"Hello, Layla. I think it's time to confront this head-on. Could you arrange a meeting with Patrick? I'll speak to both of you... to convince him to let go."
The most appropriate resolution, it seemed, was not to evade, but to face it. If Layla could admit to Patrick that she was in the city, she could face her past emotions for the sake of her dear friend.
Layla's voice, transmitted through the phone, sounded somewhat harsh: "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely." Flora asserted: "I've found the joy of my life. Matthew treats me wonderfully, as well as our children..."
"Do you truly want to be with the CEO?" Layla abruptly asked a seemingly unrelated question.
Flora sensed a strange attitude in her friend today, but she didn't overthink it. When thinking of Matthew, she couldn't suppress a smile.
"I won't leave him for the rest of my life."
Whether it was due to careful consideration or touched by her words, Layla fell silent for a moment, then agreed: "Alright. We should put an end to this chapter. Just... don't backtrack on your words."
Just as she hung up, Layla jolted in surprise as a man appeared suddenly.
"Have you been waiting long?" Appearing haggard and unkempt, with stubble and disheveled clothes, it was none other than Patrick, who'd been tirelessly searching for traces of Flora.
Layla sighed silently. Indeed, this matter needed a conclusion, but what sort... perhaps Flora wasn't the one to dictate.
Seeing Patrick's worn-out appearance, Layla couldn't help but chide him: "Where have you been, making me wait for a whole hour..."
"I'm really tired, can we talk about it later, okay?" Patrick breezed past Layla, unlocked the door, and entered.
Seeing his lack of attention, Layla followed him inside, lips pursed. She knew why he looked so fatigued and what had been occupying his time recently.
It was because she knew that her jealousy couldn't be tamed.
"Patrick. You're worn out like this because of searching for Flora, aren't you? What if I told you... I know how to contact her?" Layla heard her own emotionless voice ring out.
The man ahead turned around at that. His eyes sparkled with hope, the life that had faded was returning.
Patrick excitedly put his hand on Layla's shoulder, bombarding her with questions: "Really? How did you find her? Is she doing well? How's her child?"
The flurry of questions somewhat reflected Patrick's state of mind. Seeing him like this, Layla felt a stab of pain in her heart.
"She's... doing well. She's married, with two children. She's living a happy and content life..." Without him by her side, she could still live happily.
Patrick nodded, a radiant smile blooming on his face: "I understand, she's such a remarkable woman, how could she possibly live without joy? She will undoubtedly find happiness."
Struggling to repress the throbbing pain in her heart, Layla mustered a feigned smile.
"I know how much you've been wanting to see Flora, so I've arranged for you to meet her. In two days... we will have everything laid bare."
"Are you serious?" Patrick abruptly enveloped Layla in his arms: "Thank you so much, without you, I don't know when I could have seen her again."
Meanwhile, Matthew had sorted out the trouble at the hospital and returned to the mansion. Aware that Flora had returned home first, he didn't blame her. After all, places like Selena's sickroom were ones she ought not to visit.
"You're back already?" Flora tilted her head, questioning the man who'd just stepped inside.
Matthew's laughter echoed in response. The jealousy this young woman was showing was rather adorable.
"It's been a while, have you missed me?" He bent over, purposely getting close to Flora's face: "You don't need to answer, I'm sure you have. Isn't it because you miss me that you're upset? Had I not returned soon, you might have been angry enough to burn down the house."
Did he mean she was so incensed she might set the house on fire? Flora gritted her teeth to retort, but he stepped back before she could.
"To make amends, I will personally cook a midnight meal for you. Of course, if you want, you can consider me as your midnight snack... I prefer the latter."
Matthew winked. They were both adults, he trusted she'd get his implication.
Flora's face flushed scarlet, she had not anticipated this man's shamelessness in spouting such flirtatious invitations. Then she saw him laugh.
"I'm just teasing you. Are you hungry? Wait a moment, I will make your midnight meal." Seeing her bewildered expression, he winked again: "A real midnight meal."
He donned an apron with practiced ease, busied himself with the ingredients in the kitchen, his movements fluid, as if he'd done it a thousand times before.
Flora sat watching, utterly astonished. A stoic man like Matthew showing such tender care in the kitchen was an unexpected sight. How many more facets of this man were yet to be unveiled?
Matthew moved quickly, placing before Flora a delicious plate of spaghetti. Each soft, chewy strand of pasta blended with the robust tomato sauce and flavorful ground beef, its dazzling red color and intoxicating aroma tantalizing both sight and smell.
Flora couldn't resist any longer, she picked up a fork, twirled a strand of pasta, and took a bite. She couldn't help the anticipation brewing within her for the taste of the dish made by Matthew himself.
The flavor was so delightful that she had to exclaim: "Matthew, you're incredible! I didn't expect you to be such a good cook!"
"If you like it, I'll cook for you more often." Matthew replied with an indulgent smile. Her smile was, for him, the best compliment.
Just then, his phone rang, breaking their intimate moment. His brow furrowed as he glanced at the screen, muttering: "Patrick Jones? Why would he be calling at this hour?"
Patrick's voice on the other end was gentle. His mood seemed much lighter than it had been earlier.
"Big brother, you don't need to use the documents I gave you anymore. I was planning on asking you to find someone, but I've already found her."
"Documents?" There was a hint of doubt in Matthew's voice. He had no recollection of receiving any documents from Patrick.
Yet Patrick was entirely indifferent to that suspicion. He chuckled lightly: "Don't let me intrude on your intimate moment with your beloved wife, I'll hang up now."
The line went dead, leaving Matthew to furrow his brow in confusion.
"He said he'd sent me a document, but..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Flora chimed in: "Oh, Aunt Laura gave it to me today. I've put it away, do you need to look at it right now?"
Recalling Patrick's words from their recent phone call, Matthew shook his head. If the owner of the document didn't need his assistance anymore, there was no real reason for him to go through it.
He glanced at the plate of pasta, nearly half-finished, then at Flora's face smeared with tomato sauce, and laughed: "Finish your pasta."
Flora lowered her head, releasing a silent sigh of relief, as if she'd narrowly escaped disaster. Given the good relationship between Matthew and Patrick Jones, it was only a matter of time before he found out about it.
But she wanted to delay it, at least until she had a clear discussion with Patrick and Layla.
Matthew's phone rang once more. This time, it was a call from the far-off United States. His contact there reported that Paul had safely boarded his flight and would land at the city airport early the next morning.
This was indeed good news.
"Flora, I have some good news for you. Our little one is coming home. You'll see him tomorrow morning." The corners of his mouth curled up into a smile.
Flora's eyes widened, her worried face instantly brightened: "Really? I miss him so much... Finally, I can see him again."
Ever since their children were born, this was the first time she had been away from them for so long. The longing was like a tide, threatening to engulf her. The news of her child's imminent return filled her with overwhelming happiness.
The next morning, the plane landed on time. A little figure was carried by an adult, step by step toward the waiting parents and brother.
"Mum, Dad, Charlie... I'm home!"
It was rare for the boy not to object when his sister referred to him as Charlie. His small hand gently stroked her head as he grinned: "Finally, my teddy bear is home."
Flora tightly embraced her two children, her gaze full of love.
The boy shrugged, took a step back, successfully freeing himself from his mother's embrace. He was growing up, no longer fond of cuddles like his baby sister.
Well, since his sister just got back, he'd step back and let her have a longer chat with mum. As for the little man resembling him, standing by his side as if he were his father was enough.
"Paul, you've lost weight. You were chubby when you left, how come you're so skinny now?" Flora gently touched her daughter's cheek, a hint of sadness in her eyes.
Clearly, the child had gone to play, how had she become so thin?
The little girl looked up at her father with pleading eyes. Matthew, catching her silent plea for help, quickly swept her up in his arms and defended her: "Our little girl couldn't adapt to the food there, but was too fond of playing, so she insisted on staying... It's fine, from now on we'll nourish her, soon we'll have our chubby baby back."
The boy standing next to them solemnly nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, we should feed her till she's as chubby as a teddy bear."
"No way." The little girl pouted in protest: "Charlie is the chubby one, I will be the cutest baby."
The two adults and the two children chatted and laughed, forming a picture-perfect, harmonious family.
Upon returning home, the family of four nestled together in the living room. With an air of solemnity, Flora cleared her throat: "Ahem, we shall now commence our first-ever family meeting. Present are father, mother, young Charlie, and Paul. Without further ado, let's hear from the children's father."
Matthew chuckled at Flora's ceremonial direction of the family gathering. Emulating her tone, he cleared his throat and said,
"Firstly, I am grateful to the children's mother for providing me with the opportunity to speak. My dear children, the truth is... I am your biological father."