Chapter 38 Declare His Sovereignty
Back then, Reuben had been so easily seduced away by Adalyn. Would Wentworth... be the same?
Worried that the nearby doctors might see her dejected expression, she said, "I'm going to get some fruit."
Tonight's celebration was a buffet with quite a variety and unlimited portions.
She walked to the fruit section and had just picked up a piece of cantaloupe when someone approached.
"Matty..."
Matilda looked up to see Reuben's dejected face.
She had no intention of acknowledging him, so she picked up her cantaloupe to leave, but Reuben blocked her path. "Matty, don't I still owe you an apology?"
How strange.
When he'd gotten together with Adalyn, he'd chased after her for that $2,000 car repair fee and nearly got physical when she wouldn't pay. Why hadn't he mentioned owing her an apology then?
"What do you want?" Matilda's tone was cold.
Reuben looked at her the same way he used to when they were dating—gentle and cautious.
"Matty, I hope we can still be friends."
"Sorry, I don't make friends with you. Once we break up, we're strangers forever." Matilda rejected him directly.
Reuben sighed. "I never realized what kind of person Adalyn was. Looking at her performance tonight, she's probably trying to seduce your boyfriend. Honestly, men find it hard to resist her temptation. Matty, you should prepare yourself mentally."
Matilda's heart felt like it had been struck hard by a stone.
---
Meanwhile, Wentworth glanced at where Matilda had been sitting but didn't see her.
Tonight's event had hundreds of hospital staff and family members attending. He searched the crowd for her figure.
Adalyn approached again, saying coolly, "Looking for Dr. Spencer? She probably doesn't have time for you—she's getting cozy with her ex-boyfriend. Look!"
Adalyn pointed toward the fruit section.
Wentworth indeed saw Matilda talking with Reuben.
Matilda had her back to him, but Reuben's expression clearly showed he wanted to reconcile with her.
Adalyn continued, "You probably don't know yet, right? Dr. Morris and I have broken up because he said he still preferred being with Dr. Spencer, so I set him free."
In that moment, Wentworth's chest tightened slightly.
He was about to walk over, then wondered—what would he do once he got there?
Assert his claim, of course.
But how could he do it reasonably without seeming domineering?
Five seconds later, he had an idea.
He carried his plate of food toward Matilda.
---
Matilda was feeling heavy-hearted from Reuben's words, standing there stunned.
Suddenly, Wentworth's tall figure appeared before her, positioning himself directly between her and Reuben.
"Matty." Wentworth's tone was gentle yet certain.
Matilda looked up at him, then noticed Adalyn had actually followed behind him. Feeling irritated, she was about to leave.
However, Wentworth suddenly used his fork to pick up a piece of roast beef and brought it to her lips. "Matty, eat something. Didn't you say you wanted roast beef?"
Matilda froze.
What was this move?
Though roast beef was indeed what she'd wanted to eat, she'd planned to take the fork and eat it herself.
But Wentworth looked into her eyes and said, "Don't dirty your hands. Let me feed you."
"This..." Matilda glanced around.
Because of Adalyn and Reuben's situation, this small area had become the evening's focal point.
Everyone could see clearly—Adalyn trying to hook up with Wentworth, Reuben trying to win back Matilda.
And she and Wentworth had now become the crucial "third act."
Wentworth feeding her was probably his way of publicly asserting his claim.
So she opened her mouth and ate the roast beef.
After she swallowed, Wentworth forked another piece of honey-glazed ribs and brought it to her lips. "This is pretty good too. Try it."
Matilda ate it, then forked a piece of cantaloupe and brought it to his mouth. "You should have some fruit too."
Wentworth ate it in one bite.
They continued like this, feeding each other.
Watching this, Adalyn behind them got so angry she turned and stormed off.
What was so great about this Matilda? She refused to believe that someday she wouldn't have Wentworth kneeling at her feet.
Reuben also left dejectedly.
---
Before they knew it, it was Tuesday morning.
Matilda had remembered that Wentworth said they'd visit his grandfather today.
In families, grandfathers often served as the spiritual core of the entire clan. Meeting his grandfather meant Wentworth wanted her to truly integrate into his family.
She dressed up specially—though she usually didn't wear makeup, she applied light foundation, lipstick, and blush. Her hair was washed smooth and tied in a ponytail.
She walked out of the bedroom to find Wentworth already waiting in the living room.
When he saw her, his gaze lingered on her face for several seconds.
She couldn't help asking, "Do I... not look good?"
Wentworth continued looking at her. "You look beautiful, like you have a beauty filter on."
Matilda laughed. "You're quite good at compliments."
Wentworth added, "We might stay overnight at Grandpa's tonight. Did you bring a change of clothes?"
"Everything's in my bag." Matilda carried a white canvas backpack.
She asked again, "Shouldn't we bring some fruit? Do you know what fruit your grandfather likes? Or maybe buy some wine?"
Wentworth shook his head. "I've prepared everything. Grandpa's family—he dotes on me the most. Just having me come back makes him happy."
Hearing him say this, Matilda felt reassured.
---
The two then headed out.
Once in the car, Matilda realized he'd already loaded things that morning—besides his backpack, there was a box of cherries and a bag of snacks.
Wentworth handed her the snacks. "If you get hungry on the road, have some."
She opened it to look—inside were cookies, mixed nuts, chips, and beef jerky.
She didn't really like snacks much, so she said, "I'll hold onto them and eat some when I get bored."
Wentworth nodded.
---
Once they got on the highway, Matilda understood the importance of that snack bag.
Today he was driving while she sat in the passenger seat. They usually didn't talk much, and now the car was unusually quiet.
Plus it was 50 miles from here to his grandfather's house—at least over an hour.
She couldn't help opening a bag of chips.
As long as her mouth was busy, she wouldn't have to force conversation.
When they first left the city, there was heavy traffic and red lights, so it didn't feel boring.
Once they left the urban area, the route was filled with vast green spaces and highway with nothing much to see. Matilda suddenly felt guilty eating alone.
She asked Wentworth, "Do you want some?"
Wentworth smiled. "I'm driving—I can't reach them."
"Then... what would you like? I could feed you?"
He answered without hesitation, "Mixed nuts would be great, thanks."
Matilda opened a package of mixed nuts.
Only after opening it did she realize it also contained raisins and dried cranberries. If she fed him one by one, who knew how long it would take.
So she simply poured half the package into her palm and held it up to his mouth.
He glanced down, then like a puppy, took some with his mouth.
Matilda felt his lips, even his tongue tip, gently touch her palm—warm, soft, like an electric shock that made her whole body tremble slightly.