"You've spent quite a bit of effort investigating my affairs, haven't you?" Flora retorted, her voice cold and sharp: "But this is my private business, as I recall, it has nothing to do with you."
At this moment, two men entered from the grand entrance of the mansion. Flora recognized that one of them was a regular follower of Matthew.
He sighed heavily: "Miss Selena, you should be careful with your actions. If the boss hears about today's incident... it won't be easy to explain. Didn't the boss tell you to take good care of your pregnancy?"
His words caught Selena off guard. She had intended to use her unborn child as leverage against Flora, driving her and her child out of the house. But just as he said, if Matthew found out, it would be a difficult conversation.
Before leaving the mansion, she turned around, casting a chilling glare at mother and child.
"You despicable lot, leave quickly! Don't make me resort to harsh measures!" Her threat echoed through the mansion. Flora, hugging her petite son tightly, sobbed.
She would definitely, absolutely protect her children.
"Flora, what I need you to find is a map, on it are numerous red dots... Ah, you don't need to worry, they're just markers for my transaction locations... It was originally mine, but now it's with Matthew. You just need to bring it to me..."
Flora woke with a start, soaked in sweat. The echoes of Ethelbert's words reverberated in her ears.
Since she gave him the fake map, she has never had a peaceful night, always nervous and worried. She could only hope that her actions would not harm anyone, including her father, and Matthew - her man.
She didn't know what the map was, nor whether her actions were right or wrong, she only knew, she absolutely could not betray the man she loved.
That's right, how could she not think of this? Layla was skilled at recreating maps on the computer, she could ask her to redraw that map digitally, and then slowly investigate.
After some thought, she picked up her phone and dialed Layla's number. Someone answered quickly. The sounds of rustling came through the phone, followed by a man's voice.
A voice extremely familiar to her, from seven years ago.
"Hello, who is this? Why are you calling at this time?"
Flora's heart felt as though it had stopped, she quickly covered her mouth to suppress any sound. A moment later she heard Layla's sleepy voice: "Patrick, who's calling me?"
The phone was handed back to Layla. Flora exhaled, then finally spoke:
"It's me..." She paused for a few seconds, then added: "Don't worry, he didn't hear anything."
Even if he did hear, Patrick might not recognize her.
Layla was surprised that she would call at this time: "Do you have something urgent?"
Flora explained what she wanted from her. After getting a positive response, she mentioned calling at the right time when her best friend was with Patrick.
"I didn't know he was with you, if I knew I wouldn't have called at this time..."
"It's alright." Layla's voice sounded noticeably tired: "At times, I do wish he could hear your voice, see your face, and then... whatever will be, will be. Deceiving him all this while, living in constant fear and worry, I've grown weary..."
Flora exhaled a deep sigh again. She knew her best friend's train of thought was hitting a dead end. Yet, she herself had no idea how to resolve this predicament, she could only go with the flow.
For now, it was best to stay out of Patrick's sight.
"Blood pressure is very low, and vital signs are unstable. Doctor Andrey, his current condition... is absolutely not suitable for discharge." The nurse glanced at the numbers displayed on the monitor, jotting notes while addressing the physician standing next to her.
Andrey's eyebrows knitted tightly. Matthew's condition was somewhat manageable until he stubbornly insisted on getting out of bed to visit his daughter.
As a result, he fainted before he even got to see her.
Of course, to those back home, his absence was explained away as "tremendously busy with work."
"Aunt Laura, were those two who just came the ones you called? Thank you. Matthew's been busy lately, and I didn't want to bother him over such minor issues."
Aunt Laura gave a gentle, knowing smile: "That's right, I couldn't let her harm you. You're the first woman the young master has brought home, the first to genuinely care and worry about him... It's a shame that her fiancé is expecting a child..."
Aunt Laura knew well that her young master yearned for a complete family. Hence, he must be eagerly anticipating the child in Selena's belly.
"Due to an unhappy childhood, he yearns deeply for familial warmth, and detests deception and betrayal. I can only hope... a kind-hearted person like him will find happiness eventually."
It was a casual sentiment, yet it caused Flora to frown. He despised betrayal and deceit the most, if he knew what she'd done, would he remain calm enough to let her explain?
A monotonous beeping sound echoed in her ear. Her phone displayed a connecting status, yet it never succeeded. Flora sighed, about to turn off the device.
Just then, an unfamiliar male voice chimed in: "Hello, Matthew is currently unable to take the call. If you have something to tell him, you can tell me, and I'll pass on the message."
That accent... was he a foreigner? Flora pursed her lips out of habit.
"Is he alright?"
"He's fine, just been quite busy recently with back-to-back meetings, and some parties to attend..." Andrey glanced at the unconscious man on the hospital bed, sighing as he spun his tale.
Flora didn't doubt the truthfulness of his words, she lightly smiled: "I don't have any urgent matters, could you just let him know I called and to call me back when he's free? I'm Flora, thank you."
Of course, Andrey had no qualms passing on the message. But that would be after Matthew regained consciousness.
Hanging up the call, she decided to leave the mansion and visit her mother at the flower garden. When Matthew had left, he'd ordered his staff not to let her leave. But with him absent, they couldn't truly confine her.
Her mother was still engrossed in her work at the garden, pruning branches, watering flowers, forever busy.
"Mom..."
"Is that you, Flora?" Hearing her daughter's voice, she turned to give a warm smile, but her face paled seeing her alone: "You came here by yourself? Where's Matthew?"
Her mother didn't much approve of her being with Matthew, however... in the present circumstances, she'd be much safer with him than being on her own.
"He hasn't returned to the country yet." Flora grasped the pruning shears, assisting her mother in trimming the scenery.
Her mother suddenly pondered something, frowning: "Last time you said you were helping Ethelbert with something. It must have something to do with Matthew, right? You should be wary of him... Don't let your emotions be influenced by the interests and struggles of others."
With a profoundly serious expression, Flora faced her mother and nodded once. She understood her mother's concern, but she also had her own calculations.
"Mother, I am not a child, and I can't treat love as a delicate flower that needs constant care. Only if love is strong enough can we hold hands through the years to come. Currently... I'm just testing the maturity of love."
Pausing for a few moments, she observed her mother's reaction, then added: "Moreover, Matthew and I have plenty of time, whereas you and dad have been apart for half of your lives."
Although her mother didn't express it, Flora knew, deep down, she still loved her father immensely. Given that, how could she bear to let her parents drift further apart? Naturally, as their daughter, she was determined to rescue her father from Ethelbert by all means possible.
Her mother sighed deeply, refraining from opposing her daughter anymore, she just said: "If anything happens, remember to seek me immediately."
As soon as she returned to the mansion, she received a call from someone thousands of miles away. His first words were a question:
"Where have you just been? It's very dangerous outside, can you please refrain from running around?" His voice sounded rather weary, but Flora didn't read too much into it.
Busy schedules and fatigue were part of the routine.
Holding the phone in her hand, a smile crept onto her face upon hearing the familiar voice: "I was visiting mom."
Their time together was fleeting, and now that they were apart, she missed him dearly. Only hearing Matthew's voice again did she realize how much she had longed for him.
"Why didn't you invite your mom to stay?" The mansion, after all, had numerous vacant rooms.
"Mom wouldn't agree." Flora shook her head: "I consulted her when I moved in."
Matthew sighed: "Okay then, from now on, don't go out, wait for me to come back, okay? It's so dangerous outside, and I can't protect you when I'm not there... I'll be back in a few days."
The last time he called, he said he would bring their daughter home in two or three days. Now he mentioned he would be back in a few days, without mentioning their child. Whether it was a mother's intuition or not, she felt somewhat uneasy these past few days.
"What about Paul?" Biting her lip lightly, she anxiously awaited his response.
"He's having a great time, he played so hard he's now sleeping." Matthew said casually: "Don't worry, I am his father, I won't let him get lost."
With a soft chuckle, he added: "And I won't let go and lose you either."
He had been awaiting this day for a long time, the day to live in the warmth and joy of a family. Indeed, everything seemed as wonderful as a dream.
"Patrick... there's something I need to tell you..." Layla hesitated to speak to the man sitting beside the bed.
Putting aside the blinding love Patrick held for Flora, he was the epitome of the perfect husband to all women. Handsome, with an excellent background, skilled, and undeniably gentle. It was a habit of his to flash a smile, turning to look at his betrothed.
"Speak your mind. We're engaged, what could there possibly be that you cannot share?"
Layla swallowed, her words circling at the back of her throat, persistently refusing to break free. It was precisely because they were engaged that Layla wanted to keep him by her side, to... withhold this truth from him.
But a hidden secret cannot stay concealed forever. Rather than living daily in fear, being seen as a weakness to be exploited by Selena, choosing to be straightforward with him might be an easier path.