"Who... who are you?"
"You are Flora, aren't you? My apologies for summoning you in such a manner. I merely wanted to ascertain... are you the daughter of Edsel Tremblay?"
This was the second time she had heard the name Edsel Tremblay spoken aloud by another. The first instance was when the old woman from the Tremblay family had sought her mother at their home.
Judging from her mother's reaction, Flora surmised that this Edsel Tremblay was indeed her biological father. However, with the man in front of her intentions unknown, friend or foe, she dared not answer carelessly.
After a moment of consideration, she shook her head: "I don't know. I don't know who Edsel Tremblay is, nor if he is my father."
It wasn't precisely a lie; throughout her childhood and adulthood, no one had ever told her who her real father was. Not even her mother.
"Answer me sincerely, otherwise... I can't guarantee what will happen to Oriana Smith." The man smirked, his dark eyes taking on an even more sinister glint.
A chill ran down Flora's spine. He even had control over her mother.
The man resumed his interrogation: "Are you Matthew's woman?"
"No." This time her answer was swift and decisive: "Matthew and I share only a professional relationship, no personal feelings."
A denial too quick might appear more like a self-deception.
The man nodded, shifting topics once more.
"You traveled to Australia with Matthew. So tell me... was it him who caused Uncle Lionel's demise?"
Flora's eyes widened, she was completely unaware of this matter.
"Uncle Lionel is dead?" Having fallen into a coma after the poison mushroom incident, she had no knowledge of what had transpired thereafter. When she regained consciousness, she found herself aboard an airplane.
The man stared at her intently, as if trying to discern if she was lying or telling the truth. She did not shy away and returned his gaze just as intently.
After a long moment, he grunted: "You're still not being entirely honest with me, but it's alright... You and your mother will soon reunite, after we are married."
What? Married? She barely knew the man, his name or his nature. What was this about marriage?
She followed the man outside, intending to seek clarification. However, he walked too fast, disappearing around a corner in a flash. Meanwhile, she was held back by the young man who had been present earlier.
"Sister-in-law, let me escort you home."
She frowned at him: "Who's your sister-in-law? Watch your words."
"Not yet." He nodded, smiling: "But soon. Don't be shy... Oh, I nearly forgot. Here is a set of clothes for you. Take it home, change into something beautiful, fix yourself up a bit. Around five, I'll come to pick you up."
Following this, there was nothing else. He escorted Flora home. Her small house was as it had always been, except for the absence of her mother. Her son had also returned to school.
In the blink of an eye, her house was left with just the two of them, and a feeling of unease that seemed impossible to dissipate.
"Mom, where is Grandma?" The little girl lay on her bed, clutching tightly to her tiny teddy bear.
Flora stroked her daughter's head, suppressing a sigh.
"Your Grandma... She's a bit tied up today and can't come home. When she's finished with her business, she'll come back. You don't have to worry, my dear Paul."
The obedient child nodded, then said: "Daddy Matthew said he'd hire a tutor for me. Can I go, Mom?"
In principle, Flora did not want her children to have too much interaction with Matthew. However, at present, she could not even guarantee her own safety, so it seemed best to let her daughter stay with him.
After all, he was their father; he had to take responsibility for his own children.
Right at five in the afternoon, a luxury car pulled up in front of their narrow alley. With a downtrodden look on her face, Flora slowly climbed into the car. She was dressed casually, not in the prepared gown. More accurately, she had not even brought that dress home.
"Sister Flora, why do you have to act like this? If you resist Big Brother, he won't be happy."
The young man sighed once, then said no more, focusing on his driving. Whatever was to happen next, his Big Brother would handle it himself.
"Change your clothes, you're going to a party with me later."
"On what grounds..." Flora crossed her arms and stood firm, with no intention of obeying the man's commands.
He said coldly: "Don't be foolishly defiant in front of me. You have no choice but to cooperate."
Flora snorted.
"Stop ordering me around. If you really intend to cooperate with me, you wouldn't be doing this. Show a little courtesy towards me, and I might just soften up and follow your instructions."
The young man broke out in a cold sweat and stealthily pulled at Flora's arm: "Sister Flora, stop talking."
The man stared at her intensely, then let out a sigh, speaking to the young man:
"Take her to see Oriana Smith."
As he led the way, the young man prattled on.
"I've never seen him treat anyone as well as he treats you. Don't look at him like that and think marrying him is a bad deal. If it wasn't for your high status, and your beauty, he probably wouldn't have looked at you twice..."
He stretched out his hand to push open the door in front of them. Beyond the door was a room, fully equipped with amenities. Flora's mother sat dazed, staring at a picture on the wall.
Hearing the door open, she turned around in surprise. Her eyes were a mix of confusion, surprise, joy, and worry as she saw her daughter.
"Mom..." Flora rushed into the room and hugged her mother tightly: "Why are you here? Did they do anything to you?"
Behind her, the door closed with a soft click. She didn't pay it any mind, focusing solely on her mother's somewhat emaciated face.
Mrs. Smith let out a sigh, patting her daughter's back: "I'm fine. Don't worry, just do as Ethelbert says, don't ask any questions."
"But why? What does this have to do with father and me?"
Flora's eyes widened. Her mother was not the kind of person who disregarded her children's feelings, yet today she was telling her to unconditionally obey a man's orders.
Mrs. Smith gently held her daughter's hand, carefully inscribing two words into her palm.
"Run away."
Run away? Flora shivered, staring deep into her mother's eyes, her gaze filled with confusion. She saw her mother's strong nod, a silent confirmation.
The ballroom was opulently decorated, filled with elegant men and women chatting and laughing. Flora, dressed to the nines, trailed after a strange man, feeling somewhat awkward.
It had been a long time since she had attended such parties, she had almost forgotten this atmosphere of grandeur and revelry.
"Ethelbert... What a coincidence! Matthew from S.E.I Corporation just arrived too. You two are competing for the bidding on some new districts across town, to appear at this time... Quite symbolic indeed."
A man smiled, clinking glasses with the man accompanying Flora. She furrowed her brows.
What was Ethelbert's connection with her biological father and Uncle Lionel? If she wasn't mistaken, Lionel shared her last name. There must be a connection.
Wait a minute, Matthew was here too?
"Do you fancy Matthew?" At some point, Ethelbert had smoothly redirected the conversation, watching her reaction with a drink in hand.
Flora shook her head immediately: "Who likes him? We have nothing to do with each other..."
"Is that so?"
Ethelbert smirked, brushing his finger across her lush red lips. He brought his finger to his nose, taking in the scent of her lipstick.
"Your lipstick smells nice... Matthew? My old friend, it's been a while."
Before she could chastise the presumptuous man, Flora was startled by his last remark. She turned just in time to see Matthew with Selena not far away.
Selena chuckled behind her hand: "Ethelbert, it's been a while. I've never seen you bring a woman to a party. Is this lady..."
Ethelbert nodded nonchalantly.
"This is my soon-to-be wife, Flora. You both know her, don't tell me you don't recognize her."
In a different dress, with a different makeup, Flora no longer resembled the ugly, rural, mother of two in Selena's memory. She gasped, her eyes wide in shock, oblivious to the dark look on the man next to her.
"Flora." Selena questioned loudly: "You're Ethelbert's fiancée, yet why did you go to S.E.I Corporation? Are you planning to steal trade secrets? And you even disguised yourself. What are you up to?"
Flora smirked: "Director White, I merely added a pair of glasses. It's not my fault you didn't recognize me... Moreover, look at the man beside you. Working for a corporation led by a notorious playboy, I have to protect myself somehow."
Matthew's brow, furrowed all this time, made his normally cold face even frostier than usual.
His heart ached; every word Flora spoke seemed to cause him pain. He didn't want to look at her deceitful smile. For a moment, she felt like a stranger.
"Well, you're not wrong..." Selena feigned a yawn: "Oh, Layla Gary from HR is your close friend, right? She's getting married on the seventh of next month. Have you and Ethelbert made any plans?"
She studied Flora's expression, a flicker of surprise passing her face, and laughed: "Don't tell me your best friend hasn't invited you yet. She sent out invitations to her colleagues at headquarters last week."
A chill swept over Flora, as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her from head to toe. She and Layla were indeed close, frequently keeping in touch. But marriage? Layla had never mentioned it, nor extended an invitation to her wedding ceremony.
Nonetheless, she had to maintain composure. She couldn't afford to be a laughingstock for Selena.
"Of course, she has invited me. How could I miss my best friend's wedding?"
Flora always found Selena's smile a bit off, as if she was harboring a hidden agenda. But what secret could she be hiding?
In reality, Selena already knew the groom's identity, the man Layla was set to marry. She was waiting for the grand reveal. She wondered how Flora would react when she found out that the man about to marry her best friend was her own former fiancé... Selena was giddy with anticipation.
The mellow music began to play. Matthew, with a charming smile, extended his hand to Flora: "You look stunning tonight, Flora. May I have this dance?"
"I... I can't dance." Flora declined without hesitation.
The man beside her chuckled, lightly nudging her shoulder: "Don't worry, darling, just dance. Even if you accidentally step on my foot, the CEO of S.E.I will not take it to heart."
Having no other choice, Flora placed her hand in Matthew's, step by step venturing onto the dance floor.
Holding her delicate hand, with his arm wrapped around her waist, Matthew lowered his head, whispering with a soft chuckle: "Seems like I've underestimated your ability to charm men..."
And he thought he was the only one.
"That's none of your business."
Flora had no patience for his banter, yearning for the song to end so she could get as far away from this man as possible.
Suddenly, he leaned in, whispering intimately in her ear. Their intimate posture, visible to Ethelbert from start to finish.
"How does it feel, Flora, to flaunt your infidelity to Ethelbert like this? Is he hurt?"