"Honey, why do you look so weary?"
The voice deliberately exuded sweetness, so saccharine it was nauseating.
Matthew's face looked as though he had heard the buzz of a pesky fly.
He waved his hand dismissively: "What do you need from me?"
"Honey, what's wrong with you? I'm your wife, can't I miss you? Do I have to have something to ask you every time I look for you..." Selena snuggled up to Matthew, whimpering: "I've missed you... You've been away for so long, and you're not being affectionate with me at all..."
While outwardly she appeared sweet and soft, inwardly she was gnashing her teeth.
She despised Flora to the point of madness, if not for her, why would this man be so cold towards her?
She was supposed to be his wife! His legally married wife! Yet, there was no warmth in his eyes when he looked at her.
Each time she saw his empty, emotionless eyes filled with icy disdain, she wished she could kill Flora instantly.
"Don't say such nauseating things." Matthew frowned, why didn't he realize before how sickening the White family's daughter could be?
Selena pursed her lips and lowered her head, her hands nervously twisted together on the tea table.
Just beneath her hands was a carefully wrapped parcel, appearing like a bundle.
Matthew's icy gaze swept over it, and he quizzically asked: "What's that beneath your hand?"
"I don't really know either..." A calculating glint appeared in her eyes obscured by her fringe: "Someone sent it to our home, I haven't had the chance to open it yet."
She spoke as she tore the envelope open.
The paper was easy to rip, a slight exertion and the contents were exposed.
"Oh!" Her voice rang out in surprise.
Her hand trembling but unyielding, she drew out the carefully wrapped item within, a stack of photographs.
In them, a man and a woman were locked in a loving embrace, their postures intimate beyond words.
She stuttered: "Who... who would send such a thing to us! How outrageous... darling, do you think it's from Patrick? Is he trying to affirm his love for Flora..."
"Selena." Matthew's voice was steady, betraying no joy or anger: "You are a smart woman.
You should understand, a scheme, no matter how effective, should not be used twice."
This trick, she has used for the third time already, truly treating him like an infant, easy to manipulate? Miss White is just like her arrogant and foolish father.
"Furthermore, how you used to address me, continue doing so.
Don't use those foolish endearments, they don't suit you." Leaving behind these words, he rose and departed from the stifling room, heading straight outside.
Selena lowered her gaze to Flora's beautiful smiling face in the photograph.
Her nail-polished hand tightened, then she set the photo down, scratching fiercely at it.
The photo remained intact, but the beautiful face in it seemed distorted.
"Flora... damn it! Sooner or later, I will have my revenge!"
What she couldn't have, no other woman would have either.
Especially Flora, whose mere existence was an eyesore.
She reclined on the sofa, her belly bulged slightly, as though something was pushing against it, but from the inside.
She was stunned, gently rubbing her stomach, laughing maniacally: "That's right... how could I forget my trump card! Haha... Flora is just a silly woman... she could never compete with the future heir!"
Out of sight of his so-called newlywed wife, Matthew wandered aimlessly through the city's streets and alleys.
It was a long while before he stopped before a particular street.
In the distance, two nearly identical houses sat silently side by side.
He sighed deeply, reaching out to pick up his phone, texting Flora.
The message was typed and erased, typed and erased, until finally, it was just a simple message: "Let's meet."
At this moment, Flora was resting her chin in her hands in the living room of her apartment, watching the man bustling about arranging her home.
Since finding out she was pregnant, Patrick had been in such a state.
Absolutely not letting her lift a finger, only allowing her to sit and drink water.
"Patrick, this isn't my first pregnancy, you don't have to be this careful!" She laid her head down on the table, bored.
Patrick immediately brushed her off: "Don't talk nonsense! The doctor said you must rest well, no vigorous activity."
Flora held her tongue, choosing not to argue with him.
She couldn't comprehend how pouring a glass of water could be so strenuous.
Just like how Patrick couldn't comprehend why she was still bustling about while pregnant.
He busied himself for a bit, then poured himself a glass of water, pulling up a chair to sit opposite her: "Flora, I'm serious about this, are you going to tell Matthew?"
Clearly, Flora didn't expect Patrick's 'serious question' to be about this.
She fell silent for a moment, then sighed, shaking her head.
"He just got married, do you think it's appropriate for me to tell him now that I'm pregnant with his child?" Even she didn't think it was reasonable.
"Of course, it's sensible." the two had contradictory thoughts: "The Matthew that I know is not an indifferent, meaningless man.
On the contrary, he lives with more responsibility than many others.
Flora, I am speaking the truth.
I think you should be forthright, the father of the child has the right to know of its existence."
Perhaps Matthew would reconsider, returning to Flora's side, after learning that she was once again with child.
She would attain the happiness she yearned for.
I am no fool, I early discerned the firm refusal in Flora's words.
And I soon realized that the happiness she sought lay with Matthew.
Flora, too, is very sharp, having instantly grasped my thoughts.
She sighed and shook her head: "I don't need to use my child as a negotiating chip."
Her child deserved to be cherished, to grow up in happiness, not to be a bargaining tool even before being fully formed.
She also didn't need the cheap affection that came from such a leverage.
What she needed was genuine affection from a man.
At that moment, the text notification rang out.
Flora read the message on her phone, the corners of her lips curving into a gentle smile.
"Alright, let me get changed." she quickly replied before turning to the man across from her: "I'm sorry, I have to go now." What she meant was, this conversation should end here.
Patrick nodded, rising to his feet: "Do you need me to drive you?"
Flora shook her head again.
A brief conversation, and she had shaken her head several times.
Patrick's outstretched arm drew back, he smiled at her: "Meeting Matthew, aren't you?"
Flora cautiously examined Patrick's face, slightly flustered: "I... I'm sorry, Patrick, I know my refusal hurts you, but..."
"No buts needed." Patrick cut her off: "Have you forgotten what I once said? As long as you're happy, nothing else matters."
He easily stepped back, wishing her well.
No matter what her choice was, he would absolutely support her.
For he loved her, not just as a cherished one, but as the woman he valued the most in his life.
Love and cherish, never forcefully claiming, but smiling, blessing, and respecting each other's choices.
The urgent sound of the doorbell interrupted their conversation.
Peeping through the peephole, Flora saw the familiar man standing outside.
Before she could speak, Patrick had reached out to open the door.
"Hello there." He smiled slightly, nodding at the man outside.
In Matthew's view, it was another man opening Flora's door from the inside, standing next to her, and greeting him.
Like a male lion defending his territory and snarling a warning at the intruder.
His brows furrowed, he nodded curtly, silent, and brushed past to enter the house.
Just a step in, and Patrick reached out to pull him back.
Still maintaining his smile: "Weren't you two going out? Why enter the house again?" Then, he looked straight at Flora, naturally, with familiarity and a note of warning: "He's unaware... So, be careful while hanging out with him, don't drink cold water, avoid unnecessary contact, and be safe."
His voice brimming with intimate concern.
Flora nodded, smiling at him: "Don't worry, I'm not a child."
Matthew stood on the side, feeling like a third wheel in the triad.
A sour taste filled his mouth, as if he'd just downed several glasses of lemon water.
It was the taste of jealousy.
An alien sensation, one that he had never experienced before meeting Flora.
"Darn it! Since when have she and that detestable guy become so close? Why is she smiling at him and not at me? Why isn't she looking at me? I am her man..." A thousand questions whirled around in his mind until Flora tugged at his hand.
"Let's go!" She tilted her head, smiling.
He gripped Flora's hand tightly, pulling her outside where their familiar car was waiting.
Only when they were out of Patrick's sight and certain he wouldn't overhear, he muttered: "You seem quite close to him, don't you?"
"We grew up together." Flora shrugged, feigning nonchalance: "If I'm not close to him, who should I be close to, you?" She sensed the simmering jealousy of the man beside her and deliberately taunted him.
As she expected, his reaction didn't deviate from her conjecture.
His hand tightened around hers, his voice dropped threateningly: "Do you believe that I could..."
"What are you two doing? In broad daylight, do you not remember there's an innocent child here?" A frosty voice rang out, causing Matthew's actions to falter. The words he intended to say were abruptly swallowed.