Chapter 175 Repaying Kindness?
Amelia's message was crystal clear—Juliana had sacrificed so much for Wentworth.
Both Wentworth and Matilda's expressions darkened.
Wentworth couldn't argue. Despite how badly he'd been injured, he knew what had happened during those early days. Juliana had genuinely taken meticulous care of him.
Matilda said nothing either. Some people were just honest to a fault—a debt was a debt. In the face of that obligation, she felt powerless, having done nothing during that crucial time. Even though neither she nor Wentworth had asked for this debt, it existed nonetheless.
When neither of them protested, Amelia and Judy knew they'd acknowledged the truth.
Amelia pressed on. "Wentworth, Juliana took care of you for so long, and you haven't even properly thanked her yet. She fed you, bathed you—she saw everything there was to see."
Wentworth looked at Juliana. "Thank you for taking care of me. If there's ever an opportunity, I'll repay your kindness."
Juliana's heart ached, but her voice stayed level. "Don't mention it. It's what I should have done."
Judy's voice dripped with disdain. "This wasn't just 'taking care of' someone. This was servitude. We've raised you your whole life without making you cook a single meal, and here you were playing maid in someone else's home!"
Matilda's face went cold. Wentworth's expression turned equally glacial.
Vincent, oblivious to the undercurrents in the women's conversation, tried lightening the mood. "Come on, what's the problem? Old friends help each other out, right? You've all known each other for decades!"
In his mind, since Wentworth had a wife, his daughter could only be Wentworth's friend now.
Zoey emerged from her room at that moment, greeting the elders warmly. Amelia's attitude toward Zoey was notably warmer. She introduced Zoey to Juliana's parents as her daughter-in-law.
"Zoey, Charles went back home already. Why are you still here?" Amelia asked.
"I'm keeping Matilda and Wentworth company," Zoey said simply.
Amelia had considered recruiting Zoey to cause friction between Wentworth and Matilda, but watching how close Zoey and Matilda were, she abandoned the idea. She'd probably just create an enemy and expose her own agenda.
With Zoey in the room, the atmosphere lightened considerably. She was well-traveled and knowledgeable, finding common ground with Vincent easily. They chatted about weather, then skiing, laughing together over shared stories.
After about half an hour, Wentworth started to rise. Amelia noticed—whether unconsciously or deliberately—and called out, "Juliana, help Wentworth up."
But Matilda had already moved to his side. Hearing Amelia's words stirred something uncomfortable in her chest. She'd be the one to help him.
Wentworth spoke firmly. "Matty will help me. No need to trouble Juliana."
Amelia muttered, "Like you haven't troubled her enough already."
Another wave of awkward silence crashed over the room.
---
After Juliana and Amelia left, Matilda went quiet.
Sensing the tension, Zoey excused herself, claiming she wasn't feeling well, and retreated to her room.
In the living area, Matilda silently collected the used cups. She'd poured water for everyone, but only Vincent had taken a few sips. The rest sat untouched. She dumped them all out and threw the cups away.
Wentworth watched her. She wasn't saying anything, but he knew she was upset. His mother harping on Juliana's sacrifices, that constant refrain of gratitude owed—anyone would feel sick hearing it.
If he could go back to the moment he was first injured and do it all over again, he would.
Fortunately, Matilda's anger didn't last long. After cleaning up the sitting area, she seemed to reach some internal resolution. If she let Amelia's manipulation poison her relationship with Wentworth, she'd be playing right into the older woman's hands. Besides, she genuinely hadn't been there during his worst days.
If she blamed Wentworth for that, it would only slow his recovery and damage their relationship. So after wiping down the table, she smiled at him.
"Want to walk down to the beach?"
The moment Wentworth saw that smile, he knew her anger had passed. Relief flooded through him. "I'd love that."
---
Wentworth's recovery had progressed remarkably well. The rehabilitation center's excellent facilities, combined with Matilda's constant communication with Professor Morales and the techniques she'd learned from him, had accelerated his healing dramatically.
Now he could walk from the building to the beach without getting winded.
"How are you feeling?" Matilda asked.
Wentworth pulled her close. "I feel like I could handle some... special activities."
"Special..." Matilda's face flushed. She pinched his arm. "Pervert!"
"Want to test it out tonight?" he asked.
"Who does that kind of thing in a medical facility?"
"Don't hospitals need to test all aspects of physical recovery?"
"You're impossible!"
---
At a hotel five miles from the rehabilitation center, Juliana's parents were preparing to leave. Their work schedules were demanding—they'd only come to see their daughter and now wanted to take her home with them.
But Juliana refused.
"Mom, Dad, I don't want to go back."
Vincent looked shocked. "Juliana, that man doesn't love you. He loves his wife. If you stay here, you'll only get hurt. You should move on, start fresh."
Judy had been harsh at the rehabilitation center, but her barbs had been aimed at Wentworth's situation, not at destroying his marriage. Right now, Juliana really should go home, no matter how much it stung.
But Juliana stood firm. "Don't worry about me. My feelings for Wentworth are my own business. I won't interfere with anyone. The only reason I'm staying is to make sure he fully recovers. And to keep Amelia company."
Amelia definitely wasn't leaving—no matter how infuriating Wentworth could be, he was still her son. She wouldn't leave until she saw him completely healed.
And Juliana's reasoning made sense. She admitted her feelings for Wentworth but promised not to interfere. She just wanted to watch him recover from a distance.
The pinnacle of unrequited love, really. If her parents pushed harder, they'd just seem unreasonable.
Vincent sighed. "Take care of yourself then."
"I will, Dad." Juliana hugged her father, then her mother, and watched them leave.
---
After her parents departed, something shifted in Juliana's demeanor. Her energy returned.
She went to a nearby supermarket and bought cooking supplies, including insulated containers for delivering meals.
"Mom, I want to help Matilda take care of Wentworth," Juliana announced.
"But he..." Amelia looked confused.
Wentworth had made his feelings perfectly clear—his heart belonged only to Matilda. Was Juliana planning to force her way between them?
Juliana smiled at Amelia. "After everything I did for Wentworth, he can't really refuse me, can he?"
"Well... I suppose not." In that moment, Amelia felt like she barely recognized Juliana anymore.