Chapter 54: Misunderstanding Hard To Explain

Just then, the bedroom door swung open.

The person walking in seemed slightly taken aback to find her awake, but quickly smiled and said: "You're up already? Let's go down and have breakfast."

Patrick's tone was casual, as if this was a routine scene that had played out a thousand times before.

He walked over to the window, pulling the curtains aside to let the sunlight stream in, before leaving the room.

"Flora..." Morela's voice drew out, sounding rather dubious: "Don't you have something you want to explain to me?"

Flora blinked in confusion: "About what?"

"Don't think I didn't hear that. A man just called you for breakfast.

That was Patrick, right? Are you two back together? Dear Flora, you're starting to lie now..."

"Morela!" Flora cut her off sharply: "Stop spouting nonsense.

I got drunk last night, so..."

"I get it, you got drunk and did something stupid... Matthew is a despicable man who left you for another woman. It's good that you can go back to Patrick." As long as it wasn't Matthew, it was fine for Morela.

Her impression of Matthew had already plummeted to an all-time low.

Flora's face flushed with embarrassment: "Stop, just stop talking.

I have to go now, I can't talk to you anymore."

As Flora descended the staircase, she found Patrick had meticulously prepared breakfast, which was already laid out on the table. Seeing her tugging uncomfortably at her nightgown, Patrick chuckled.

"Last night you were quite drunk, reeking of alcohol, so I helped you change your clothes. Don't overthink it. I washed your clothes, and they're drying on the balcony; they should be dry soon." he said, a soft lilt to his words.

Of course, Flora didn't overthink. She knew Patrick to be an upright person who wouldn't commit any acts that might render the situation awkward for both of them. He had always treated her with nothing but respect, never crossing the line.

However, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sudden ring of the doorbell. Patrick tilted his head slightly: "Must be the paperboy. Could you fetch the paper for me, please?"

"Do you still have a habit of reading newspapers?" Flora teased him with a chuckle, finding it surprising that he still followed such an old-fashioned routine. Even though her words were teasing, she headed straight for the door.

Just as she swung the door open, before getting a good look at the person on the other side, she said: "Hello, just give me the newspaper, please... Wait, why is it you?"

Matthew's expression was cold, hands shoved deep into his pockets as he took steps towards Flora: "Why can't it be me?" He glanced at the nightgown Flora was wearing, feeling a rush of heat coursing through him. Anger ignited, burning his rationale, he gritted his teeth: "Flora, you're wearing a nightgown in the presence of a strange man, better think carefully how you're going to explain this to me."

He had been informed the previous night when Flora went to the bar. However, he believed that she needed some time to vent, to come to terms with the truth, hence he didn't interfere. Later, Selena ensnared him, complaining about a stomachache, issues with her pregnancy. Only now could he come over here, yet he had not expected to witness this.

Flora instinctively retreated, her face ashen. The unfamiliar expression on Matthew's face unnerved her. Feeling weak and lost, she didn't know how to handle the situation. A pair of warm hands gently touched her shoulder, steadying her. Then, Patrick's soothing voice rang out: "Go upstairs and change. Your clothes are drying on the balcony, you don't need me to bring them up, do you?" Flora mechanically shook her head.

Patrick smiled softly: "Alright, go on, I'll handle this." He then addressed Matthew: "Since you're here, come in."

Only when Flora's figure disappeared up the stairs did Patrick prepare a hot cup of tea: "Please, have some tea. It's early yet you've come by, is there anything urgent?" The words and actions were distinctly homeowner-esque, intentionally poking at Matthew's frustration.

Frowning, Matthew stared at the tea cup before him: "Patrick, are you provoking me?"

"Not at all." Patrick's fingertips gently traced the rim of the tea cup: "I'm only trying to compete fairly with you. Don't you see?"

"Is this your idea of fair competition?"

Patrick raised an eyebrow at the man sitting across from him, leisurely taking a sip of his tea. Placing the cup back on the table with a clink, he finally responded: "If not this, then what? A fair competition, putting both of us in front of her to see who she would choose... Matthew, she is my angel. As long as I'm here, why would she choose someone who cannot bring her happiness?"

Matthew's face grew darker by the moment. His hand clenched, tremors running through his fingers. However, the man sitting across from him was not intimidated. Matthew scoffed: "You don't understand her. She needs the warmth of a family, something you will never be able to give."

"It's a promise you can't keep." Patrick shrugged: "I have overestimated myself, Matthew.

If she simply nods, I will strive to give her a blissful and warm family.

I'm not you, I wouldn't abandon her to marry someone else.

Even my honorable reputation is non-existent, let alone talking about family, don't you find your own assumptions ludicrous?"

It's not just laughable, it's pitiable.

Matthew was Patrick's senior in a foreign country.

Over these years, he was the envy of many.

Wealthy, handsome, with both background and talent.

Yet ironically, this seemingly perfect man has a fatal weakness: love.

He knows nothing of love, nor how to cherish someone.

"I've finished changing."

A firm hand gripped Flora's delicate wrist.

Her eyes widened, she was dragged out before she could react.

"Come home with me!" Matthew's tone was almost an order.

Flora struggled against his hold, but how could she match a man seasoned in the underworld's struggles.

No matter how she squirmed, she was helplessly dragged away.

"Matthew, you're mad! You're hurting me... It was you who betrayed our love, deciding to marry Selena.

Why are you controlling me like this? Nothing happened between him and me, believe it or not! Don't be so irrationally angry!"

All along the way, Flora kept berating and cursing.

Matthew remained silent, mute as a clam, with his icy gaze never fading.

He dragged her into the room.

She screamed: "Are you done with your madness? On what grounds are you treating me like this? I've never wronged you from the start..."

She yelled, enraged and woeful until tears flowed.

Her throat tasted bitter, even Flora herself didn't know if it was due to heartbreak or anger.

Matthew suddenly reached out, pulling Flora's soft body into his embrace.

He held her tight, as if trying to suffocate her within his arms.

Then after a long while, his familiar voice choked out: "Flora, please... don't leave me."

Such pleading, so fragile, should never come from this man.

Flora blinked, and a tear slid down her cheek.

This man, so strong and fearless, was begging because he feared her departure.

That was enough for her.

At least, she could affirm that his love was sincere, without deception.

"Don't leave me, will you?"

Matthew acted swiftly and roughly, ensuring Flora was still in his arms.

He hurriedly stripped their clothes off, pulled her onto the bed, entwining passionately.

Unlike previous times, Flora was fervent in response.

Even more passionate and wild than Matthew could have imagined.

She leaned in his ear, whispering: "Matthew, I love you! I really love you!"

But love was meaningless when he had decided to walk down the aisle with someone else.

His wedding was imminent, and she couldn't force herself to stand by him as a lover, a shameful third person, under the name of love.

Her choice was to leave.

So this would be their last time.

Given the final occasion, she allowed herself to completely let go, merging in totality with him, in spirit and in flesh.

"We won't ever part... I've made a promise, and I can't take it back." the man's whispers reverberated in her ear.

A single tear trickled down Flora's flushed face.

She nodded forcefully, her heart silently writhing in agony.

She lied, she broke her promise, she didn't keep her word.

After all, how can one ever trust the promises whispered amidst the bed sheets, and what woman would willingly share her love?

The mindset of men and women often diverges drastically.

When Matthew thought everything was evolving harmoniously, the woman beside him, lost in their lovemaking, was yearning to break free.

The following day, as per the planned schedule, his wedding with Selena was held in the mansion.

The aisle lacked fresh flowers, lacked guests, it was only the bride, the groom, and a single witness.

He had all the decorations that Selena had painstakingly arranged removed.

"Matthew... Do you love me?" Selena, in her pristine white wedding dress, looked up at the tall man who had just become her husband.

Matthew furrowed his brows: "Don't ask irrelevant questions."

"What is irrelevant? We are married, you are my husband, I am your wife, and asking if my husband loves me is irrelevant?" Selena almost choked on her tears.

Matthew only grew more irritated, he waved dismissively: "Selena, I thought you were intelligent. We both know what this wedding signifies..."

"What does it signify?" Selena burst into tears: "Would you not have agreed to marry me if I wasn't pregnant? No guests, no candles, no fresh flowers, are you ridiculing me? I know you have feelings for that woman, but... You're married to me now, all I ask is that you consider me, consider our child a little... Is it that hard?"

Matthew's gaze upon Selena was devoid of warmth.

He always thought that everyone understood the meaning of this wedding.

He harbored no love for Selena.

He married her only because the White family requested so, and it caused him no detriment.

To put it accurately, this wedding served his ultimate purpose.

In that case, why was Selena still causing a fuss? Had she not obtained the status she desired?

The sound of frantic knocking interrupted their argument.

The worried voice of Aunt Laura echoed from behind the door:

"Young master Matthew, it's not good. Miss Flora and her mother are missing!"

Anything related to Flora would make Matthew act unusually.

Upon hearing that Flora and her mother were missing from the mansion, he couldn't maintain his composure.

Matthew hastily rushed out of the house.

Selena was still taken aback by the sudden turn of events.

Not until the tall figure of the man disappeared from her sight, did she come to her senses.

Her hands clenched her wrinkled skirt, her jaws gritted against each other.

"Flora, it must be her! She must have timed this perfectly to lure him away! But why... why would he abandon me for her?" Today was supposed to be her wedding day with Matthew, yet he was lured away by a despicable woman.