After getting the child settled into her room, he cautiously opened the door to Flora's room. She was lying on her side on the bed, it wasn't clear whether she was sleeping or awake, but as he neared, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "You're back, then?" "You heartless woman... Why did you leave me alone in the bar?" He whispered into her ear, his tone both teasing and reproachful. Flora had already thought up a perfect excuse. "When I emerged from the restroom, you had already been whisked away by someone. I overheard the staff saying... the person who took you away was a close friend of yours." Flora shared with a soft smile: "I suppose they didn't take you to sell you off, so I wasn't too worried." Matthew's emotions cooled slightly. He tenderly enveloped Flora, pressing her soft body into the bed: "Shall we continue where we left off last time..." "What do you mean? Are you teasing me again?" Matthew chuckled. "If you wish, I can give you the opportunity to tease me. Go on..

Matthew watched as Flora entered the mansion before turning to leave. Right then, his phone rang. A familiar string of digits, yet one not saved in his contacts. “What is it?” His voice was frosty. A mirthful laughter emanated from the other end, unmasked and unabashed: "Is there a necessity for such coldness when conversing with me?” “Spit it out.” Matthew clenched his phone tightly, barely suppressing the urge to berate the caller: "If this is a casual call, I’m hanging up. I don’t have time for your games.” The man on the other end seemed indifferent to his threats. They knew each other well. He knew the caller had a reason for calling and the caller knew his patience had its limits, but he wouldn’t hang up until everything was clear. “It’s about your fiancée. Today, someone saw her lurking around your mansion, and unless I’m mistaken, she doesn’t live nearby. Do take care of the beauties you’re harboring there, after all, she is... the main consort.” Having said his piece, th

"But how do you know all this?" Flora asked, slightly suspicious. The wounds of a strong man are like scales on his body, the plucking of which causes a pain as if skin and flesh were being grated. Surely he wouldn't easily let others know about his past experiences. "Patrick told me. They were very close back then." It turned out that Matthew's childhood had never known the warmth of a family, which was why he craved it so much. Hanging up the phone, she once again looked out at the distant night sky, where the city lights flickered. Her man was far away, but in her heart, she wanted to be close to him, to wrap her arms around his weary shoulders that had endured so many long years. She wanted to give him all the warmth she possessed. Perhaps there truly was such a thing as telepathy. As Flora was missing Matthew, she received a text from him. "Flora, I miss you very much. Do you miss me?" A simple line of text brought tears to Flora's eyes. Without hesitation, she called him.

"Have you... you... been looking for Flora lately?" "Why do you suddenly ask?" Patrick furrowed his brow: "Last time, you were the one who insisted I was mistaken... Layla, are you hiding something from me?" Layla bowed her head, her facial expression out of Patrick's sight. Swallowing once more with a choked noise, Layla confessed: "Actually... you were not mistaken. I have recently seen her... in this city..." It felt like a bolt of lightning in a clear sky. Patrick's eyes widened, his incredulous gaze pinned on the woman he had always trusted. "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice was icy: "I thought you were the one who best understood my feelings for her..." "It's precisely because I understand that I hid it from you." Layla interrupted him. Possessing something only makes the fear of losing it grow. If he hadn't clung to that unrequited love, Layla wouldn't have to worry about gaining and losing, nor would she have needed to hide it from him until now. "Patrick... Flora is s

The phone in Flora's hand suddenly rang, interrupting her conversation with the father and son. She glanced at the screen; it was a call from Layla. Since the night Layla laid out everything to Patrick, they hadn't had the chance to speak again. "Flora, Patrick is looking for you, almost out of his mind... Sooner or later he will find you... We have to resolve this once and for all... I want to be free... I'll wait for you at the coffee shop we used to frequent at two in the afternoon." As she finished, she hung up without waiting for Flora's response. Flora frowned slightly. If she heard correctly, Layla had referred to her as "Flora" instead of using the affectionate nickname she usually would. Flora feared... their friendship might not escape this brewing storm. A sense of unease welled up within her. It felt like something big was about to happen. She stole a glance at the father and son, engrossed in their game a few feet away. She could only hope that the happiness she'd just