Chapter 81
Elysia's voice was low, but couldn't suppress the anger within it.
"She's emotionally fragile right now. Hearing news like that is like a bolt from the blue!"
Matthew said nothing.
"When news of your engagement came out before, she attempted suicide once already," Elysia's eyes reddened. "And now again..."
Matthew's brow furrowed deeply. He hadn't known that Sloane's condition had deteriorated to this extent.
"From now on... I won't mention these things in front of her." After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low. "Once she recovers, I'll make things clear to her then."
Elysia wanted to say more, but he paid no further attention and turned to enter the hospital room.
The room was very quiet. Sloane had already woken and was staring at the ceiling with open eyes.
Hearing footsteps, she turned her head. Seeing it was him, a flicker of unease crossed her eyes.
"Am I causing you trouble again?" she asked softly. "I'm sorry, I can't control myself..."
Matthew stood by the bed, looking at her.
"There's no such thing as trouble or not," he said. "If you don't cherish yourself, how can anyone else care about you?"
Sloane looked at him, hope gradually rising in her eyes. "Tonight... will you stay?"
Matthew was silent for a second.
"I'll be in the next room," he said. "If anything happens, have the doctor find me. Rest well."
He observed Sloane's condition. After confirming she was alright, he turned and left without a trace of reluctance.
Walking out of the room, he sent Evelyn a message: [Eve, are you asleep? I'm sorry, I'll probably have to pull an all-nighter tonight.]
Receiving this message, Evelyn felt somehow sour inside.
She pulled herself together and sent Matthew a photo of the dishes.
[What a shame you're missing out. You absolutely have to come home early tomorrow!]
Followed by a pouty emoji.
Looking at that photo, Matthew felt something lodge in his chest.
He sent back a drooling dog emoji: [Okay, I'll definitely come home early.]
The next morning, at the same hospital.
Verity Wallace was grimacing as she had her wound bandaged in the emergency room.
She'd finally come back to the country, dug her beloved motorcycle out of the garage, and wanted to take it for a spin.
But she hadn't gotten far before getting hit by a car that wasn't watching where it was going.
Yet she didn't dare tell her family.
Those people in the Wallace family would love nothing more than to see her make a fool of herself.
She could only sneak off to a remote hospital to get bandaged up.
"The wound's a bit deep, but fortunately didn't damage the bone," the doctor said while bandaging. "Get a crutch when you leave and take care of it. Don't move around carelessly."
Verity nodded eagerly.
After getting the crutch, she hobbled toward the pharmacy. Just as she turned the corner, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
In the distance, a familiar figure was pushing a wheelchair.
Matthew.
A woman sat in the wheelchair, with another woman walking alongside, looking anxious.
Verity narrowed her eyes and recognized them.
Sloane, Matthew's legendary first love.
Her brow furrowed.
She remembered Matthew was with his beautiful secretary—how was he now mixed up with Sloane again?
Could it be... they'd broken up?
Verity stood there, biting her lip, conflicted inside.
She didn't want to meddle in this business.
That Matthew guy—she couldn't afford to mess with him.
Last time, she'd just casually suggested the beauty follow her instead, and Matthew had literally sent her out of the country.
She'd been stuck abroad for over half a year before coming back.
But thinking of the kind-hearted and beautiful Evelyn, thinking of how sweetly she called her "Verity"...
She gritted her teeth and decided to get involved anyway.
Evelyn was woken by a phone call.
She answered groggily.
"Beauty, what are you doing?"
Evelyn paused, speaking somewhat hesitantly. "Is this... Verity?"
"Yes!" Verity laughed happily. "We haven't seen each other in half a year—I'm touched you still remember me. Truly my favorite beauty!"
Evelyn smiled and sat up. "Verity, you're back in the country?"
"Just got back." Verity paused. "By the way, are you still with Matthew?"
Evelyn froze for a moment, her face flushing slightly. "Yes, we're together. Why do you ask, Verity?"
Hearing Evelyn's affirmative answer, Verity's heart sank.
But thinking of Matthew's anger, she didn't dare speak directly.
Her eyes darted around as she changed her tone. "Beauty, are you busy today? Come see me at the hospital."
"Hospital? What happened to you?"
"I crashed my motorcycle," Verity said pitifully. "I don't dare tell my family."
"I'm all alone at the hospital. It's so pathetic."
Evelyn was somewhat worried. "Verity, send me the address. I'll come right away."
Verity sent the address to Evelyn and sighed somewhat guiltily.
Hopefully... she was doing the right thing.
After hanging up, Evelyn quickly got ready and left.
The weather was lovely, bright and sunny.
Evelyn stopped along the way to buy Verity's favorite soufflés and drove to the hospital.
After parking, she carried the pastries toward the lobby.
Verity sat in the lobby waiting for her, leaning on her crutch.
She caught sight of Matthew's group coming out of the elevator and quickly lowered her head, wishing she could shrink into a quail.
From the corner of her eye, the group seemed to head toward the garden.
Verity thought bitterly: Scumbag! With such a wonderful beauty by his side, and he still has to two-time!
"Verity, is that you?"
Evelyn's sweet, soft voice rang out, interrupting Verity's thoughts.
Verity looked up to see Evelyn standing not far away, carrying the soufflés.
Her heart warmed, yet she felt indignant on Evelyn's behalf.
"Beauty, you're so thoughtful!" She spread her arms, making a virtual hugging motion. "You really are my favorite!"
Evelyn smiled helplessly and quickly walked over, handing her the pastries. "How could you be so careless? Is your leg seriously injured?"
"I'm fine, won't die." Verity waved her hand. "Just inconvenient to walk these next few days."
"Actually, I mainly just missed you!"
"Beauty, take me for a walk in the garden?"
"Abroad it's cloudy every single day—so annoying. City A's weather is so much better, all this blue sky."
Evelyn looked at her lively, animated expression and couldn't help smiling.
She really liked Verity.
Though Verity was only an illegitimate daughter of the Wallace family, she was genuinely kind and interesting.
She was also one of the few people in Matthew's circle who dared to stand up to him.
Evelyn stepped forward to help her, but Verity waved her off, planting her crutch in front and hobbling forward.
"Don't need help, I can walk myself!"
The two walked side by side toward the garden.
As they walked, Verity's sharp eyes spotted Matthew's figure in the distance.
Her heart tightened as she quickly stopped.
She clutched her stomach. "I kind of need to use the restroom..."
Evelyn paused. "Right now?"
"Yes, it's urgent!" Verity shoved the pastries into her hands. "You walk slowly, I'll be right back!"
With that, she hobbled away on her crutch, moving surprisingly fast.
Evelyn watched her retreating figure and shook her head helplessly.
Verity was still so impulsive.
She wasn't in a hurry and slowly walked toward the flower beds ahead.
Then her steps suddenly stopped.
By the flower beds, a familiar figure was slowly pushing a wheelchair.
She couldn't help taking two steps forward, wanting to see clearly who was in the wheelchair.
When the woman in the wheelchair turned her face, Evelyn froze in place. The pastries in her hand fell to the ground.