"Enough with your dramatics, old witch.
It's clear you were secretly having a child with another man behind my uncle's back, and now you're weeping as if my aunt harmed you.
Did my aunt force you into bed with another man? Or did she hold a knife to your throat and demand you threaten our Charlie?" The flames of rage flared up in Mimi, and without regard to decorum, she shot back at Selena: "You're such a shameless woman! You have no decency! If I were you, I'd have banged my head against the wall and died long ago." The girl was so furious that she didn't care what words she used.
Matthew stood calmly on the side, seemingly unsurprised, and completely unaffected by Selena's melodramatic performance.
Selena's eyes widened, and she stuttered: "You... you knew... you knew everything..."
Matthew nodded: "That's right, from the very beginning I knew all the things you were doing behind my back.
So it's best if you stay right where you are.
Once things are sorted out, I'll let you go." He wasn't letting her go because he didn't want to "deal" with her, but because he had promised Winky.
"So it was like that..." Selena looked down, staring hard at her shaking hands, her eyes darkening: "So it was like that... from the beginning to the end, you never loved me, you were just using me.
You thought keeping me here could threaten my father? You're dreaming!" She suddenly burst into a harsh laugh: "In his eyes, I'm just a pawn too! The forces behind him, his purposes... you'll never imagine!"
Contrary to Selena's prediction, Matthew didn't change his expression upon hearing this.
He slightly curled the corners of his lips, looking at her as if she were some kind of trash he was about to throw away.
"Do you know what happened the last time I disappeared? Winky, under the orders of the White family, tried to assassinate me.
Unfortunately for him, I had him under control."
Although Winky claimed his actions were self-driven, Matthew remained entirely distrustful.
Later on, he would realize that his suspicion was not misplaced.
Winky had sought him out of his own accord, but partially due to Daniel's instigation.
Matthew carelessly declared: "Every move her father makes is under my surveillance. He won't escape." This one sentence was enough to crush Selena's spirit.
She collapsed onto the ground, her eyes vacant, whispering: "Winky... that man... is truly a despicable wretch..."
"You're right." Matthew nodded: "Winky is indeed a wretch.
But he chose to willingly become a vile creature for your sake, working for me.
Instead of reprimanding him, you should be thanking him."
There are many like Selena in this world, undervaluing what comes too easily.
She believed the whole world had wronged her, but looking back, she was the one at fault.
Having said all he needed to, Matthew turned to leave.
Just then, Selena called out: "Wait, Matthew, I have a question." He paused, turning his head to listen, speaking rapidly: "In all these years, have you ever loved me? Before you met Flora, we were set to marry..."
Matthew sighed deeply: "I truly wanted to marry and spend my life with you.
But... Selena, you're not the woman I once wished to marry.
You are undeserving."
With these words, he walked out, never looking back, ignoring the wailing behind him.
Selena wailed and wept, at times pleading for his return, at others cursing him, praying for his doom.
Eventually, she slumped onto the cold ground, tears and mucus streaking her face, sobbing,
"Matthew, you will pay!".
Following Matthew, Mimi hopped into the passenger seat, asking: "Uncle, do you plan to hand that woman over to Auntie? If... Um, if you do that, she will definitely die.
How will you explain this to Winky?"
Matthew shook his head: "She won't harm Selena's life." He wasn't completely confident in Flora's reactions, but he knew her nature was kind, she wouldn't ruthlessly harm others.
Moreover, she was not one to live by the sword, accustomed to violence like those of the underworld.
Her kindness was what differentiated Flora from Selena.
"Your relationship with Auntie is so good!" Mimi admired, her eyes sparkling: "Uncle, have you ever wavered? I mean... have you ever not loved Auntie?"
Without a second's hesitation, Matthew shook his head: "Never." He affirmed: "I only love Flora, whether it was in the past, the present, or the future, it will always be her.
In my eyes, no matter what she is like, she is the best."
After talking to Paul and Andrey, Flora made a decision.
She approached Mrs. Eirlys, asking for her help to carry out the plan.
"Auntie Eirlys, I trust you, my parents' lives are in your hands now." Her brown eyes sparkled with unwavering determination.
Mrs. Eirlys, as usual, donned a mask and white coat, nodding as she noted something down and replied: "Of course, I thank you for your trust.
I promise to do my best to keep you and your child safe."
Also in the room was Mrs. Smith, Flora's mother.
She had spoken to her good sister and daughter, understood what they were preparing to do, and knew that it was Flora who had made the decision.
Even though it was the only way to save Paul, she couldn't help but worry.
"Since being with Matthew, you've become reckless and obstinate, nobody can control you.
Now you even want to deliver prematurely, do you want to worry me to death?" Her face filled with concern as she looked at her daughter's rounded belly.
Inside was the grandchild she had never met.
Today, his mother had decided to deliver him prematurely, then nurture him in a sterile environment, and use his umbilical cord to save his sister.
Flora bit her lip: "Mom, we've already discussed this.
We have no other choice.
Paul can only undergo one more surgery."
If the stem cells in the baby's umbilical cord blood are compatible with Paul, the surgery will be conducted immediately.
If not, they will have to continue waiting for a bone marrow donor.
Her mother frowned: "Paul, Matthew, and Charlie all have the same blood type.
But neither Charlie nor Matthew is compatible.
Where are you going to find a bone marrow donor for Paul?" It wasn't that she was pessimistic, but the reality was as such.
There were billions of people in the world, finding a person with compatible stem cells was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Flora didn't say anything more, she had her own thoughts and plans.
At the end of the day, as usual, Andrey came into the ward to check on Paul's condition, then went out to talk to Matthew.
The phone in his pocket buzzed with a short notification.
His weary hand slowly pulled out the phone.
The contents of the message instantly woke him from his tired state.
"Matthew, we have good news." His face broke into a radiant smile as he looked at Matthew: "Your Flora sent me a message. She's found a compatible umbilical cord blood and bone marrow donor for Paul! Your daughter is saved!" He laughed so hard that his mouth could hardly close: "The cord blood belongs to a distant relative of hers. And do you know who the bone marrow donor is? It's your own father! I couldn't believe that he agreed to be tested for compatibility with Paul, and even more surprisingly, he turned out to be a match."
Upon hearing the wonderful news, understanding that his daughter had a chance at survival, Matthew was naturally overjoyed. But as soon as he heard who the marrow donor was, his expression instantly darkened. Andrey understood his feelings, patting him lightly on the shoulder: "Don't be like that. Your father made a mistake in the past, but he's truly done well in this matter. You can't hold onto this grudge for the rest of your life..."
He had intended to say much more, but seeing Matthew's darkened face, he swallowed his words. Nodding, he said: "Alright, alright, I won't speak anymore. I won't interfere with your personal affairs, but when it comes to Paul's condition, you must listen to me." Moving on to the serious topic, he finally stopped his rambling and started to explain the upcoming surgery.
"What's the success rate?" This was the only thing Matthew cared about; he didn't want to risk his daughter's life.
"The success rate is quite high, but post-surgery, if successful, your daughter will have to stay here from eight to ten years, depending on the real situation. During that time, I'll help her with postoperative treatment, ensuring everything is stable before she can go home."
Matthew nodded. He had no objections to this.
At this moment, a young voice sounded behind the two men: "Dad, is Mom coming over here with me?"
"Exactly, my dear little angel." Andrey replied before Matthew could: "Your mom is about to come over with you. Are you happy?"
"Yes." Paul said, nodding vigorously, her smile as bright as the sun.
Andrey crouched down, asking: "So, between your mom and dad, who do you love more?"
"I love both of them." came the deserving top-score response: "I don't love anyone more. I love both Mom and Dad equally."
"And if you were forced to choose?"
Paul glanced up at her father, her lips puckered: "I guess Uncle Andrey was asked this many times. Do you love your dad more, or your mom?"
Matthew, holding Paul in his arms, interrupted their conversation: "Uncle Andrey was picked up from a garbage bin, so he loves the bin the most. In the future, you don't have to answer such questions, just ignore him."
Paul's attention diverged significantly from adults. Her big round eyes blinked, her gaze filled with sympathy towards Andrey: "Don't be sad, Uncle Andrey. Since you're treating me, I'll be good to you." Then she said something that left both adults speechless: "I'll share my parents with you, so you'll have parents too!"
Andrey was dumbfounded: "So, according to you, I should call Daddy Matthew?"
"Never mind, I don't dare to accept a big son like you who's even bigger than me." Matthew chuckled, talking to Andrey, then turning to his daughter: "He can consider the garbage bin as his parents, you don't need to care."
Alright, after he said this, Paul's gaze at Andrey became even stranger. Annoyed yet unable to respond, Andrey ushered them out of the room: "Get out, go get some sunshine, do whatever you want, just don't bother me anymore. I need to think about the surgery procedure."
The one who took Flora to the airport was Patrick; the one who picked her up was Matthew. As soon as he saw her, he briskly walked towards her, embracing the woman he had missed so deeply: "It's okay, everything will be fine, our child will be okay... Now that you're here, don't worry, we'll carry this together." She gently patted his back. The airport hug was fleeting as the surgery for Paul was of the utmost importance.
Flora arrived, bringing with her the cord blood of their premature newborn. Matthew's biological father also arrived, undergoing further tests in preparation for the risky surgery. Handing over the cord blood to Andrey, Flora finally breathed a sigh of relief.
That night, she and Matthew found a rare chance to walk side by side under the moonlight. Paul knew her parents needed to talk and very understandingly didn't whimper for her mom's presence.