiar voice of her best friend answered on the other end, but the content made Flora a little taken aback: "Yes, I know. Don't worry... I'm a bit busy now, and I'll contact you later..."
"Your aunt, huh?"
Patrick gently smiled and looked directly at the beautiful woman sitting across from him.
Layla lowered her head and slightly avoided his gaze, smiling awkwardly.
Her heart repeatedly pounded, making Layla feel a little uneasy.
"Yes, my aunt. She just asked me to do a little favor, which is unimportant..." Taking a sip of water to calm herself down, Layla continued, "Today, let's... consider it a date, okay?"
The man sitting across from Layla, still exuding an air of nobility and gentleness, made her heart flutter incessantly.
This man was once the fiancé of her best friend thought to be out of reach, but now he gently nodded.
"If that's what you want to think, I won't object."
Her heart raced wildly, and Layla swallowed her saliva: "You promised to give me a chance to pursue you. You can't take it back now."
"I haven't said I'll backtrack on my word," Patrick chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Layla's hair.
After all these years, the only person who could make him feel at ease when they were together was the one before him.
Facing Layla, he felt as though he hadn't changed at all.
A blush rose on Layla's cheeks, and she quickly changed the subject to cover up her embarrassment.
"But... I didn't expect our CEO to decide to give you this piece of land."
"Yeah... neither did I," Patrick replied, feeling quite pleased. "Maybe it's because he's happy..."
"Happy? Lately, Eirlys has been coming to see the CEO a lot. Could it be that she..."
Patrick burst out laughing and shook his head. "The CEO's taste is not that low, my friend."
Eirlys was one of Patrick's two former fiancées, whom his mother had chosen to fill the void left by "the other woman." He had no feelings for her, and someone like Matthew had even less interest in a woman like her.
Thinking of this, he became curious about the woman who caught Matthew's attention.
"What about you? What about... you?" Layla seemed hesitant but still looked directly into Patrick's eyes stubbornly.
Patrick shook his head and once again ruffled Layla's hair.
"I never had any feelings for her... We grew up together. You should understand me better than anyone. Why ask such a foolish question..."
This familiar gesture from Patrick didn't make Layla's heart race like before.
Yes, they grew up together, so even if he had changed in front of others, he was still the same person as Layla.
He was still Patrick, a romantic at heart.
Layla lowered her head, looking sad. "Patrick, you said you would give me a chance... So... can you stop looking for Flora?"
Patrick had been relentlessly searching for the person who betrayed him for seven long years.
Facing Layla's pleading gaze, he let out a sigh.
"If I could control my heart, that would be great..." After seven years, he still couldn't forget his unforgettable first love.
Even though that person betrayed me.
Even though my heart still aches to death when I think of that girl.
"CEO..." Flora threw a piece of cloth onto the table. "Can you move aside so I can clean the table?"
"You can stop cleaning..." Matthew furrowed his brows.
Despite his words, he still picked up his laptop, placed it on another table, and then stood up to give her his seat.
Flora bent down to clean the shiny glass table, her face showing obvious displeasure.
As soon as work was over, this ruthless CEO dragged her to his mansion and threw a cloth at her to clean up.
Standing just a step away, Matthew enthusiastically watched her work.
He was delighted to see her being suppressed like this for some reason.
"CEO, you... ah..."
Flora turned around and saw the face of the person behind her, so close that she screamed in fear and almost fell onto the sofa.
He chuckled softly, leaning closer to her.
Behind her was a soft sofa, and in front of her was the handsome face of a man less than a centimeter away. Her face was getting hot.
"Flora, do you like seducing others?"
"Seduce what? Who... who's seducing you?" Her voice was weak, and there was no hint of threat. "Let me go... you're engaged. Why bother teasing me?"
Matthew laughed: "Do you like me?"
Flora widened her eyes, then shook her head slightly.
She was a single mother, and he was the CEO of a large corporation. How could she like him? Besides, he already had a fiancée.
"Why not?"
Matthew gently touched her hair, the lingering fragrance making him enchanted.
"No reason..." Flora's heart was beating fast, and her body stiffened.
"You say you don't like me, but your eyes say otherwise... Your eyes say that... you already..."
Finding strength, Flora suddenly stood up and broke free from the man's embrace.
She grabbed her bag from the table and walked straight to the door.
As she opened the door, she seemed to realize her rude behavior and hesitated.
She pursed her lips and turned around, only to catch a striking look in the deep and penetrating eyes of the man.
"CEO, there's no reason for it. I'm just a single mother and can't become your woman. You wouldn't be a good choice for me either." With that, she turned and left.
The door closed, separating two worlds.
Matthew bowed his head, smiling bitterly. So what if she were a single mother? Didn't single mothers have the right to live happily? He would love those two little ones like his children if he were to be with her. As long as there was love, that was family, right?
The next day, at the company.
"Transfer to the branch?" Matthew leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping incessantly on the table.
After a while, he looked up at the person standing before him, his cold and emotionless gaze making Flora uneasy. But thinking back to their conversation ten minutes ago, she decided and nodded decisively. "Mr. CEO, I have thought it over carefully."
"You should know that if you transfer to the branch, your salary will only be one-tenth of what it is now. Besides, this branch... is very far away." Matthew frowned.
He couldn't believe the ridiculous reason for not having enough ability and wanting to be trained. He was the boss and hadn't complained about her ability at all.
Flora lowered her head, hesitating. "I..."
"Who will care for your two children when you work at the branch? Or is it because of what happened last night? You can tell me straight; I'm not the kind of man who harasses women." The person in front of her was still bowing his head. Flora felt highly uncomfortable.
Of course, she knew her current job was good, with a high salary and benefits. And her boss was demanding to please. If she had a choice, she would never choose to leave.
But unfortunately, the choice was not in her hands.
Less than ten minutes ago, this man's fiancée had "suggested" that she transfer to the branch to avoid rumors in the company.
Judging by the attitude of his fiancée, she probably didn't like her either.
"It's not because of that, I..." A familiar voice sounded behind her at that moment, making her shudder.
"What urgent matter do you have that you called me like this?"
Flora lowered her head, standing quietly, hoping the person who just appeared wouldn't recognize her.
She heard Patrick's familiar voice teasingly add, "Don't tell me I scared you."
"As the CEO, I request permission to leave now."
She rushed out of the CEO's office, feeling anxious and saddened. Patrick didn't even recognize her.
"Flora, have you talked to Matthew about the transfer yet?" Selena furrowed her brow, looking at her secretary leaning against the wall, panting as soon as she opened her mouth.
"I already informed the CEO. Director Selena, if there is nothing else, I would like to..."
"Who told you I had nothing else to discuss?" Selena raised her voice. "You've already left, so you should know to keep your two illegitimate children away from my unmarried husband. No matter how much they resemble him, don't use them as tools to approach men."
Flora stiffened, standing up straight and looking at the jealous and twisted face of the woman before her.
What did she rely on to accuse Flora of using her children as tools to approach men?