She carefully studied Flora's expression, tentatively asking: "Miss... can I stay?" To the little girl, Flora's word was the final decision.
Flora nodded: "Of course."
"Yay! Miss, I love you the most!" The little girl hugged Flora once more before bounding up the stairs: "I'm going to find that snippy cat Mimi for a showdown. Miss, I'll cook for you later."
Half-amused, half-exasperated, Flora called after her: "Just play with Mimi and sort out your things, no need to cook." Although there weren't many servants in this mansion, Aunt Laura was more than enough.
Watching the little girl's retreating figure disappear up the stairs, Flora couldn't help but sigh: "Oh, to be young, carefree, and so utterly adorable!"
"You're not old, you can still be carefree." Matthew chuckled: "Besides, you're much more adorable than that kid... by several times."
This man possessed a peculiar ability to utter the sweetest words with the most solemn face and neutral tone, making one blush.
After a pause, he added: "I also have the means to allow you to live a comfortable, worry-free life, even more so."
"No one can live carefree all their life." Flora shook her head: "Eventually, I'll grow old and less attractive, who knows, by then our feelings might change, and you may no longer care about me..."
"Nonsense! We, along with our children, will always be together, never leaving or forsaking." Because they were a family, and families should stick together, right?
Speaking of children, it reminded her... they had been together for so long, so intimately, why hadn't there been any sign of a baby? Back then, one night had yielded twins, given that efficiency, shouldn't there have been a baby by now?
Flora's face flushed a deep crimson. She suddenly remembered that she hadn't told Matthew about her pregnancy. But given the current situation, was this the right time? Selena had just had a miscarriage, to tell him that she was pregnant with their child seemed somewhat inappropriate.
"Flora..." Matthew had been waiting for a response. When none came, he gently nudged her: "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"What do you mean 'fine'? Your face is practically shouting 'I'm not fine'. Do I need to fetch a mirror for you to see?" He sighed: "Is it because of your mother?" Emma had mentioned her mother, and since then Flora's mood seemed to have taken a downward turn.
Matthew was well aware of the past actions that made him less than appealing in the eyes of his mother-in-law.
And he knew that such impressions could not be altered within a day or two.
Before Flora could reply, he lightly nudged her shoulder: "Go change, I will take you somewhere.
I'm certain that your mood will lift after we get there."
Even as they alighted from the car, Flora remained in the dark about Matthew's intentions, about whom they were meeting, about what they were doing.
All she knew was that their vehicle had brought them to a tranquil little village on the city outskirts, where the air was crisp and life moved at a leisurely pace, a stark contrast to the noise and tumult of city life.
"Where are we? Why have you brought me here?" She contemplated a few theories but was hesitant to believe them yet.
Matthew offered her a soft smile: "Did you not want to see your mother? Go on in, she is in the fifth house from the entrance, the one with the rosebushes. It's easy to spot."
Flora was startled, instantly asking: "How do you know my mother is here?"
"Isn't it obvious? I pay attention to everything related to you, so naturally, I know where your mother resides." He calmly explained the story: "Some time ago, I installed a tracking device on you, but for some reason, the signal disappeared near this area.
After that, I had my people investigate bit by bit until we found your mother's location.
And there's more..."
Noticing Flora's questioning gaze, he laughed, adding: "When you go in, you might not just meet your mother."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Flora, you're smart, there's no reason you wouldn't understand my words." Matthew gently stroked her hair: "Emma is an assassin from the underworld.
Your mother never had any connections with such forces, how could she possibly contact Emma, and order her to protect you.
The person capable of ordering Emma, and also capable of ensuring your mother's peaceful life here, could only be one person."
What's most important is that he has enough love to work tirelessly, just to protect simple, peaceful happiness.
Just like Matthew himself, who had struggled relentlessly since childhood, and only when he met his soulmate did he understand when to stop, for that was his peaceful harbor.
He looked straight into Flora's eyes, reaffirming her guess: "The only possibility is that your father has returned."
Flora's heart inadvertently raced: "Do you mean both my parents are in there?" She clutched Matthew's arm: "Then let's go... come with me... let's meet them together."
But Matthew only smiled and shook his head, freeing his arm from her grip: "They certainly don't want to see me." His mother-in-law was more tolerant, she at most ignored him, or occasionally threw a few barbs.
As for his father-in-law... it was often said that the more a father-in-law saw his son-in-law, the more he disliked him, and Matthew's father-in-law was a figure with substantial influence in the underworld.
He did not think that accompanying her inside today would end well for him.
He tenderly caressed the phoenix tail-shaped ring on Flora's little finger, murmuring: "With this ring by your side, it's as if I'm with you.
Go ahead, don't be scared, I'll wait for you out here."
Ever since she gained consciousness, Flora had never seen her father.
She didn't know what he looked like, nor what his personality was like.
All she knew was that her mother loved him very much.
The thought of her father being just behind the wooden door made her heart pound even more, even her finger pressing the bell was trembling slightly due to her nerves.
"Who is it?"
It was her mother! Having not heard her mother's voice for so long, she almost broke down crying, but managed to hold back, softly saying: "Mother, it's me."
Mrs. Smith opened the door, her gaze not falling on her daughter but on the partially hidden car in the distance, her tone was less than cheerful: "What have I told you before, have you forgotten? Why have you brought Matthew here?"
"Mother..." Flora furrowed her brows: "It wasn't I who brought him here, it was he who brought me." Her mother had not provided the address to her, and she would have never discovered her whereabouts if left on her own.
"Ma'am, didn't you just mention how much you've missed Flora? Please don't give her a hard time anymore." Patrick, clad in ordinary home attire with his feet in slippers, approached with a soft smile for Flora: "Come in, sweetheart. Don't listen to your mother's nonsense, she missed you deeply."
With Patrick deflecting the conversation, Mrs. Smith found it inconvenient to scold her daughter, allowing her to enter the house.
The three of them sat on separate couches.
One can't deny, Patrick's timely intervention allowed Flora to breathe a sigh of relief.
She nodded her thanks to him, which he responded with a playful wink: "Has Matthew returned already? He didn't run into any troubles, did he?"
"He's okay, don't worry..."
Before Flora could finish, her mother interjected by pouring a cup of tea for Patrick: "Drink your tea, dear." Then, she poured another for her daughter: "You drink too, don't mention people who shouldn't be mentioned."
Mrs. Smith's prejudice against Matthew wasn't a new occurrence.
On this matter, Flora was always left frustrated.
Catching the mood, Patrick tactfully steered the conversation: "I've had someone take care of your police file, you won't have any problems moving forward."
From last night till now, Flora was lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had transpired from being arrested then released, her thoughts primarily concerned with Matthew. She momentarily forgot about her police file.
It was only when Patrick mentioned it, she remembered and hastily expressed her gratitude.
"There's nothing to thank me for, it's the least I could do." Patrick shook his head slightly: "When you were in trouble, I tried to use my connections to help you out but to no avail. I suspect the Whites had a hand in it." More accurately, it was Selena who purposely blocked his efforts.
Now that Matthew was back, it's evident that all it took was his action to resolve everything quite simply.
However, during that time, Matthew was missing, the Whites had considerable influence, and Selena was legally his wife.
To rescue someone from her grasp was an immense challenge.
"Regardless, I appreciate all you've done. I can't thank you enough..." Flora lightly pursed her lips.
Patrick had assisted her so much that she felt indebted to him for a lifetime, a debt she couldn't possibly repay fully.
Patrick dismissed her concerns: "Repay me? All I need is for you to live a happy and content life..." He glanced at Flora's mother sitting beside them, knowing he shouldn't bring it up but still unable to resist: "Now that Matthew has returned, what are your plans?"
"I love him, and he loves me." Flora remained resolute: "As long as our love exists, I will never leave him in this lifetime."
But Patrick's perspective wasn't based purely on love: "I understand you two have feelings for each other, but have you considered... Matthew is already married to Selena. Until they divorce, Selena is his wife, Mrs. Charles. And you, you're at his side without status. Is a life like that worth it for love?"
"Isn't love the most important thing? I love him, and my children do too. Hence, I have no reason to leave him." Flora responded with a slight smile.
She never considered whether she would be at a disadvantage, nor had she thought about the title of Mrs. Charles.
Perhaps others would label her as "blind." but she was willing to give her all for love, and so was he.
For her, that was more than enough.
The opinion of outsiders didn't matter.
She hesitated slightly, her gaze lingering on Patrick: "Patrick... I'm sorry..." There was a time when she thought she would love Patrick forever, when she dreamed of the day they would walk hand in hand down the aisle.
But now, as the world turned, her heart belonged entirely to another.
Standing before Patrick, the best she could do was wish him a quick discovery of his own happiness.
Her mother interjected sharply at this moment: "The one you should be apologizing to is yourself! For your blind infatuation!"
She sipped her tea to quell the anger lodged in her throat before continuing: "Do you know why Matthew treats you well? Because you've given him two children.
Families like his highly value heirs, especially when your son is so clever and bright.
If you had no children, or had a child who wasn't particularly intelligent, you'd mean nothing to him, and he would discard you like a worn-out shoe."