Chapter 63 Both Parties Signed
Gonzaga Manor.
Hearing commotion in the hallway, Amelia came out as well.
Seeing Wentworth in such a drunken state, she couldn't help but frown. "This must be about that Matilda. Didn't I say he wasn't supposed to see her?"
"Mom, Wentworth might genuinely care about Dr. Spencer. Otherwise..." Charles said mildly.
"Shut up!"
Fine. Charles shut up.
Amelia had the housekeeper boil a pot of warm water, then personally wiped down Wentworth's face as he lay unconscious from drink.
As she cleaned him up, she muttered, "It's just heartbreak. He'll get over it in a few days."
...
Morning came.
Wentworth finally woke up.
Though he'd slept through the night, since it was unconsciousness from drinking rather than real rest, he woke with a splitting headache—not much different from staying awake with insomnia all night.
The moment he opened his eyes, a servant went to notify Amelia.
Amelia entered the room, immediately instructing staff to prepare warm towels to help Wentworth wash his face and bringing him a cup of warm lemon water with honey.
Wentworth waved off the servants' assistance, forcing himself up to go to the bathroom where he showered and changed clothes.
Amelia sat on the bedroom sofa, not daring to adopt her usual commanding posture for fear of provoking this strong-willed son of hers.
When Wentworth emerged looking somewhat better, he sat beside the sofa and slowly sipped his warm lemon water with honey.
"Wentworth, are you feeling better?" Amelia asked.
Wentworth nodded.
"Wentworth, you might think I'm forcing you right now, but when you reach a certain age, you'll understand I'm doing this for your own good. I would never harm you," Amelia continued.
After a moment of silence, Wentworth spoke. "Mom, where's that divorce agreement you had prepared?"
"Right here with me. Why?"
"I want to sign it."
Amelia's eyes immediately brightened. "Wonderful! I'll get it for you right now."
Soon she returned with the papers.
Wentworth took the agreement and read through each clause carefully.
Amelia explained from beside him, "Originally I planned to give her a house, a car, plus ten million dollars in additional compensation. But she refused all of it—only asked you to return the fifty thousand dollars. I already had Linda transfer that amount to her account."
Wentworth's heart clenched immediately.
That was just like her—that foolish girl who didn't want to owe anyone anything, didn't want people saying she was a gold digger. She was so careful with emotions, guarding her heart so tightly, afraid that giving it away would leave her completely shattered.
After a while, he picked up a pen and signed his name next to hers.
Seeing his signature, Amelia couldn't contain her joy. "Wentworth, I'm so glad you can let this go. Are you free tomorrow? I want to take you to meet that girl I mentioned before. She's beautiful, from a good family, lovely personality—you'll definitely like her once you meet."
"Mom, I want to return to base tomorrow," Wentworth said flatly.
"So soon? The insomnia medication isn't developed yet. Why the rush to go back?"
Wentworth looked at her with eyes that were both distant and disappointed. "I've already divorced. When I return to base is my decision to make."
Amelia was stunned by his expression.
Afraid that pushing further would permanently damage their relationship, she stopped trying to persuade him. At least once the insomnia medication was developed, she could have it sent to the base.
...
Matilda didn't sleep a wink that night.
This was her first time experiencing insomnia in years.
All night long, her thoughts were consumed by Wentworth.
When she'd broken up with Reuben, she hadn't felt nearly this devastated. But thinking about Wentworth's retreating figure made her chest ache and brought tears to her eyes.
For a moment, she felt the impulse to throw caution to the wind and find him—if he was willing, she'd fight against societal prejudice alongside him.
But then she thought of his domineering mother and understood how difficult that path would be. She didn't dare gamble her entire future on it.
Love was too ethereal. If he changed his mind too, she'd lose everything.
So all night she picked up her phone and put it down, picked it up and put it down again, never managing to dial his number.
...
In the morning, Matilda went to the corner breakfast café.
She'd barely sat down when Ethan walked in too.
"Morning, Matty." Ethan smiled in greeting.
Having not slept all night, Matilda looked exhausted and only managed a nod.
"Matty, do you remember a classmate from high school named Skyler Blue?" Ethan asked.
Skyler Blue?
Of course Matilda remembered—back then there was a popular toothpaste commercial on TV for a brand called "Blue Sky," so Skyler constantly got teased about it by classmates. Once, he couldn't take it anymore and stormed into the school's broadcast room to announce to the entire school: "My name is Skyler Blue and I have nothing to do with toothpaste!"
From then on, he was famous throughout school.
Ethan's mention immediately transported Matilda back to those days.
"What about Skyler?" she asked.
"He's getting married. Since he knows I'm in Phoenix City, he invited me to the wedding. Want to come along? Lots of old classmates will be there."
Matilda shook her head. "I'll pass."
"Skyler's bride is apparently from your grade—Dina White, from the class next to yours. You might see lots of old friends if you go," Ethan said.
Matilda paused. She remembered Dina—a helpful girl who'd been the physics class representative. Since both classes shared the same physics teacher, she'd often come help distribute test papers.
"If they didn't invite me to the wedding, I shouldn't go," Matilda said.
"Skyler wrote on the invitation that some classmates weren't invited because he didn't have their contact info, but everyone's welcome. It's a buffet-style reception, so no worries about seating. Think of it as a way to get out and clear your head."
"I'll think about it."
Ethan smiled. "The wedding's next Sunday. If you want to go, just find me anytime."
He didn't push further, just quietly ate his breakfast.
...
These past two days, Matilda's performance at hospital morning meetings had been terrible. Wesley had given her a tongue-lashing.
"Matilda, did that trip to Brookford City make you think you're hot stuff? I asked you two questions and you didn't hear either one?"
"Sorry, Dr. Cox. What did you ask just now?" Matilda replied.
Wesley was speechless with frustration.
Fortunately, she only zoned out during meetings. During work hours she stayed busy—as long as there were patients, she wouldn't think about Wentworth.
At lunch, Wanda couldn't help asking, "Dr. Spencer, is something wrong at home? Or is it relationship trouble..."
Everyone in the department was gossiping that she'd broken up with her boyfriend. She used to drive a Range Rover to work, now she rode a scooter every day.
Matilda admitted it. "Right, my boyfriend and I broke up."
"Broke up? Why? Your boyfriend seemed really nice. He was quite the catch at that celebration dinner."
Matilda smiled bitterly. "Exactly because he was such a catch—someone else caught him."
Wanda looked at her in surprise.
In just two short years, Matilda had lost two men.
Matilda smiled. "It's nothing. With relationships, you have to be able to pick them up and put them down. Don't hang yourself from one tree when there's an entire forest out there."
Wanda shook her head with a smile. "Either way, you need to move on soon."
"I know."
...
After work that evening.
Matilda was riding her scooter, intending to return to her old apartment in the downtown area. But somehow, without realizing it, she ended up at Sunshine Community.
Only when she reached the complex entrance did she remember she shouldn't be coming here—she should be going back to her old place.
She stared blankly up at a certain window on the sixteenth floor—where she and Wentworth had once lived together.
Before, every time she came home, she'd instinctively check whether the lights were on up there, whether Wentworth was home.
Now those windows were tightly closed and dark.
He must have returned to his real home.
Just as Matilda was about to turn around and leave, it started raining.
It was hurricane season—lots of rain and strong winds. She had to duck into a nearby supermarket to wait it out.