After a frantic examination, the doctor finally let out a sigh of relief: "She's alright, she probably just fainted due to a strong emotional shock.
She's pregnant, so she needs to rest a bit, don't let her get too emotional again.
With proper rest, there should be no future problems."
"Thank you, doctor." Patrick nodded, escorting the doctor out the door.
He looked at the woman lying on the hospital bed, couldn't help but reach out to touch her cheek: "So, you truly did love Matthew, didn't you? You went this far because you were afraid he'd misunderstand..: " If he had harbored any distant hopes before today, today he had fully accepted the harsh reality.
Having sat next to her for a while, Patrick was then lured away by a phone call.
At that moment, the woman lying in bed sat upright, summoning the doctor with a ring.
"Hello, are you feeling unwell?" The doctor greeted her with a hint of a smile.
"I need a favor, doctor... Can you check if... if I was involved with someone else last night?" The question was remarkably embarrassing: "I heard it's possible to check."
The doctor nodded: "Indeed, it is. If you wish, we can do the check immediately. The sooner it's done, the more accurate the result."
Exhaling a heavy sigh, Flora bit her lip: "Could you please do the check right away?" This issue was of utmost importance to her.
If she had been with someone else, betrayed her man, she would truly... have no face to see him again.
Though perplexed, the doctor complied with Flora's request, drawing the curtains for privacy, conducting the check, and meticulously recording the results.
With the results in hand, Flora hastened to check out of the hospital, hailing a taxi home... the place she shared with Matthew.
Upon nearing the gate, she saw Emma pacing outside, her drooping form painting a heartbreaking picture.
"Miss..." Catching sight of Flora in the distance, Emma rushed over: "What happened? You've been gone for hours, that man went looking for you, and after he returned... he threw me out... Did you change your mind and decide to dismiss me?"
Flora shook her head: "It's not me who wants to dismiss you, but..." but Matthew wants to dismiss us both.
She advanced a few more steps, her finger reaching the doorbell, pressing down.
Soon enough, Aunt Laura appeared before the mansion gate, not to open it for the two of them, but to relay Matthew's words.
"Miss Flora, he said he doesn't want to see you." That's what the young master commanded, there was nothing Laura could do to assist Flora.
Emma's eyes were full of bewilderment as she looked at her young mistress: "Miss... what are we to do now?"
Flora shook her head, observing Aunt Laura's face, knowing she too was in a tough spot.
Pulling Emma's hand, she led her away: "Let's wait outside the gate for him." She was confident that once they met, explanations could be given.
Waiting time always passes unbearably slow.
The sun steadily climbed to its zenith, then began its westward descent.
Flora kept her gaze fixed on the clock displayed on her phone, her lips pressed together in a lifeless line.
Emma sighed deeply, gently shaking Flora: "Miss, would you like... to go somewhere and rest a bit? Or at least eat something..." The body could hardly withstand such prolonged waiting.
"No need, thank you, but I can't leave." Her bright brown eyes flickered over the phone screen, then redirected to the firmly shut gate of the distant mansion: "What if I leave just as he steps out, I would... regret not persevering a little longer."
She was sure Matthew was inside.
Otherwise, how could Laura convey his words so quickly?
He didn't want to see her.
She could guess his thoughts at this point.
Just like before, when she found out he and Selena were about to get married, she didn't want to see him either.
But no matter what, he couldn't stay inside forever.
As soon as the mansion gate swung open, as soon as Matthew stepped outside, she would prove her innocence with Patrick.
"But what if he won't listen to you?" Emma, still puzzled about what was happening, sensed the gravity of the problem between the two.
Flora exhaled a sigh, suddenly gripping Emma's hand tightly, asking: "Emma, do you believe me? Do you believe that I didn't betray him?"
Matthew despised betrayal the most.
This was common knowledge among those who've dabbled in the underworld, including Emma.
If it involved the term "betrayal", he might not keep his calm to hear Flora out.
Emma's hope of resolving her young mistress's conflict seemed increasingly remote.
As the sun tipped towards the west, a blazing sunset painted the city with warm and romantic hues.
But Flora had no mind to savor the beauty of the scene.
Just when it seemed as if Matthew would spend the entire day within the confines of his house, the intricately carved metal gate gradually began to swing open. Then, a polished black car shot out from the estate.
"Matthew..."
Flora found herself calling out his name.
The car, however, didn't slow down but rather accelerated, streaking past her. The man inside didn't even spare her a glance.
"Emma, we need a car." Flora finally said after pondering for a moment. Her gaze shifted back to the mansion: "Matthew has left, only Aunt Laura is home. Can we... ask her to lend us a car?" Her current thought process was simple.
Once they caught up to Matthew and explained everything clearly, there would be no more misunderstandings between them. In comparison, the issue of a car seemed trivial.
This was the happiness of her lifetime. She didn't want to let it slip away, for any reason.
The melodious music echoed in the hazy ambiance.
By seven in the evening, the bar started to welcome its first patrons. Matthew tossed his car keys to a waiter, then chose a secluded corner where he could drink in peace, unnoticed.
"Damn it!" Matthew tilted his head back, downing the shimmering liquid from the glass.
The fiery sensation, sharp and burning, seared his mouth and throat, trickling down to his stomach. Yet, it was not nearly as unbearable as the profound emptiness that consumed his heart.
He emptied one glass after another, yet before his rationality could drown in the intoxicating stupor, the glass in his hand was gently snatched away by a slender hand.
"Don't drink anymore..." Sighing deeply, Flora put the glass aside, took a seat across from the man who was avoiding her gaze: "Can we talk?"
Matthew shook his head: "I have nothing to say to you."
"There's nothing between me and Patrick. I can..." Initially, Flora intended to say that she could "prove it." but she revised her sentence midway: "Matthew, if I say there's nothing between me and him, would you trust me?" In love, trust is of the utmost importance.
What she got in response was a shake of his head and a look devoid of focus from Matthew: "I only believe what I see with my own eyes."
Even with his eyes closed, he could vividly recall the sight he saw upon pushing open that door, the woman he loved in the arms of another man. How was he supposed to trust her?
Tears started to blur Flora's vision. Her voice trembled: "Can't you trust me a little bit? Nothing happened between him and me... we... we were drugged..."
Just then, a familiar yet strange voice interjected, interrupting the faltering conversation between the two: "So you're really with Matthew? You are something else, Flora. You cling to my son relentlessly on one hand, and seduce another man on the other!"
"Aunt..." It had been a long time since Flora heard this voice or saw this woman. As soon as she appeared, dusty memories rushed back, filling her mind.
"What did my son ever do to deserve crossing paths with you?" The woman snorted disdainfully: "Seven years ago, you got pregnant with another man's child, betraying my son. Seven years later, you show up in front of him again... Why can't you just leave his life alone?"
Matthew furrowed his brows.
This woman's face seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he'd seen her before. His mind started to whirl, he put his hand to his forehead: "Who are you?"
"You're asking who I am? Patrick is my son, and..." Her finger pointed straight at Flora: "She almost became my daughter-in-law." She paused for a few seconds, then glanced pointedly at Flora's flat stomach: "She is also carrying my son's child... Matthew, as the CEO of S.E.I, I didn't expect you to enjoy sloppy seconds!"
With those words, she covered her mouth, chuckling without any attempt to hide her disdain for the two of them. It was as if they were nothing more than trash under her feet.
Flora's eyes widened: "Aunt, there are things you can't just say casually. How could I possibly be pregnant with your son's child?"
"Aren't you the one who knows the truth best? You lived with my son, he took you to the hospital for prenatal checkups, and when there were complications with the pregnancy, he was there caring for you." As if my son would be stupid enough to care for another man's wife and child.
Stealthily observing Matthew's expression, Flora hastily tried to explain: "Matthew, this matter is indeed... I didn't get the chance to tell you..."
"There's no need for more words! Leave!" His voice was evenly cold, his face solemn, as if he were back at their first encounter.
No, even colder than when they first met.
Matthew tilted his head up, stared directly at the person standing in front of him, and articulated each word: "I never wish to see you again."
He didn't want to hear those words, didn't want to witness the shattering of his trust and the illusion of happiness he held in his heart.
Rather, he would push her further away, ideally, so that she would never step into his world again.
He had known from the start that he, Matthew, was undeserving of love...