After walking a bit more, Flora turned around.
In the heavy rain, she could no longer see the faint lights from the villa.
It was only then that she realized she had lost her way in a forest.
Cold raindrops pierced through the thick canopy, falling straight onto the ground.
The forest was dark and cold.
"Ah, there's a signal now!" Without hesitation, she called Matthew.
What came from the phone's speaker was still the icy voice: "The subscriber you have dialed..."
From her wet clothes and hair, the rain seeped into her body, making her shiver with cold.
Her mind began to descend into a dreamy haze, and she took each step with deliberate slowness.
Tripping unexpectedly over a brittle twig, she stumbled, her knees crumpling to the ground.
Her umbrella was flung aside, splattering muddy water in all directions.
A sharp pain shot up from her knee, spreading its torturous tendrils into her brain.
Unable to contain her distress any longer, she burst into tears.
"It hurts so much... Matthew... Where in the world are you?"
The night was as black as ink.
The pattering of rain, punctuated by the low grumbling of distant thunder, wove a tapestry of desolation that was indescribable.
"Boss, I'm sorry, this is my fault." Matthew's subordinate, while expertly maneuvering the vehicle, stole a glance at the emotionless face of the man sitting next to him: "We didn't expect our flight to be delayed for this long.
And then getting ambushed by reporters when we finally landed at the airport..."
In retrospect, the blame couldn't be entirely placed on him.
Originally, the plan was to land at the city airport at five in the afternoon, providing ample time to prepare for a visit to Paul and Flora.
But even the best-laid plans couldn't stand against unforeseen events.
First, their flight was delayed for over an hour.
Then, just as they stepped out of the airport, they were swarmed by a throng of reporters.
Matthew's brows furrowed together: "It's not your fault... Drive faster."
The man beside him seemed to want to continue the conversation, but seeing Matthew's darkened expression, he could only sigh and shake his head.
After about fifteen minutes, he turned the steering wheel to the right.
Entering a familiar road, he hesitated before speaking again.
"Actually... We were cornered by the reporters because our charity funds have disappeared without a trace.
But our people have been unable to trace any information about this money."
"No need to investigate further." Matthew grunted: "Apart from Daniel, nobody else has the capacity and audacity to do this.
Not just this, the shipment that was stopped by customs, and the robbery last week, I'm sure he has a hand in all of it."
Daniel is his father-in-law in name only, a sly old fox.
He has had his hands in plenty of unsavory businesses.
The most infuriating part is, he's never left any evidence behind.
To catch this fox by its tail, one could only wait for the perfect opportunity.
He decided not to bring up the infuriating topic again, looking out at the night, he instructed: "Take me to the Cloud villa."
It was well past midnight by now, that foolish woman would probably be sound asleep.
But he couldn't resist the urge to visit, partly to see their daughter, partly in case she hadn't left yet.
He had missed their appointment today, and his phone had died, he wondered whether that had caused her any anxiety or anger.
Matthew's villa in Cloude was under round-the-clock surveillance, ensuring absolute security.
As soon as he arrived, someone immediately came out to open the door.
"Young Master Matthew, you've come to see Paul so late?" The gatekeeper seemed surprised, his eyes wide as he looked at him.
Matthew nodded, looking somewhat dazed as he asked: "Is Flora still inside? Or has she left?"
"Miss Flora..." The gatekeeper frowned slightly: "She did not come into the villa today and did not meet Paul.
However..." He seemed to be making an effort to remember, his tone uncertain: "Around seven or eight in the evening, when it was raining heavily, I did see a figure that greatly resembled her, wandering outside..."
"What did you say?" Matthew's heart skipped a beat, he stared at the gatekeeper's face.
The latter shuddered under his intense gaze, but managed to continue: "Then I got busy with something, when I looked again she was nowhere to be found.
I don't know if she returned home or went into the forest on the other side..."
If Flora had returned, there would be no cause for concern.
However, if perchance she had strayed into the forest beyond, no one could definitively affirm her safety.
That forest, especially at night, is a hazardous maze, teeming with towering trees, venomous snakes, and ferocious beasts - a dangerous cocktail of threats.
Even they, with their wealth of experience, dare not step foot in there after sundown.
Matthew's brows furrowed tightly, his face a portrait of deep concern.
His intuition hinted that this foolhardy woman may have indeed become lost in the woods.
"Immediately send people into the forest, comb every nook and cranny! Even if it means overturning the entire forest, I need Flora found!" he commanded.
When Flora next opened her eyes, she found herself in a pristine, warm, and clean room.
The injuries on her elbow and knee throbbed with a dull pain, feeling tight as though they had been bandaged.
She attempted to push herself up, grimacing at the painful sting in her hand.
Upon a glance, she noticed an IV needle stuck in her vein.
It was only then that she realized she had escaped the cold, damp darkness of that dreadful forest.
"Flora, you're awake? Finally, you have no idea how worried I've been." a familiar male voice murmured, overflowing with relief.
Carefully, she pushed herself upright, taking in the man who gazed at her with earnest longing.
"The CEO? You're here?"
Flora's reference to him as the 'CEO' was like a punch to Matthew's gut.
Once, they had been each other's closest confidantes, yet now she employed such a formal address, stretching the gulf between them further.
As if that wasn't enough, Flora sighed, a look of confused resignation on her face: "I'm sorry to have bothered you, sir, I..."
"Have you forgotten my name?" Matthew's brow creased: "Flora, pretending to be distant, does that make you happy?"
Had he not seen the love in Flora's eyes when she first awakened, unable to mask her emotions in time, he might have thought she truly no longer cared for him.
He sat by her bedside, gazing intently at the beautiful, yet pale face of the woman lying before him.
"I remember clearly, you promised never to leave me, and yet you broke that promise.
I can't figure out what I did wrong, nor what you desire... What exactly do I have to do to make you happy?"
A desolate, hopeless, and unfamiliar Matthew was not one Flora had encountered before.
She had always thought of him as a cold, arrogant man who looked down on everything - that was the Matthew she knew.
Hot, salty tears welled up, spilling over the brim of her eyes.
Her hands shook as she clung to the stark white blanket.
Biting her lip, Flora choked out: "It's me who can't figure out what you're thinking.
You want to keep me by your side, but decide to marry Selena.
Tell me, how can I believe that your love for me is true? On what basis should I trust a man who just married someone else, but claims to truly love me?"
The more she spoke, the more she felt wronged and pitiful.
Overwhelmed by negative emotions, she sobbed: "All I want to ask is... is love or marriage more important to you? You profess love to one person, marry and stay with another... I don't understand, I don't want to... Why is it that your heart inclines towards me, but you..."
Her words trailed off, choked by sobs that had taken over.
But it was enough, Matthew understood her meaning.
He bowed his head in thought, silent.
The room was cold, filled only with Flora's soft sobs.
After a while, Matthew looked up, clumsily using his sleeve to wipe the tears lingering on her lashes.
"Don't weep anymore, I comprehend now, it was my mistake." He exhaled a long breath: "Love and marriage hold equal significance.
When one falls in love, naturally, marrying that person is the wish.
Love without marriage, or marriage devoid of love, both manifest irresponsibility."
A principle so elementary, yet it took Matthew till now to understand.
Perhaps because he was the product of misguided romances, having grown up starved of affection, he was always slow to comprehend matters of the heart.
He took Flora's trembling hand, gripping it tightly within his: "I now realize, it's not too late, is it?"
"Y-you... I..." Flora stuttered slightly.
He had only just come to grasp the significance of marriage and love, but he was already married to Selena, a fact that could not be altered.
Did this epiphany, which only brought self-reproach, hold any further meaning?
"I admit I've been in the wrong, and I will certainly rectify my mistakes." his dark eyes intensely studying Flora: "Could you wait for me? I promise, I will give you a satisfactory answer."
Flora's brown eyes met his gaze.
She gave a small nod, providing him an opportunity, and perhaps herself one too.
The time apart had been painful for them both.
Love is not easily extinguished, nor easily forgotten.
If he had acknowledged his mistakes, she didn't mind waiting for him a bit longer.
To allow him to rectify all the past errors.
Their eyes locked, and before they knew it, a feeling of deep affection enwrapped them both.
Matthew tilted his head, leaning closer to Flora's beautiful face.
Flora gently closed her eyes, a suspicious blush tinting her cheeks.
Just then, a child's voice echoed, disrupting the rosy atmosphere.
"What are mommy and daddy doing... umm... why is Charlie covering my mouth?" The innocent voice of the little girl, clearly their beloved daughter, didn't need to be seen to be recognized.
Flora and Matthew simultaneously jolted, turning around.
The emotionless faced boy was using both his hands to muzzle his sister, preventing her from speaking further.
The little girl, her hands full with a bowl of hot soup, could only glare at her brother in protest.
The boy cocked his head, winking: "Mom and dad can continue, we'll pretend we saw nothing."
The adults, caught between laughter and tears, couldn't possibly continue after being discovered by their children.
Matthew naturally took the bowl of soup from his daughter's hands.
"If you're not continuing, then mom should quickly eat the soup while it's hot.
This is the first time I've cooked, don't criticize." The boy pulled a familiar poker face, but there was a flicker of anticipation in his eyes.
Flora nodded, smiling: "Thank you."
"The soup is really delicious, very delicious." The little girl blinked her round eyes, beaming: "I've been begging for a taste but Charlie won't let me have any."
The boy furrowed his brows, shaking his head: "Charlie's soup is not to be touched.
This is soup I specially made for mom, if you want to eat, you have to be good and recover from your illness. When you're better, I'll cook for you."
"But I want to eat now! I also want you to spoon-feed me!" The little girl hugged her brother's arm, coquettishly shaking it.
Matthew's hand paused.
He held a spoonful of soup, near Flora's lips.
Even the most oblivious could discern, their daughter was teasing them for spoon-feeding each other.
The boy, acting like a proper elder brother, furrowed his brows sternly: "No way, not spoon-feeding, no matter how much you act cute."