Chapter 218

Chapter 218

Matthew leaned closer to Elise, his warm breath with a hint of sweetness hitting her face, "as far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as intentional or unintentional! You hit me, and that's that!"

Elise didn't dare look Matthew in the eyes, "if you hadn't been touching me, would I have hit you?"

Matthew said coldly, "now I have a mild concussion. What do you say we do about that?"

Elise was stunned, "are you kidding me! Getting a concussion from such a light tap! Mr. Moore, I'm not in the mood to joke around with you!"

A wicked smile played at the corner of Matthew's mouth, "mild concussions can't be seen or detected. If I don't settle this with you privately, you could be looking at seven to fifteen days of detention!"

Although Elise was skeptical of his words, she was still a woman after all, and couldn't help feeling a bit scared, "Mr. Moore, you're not serious, are you?"

Matthew said, "since you refuse to acknowledge your identity as Amelia, won't recognize me as your husband, and insist on marrying Zander, why should I care about old feelings! I'm Matthew—who's ever hit me since I was a kid? Not even my parents or grandfather have hit me! I have to settle this score!"

Looking at Matthew, who didn't seem to be joking, Elise started to panic a little, "so what do you want?"

Matthew's eyes were as deep as a bottomless pit, "for the sake of our child Atticus, I can let this go, but you have to agree to one condition!"

Elise held her breath, anxious, "what condition?"

Matthew paused, "I haven't thought of it yet. I'll tell you when I do!"

Elise thought for a moment and shook her head, "what if the condition you come up with is completely unreasonable? Do I still have to agree?"

Matthew smiled slightly, "don't worry, my condition won't be too harsh or unreasonable!"

Elise muttered, "this is clearly taking advantage of the situation."

Matthew frowned, "what did you say?"

Elise quickly shook her head, "nothing!"

If Matthew changed his mind and decided to pursue the matter of being hit, that would be bad. Who knows if Matthew would make a big deal out of it?

What worried Elise most was that if Zander found out why she hit Matthew, wouldn't Zander want to fight Matthew?

So it was best to settle this privately!

Matthew suddenly showed a gentle and considerate expression, pinching Elise's chin, "you've been watching the child all night, you must be tired. Go back and rest! Tonight I'll watch the child—that was our agreement!"

Elise glared at Matthew. He really had a split personality! Cold and heartless one moment, gentle and considerate the next! She really couldn't figure out which side was the real Matthew! How could Amelia have lived with Matthew for three years? She must have really loved him!

Elise thought for a moment, her brow furrowing with concern, "but what will you tell Atticus? In what capacity will you be watching him?"

Matthew was already confident, "you don't need to worry about that!"

The two returned to the hospital room. Matthew sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Atticus's tender face, and said softly, "Atticus, your mom didn't sleep well last night, so I'm sending her home to rest. Tonight I'll keep you company, okay? I really like you. When I see you, it's like seeing my own child. If you don't let me stay with you, I'll be very sad!"

Atticus was kind-hearted and didn't want to hurt Matthew, but didn't dare make the decision himself, so he looked to Elise for help.

Elise cupped Atticus's face, "Mommy is indeed a bit tired. Let Mr. Moore stay with you tonight, and tomorrow night, Mommy will come back, okay?"

Atticus nodded emphatically, "okay, Mommy!"

Elise gathered her things, and before leaving the room, stared at Matthew, "don't forget our agreement. You know what you should and shouldn't say!"

Matthew just pulled at the corner of his mouth without speaking.

After Elise left, Matthew peeled an apple for Atticus. Atticus picked up the fairy tale book and handed it to Matthew, "Mr. Moore, can you read it to me? I really like listening to fairy tales!"

Matthew took the book, glanced at it, then put it on the table, saying meaningfully, "I know a story that's even more interesting than fairy tales. Do you want to hear it?"

Atticus nodded, his eyes bright and full of anticipation, "yes, tell me!"

"No rush. After I finish peeling the apple, you can eat it while listening to my story!"

Matthew finished peeling the apple and, like last time, cut it into small pieces and put them in a fruit plate for Atticus to eat with a fork.

Looking at Atticus, Matthew began telling the story in an emotional voice, "the story begins six years ago. There was a family named Martinez and a family named Moore..."

"Named Moore? The same last name as you?" Atticus interrupted.

Matthew stroked Atticus's soft hair, "yes, the same as mine!"

"The head of the Moore family was Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore and Mr. Martinez were brothers-in-arms on the battlefield. Mr. Martinez once saved Mr. Moore's life on the battlefield. To repay this debt, Mr. Moore decided to have Mr. Martinez's granddaughter marry his grandson."

"But Mr. Moore's grandson didn't like Mr. Martinez's granddaughter. However, under pressure from his grandfather, he had to marry her. On their wedding night, Mr. Moore's grandson told Mr. Martinez's granddaughter: You'll get nothing by marrying me! But despite this, Mr. Martinez's granddaughter still waited alone for him for three years!"

Atticus bit into the apple and asked curiously, "what does 'waited alone' mean?"

Matthew said expressionlessly, "it means Mr. Moore's grandson ignored her and never talked to her."

Atticus frowned, "Mr. Moore's grandson didn't talk to Mr. Martinez's granddaughter for three years. Wasn't that really boring? Why could she hold on for three years?"

Matthew sighed, regret flowing in his eyes. After a long while, he said, "most likely, Mr. Martinez's granddaughter fell in love with Mr. Moore's grandson at first sight. She liked him after just one meeting."

Matthew told Atticus the whole story of his emotional entanglement with Amelia, but before he finished, Atticus had fallen asleep again, still holding the fork.

Matthew shook his head affectionately, took the fork and placed it on the bedside table, then tucked the blanket around Atticus.

Did Atticus take in what he just said? Did he understand?

Never mind—Atticus was only a three-year-old child. How could he possibly understand such complicated matters!

Matthew sighed in resignation and went to the accompanying bed. Just as he was about to lie down, his phone notification sounded.

Private investigator: [Mr. Moore, I've found the woman who contacted the kitchen staff. Tomorrow, if you're available, you can come with me to find her.]

A cold gleam suddenly flashed in Matthew's eyes, and he gripped his phone more tightly, "good. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll contact you!"

No matter who it was, harming a child was unforgivable!

Elise went to the supermarket and bought some groceries to make breakfast tomorrow morning to take to the hospital for Atticus.

Coming back from the supermarket, Elise went straight to her room and was startled to see Zander sitting on her bed!

"Zander, what are you doing in my room? Why didn't you turn on the light? You scared me!" Elise complained, clutching her chest.

Zander's hair was a bit messy, his eyes fixed intently on Elise like torches, "you came back tonight. What about the child?"

Elise avoided Zander's stare and answered honestly, "Matthew is watching him there."

"You can feel comfortable with that?" Zander questioned.

Elise took off her coat, revealing a black lace camisole underneath. Zander couldn't help but swallow hard.