Chapter 156
No one expected Matthew to show up.
Seeing someone she hadn't seen in nearly ten days suddenly appear before her, Sophie was a bit surprised.
"And this is?" Carson looked at Matthew, feeling somewhat nervous.
Having spent most of their lives in the countryside, they'd never encountered someone like Matthew who looked so intimidating.
Nola beside them became cautious too.
Even though they were the hosts, they seemed like they'd wandered into someone else's home by mistake.
"Sorry, this is my husband, Matthew." Sophie felt Matthew's arrival was quite abrupt—showing up at someone's door without any heads-up wasn't very polite.
"So this is your husband. He looks..." Nola wanted to say he looked like a mismatch for her, but swallowed those words and changed her tune, "You two look good together."
It wasn't that they didn't match in other ways. It was just that this man's presence didn't quite fit with Sophie.
Sophie was such a gentle person, how did she end up marrying someone so cold?
Matthew's gaze stayed on Sophie for a long time, but Sophie only glanced at him once.
"Sorry for the sudden visit. My apologies." Matthew finally spoke.
Carson waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, guests are always welcome. As long as you don't mind our rural place."
"I don't." When Matthew spoke, the cold edge about him softened a bit.
Joshua felt apologetic too. He'd received Matthew's call at the last minute, asking him to pick him up from the train station.
When Emily went to the kitchen to get utensils, she texted Joshua, asking why he'd sold Sophie out.
Joshua quickly explained: [I swear, I never told Mr. Moore where Mrs. Moore was.]
Emily: [Then how did he know Sophie was here?] Emily didn't believe him.
Joshua: [Mr. Moore is very smart.]
Emily was furious.
Putting down her phone, she brought out the utensils and set them in front of Matthew, really not welcoming him at all.
Matthew sat beside Sophie. Sophie didn't say a single word to him the entire time.
What should have been a nice dinner became somewhat uncomfortable because of Matthew's arrival.
Even Emily's parents, unusually, didn't say much. Matthew's presence was too overwhelming, making it hard for people to speak up easily.
Emily wanted to confront Matthew but held back in the end.
What good would confronting him do? He'd have a million reasons ready to respond with.
After dinner, Emily cleared the table with Sophie helping.
Joshua glanced at Matthew, "They're very angry."
Matthew watched Sophie's figure going in and out, "I know."
"Are you here to take Mrs. Moore back?"
"Just wanted to see her."
Joshua didn't comment on that.
Actually, he didn't quite understand—if you wanted to see her, why didn't you contact her for days?
Joshua had always been sensible. Things he shouldn't ask about, he absolutely wouldn't.
"Sophie's husband looks like someone you don't want to mess with. Why did she marry a man like that? I always thought she'd find someone more refined." Nola followed Carson outside before speaking quietly.
Carson said, "Not only is he rich, he's got power and influence too."
Nola asked back, "How do you know?"
"You saw how he was when he walked into our yard. Back when I worked outside, even the factory bosses didn't have that kind of presence." Carson glanced at the yard. "Did you see? Even Joshua seems less impressive next to him."
Nola frowned, "You mean Emily's boyfriend is a driver for Sophie's husband?"
Carson heard this and frowned too.
Sophie stayed in the kitchen, not going out.
"He's already shown up at the door. You can't avoid him." Emily knew she didn't want to see Matthew, but there was no way around it now.
"I know." Sophie said, "I'll avoid him for as long as I can."
Emily wrinkled her nose, "Joshua too, bringing him here without saying anything first. They're all in it together."
"Of course. Matthew is Joshua's boss."
Emily asked her, "So what are you going to do? He's here, he must be here to take you back. Are you going with him or not?"
"We'll see."
Emily sighed, "Can't tell if he's devoted or heartless. When he's devoted, he really is, but when he's heartless, he's truly heartless too."
The work would eventually be done. It was dark now, she couldn't stay in the kitchen forever without going out.
Nola knew guests needed accommodation.
"Mr. Moore, you can share a room with Joshua. We have rules in the countryside—visiting couples can't share a room." Nola was quite direct.
Matthew said, "I won't be staying overnight."
Nola looked back at Sophie, "So you're taking Sophie with you?"
Matthew answered, "Yes."
Nola thought to herself, 'These young people really can't stand being apart for even a moment. As soon as they meet, they want to stay together.'
Sophie frowned, "I don't want to leave."
Matthew didn't seem rushed, "I'll sleep in the car."
Sophie could tell Matthew was determined to wait for her.
"Whatever." Sophie didn't want to deal with Matthew.
She turned and went upstairs with Emily.
If the boss was sleeping in the car, Joshua naturally wouldn't leave him alone.
"You go rest." Matthew got in the car and told Joshua to do what he needed to do.
"Mrs. Moore is actually very angry." Joshua still reminded Matthew, "You went on a business trip without telling her, and you never contacted her. She's upset."
Matthew said, "I know."
Joshua said nothing more after that.
He didn't quite understand Matthew's mindset either.
"I'm going to bed then."
"Okay."
Sophie went to shower. Nola called Emily to come to their room.
Emily went.
"Is Joshua a driver for Sophie's husband?" Nola closed the door and asked immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"How can that work? Aren't you embarrassed?" Nola's expression was displeased. "Doesn't that make you inferior?"
Emily hadn't expected them to be worrying about this.
She was completely speechless.
Emily said, "How does that make him inferior? He gets paid to work for someone. What's wrong with that? Does that mean when I work for someone, I'm inferior too?"
"You don't understand what we mean. You and Sophie are good friends. Sophie's husband is the boss, your husband is his driver. That doesn't sound good." Nola was anxious.
Emily stared at her parents, too speechless to even laugh. She really didn't know what to say.
"How about I go steal Sophie's husband instead? Would that be better?" Emily asked them.
Nola pointed at her, so angry her hand shook, "Look at what you're saying! You're not looking down on Joshua for being just a driver, are you? I'm saying Joshua works for Sophie's husband. Carson, you say something!" Nola anxiously tugged at Carson.
Carson frowned, not knowing what to say.
Emily didn't want to continue this conversation, "Tomorrow, I'm going back to Silverlight City."
"You..."
Emily walked out and slammed the door.