Chapter 6: The Shock Of Seeing Her Again

Matthew was still shaken by the news even after they returned to their villa. They came to this faraway island for a break from their respective careers. Matthew had been plowing through company matters nonstop with barely enough rest since it was a busy season while Lily handled numerous clients a day, a product of her fame from being Matthew’s new girlfriend five years after his divorce. At first, the clients came out of curiosity to see what kind of professional Lily was, but after experiencing her gentleness and passion for her work, they eventually became her loyal customers.

Chairman Laurier hadn’t been quite pleased with their decision to take a break somewhere far away, but after some convincing from his wife, Lily, and Bryce, he gradually relented and allowed them to do what they wanted for one month.

“I’ll be holding the fort here for a month until you guys return,” Bryce had told them before they packed up their things to leave. “Matt, I’ll be giving you progress reports through calls and emails. Make sure to send your official consents on time.”

Matthew chuckled. “Do you think of me as a rookie, Bry? I’m the one who taught you all those procedures in the first place.”

Bryce gave him a playful wink. “Just makin’ sure you remember! You’re a thirty-one-year-old man now, after all.”

Matthew attempted to slug him out of jest. “You’re also thirty-one now, you punk.”

Lily laughed. “You two are a hoot. Bryce! Thirty-one isn’t old, okay? Don’t you know the phrase ‘life begins at 40’?”

“No worries, ma’am. I’m just teasin’ old Matt here,” Bryce said, grinning when Matthew attempted to kick him this time.

'One month,' Matthew remembered as his mind now returned to the present. He slumped down on the sofa while gazing emptily at the wall. 'We have three weeks left here. Three weeks…'

Allison’s words earlier came back to haunt him.

(“…I have cancer.”)

Matthew raked a hand through his hair, shutting his eyes in frustration. He didn’t know what to feel about this. He didn’t know if he should be angry, if he should be sad, if he should cry, or if he should just pretend that he didn’t know anything at all.

Maybe that last part was just a little too cruel, but Matthew was torn between his broken feelings for Allison and his warm feelings for Lily. He wanted to help Allison, but he didn’t want to get involved either, for Lily’s sake.

And for his own sake as well.

“Matt?”

Lily’s voice suddenly snapped him out of his thoughts. Startled, Matthew lifted his head to meet her gaze.

“Oh. Yeah? Did you say something?”

“Yeah, I was just asking you about Miss Whitney.” Lily looked at him in concern. “You’re worried about her, aren’t you?”

“No, no, I’m… I’m just…” Matthew didn’t know what to say. The words just stumbled out on their own, an automatic denial in order to protect her feelings. But he knew that Lily could see through him when it came to things like this. There was a reason why they were good friends before they started dating, after all.

“Don’t worry, Matt. I understand.” Lily reached out and gently grasped both of his hands. “She was your wife, after all. It’s only natural that you would be worried about her still. You don’t need to deny it in front of me.”

“But—”

“You should talk to her again, Matt.”

“I—what?”

“You should talk to her again,” Lily repeated patiently. “Matt, she looked so lonely and in despair. She probably needs someone to talk to right now. Cancer sucks. I know from experience.” Her gaze softened. “At that time, my grandfather had his loved ones by his side. He didn’t want to have any regrets before he died. Life is so short, so fragile. There’s no time for envy, no time for hesitation, and no time for regrets.”

Matthew looked at her for a long time. “Lily, I… I don’t understand.”

“Look, Matt. Talk to her just once, okay? I don’t mind, I promise.” Lily smiled at him softly. “Earlier, I could tell that there was something she wanted to tell you, but she couldn’t say it with me there. Hear her out just once, please. For me, and for you, as well.”

Matthew went silent for a moment. Lily squeezed his hand reassuringly, continuing on.

“Matt, I want you to tell me what you really feel. You know that I’ll always listen to you.”

“Lily, I don’t think—”

“Matt, it’s okay. You can cry. You can grieve. Let it all out. I’m here for you.”

For a moment, Matthew thought about the past, the times when he was the happiest, the times when he was elated at discovering such a brand new feeling as if he had finally been given freedom from the birdcage that restrained him for years.

For a moment, he thought about Allison and her smile, the way she had comforted him when he was depressed, the way she had listened to all his problems without a word, and the way she had encouraged him to do the things he wanted to do and not the things that he was being forced to do.

Matthew didn’t realize that he was crying until Lily quietly reached out and gently wiped his tears with her finger. He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip, letting the tears fall while restraining a sound from coming out of his lips.

Without a word, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his sturdy frame, lending him her shoulder and holding him close. She patted him on the back soothingly, humming under her breath.

“You must miss her so much.”

Matthew took a deep, slow breath. “It’s just that… I haven’t seen her in years,” he said quietly, his voice trembling slightly. “She suddenly disappeared from the media, and Marina, her friend, wouldn’t tell me where she was or how she was doing. Today is the first time I’ve ever met her in years, so I’m…”

He paused for a moment to regain his breathing. He closed his eyes and choked out a quiet sob.

“I already lost her one time, Lily… and now I’m going to lose her a second time?”