Chapter 34 Give the Card to Her for Safekeeping
Wentworth looked at her, his tone calm yet probing. "Are you worried I can't afford it? I can."
"Do you have a mortgage?"
"No. I bought this place outright. Don't worry—no mortgage."
Matilda let out a relieved breath. "That's good. But if you ever have financial difficulties, you have to tell me."
Wentworth set down his knife and fork, his gaze settling on her face again. "You think I'd have money problems?"
Matilda countered, "Well, is your salary high?"
Wentworth fell silent for a moment—his military stipend was actually quite substantial, the kind that would surprise her if he said it out loud. But he didn't want to come across as bragging, so instead he simply got up, went to his room, and returned with a bank card. He held it out to her. "Matty, this is my salary card. The password is my birthday. We're married now, which means my money is our marital property. If you need anything, use it. Take out however much you want."
Matilda froze.
Though they were married, their relationship still hovered at the level of holding hands and occasional hugs—they hadn't even kissed yet. But living under the same roof every day, eating meals together... the feeling was strange. Familiar yet foreign. Intimate yet distant.
She understood perfectly well that Wentworth had married her because of his sleep issues, and his military sense of duty made him committed to her as his "wife." But he'd never taken her to meet his parents, which made her feel his marriage motivations weren't entirely about love.
So she couldn't accept this card.
She pushed the salary card back, smiling. "I have my own salary. I don't need to use yours."
Wentworth insisted, "You should still keep it. I'm heading back to base soon—they provide meals and housing, so I won't need much money. Having the card with me would actually be less secure."
Matilda hesitated, then finally nodded. "Then... I'll hold onto it for you."
Wentworth thought for a moment, then added, "Matty, when you have time, come back with me to meet my grandfather."
Matilda's breath caught.
Besides her brother, this was the first family member Wentworth had mentioned.
"Your grandfather... where does he live?"
"He's in the countryside, about fifty miles from here," Wentworth answered.
Matilda flipped through her shift schedule. "It'll have to be next Tuesday—I have two days off then."
"Works for me. We'll go back together."
"O-okay." Matilda felt almost flattered.
---
Director's Office.
Adalyn had come to bring her father Francis something again.
She came often—sometimes with an iced tea, sometimes with a box of handmade cookies, sometimes with a small cake. The items weren't expensive, but in Francis's eyes, Adalyn was simply a thoughtful daughter.
Today she'd brought a cup of hot oatmeal. After setting it down, she noticed an invitation on the desk printed with gold lettering and casually picked it up.
"Dad, this is an invitation to a cocktail party." Adalyn smiled.
Francis had already seen it. He nodded. "Yes, it's from Kensington BioTech Company. They're inviting key figures in Phoenix City's medical community. It's both a cocktail party and a new product launch."
"A new life detection device?" Adalyn raised an eyebrow. "Sounds high-end."
"I heard it uses military technology."
"Then the R&D team must be impressive. Dad, I want to go too."
Francis considered it. "Alright, I can take you."
"I want to bring Reuben too." Adalyn acted coquettish.
Francis hesitated. "Bringing that many people doesn't seem appropriate, does it?"
"But doesn't the invitation say you can bring five people? Why can't I bring Reuben? He might be your future son-in-law—don't you want to take him out to see the world?"
Francis had never been particularly satisfied with Reuben, but since his daughter liked him, he couldn't very well refuse. Besides, his daughter's relationships were always unstable—who knew, she might switch to someone else before long.
After thinking it over, he relented. "Fine, then I won't go. You two can go with Julius."
"Got it. Dad's the best."
---
Wentworth also received a call from Charles.
Charles instructed, "You contributed to the development of that new life detection device. Kensington BioTech Company is holding a product launch—you need to show up. If customers have technical questions, you'll help answer them."
Wentworth asked, "Can I not go?"
"No. If you dare skip it, I'll tell Mom about your secret marriage."
Wentworth: "When's the launch?"
"The day after tomorrow."
---
The Day After Tomorrow.
Matilda parked her car in the hospital parking lot. Just as she'd finished parking, she spotted Adalyn and Reuben getting their car.
Both were dressed quite formally—Reuben wore a dark suit with a tie and white leather shoes; Adalyn was in a white evening gown with a delicate clutch tucked under her arm. They clearly looked like they were heading to a cocktail party.
Matilda had no intention of acknowledging them, but Adalyn spoke up first. "Dr. Spencer, morning."
Matilda still didn't respond.
Adalyn continued, "Remember that Kensington BioTech Company you went to negotiate equipment with? They're holding a new product launch. You're so close with their general manager's daughter—did they invite you? If so, we could go together. My dad gave me two spots—Ben and I are going."
Matilda said flatly, "No need to show off. I'm working. I don't have time to attend some launch party."
"Working? To support your husband? Makes sense. Your husband stays home all day—if you didn't work, that big apartment of yours... the property fees alone must be expensive, right? Your old small place was so much better—no mortgage, no property fees. Now you're living in a luxury flat and supporting a man."
Matilda fell silent. Though Wentworth wasn't wealthy, he could definitely afford the property fees. She couldn't be bothered arguing with Adalyn—just looking at her smug expression was irritating enough.
Adalyn and Reuben got in their car. She said to Reuben, "This Matilda thinks knowing one rich heiress makes her special. I know that circle best—there's no real friendship there. If people click, they hang out for a while. If they don't, they cut ties immediately."
Reuben didn't entirely agree in his heart, but didn't dare contradict her—after all, he could only attend the cocktail party thanks to Adalyn.
---
New product launch venue.
The venue had arranged seating. Adalyn sat in the back row with Reuben on her arm, constantly whispering introductions in his ear. "That one in the blue suit is the director of Serenity Health Center. Light gray suit, kind of heavy—that's the deputy director of Hope Springs Hospital... These are all people my dad's introduced me to."
Reuben was seeing so many big names in the medical field for the first time and couldn't help stealing extra glances. Actually, Adalyn's introductions weren't necessary—the host would introduce everyone one by one anyway.
Especially the R&D team.
When the host began introducing the R&D team, Adalyn suddenly spotted Wentworth—her expression instantly froze.