Chapter 242 Check-Out

Chapter 242 Check-Out

The two of them walked side by side, leaving Thomas completely behind.

Thomas stood rooted to the spot, watching as Gavin leaned down to speak with Matilda. She nodded occasionally, and the atmosphere between them looked natural and easy.

His stomach began to ache again, a dull, throbbing pain.

He clenched his jaw, forcing down the discomfort, and followed after them.

The entire morning unfolded in this bizarre fashion—three people wandering the market together.

Matilda ignored Thomas completely, only speaking to Gavin.

Gavin was more than happy to play along, staying by Matilda's side and insisting on carrying everything for her.

Thomas trailed behind like an outsider, his face cold and set.

When they reached a stall selling hand-ground coffee, Gavin stopped.

"Matilda, do you drink coffee? This place uses locally grown beans—the flavor's really unique."

"Sure." Matilda nodded.

Gavin turned to Thomas, his smile radiating sincerity. "Mr. Stuart, would you like some? Oh wait—you just had acute gastroenteritis. The doctor said you shouldn't have anything irritating. I'll just get two cups then."

Thomas said nothing.

Gavin bought two coffees and handed one to Matilda.

She took it and sipped.

"How is it?" Gavin asked.

"Pretty good."

The two chatted as if Thomas didn't exist.

Just then, a burst of cheering erupted nearby, followed by an enthusiastic host's voice over the speakers.

The crowd immediately surged in that direction.

Gavin, tall enough to see over the throng, craned his neck to look, then turned back to Matilda.

"There's a stage up ahead—looks like some kind of couple's compatibility quiz." He pointed toward a banner. "Matilda, want to give it a shot?"

Matilda froze, her brow furrowing slightly.

Participate in a couples' activity?

That seemed... inappropriate.

Seeing her hesitation, Gavin quickly waved his hand, his expression completely open.

"Don't get the wrong idea—I don't mean anything by it." He gestured toward the prizes displayed beside the stage. "Look at that first-place prize. It's a sculpture hand-carved by a master craftsman from Meadowbrook City, over a hundred years old. You can't buy something like that anywhere, and I don't have a partner, so I'm asking you to help me out."

Matilda followed his pointing finger and indeed spotted the prize.

Her instinct was to refuse, but then her peripheral vision caught Thomas standing ramrod straight beside them, and a strange irritation flared in her chest.

How long was he planning to follow her around?

"Fine." Matilda nodded at Gavin. "Let's give it a try."

The moment the words left her mouth, a large hand with prominent knuckles clamped around her wrist like a vise.

His grip was so strong it yanked her off balance, nearly spilling her coffee.

Thomas said nothing, just dragged her away from the crowd.

"What are you doing! Let go!" Matilda struggled against him.

Thomas ignored her completely, pulling her to a secluded spot before finally releasing her.

She rubbed her wrist, voice low and furious.

"Thomas, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Thomas's gaze locked onto her, his normally pale face flushed an unhealthy shade of red from anger.

"You're not going." Each word came out deliberate, his voice terribly hoarse.

Matilda laughed in sheer disbelief.

"I'm not going? What gives you the right to tell me what to do?" She stepped closer, tilting her head back to look at him coldly. "Mr. Stuart, have you forgotten what our relationship is now? What gives you the right to restrict my freedom?"

Thomas pressed his thin lips into a tight line, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty.

He wanted to say 'I'm your husband,' wanted to say that Gavin had ulterior motives, but the words stuck in his throat.

"You just can't go." Thomas's tone was rigid. "That activity is for couples. What kind of couple are you and him?"

"How is that any of your business?" Matilda shot back mercilessly. "Who I go with and in what capacity is my own business. Did you come all the way to Meadowbrook City just to boss me around on the street?"

Thomas's hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Matilda, stop this, okay?" He lowered his voice, and there was even a hint of pleading in it. "Don't go with him."

Matilda's heart lurched.

She'd never seen Thomas look so... desperate.

But then she remembered all the hurt she'd endured in Harmony City, remembered his cold indifference, and whatever softness had begun to form in her chest vanished instantly.

"I don't have time for your games." Matilda stepped back twice, putting distance between them. "Thomas, stop following me. You're only making me more annoyed."

With that, she turned without mercy and walked straight back toward the crowd.

Thomas stood frozen, watching her figure disappear bit by bit into the bustling throng, finally standing side by side with Gavin.

The pain in his stomach struck again, more violent than any previous episode.

When Matilda reached the stage, Gavin had already signed them up.

"You okay?" Gavin handed her a number tag. "He didn't give you a hard time, did he?"

"I'm fine." Matilda took the tag, forcing herself not to look back.

The activity was simple—the host asked compatibility questions, and both partners wrote their answers on boards.

Gavin really was clever. Many of the questions he could answer correctly by drawing on their earlier conversations.

Their coordination turned out to be surprisingly good. They breezed through round after round, ultimately winning the sculpture.

"Here, spoils of war." Gavin handed her one of the prizes.

Matilda took it and examined it.

Instinctively, she turned to look back in the direction where Thomas had been.

The spot was empty.

Thomas was gone.

All around were tourists laughing and chatting, but there was no sign of Thomas anywhere.

Matilda gripped the sculpture tighter, a strange feeling welling up in her chest.

"Looking for Mr. Stuart?" Gavin glanced over casually. "He probably got bored and went back."

"Probably." Matilda tucked away the sculpture. "We should head back too."

The walk back to the inn felt unusually long.

Matilda barely spoke the entire way, her thoughts a tangled mess.

As soon as they entered the small courtyard, the landlady was there sweeping fallen leaves with a broom.

"Oh, you two are back!" She greeted them with a smile.

"Yeah." Matilda nodded.

"By the way, that handsome guy in black checked out and left." The landlady leaned her broom against the wall and gestured toward the gate. "His face was so pale, and he was practically swaying on his feet. I asked if he needed help, but he completely ignored me and drove off."

Checked out and left.

The landlady's words struck Matilda squarely in the chest. She froze.

"He left?" Gavin raised an eyebrow. "In his condition, should he even be driving?"

The landlady shook her head.

"Who knows? Anyway, he seemed in a real hurry."

Matilda stood still, unconsciously clenching her fists.

He left.

Back to Harmony City? Or to a hospital?

"Matilda?" Gavin called her name.

Matilda snapped back to reality, releasing her clenched hands.

"I'm a little tired. I'm going to rest."