"If you are truly a man, then instead of defending Selena in front of me, you should seize the opportunity for yourself.
This is a good opportunity for you to show yourself."
Winky's eyebrows furrowed tighter: "What do you mean?"
"In my heart, there is only one person, do you understand? Selena will not find what she's looking for in me." A truly wise person knows what they should do.
From the beginning, he had no feelings for Selena.
Their engagement was due to their matching social statuses.
Without love, anyone would suffice.
Who could've predicted, later in his life, a Flora would appear.
She taught him what love is, she let him taste the happiness of having a family.
As for Selena, the man before him might be the most suitable for her.
If Winky decides to take a step forward, he would not mind facilitating for the two of them.
As long as Selena, Winky, and the Whites abandon any intention to harm those he loves.
Winky was about to say something, when Matthew's office phone rang incessantly.
"Mr. CEO, there's a lady who insists she has urgent matters to discuss with you.
She says her name is Flora." The formulaic voice of the receptionist echoed.
Flora had left S.E.I long ago, this was a new receptionist who did not recognize her.
If it was the old staff, they wouldn't have bothered calling him.
"Let her come up." Matthew paused for a moment before continuing: "Next time she comes, don't bother informing me, just let her come up." Here, he had nothing to hide from his woman.
But before Flora could reach the place, Winky would have to depart first.
Matthew needn't say a word, Winky understood his intentions.
He nodded in acknowledgment: "I'll take the stairs down."
The building had more than one elevator, yet no one could guess which one Flora was in.
To ensure no inadvertent encounter, it would be best if he took the stairs.
Shortly after Winky left the office, a knock echoed from the door: "knock knock..."
Matthew straightened his suit jacket, cleared his throat: "Come in." Upon recognizing the entrant, a soft smile unconsciously adorned his lips.
Flora's complexion wasn't particularly good. As soon as she entered, she asked: "Matthew, I forgot to ask you last night.
You took Paul to the hospital, and now you're back, but where is the child? Why didn't the child come back with you?"
"What?" Matthew's face paled, shaking his head: "I didn't bring the child with me.
That day, I fell into the enemy's trap, barely able to take care of myself, how could I bring the child along to suffer?"
Throughout, he was alone, to and fro.
Besides, even if he wished to take the child with him, her frail health wouldn't allow her to endure such constant upheaval.
Flora's face grew paler: "But that day when I went to the riverside mansion to visit the child, Dr. Andrey said you had taken the child... Why would he lie to me?"
"Maybe he was just joking with you.
Andrey is a man who enjoys a good jest." Matthew hypothesized.
Andrey was an expert he had hired from the U.S, highly experienced in treating bone marrow degradation.
Since he was at the riverside mansion, it was highly probable that the child had never left.
Perhaps, the child's condition wasn't suitable for visitors, hence the lie.
Flora bowed her head slightly: "I'm so worried..."
"Don't worry, we will go see the child... I'll take you." Wrapping his arm around her, Matthew made the decision.
Having been away for some time, he was keen to know about his daughter's current health condition.
Fortunately, Flora also wished to see the child, it seemed like a good idea for both to visit together.
The car stopped before the gates of the ivory-white mansion.
Matthew stared intently at the tightly locked iron gates, pulled out his phone from his pocket to call Andrey.
But no matter how many times he called, there was no answer on the other end.
"Damn it! What on earth is he doing?" Annoyed, he almost flung his phone onto the ground.
Just then, the slow sound of footsteps echoed behind him, followed by a man's voice: "Is the child home yet?"
Matthew turned around, stammering: "Foster father? What brings you here?".
The man, who had just appeared, knitted his brows, his expression neither pleased nor angry: "I am your father, am I not allowed to meet my son?"
"I didn't mean it that way, but..." The problem was he and Flora had just stepped out of the car, how could he possibly know they were here? Unless he had someone tailing him, or this place.
The man nodded: "Nothing escapes your eyes.
I had people monitor this place, guessing you'd come here if you showed up, seems I was right." Observing the tightly intertwined hands of the two before him, he smirked slightly: "You two are still close, huh?"
Matthew gripped even tighter the hand he was holding: "Yes, we're good, thank you for your concern."
But his foster father's story didn't end there.
He suddenly furrowed his brow, his tone slightly stern: "If you two are so close, why did you disappear without a word, making the child worry and search for you for so many days? Even our people couldn't find any clues." During that time, everyone could only believe that no news is good news.
At least he wasn't in mortal danger.
"That day, I fell into the enemy's trap, I was already injured, unable to escape.
Just when I thought I was done for, someone saved me.
Who that person is... I still haven't determined."
The man looked straight into the eyes of his foster son: "Is that so? You should find out who it is, thank them properly.
One must never forget the grace of a life-saving benefactor."
Matthew nodded, then heard him continue: "Paul has been taken to America for treatment by Dr. Andrey, you two should head back."
Upon hearing this, not only Flora, but Matthew was also greatly surprised.
Andrey took their daughter to America? When did that happen? Why hadn't he left any notice?
As if guessing the thoughts in the mind of his foster son, the man opposite spoke: "He said everything was already arranged. Just tell her about going to America, she would understand." He himself didn't have the full details, but the situation must have been dire, not allowing time to wait for Matthew's return, so Andrey had to make the decision himself.
"Your face has suddenly paled. Is the girl's condition very serious?" He had met Paul a few times; she was an adorable child.
If she was struck by a severe illness, it would be a real shame.
Flora softly pulled at Matthew's hand, shooting him an inquiring look.
He shook his head: "There's nothing to worry about.
I tried calling Andrey just now but couldn't get through, perhaps he's busy.
Let me try again later to see how things are."
His foster father nodded: "If anything happens, remember to let me know." Although he couldn't be of any help, she was Matthew's child, his grandchild too.
After he had left, Flora turned to the contemplative man standing beside her: "Tell me the truth, what's really wrong with our daughter? It isn't like what you said, is it?" Just an ordinary immune deficiency, it didn't necessitate frequent trips to America for treatment, right?
She didn't know much about medicine, but she guessed that they were hiding something from her.
"I've seen her arm turning blue and purple, covered with needle marks, and I've seen doctors and nurses clustered around her in the emergency room.
Just a small wound could cause her to faint, lying unconscious in the hospital bed for days.
How can I not be worried?"
Her hands trembled as she tightly held Matthew's hand, her voice also shaking: "Tell me the truth..."
She could bear it.
Rather knowing what was wrong with the child, what danger she was facing, was better than the current situation.
She felt like a fool, blinded by lies, any sign of trouble making her fear that a fire was about to break out next to her.
"If you don't trust me, at least trust in Andrey's expertise, right? He's a doctor, he won't lie to you." Matthew deflected, trying to reassure her: "Paul is ill, that's true, but her disease is treatable.
Andrey has also assured you of this several times, hasn't he?"
He reached out to embrace her frail body, sighing: "You know why I didn't let you stay with her, right? Yes, you can take care of her, but... your state of mind will affect hers and the treatment process.
Only when she's relaxed, happy, and keeps her faith, can the treatment yield good results.
You're her mother, and I'm her father, how could I harm our own daughter?"
"You're not lying to me, are you?" Flora looked up, straight into his deep black eyes: "Don't lie to me, okay?"
"Of course, I would never lie to you.
Our daughter is so lovely, I'll definitely protect her, keep her safe and sound.
Let's wait for a while, let the doctors treat her, and then we'll bring her home."
He painted a bright future, but it all hinged on "Paul can safely return".
Paul was no longer at the riverside mansion, and they also got into the car to go home.
Here was Matthew's mansion, where the family of four had once lived.
His work efficiency was extremely high, one moment mentioning picking her and the kids up to move into the mansion, the next having their luggage transferred.
As soon as she got out of the car, Flora was embraced by someone rushing towards her.
"Miss, please, do not cast me aside!" Emma clung onto Flora, weeping and pleading, her arms and legs wrapped tightly around the older girl: "I was only away for a while and when I came back, our home was desolate, devoid of anything familiar. Only later did I realize everyone had moved here."
"You didn't even tell me...Miss, you weren't planning on leaving me behind, were you?"
Before Flora could respond, the little girl shook her head vehemently: "I'm not leaving! The mistress told me to protect you!"
"Did you visit my mother today? Is she... doing well?" Flora tactfully redirected the conversation, seizing the subtle shift in topic.
Emma froze, confused as to how the conversation had taken such a rapid turn. Yet, she swiftly regained her composure, answering: "The mistress misses you dearly. If she knew you'd moved here, she would be terribly upset..." Flora's mother had always been reticent about her daughter's entanglement with Matthew.
Having stood quietly at the side till now, Matthew finally spoke up: "If you wish, you may stay here."
"Sir, are you being serious?" Emma had already classified Matthew, a man surnamed Charles, in the "uncle" category, equating him with Patrick.
"Of course." Matthew nodded. He didn't want to be known as a man who lied to children. Plus, having someone as capable as Emma protecting Flora was purely advantageous. As Flora's father's acquaintance, she wouldn't harm his only daughter.
Despite Matthew's reassuring answer, Emma still harbored doubts.