Chapter 43 Did She Come Out to Hug Him?
Matilda pointed to the bags on the floor, her tone unfriendly. "Your mother brought these."
"My mother?" Reuben walked over, looking at the pile of athletic shoes and clothes by the door.
"She said these were gifts for me and hoped I'd get back together with you. But I clearly told her it was impossible, then she just dumped these things in my examination room. Dr. Morris, please return these to your mother. I can't accept them."
Reuben was stunned.
His mother had done exactly what he'd always wanted to do but was too embarrassed to attempt.
He pretended nonchalance. "Since she bought them for you, giving them to me won't help."
"Handle them however you want—I'm not keeping them. And don't let her buy anything else next time," Matilda said coldly.
"Matty..." Reuben felt a sharp pain in his heart and reached out to grab her hand.
But Matilda immediately pulled away, her eyes icy. "Also, please stop telling your mother nonsense so she won't continue having fantasies about me. I have no interest in marrying into the Morris family—none whatsoever."
---
As they talked by the door, Adalyn, just getting off work, happened to see them.
She was stunned at first—why were these two talking together?
Then she instinctively pulled out her phone and took two photos.
Looking at the pictures, a smug smile curved her lips.
---
Since Wentworth had said yesterday he'd be going out today, Matilda hadn't driven to the hospital, leaving the car for him to use.
Wentworth didn't actually know about this arrangement—she'd only texted him after getting to work.
He was just meeting up with some old classmates.
In the evening, seeing it was about time, he said goodbye to his old friends.
"Wentworth, why are you rushing off?"
"Picking up my woman from work."
Everyone looked shocked.
"Your woman? You got married?"
"No way! I was going to introduce you to my cousin."
"Why didn't you bring her for us to meet?"
Wentworth, thinking their relationship wasn't public yet, said, "Just my girlfriend. Next time—I'll definitely bring her next time."
---
Wentworth drove to the hospital parking lot. After parking, he called her.
Matilda said she'd be busy a while longer and asked him to wait outside.
Wentworth scrolled through news in the car.
While reading, someone knocked on his window.
The window was half-open. He turned to look—it was Adalyn.
Her again?
Wentworth frowned, about to raise the window, but Adalyn spoke first. "Wentworth, your girlfriend is having a heated chat with her ex-boyfriend. They seem to be rekindling their romance these past few days."
"I don't believe it," Wentworth said flatly.
"I have photo evidence!" Adalyn immediately pulled out her phone, showing him the pictures. "Look, isn't this them? Today Dr. Spencer even bought lots of things for her ex-boyfriend."
Wentworth's heart tightened slightly.
Seeing this, Adalyn secretly rejoiced—her manipulation was already half successful.
She continued adding fuel to the fire. "Reuben's mother came today too. She absolutely loves Dr. Spencer, even brought gifts and a big bag of oranges—so sweet, everyone in the department is eating them."
Wentworth stopped listening and rolled up the window.
Outside, Adalyn kept shouting loudly, "Wentworth, people can never forget their first love! Once first love comes back, no one can stop it. Why don't you ask if they were first love sweethearts?"
---
When Matilda got off work, she saw Adalyn standing by Wentworth's car talking.
She felt slightly displeased—that feeling of potentially losing him was back.
But seeing Wentworth's window tightly closed, not even giving Adalyn his face, her heart settled again.
She decided to trust Wentworth.
She walked over and asked, "Adalyn, what are you doing here?"
"Dr. Spencer." Adalyn smiled, deliberately speaking loudly. "Didn't you have something to discuss with Reuben? Are you done talking?"
"I had something to discuss with Reuben? How would I not know?" Matilda asked coldly.
This kind of baseless rumor-mongering was most likely to create misunderstandings, especially for relationships still in the adjustment phase like hers and Wentworth's.
Seeing Matilda arrive, Wentworth unlocked the car and pointed to the passenger seat, indicating she should get in.
As soon as Matilda got in the car, Wentworth started the engine, completely ignoring Adalyn.
Soon, Adalyn was left behind, stamping her feet in anger.
Watching this scene in the rearview mirror, Matilda couldn't help smiling.
"What's so funny?" Wentworth had noticed her expression.
Matilda asked, "What did she tell you just now?"
Wentworth said while driving, "She said you gave Reuben things, and that Reuben's mother came wanting you as her daughter-in-law."
He'd wanted to ask anyway—now was the perfect opportunity. Though his tone sounded casual, he still glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
Matilda explained, "I didn't give Reuben anything. His mother gave me things, and I returned them to Reuben."
So that's what happened. Wentworth's heart immediately felt much lighter.
"That Adalyn sure knows how to spread rumors," he chuckled.
"Don't believe her words in the future. Ask me directly if there's anything. Unless..." Matilda paused.
"Unless what?"
"Unless you like her too," Matilda probed.
"How could I like her?" Wentworth smiled.
"Many men like her. She says there's no man she can't get," Matilda continued probing.
Wentworth said flatly, "Then I'm the exception."
Hearing this, Matilda's mood completely relaxed, and she couldn't help laughing.
---
That evening, Matilda practiced martial arts with Wentworth.
The training involved quite a bit of physical contact. Matilda felt they'd had enough interaction for the day, so unlike usual, she didn't give him a hug before returning to her room.
But Wentworth felt something was missing.
Though her hugs seemed routine, in his heart, they represented her acceptance of their relationship.
Tonight she'd forgotten, and he felt a bit dejected.
He took a casual shower and sat in the living room.
Before long, Matilda came out too.
His heart lifted—was she coming to hug him?
Matilda had just showered, her hair still damp. Seeing him sitting on the sofa, she asked casually, "It's so late—aren't you going to rest?"
Without waiting for his answer, she walked into the kitchen.
Wentworth's heart sank again—so she wasn't coming to hug him.
He followed into the kitchen and saw her taking two oranges from the refrigerator.
"I'm thirsty and suddenly want orange juice. Want a glass?" she asked.
"No thanks," Wentworth said.
A thought flashed through his mind—she almost never drank orange juice normally. Why did she suddenly want to make some tonight? Especially after hearing Adalyn say those oranges were gifts from Reuben's mother.