Chapter 433 After Many Years, A Long-Awaited Reunion 2
Sarah felt a sharp pang in her heart.
She knew Oliver had misunderstood.
The call earlier was from Felix. They had run into each other in Switzerland, and he had taken care of her. They kept in touch occasionally. Felix knew she had returned to the country with Jacob.
But she didn't explain. To her, the past with Oliver was just a regret.
A woman's silence usually means acquiescence.
A screeching brake sound pierced the air as the champagne-colored car stopped by the roadside.
It was still raining in the night sky.
Oliver, looking dignified, stared quietly outside.
Through the car's windshield, the wipers moved back and forth, but the view remained blurry.
After a while, he took out a cigarette and lit it.
The faint smell of smoke filled the car, mixing with the pleasant scent of his aftershave, creating a unique masculine fragrance.
He smoked half the cigarette slowly before turning to look at her. His deep eyes held too many emotions.
She couldn't easily understand them.
He asked her softly, "If you have a man, why go to the restaurant? Why still care about past promises?"
Sarah's lips moved slightly.
In the dim light, his face and tone were severe: "Speak."
Sarah's slender throat tightened.
After a while, she finally found her voice and said softly, "Just happened to pass by! Yes... just happened to pass by."
There was a long silence in the car.
Oliver stared at her, his gaze scrutinizing, as if trying to see through her heart.
Their reunion after a long separation wasn't going well.
Sarah turned her face slightly and said calmly, "Drive."
But he continued to stare at her face, his voice low and slow: "Don't you want to see Nicole? You left without a word, and she thought you didn't want her anymore. She wakes up crying at night. Why did you leave back then? Just because you didn't want to get back together with me, you left without a word, not even taking Nicole?"
"No! It's not like that."
"Then what is it?"
Sarah turned to look at his handsome, intense face.
She couldn't explain her difficulties.
Her eyes were slightly moist. She didn't answer directly, only saying softly, "Another day. I'll see her another day."
Oliver stepped on the gas.
The car sped up, and Sarah's face turned pale as she gripped the handle tightly, but she didn't say a word. They didn't speak until they reached her apartment building.
The air was filled with pain.
Half an hour later, the car slowly stopped at the apartment building.
Sarah unbuckled her seatbelt and said softly, "Thank you for bringing me back."
Oliver didn't move. "I want to see Jacob."
Sarah was taken aback.
Oliver turned his head slightly, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Is it inconvenient? Afraid someone will get mad? Relax, I'm not here to sneak around with you."
"It's not that!"
Sarah opened the car door first. "It's not inconvenient."
She stepped out and noticed the rain had stopped.
But the night sky was still dark, like a heavy black cloth, gloomy and oppressive.
They entered the apartment one after the other.
Inside, Sarah turned on the living room light and said to Oliver, "At this hour, Jacob should be asleep."
"I won't wake him."
Sarah pointed to Jacob's bedroom but didn't follow, clearly wanting to avoid any misunderstanding.
Oliver didn't push it.
He walked to the children's room door, grasped the handle, and gently pushed it open.
Jacob was asleep.
In his memory, Jacob was still a little boy, but now Jacob was seven, taller and thinner, but still handsome, with features more like Sarah's.
Oliver didn't turn on the light.
He sat by the bed, looking at his only child in the faint light.
After a long time, he reached out and gently touched Jacob's face.
Jacob turned over, lying on his back.
His straight nose and innocent eyes looked just like Sarah in her early twenties. The past came rushing back, like a knife deeply piercing Oliver's heart, causing unbearable pain.
He had wounds in his heart.
Four years later, he had achieved success, and everyone thought his wounds had healed. Even he thought he didn't care anymore.
But reuniting with Sarah made him realize the wounds had long festered.
Oliver left quickly.
When he left, Sarah stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, her black dress blending into the darkness.
She watched Oliver go downstairs and get into a black car.
As the car started, its body shimmered in the night.
Sarah watched quietly.
After a long time, she went to Jacob's bedroom. The room was dim, but she immediately saw a check on the bedside table.
Sarah turned on the reading light, and the date on the check was before their agreed-upon date.
In an instant, Sarah's sadness reached its peak, her heart aching intensely.
Had Oliver been carrying this check for four years?
The next day, Sarah took Jacob to school and then went to the gallery.
The gallery had been doing well these years with Sofia's help. Sarah gave Sofia a 20% stake, and they got along well.
When they met again, Sarah and Sofia talked about many things.
Inevitably, they mentioned Oliver.
Sofia stirred her coffee and smiled. "He hasn't had any scandals these years! But recently, there seems to be a young girl around him. My husband said she's from Vesper City ArtScape Academy... It's strange to have someone from ArtScape Academy by his side."
Sofia thought for a moment and added, "Her name is Electra Ross."
Sarah smiled faintly.
Sofia grabbed her hand and whispered, "If you still have feelings for him, you should act quickly. Young girls are very proactive these days! I'm afraid Mr. Windsor won't be able to resist their charms."
Sarah's smile faded a bit.
She couldn't help but think of last night, the ripples caused by that check. Now it seemed ridiculous.
Oliver had never lacked women around him.
She actually thought he would remain faithful.
But Sarah didn't care much. After all, they weren't married or lovers. He was free to have anyone he wanted, and she wouldn't interfere.
She was about to change the subject when her secretary came over and whispered, "Ms. Miller, he's here!"
Sofia teased, "Is it that time of the month?"
The secretary looked complicated.
Sarah followed her gaze and froze.
It was Matthew.
He was accompanied by Aaron, and people had already recognized him and were whispering.
Sofia was also surprised.
She quickly had the staff close the gallery and left by herself.
The large gallery became eerily quiet.
After a long time, Sarah invited Matthew and Aaron to sit down. She found some good tea leaves, brewed tea, and handed it over.
She was very polite.
She also asked about Matthew's recent situation with concern.
But from beginning to end, Matthew never heard her call him "Dad." He remembered how she used to love sitting in his study, reading, and calling him Dad when she had questions.
Years later, he had become "Mr. Moore" to her.
The tea's fragrance lingered, but Matthew found it incredibly bitter. He looked at his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in four years, and said in a deep voice, "You've been back for several days. Why not bring Jacob home?"
Sarah looked at Aaron.
Aaron immediately got up and walked to the far side, flipping through books.
Sarah turned back and said softly, "It's not appropriate."
Matthew's voice was suppressed. "How is it not appropriate? Nicholas is married with children. That incident is old news; no one will bring it up again. Sarah, I know you blame me, but I had my reasons back then! Come home. I'm old and want my children around."
Sarah slowly drank half a cup of tea.
She shook her head gently. "It's still not appropriate. Nicholas is doing well now. Isn't that a happy ending? Why go back and cause trouble? If it stirs up trouble again, it will be my fault!"
She smiled bitterly. "No matter how deep the feelings, they can't withstand being worn down."
She had left back then to repay Matthew's kindness.
From now on, she wouldn't consider herself the Moore family's daughter. They were even.
Sarah didn't say it explicitly, but Matthew understood her meaning.
He didn't force her, only asking as he left, "If you won't come back, at least have a family meal. Vaughn and Isabella have missed you and Jacob."
Sarah agreed.
Matthew left, and the gallery door closed softly.
Sarah sat alone for a long time.
On the weekend evening, she attended a dinner alone at a top restaurant.
Sarah thought the dinner was just for the Moore family, and Nicholas and his wife wouldn't attend. But when she entered, she was stunned.
Jeremy and his family were sitting neatly.
Seeing Sarah, Vaughn, and his wife were uneasy. "Sarah..."
Matthew was calm. He introduced, "Jeremy has been single for these years! Knowing you were back, he insisted I arrange this dinner to get to know you again. Sarah, the past is the past. You can reconsider."
Sarah's face turned pale.
Her gaze swept over the Lopez family, Vaughn and his wife, and finally landed on Matthew. She asked softly, "Is it Jeremy who can't forget, or Mr. Moore who can't let go, forcing me to marry?"
Matthew, exposed, was inevitably angry.
Vaughn tried to smooth things over.
At the door, there was a rush of footsteps, followed by Nicholas's cold voice. "Grandpa disapproved of the Lopez family four years ago. Why is he satisfied now?"
Matthew sat still, like a mountain.
His sharp eyes fixed on Nicholas, coldly saying, "Do you know what you're saying? Nicholas, this isn't your place."
"Is that so? Then whose place is it?"
Nicholas suddenly flipped the table.
Dishes and cups fell to the ground.
Matthew apologized to the Lopez family, saying Nicholas was willful and not to mind. Jeremy, eager for Sarah, wasn't angry and wanted to see if Sarah was hurt.
Sarah pushed him away, about to speak.
At the door stood someone.
It was Oliver.
He had a business dinner tonight, coincidentally at the same restaurant. He didn't expect to see Sarah.
In the private room, there was Jeremy's family.
It was clearly a matchmaking dinner, and not a pleasant one.
Under the crystal light, Oliver's face was expressionless. He gently took Sarah's hand. "Come with me."