Tears cascaded from Flora's eyes.
She ran faster and faster until she reached Matthew's mansion, where she hastily closed the door behind her, sank to the floor, and let the tears flow.
Matthew could scarcely believe his eyes. He had only just seen a photo of the two of them embracing, when not long after, one of the subjects of the image appeared in his office.
"Matthew, I have something to discuss with you!" Patrick pulled up a chair and sat down across from Matthew's desk.
Their relationship had always been good, they had sat opposite each other countless times.
But this time, the atmosphere between them was entirely different, unbearably tense.
So tense it almost felt solid.
Matthew's dark eyes bore into the man before him.
His body tensed like a predator ready to pounce on its prey.
Patrick, however, remained unfazed, calmly meeting Matthew's gaze. He spoke up: "Is Flora's child yours?"
"Don't refer to her so casually!" Matthew frowned.
This visitor meant no good.
Patrick's lips curled into a smile: "Given my history with her, it's not unreasonable... I'm asking you, is her child yours?"
Matthew nodded, a proud affirmation: "Indeed, twins of the dragon and phoenix.
The elder looks just like me, while the younger is the spitting image of her. Both are exceptionally bright."
"So... when did you find out you had children?"
"That's my business, not yours!" Matthew furrowed his brows.
His instinct was to withhold this information from Patrick, but his demeanor unintentionally revealed the truth.
Patrick laughed, his eyes alight with joy.
"Thank you for helping me untangle my confusion.
For seven long years, I've been pondering over this... She never betrayed me." Seven years ago, blinded by jealousy and a misconception of betrayal, Patrick had lost the love of his life.
This time, he would not back down.
Even if his rival was a senior he had always admired.
Patrick stood up, resting his hand on the table, and looked down at the man opposite: "I won't let go this time.
If you're a man, prepare for the battle.
I'll get her back, at all costs!"
Matthew exuded an icy aura, his frosty gaze fixed on Patrick's smiling face.
But the man opposite was not afraid at all, his smile growing wider:
"She is an angel in my heart.
How can I allow my angel to be with a man who treats her like chaff."
It is rumored in the business world that the brighter Patrick's smile, the worse the luck of those who cross him.
Hence his nickname, the 'Smiling Fox'.
Now, Matthew was finally experiencing the unnerving sensation of being watched by this 'Smiling Fox'.
However, he was undeterred.
What was his, could only belong to him.
"Flora is mine!" The moment he opened his mouth, he hastily staked his claim: "Don't forget, you're engaged to Layla Gary."
Patrick's brow furrowed momentarily, then smoothed again: "And so what? Don't you have a pregnant fiancee yourself? What ground does a man straddling two boats like you have to reproach me?"
As he finished, without a care for Matthew's reaction, he turned on his heel and strode out.
Before exiting the door, he threw over his shoulder: "Oh, and by the way, I've decided to break off my engagement with Layla and pursue Flora once again."
Seven years ago, he'd missed his chance.
Seven years later, he absolutely wouldn't let another slip by.
Be it one Matthew or a dozen, he didn't care.
"Damn it!" Matthew slammed his hand on the table.
The burning pain reverberating up his palm to his brain affirmed that the ludicrous scene just played out was no dream.
To think he was challenged by his own good friend over a woman.
Hearing the odd noise from inside, his subordinate, standing outside, broke into a sweat and hurried in.
"Boss, any instructions?"
This sight, he would never forget in his lifetime.
A famously cold and distant man like Matthew too had moments of emotional turmoil.
He sat in his chair, face dark and grim, his hand trembling.
"Where is Flora?" His tone was steady, without any inflection.
"Our man following her reported she has returned home."
Matthew nodded, remaining seated.
But from that moment, he would glance at the clock every few minutes.
Until nine in the evening.
Flora sat in the library of Matthew's mansion, waiting for him from the moment the sun was high until the moon dominated the sky.
She anxiously watched the clock, hearing each tick-tock.
At half-past nine, the sound of the opening door she had been waiting for finally echoed.
She shot up from her chair: "You're back... I've been waiting for you. I have something to tell you..."
"Who let you in here?" Matthew furrowed his brows: "Places like these, don't step in again in the future. Don't give people with ulterior motives an opportunity to take what's mine!"
As the words left his mouth, even he felt he was a bit too harsh.
Not to mention the one he berated was Flora.
She hastily tried to explain: "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I never betrayed you or meant to hurt you..."
"No more explanations!" He cut off her words: "Was it you who gave the map to Ethelbert? If you truly never betrayed me, you wouldn't have hidden that from me. And in public... you could be so intimate with him. Who knows what else you two might have done when not in front of a camera."
Matthew frowned, heaving a silent sigh.
His heart was a tangled mess, uncertain whether to trust her or doubt her.
Unsure if his love for her was right or wrong.
All he knew was, even if it meant mutual pain, he wouldn't allow anyone else to intrude on this relationship.
Flora pressed her lips together: "I've never been intimate with any other man, never betrayed you. Whether you believe it or not is up to you!"
She had never betrayed her man.
And him, promising Selena, agreeing to marry her, without even bothering to explain to her.
What was she to him?
Feeling she had nothing more to say, she left the library, leaving Matthew alone, his brow knitted.
He slumped into the chair Flora had just vacated, his eyes landing on a folded newspaper on the table.
It was today's edition, with the job vacancies section covered in red ink.
His eyebrows knitted together tighter than ever before. Was Flora actually intending to look for a new job? Could it be... just because Patrick had shown up, she was in such a rush to leave him?
He spent an entire night thinking. The next morning, when he met her in the living room, he left her with a sentence: "From today on, you are to return to work at S.E.I.! I haven't given you permission to quit!"
He was her direct superior, so even if she applied for resignation now, she would have to wait at least a month before she could leave properly.
Sitting on the living room sofa, Flora watched his tall silhouette leave the house and let out a long sigh.
It seemed her plan to find a new job was going to be put on the back burner.
"Flora is still working at S.E.I.? I thought she quit a long time ago."
"Who knows? Perhaps director White is turning a blind eye, letting her stay out of pity!"
From the moment she stepped into the headquarters of S.E.I., whispers followed Flora.
Given her current relationship with Matthew, she had strong suspicions that he wanted her to return as his secretary to make things difficult for her.
"Hello, my secretary. Did you enjoy your time off?" Matthew greeted her cordially, flashing a polite smile and extending a hand to shake Flora's.
Her palms were sweaty. She shook Matthew's hand nervously, unsure what game this man was playing.
She stuttered a greeting to him: "He... Hello, Director."
"Hmm." Matthew nodded nonchalantly: "You've been away for a while, so you might have to do some overtime to catch up on work. Prioritize your tasks... Alright, get to work."
After a moment of confusion, Flora regained her composure, nodding: "Ah... Yes, I will do my best."
Just then, Matthew's office door opened again.
His true and real fiancee walked in with grace. She intentionally rested her hand on her belly, as if she wanted to remind the world that she was pregnant.
"Matthew..." She sat down and suddenly noticed Flora. Her voice unconsciously rose: "Flora! What is she doing here?"
Matthew didn't bother to hide it: "I called her back to work."
"Why would you do that? Didn't you think about how I would feel?" Selena's eyes welled up with tears: "You said you wanted to marry me... Are you still not over her?"
The Matthew she knew was not a man of indecision.
Sure enough, he smirked: "Don't get heated, I called her back for your sake."
Selena frowned, completely distrustful of Matthew's words.
Calling her rival back to work at S.E.I. was for her sake? Who would believe that?
She was about to say something, but Matthew leaned back in his chair, continuing: "She's back at S.E.I., working under your watchful eyes. You can monitor her from start to finish. There's nothing to worry about anymore..."
"Are you serious?" Selena's eyes lit up: "So... does this mean our wedding will proceed as planned?"
"Of course.
For our unborn child, and our relationship, I couldn't possibly abandon you. I promise, I will give you a complete family." Matthew nodded, reassuring her.
From the moment Selena stepped into his office, Flora quietly exited.
She didn't want to cause any direct confrontation.
Standing just beyond the door, every word they spoke struck her ears.
Including the promise to marry Selena, made by the man she loved.
Matthew's words weren't a joke.
He really did assign her a lot of work.
Piles of documents stacked haphazardly on the desk, forming a tower of paper chaos.
Lifting her head, she noted that the clock's hands had creeped towards nine in the evening.
The office building was eerily silent, the majority of its inhabitants having departed for the day.
"Working late tonight, dear?" asked the old security guard, placing his newspaper aside to address her.
"Yes, I had to put in some extra hours." replied Flora, her stride unabated: "I'm not even sure if I can get a ride at this hour..."
Standing before the massive structure of the office building, she looked around, her eyes scanning the street for a hint of yellow - a taxi. Nothing.
A seed of worry planted itself in her heart. The prospect of walking home through the expansive distance was unthinkable.
Just then, a car pulled up slowly, halting on the curb right before her.
The car window lowered and a familiar voice from within called out: "Flora? Hop in, I'll drive you home."
The voice, laced with familiarity, captured Flora's full attention.
"Patrick?" She responded, a surge of surprise lacing her words.