"Mother... that's not true..." Flora found her mother's prejudice against Matthew far deeper than she'd anticipated. She faltered, attempting to explain: "He's truly been good to me.
I feel his love for me, and it's not because of the children."
"Well, explain this, then, why is it that he loves you yet marries Selena? Loving one person and marrying another, is that the act of a responsible man? And moreover, why did he intentionally hide Paul from us?"
She didn't bother addressing the first issue, but the second struck a painful chord in Flora's heart.
She had been agonizing over the matter of Paul.
Her mother sighed a wistful sigh: "Flora, listen to me, you and Patrick grew up together, that boy is far more trustworthy than Matthew."
"Madam..." Patrick interjected quickly on Flora's behalf: "We did grow up together, but our past... that was my mistake, please don't blame Flora anymore.
Perhaps Matthew is not as bad as you and I think, maybe..."
"No! I absolutely object! Anyone but Matthew!" She would rather have her daughter marry a man without wealth, without power, without influence, than someone with all the world's riches and power who didn't value her daughter.
Flora stood, sat next to her mother, took her thin, wrinkled hand: "Mother, he is genuinely good, could you please not be so biased against him?"
"My foolish daughter." Her mother's hand gently smoothed her hair: "You don't understand... Of course, I want you to be happy.
But I've already made these mistakes, and you've seen them, why do you want to follow the same path?"
She had wasted her youth loving a man from a world not her own, squandering decades of her life.
Her daughter was still young, still had a chance to start over.
She was determined not to let her live in regret like she had.
It was only then that Flora truly understood her mother's thoughts.
Apparently, that past love had left a wound in her mother's heart that could never be healed.
Even now, although she couldn't deny still having feelings for that man, she could never forget the pain she'd endured.
"Mother... I'm sorry... for causing you to worry about me..."
She reached out and embraced her mother.
Her mother's hands trembled slightly as they patted her back: "Don't blame me for trying to guide you... Since Matthew came back into your life, your world has revolved almost solely around him.
Don't you remember... for seven long years he was absent, and I was the one who took care of the children singlehandedly.
Then suddenly, he showed up, claiming blood ties.
After seven years of neglect, shirking his duties as a father, what right does he have to call himself the father of my grandchildren?"
Flora was about to say something, but her mother continued: "Charlie is more and more like his father every day, even their temperaments seem molded from the same cast.
And my Paul, for six years he was healthy, only occasionally suffering from minor illnesses, yet the moment Matthew appeared, he fell ill, spending a year bedridden." The more she spoke, the angrier she became, as if she wanted to expel all the frustration within her.
"Mother, he didn't want this to happen..." As the father of two children, Matthew was equally concerned when his offspring fell ill.
No father wishes to see their children plagued by illnesses.
Patrick also defended him: "Madam, I've known Matthew for many years, and he is not a bad person.
Upon reflection... Matthew, he is a man of substance and virtue." He may seem indifferent on the surface, but once he approves of someone, he will treat that person with unfaltering kindness.
After all, he is a true gentleman, worthy of entrusting an entire lifetime to.
Of course, if he could untangle all the complications related to his marriage.
Flora's mother stared intently at the young man who nearly became her son-in-law: "Who would stand up for their rival like you?"
Had it not been for Matthew, Patrick would have been her son-in-law long ago.
Looking at the man named Charles, then at the boy she has known since childhood, she clearly preferred Patrick...
Flora sighed as she looked at Patrick, recognizing a similar sentiment in his eyes.
Once her mother had made up her mind, no one could convince her otherwise.
"Mother..."
"Did you come here to argue with me today?" Her mother glared: "I know Matthew had no good intentions bringing you here to see me.
This is all his scheme; first, he brainwashes you, then he brings you here to provoke me!" This Charles man was incredibly cunning, trying to drive a wedge between mother and daughter.
Flora broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly appeasing her mother's anger: "That's not it... I just came to visit." While simultaneously trying to gather information about the father she never met.
She looked around the house.
The house was quite small, but it was equipped with everything necessary.
"Is it safe for you to live here alone, mother? Should I have Emma stay with you?" Flora was worried for her mother's safety.
But her mother immediately refused: "That's out of the question.
You'll be alone there; you need someone trustworthy with you." She didn't trust Matthew's people; she only trusted those handpicked by herself.
"Maybe... you should ask father to send someone else to protect you."
Flora cautiously suggested.
Surprisingly, her mother's reaction was extremely violent.
She pushed her daughter away, standing up from her chair: "If you have nothing else to say, then leave, and bring the children to visit me when you have time.
Don't mention unrelated things and people.
I'm a bit tired, I'm going to rest."
With that, she went straight into her room and closed the door.
The door shut before her, as if it was sealing her heart away, not allowing anyone to see what she was thinking, even if it was her only daughter.
Flora let out another sigh.
Facing her mother, she always struggled to do the right thing.
Especially when it involved her father, a topic her mother never clarified and probably never intended to.
"Don't be upset..." Patrick reached out intending to wipe her tears, but realizing their current relationship, he withdrew his hand.
He forced a smile: "Matthew is waiting for you outside, isn't he? Go out, go home with him, don't keep him waiting.
Come visit your mother again next time."
Nodding at him, Flora blinked: "He came with me, but... Patrick, you must keep my secret, the fact that I am pregnant."
"You don't mean to say you haven't told him..."
"Of course I haven't." Flora shrugged: "He doesn't know I'm pregnant but still loves me.
This proves that his love for me is not just about the children."
Patrick saw the silly, sweet, and adorable smile on Flora's face.
He involuntarily smirked: "Okay, rest assured, I'll keep your secret."
The woman before him was the one he had spent his youth loving.
So close, yet so far.
He once thought he would be the lucky one by her side, protecting, caring, and nurturing her for a lifetime.
But one simple twist of fate caused everything to burst like a soap bubble, leaving nothing but endless regret and a love that still ached in his heart day after day.
"Seeing you happy, brings me joy too.
Perhaps, this is our fate..."
"Don't say that." Flora tiptoed, using a finger to silence Patrick's mouth: "Everyone will find their own happiness. I'm sure of it." Patrick was such a good man, he would certainly find someone worthy of him soon.
Patrick chuckled: "Off you go, don't keep them waiting too long."
With a vigorous nod, Flora headed straight out.
Walking towards her love.
At the same time, in an apartment in the city center, Selena stood by the window, looking out.
Her dress and hair fluttering in the chill night breeze.
"Click..." the door opened.
Winky stepped in, frowning slightly: "Miss, it's cold outside, come in quickly.
You're not fully recovered yet."
Selena didn't move or respond to his words.
She remained silent for a moment, then finally spoke: "Winky... have I failed miserably? Am I that inferior to Flora? Do I... do not deserve to be loved?" Her voice blended with the wind, vague and uncertain.
A pang of sorrow filled Winky's heart, he approached Selena, reaching out to close the window.
Only when Selena's dissatisfied gaze met his, did he shake his head: "Not at all..."
In Winky's eyes, despite her past mistakes, Selena was the most deserving of love in the world.
To him: "Miss" was akin to a religion, incomparable to anyone else.
"If it's not like that, then why did he choose Flora? What should I do to win his heart back?" Selena's eyes welled up with tears.
Winky pulled out a tissue from his pocket, gently helping her to wipe her tears: "Stop obsessing over Matthew, Miss, you deserve your own happiness."
Matthew had never had feelings for Selena from the start.
Her obsession was nothing but a burden to him.
Suddenly, Selena leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down.
She let out a hollow laugh, then silently shed tears.
"Winky, do you hate me?"
How could he possibly hate her?
"Of course not, I will always love you." In the past, present, and future.
Winky's love for Selena would never change.
"You're lying!" Selena raised her voice: "I sent you away, indirectly causing the death of our child, how could you still love me! You just feel sorry for me, right?"
Winky sat down beside her, shook his head: "I will always love you." When he said always, he meant always.
His life was filled with only one vibrant color, belonging to Selena, the rest was black and white.
Receiving his affirmative response, Selena nodded.
Her lips slowly curved into a smile, she turned her head to gaze at him: "If you truly love me, why don't you kill Flora for me?"
Just by Flora's death, the child growing inside her would cease to disturb her sleep.
Just by Flora's death, Matthew would return to her.
"Love me then kill that woman! If you don't kill her, you must hate me!"
At this point, Winky suddenly felt dispirited.
Selena had become so unfamiliar that he almost couldn't recognize her.
His love for her... he was almost unable to confirm it with certainty anymore.
He shook his head: "No, I don't hate you."
But he couldn't kill Flora for her either.
"Not to mention, Flora has many people to protect her.
Trying to kill her might seem easy, but it's extremely difficult..." Layers of well-trained, highly skilled guards surrounded her.
After Matthew's return, Flora's protectors would surely increase again.
"Miss, have you ever thought about it? What if you really managed to kill Flora? Do you think Matthew would return to you?" He questioned, and then answered: "No, Matthew would hate you for life."
Selena shook her head frantically.
She murmured, not knowing whether she was speaking to him or herself: "I don't want to kill anyone, I just want to regain my love.
Is that wrong?"