Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Matthew turned his head, those bright eyes gleaming in the darkness as he gave a casual reply. "I'm fine."

He said he was fine, but I knew better. He'd been spoiled his whole life—there was no way he could handle sleeping on that cramped fold-out bed.

I tried to reassure myself out loud. "Hey, you're the one who insisted on staying. I never forced you."

A soft laugh escaped Matthew's throat. "I never said you did."

Of course he wouldn't blame me. I pressed my lips together.

Thinking back to that flicker of envy I'd caught in his expression earlier in the hospital room, and remembering how he seemed to live alone when I visited his place last time, I couldn't help but ask.

"Where are your parents?"

It was kind of forward, but I genuinely wanted to know more about him.

Apart from his name and position, I knew almost nothing about Matthew.

"Why are you suddenly asking about that?" His voice remained calm.

I bit my lip. "You've already met my parents, but I barely know anything about you. That feels a little unfair."

The room fell silent for a moment before Matthew's detached voice broke through. "After I graduated, they handed over the company to me and moved abroad."

His parents must have a lot of faith in him—just handing over the entire company to a fresh college grad like that.

"You must be your parents' pride and joy. Not many parents would trust their kid with the company that early and just step back completely."

Matthew let out a soft laugh, his tone carrying a hint of bitterness. "Of course. I'm the perfect heir they spent years molding."

I felt a jolt of surprise and turned to look at him.

A sliver of light from the window fell across Matthew's handsome, chiseled face.

His expression was neutral, giving nothing away, yet somehow I sensed he wasn't happy at all.

For reasons I couldn't quite explain, I felt a pang of sympathy for him. "Don't you have any siblings?"

After a pause, Matthew answered, "I have an older brother."

"An older brother? How come I've never met him?"

He'd never mentioned this before.

Matthew smiled faintly. "You've never met him because he drowned when he was ten."

Realizing I'd touched on something painful, I covered my mouth awkwardly. "I'm sorry—should I not have asked?"

Matthew gave an indifferent smile. "It's fine. I've come to terms with it. It's my parents who never could."

There was something unspoken in those words, but he clearly didn't want to dwell on his family anymore. He smoothly changed the subject. "Your family seems really warm. Your parents must treat you and Joanna well, right?"

I caught a note of envy in his voice. After a brief hesitation, I replied softly, "We're from a small county town. My mom's a teacher, and my dad teaches art at a community center. Their jobs mean they never had much time for Joanna and me, so we grew up leaning on each other. You saw how Mom is—kind of old-fashioned and strict. Dad's gentler, but he basically just goes along with whatever Mom says."

Once I started talking about home, the words just kept flowing.

Matthew didn't interrupt, just listened quietly. When I finally paused, he smiled and said, "Sounds like you're pretty lucky."

Even though he didn't elaborate, I could hear the weight behind those words.

In families like Matthew's, where parents focused so intensely on achievement and success, they often overlooked their kids' emotional needs. No wonder he sometimes felt like two different people.

Around outsiders, he was always composed and aloof—Mr. Griffin, the heir to the Griffin Group, untouchable and remote.

But around me, he let his guard down. He relaxed, joked around, teased me.

"If you want, you could always borrow my parents. You could call them Mom and Dad too."

The words were out before I could stop them. I looked up and immediately met Matthew's penetrating gaze.

He was watching me intently, a faint smile playing at his lips in the darkness. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

Realizing how that must have sounded, I waved my hands frantically. "I just meant you could treat them like honorary parents!"

Matthew chuckled softly, hands folded behind his head. "I'm not interested in honorary parents."

Though he didn't say anything more, my face burned with embarrassment. I clamped my mouth shut.

In the darkness, he murmured, "Get some sleep," then turned over and pulled up the blanket.

I don't remember when I finally dozed off. I only woke when a nurse knocked the next morning for rounds.

I sat up groggily in the hospital bed. Matthew had already folded up the cot and walked over with a smile. "What do you want for breakfast? I'll have the housekeeper make something and bring it over."

I thought for a moment, then shook my head. "Don't go to all that trouble. Joanna will probably grab something for Mom anyway—she can just pick up extra for me."

"It's different," Matthew said, pulling out his phone. "If you don't tell me what you want, I'll just have her make whatever. Home cooking is healthier and cleaner."

I couldn't argue with him, so I stopped protesting.

After the doctor finished rounds, I'd barely settled back down when someone knocked at the door again.

Thinking it was Matthew's housekeeper with breakfast, and seeing he was still in the bathroom, I got up to answer it myself.

But it was Ryan standing in the hallway. I blinked in surprise. "Mr. Tudor, what are you doing here?"

Ryan gave me a warm smile. "Last time I came in such a rush, I didn't bring anything. This time I wanted to visit properly."

The moment I saw him, I remembered Joanna's bold declaration about pursuing him. Thinking he might eventually become my brother-in-law, I welcomed him in enthusiastically.

Just then, Matthew emerged from the bathroom.

Ryan clearly hadn't expected anyone else to be there. He visibly startled when he saw Matthew.

Matthew nodded politely. Realizing I hadn't introduced them, I quickly jumped in with a smile. "Matthew, this is Mr. Tudor—he helped me out before. Mr. Tudor, this is Matthew, my business partner."

They exchanged brief nods. Ryan set down the flowers he'd brought, and Matthew, acting like the host, pulled up a chair beside him. "Have a seat."

Ryan glanced at him but said nothing except a quiet "Thanks."

We'd just started making small talk when footsteps clattered in the hallway. I recognized Joanna's gait immediately.

Sure enough, she appeared in the doorway with a bright smile. "Mr. Tudor! What are you doing here? You should have told me—I would've met you downstairs!"

Faced with her enthusiasm, Ryan's smile looked slightly strained. "I came to see how the patient is doing."

"You were such a huge help to Claire last time—I really need to thank you properly. Actually, Mr. Tudor, I have a favor to ask. I didn't want to bring it up last time, but could we step outside and talk?"

Ryan couldn't exactly refuse. Joanna grabbed his arm and led him out to the hallway.