Chapter 140 Likes to Compete with You for Things
"It's not just your mom. There are other things too."
Wentworth felt guilty. He turned her body around and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, Matty. I know this time has been hard on you. Being home alone couldn't have been easy."
"Isn't that just how military marriages work?" Matilda said. She'd done some research on military marriages lately. Her situation was actually pretty good—some women with tougher circumstances not only had to work and earn money, but also take care of kids and a whole extended family.
Wentworth felt even more guilty. He planted several more kisses on her face. "Let's go out later. I want to make up for your New Year's gift."
Matilda asked him, "Where were you on New Year's Eve?"
"On a mission."
"Where?"
"Some desolate mountain."
Matilda's heart immediately softened. He had it rough too.
She quickly said, "Actually, I wasn't doing that badly. When I was staying with the Gonzaga family and dealing with your mom, our little battles were kind of fun. Oh, Wentworth, if she and I get into a fight, whose side are you on?"
Wentworth didn't hesitate. "Yours."
"Why?"
"No matter what I do, I'll always be my mom's son. But if I let you down, I might not get to be your husband anymore."
Matilda's anger completely melted away. She said playfully, "Smart man. You know what? While you were gone, quite a few guys were hitting on me. Oh, there's this one guy named Nason—who is he anyway?"
"Nason?" Wentworth seemed to think for a long moment before recalling such a person. "He came looking for you?"
"Once, but he didn't really do anything. Just said some cocky stuff to show off."
Wentworth asked, "What did he want?"
"He said he likes competing with you for things."
Wentworth couldn't help but smile, then pulled her closer. "What's mine, no one can take away."
"There's also this girl named Natalia—you know her, right? She said she's liked you since she was little."
"Oh, that niece from the Cave family. She wrote me a love letter once, but I turned her down. Didn't she get a boyfriend later?"
"Who knows? Anyway, she claims she's loved you forever."
"Don't worry about other people. You just need to know that I only love you."
Matilda wrapped her arms around his neck. "Natalia said she doesn't know what makes me better than her. I've been wondering the same thing—what exactly do you like about me?"
Wentworth touched her face. "I like what I like. How should I know why? I just know that from the first time we shared a bed, I wanted to sleep with you—for the rest of my life."
"Pervert!"
"You call me a pervert, then I'll be a pervert. The pervert's coming for you!"
"Wait—do you still have insomnia?"
"After being with you at the border, not really. When I can't sleep, I think about you. All of you. Then I eventually drift off."
"You really are a pervert."
"Don't you think about me?" He'd already pinned her beneath him.
"Ah, again!"
"Two more rounds."
...
She didn't have work that day, but they had to go back to the Gonzaga family for lunch. Matilda was exhausted, but thinking about Amelia's critical face, she forced herself to get up and pull herself together.
"Tired?" Wentworth asked.
"Duh, how could I not be tired?"
"Want me to carry you downstairs?"
She immediately shook her head. "No way. What if some kid sees us in the elevator? How am I supposed to explain that? How are their parents supposed to explain it?"
"You actually think about that." Wentworth laughed. "My wife is so thoughtful. Here, let me rub your back."
"When you're not home, I miss you. When you're home, I'm scared of you."
Wentworth quickly made a promise. "Alright, I swear—for the next few days, I'll show restraint!"
...
Wentworth had come back mainly because Charles was getting married. This time he'd stay until after Charles's wedding, so they still had over ten days together.
The two of them drove back to the Gonzaga family together. As they approached the estate, Matilda spotted a red car pulling in ahead of them.
"Whose car is that?" Matilda asked Wentworth.
Wentworth said, "I thought you'd know. I haven't lived here in ages. I have no idea who my mom's having over."
"Must be one of your mom's friends then. She has tons—mostly wealthy socialites, and... the occasional young woman." Matilda thought of Juliana. That confident, radiant girl.
Wentworth pulled into the garage, where seven or eight cars were already parked. "Charles is here too."
"I wonder if Zoey's coming. Haven't heard from her in a while. She seems to have some pre-wedding jitters—worried Charles doesn't love her."
"No idea." Wentworth said. He didn't have much insight into emotional matters. He figured Charles had his own judgment about everything. Besides, brides and grooms about to get married didn't see each other constantly—they maintained a certain air of mystery.
They got out of the car and saw someone emerging from the red car ahead. Tall and slender, with porcelain skin and delicate mixed-race features—it was definitely Juliana!
Juliana turned around and saw Wentworth and Matilda. A few seconds later, her gaze settled on Wentworth.
She'd seen photos of Wentworth and knew he was handsome, but seeing him in person still made her pause. Photos only showed someone's appearance, but a person's presence—that could only be felt in real life.
Wentworth truly was striking—dignified bearing, sharp gaze like a hawk's. Even though he deliberately toned down his presence, that aura radiating from within couldn't be hidden.
Juliana was picky. Handsome guys lacked charisma. Charismatic guys lacked presence. Guys with presence were too crude. But Wentworth fit her aesthetic perfectly. Not an inch off.
Wentworth noticed Juliana staring at him, but since he didn't know her, he looked at Matilda.
Matilda was used to her husband being the center of attention wherever he went. She introduced them. "This is Juliana, your mom's friend." Word is, she wanted to set you two up.
Just as she finished speaking, a dog suddenly burst out from around the corner. A husky, like it was on some kind of high, charged straight at Juliana.
In that moment, Juliana's legs went weak with fear. She was terrified of dogs!
Instinctively, she backed up, but the car was right behind her—nowhere to escape. She could only cover her face, not daring to imagine what would happen next.
But in that instant, she felt a rush of air beside her. She thought she'd feel the dog's sharp claws, then her skin being torn.
But that terrifying scene never came.