Chapter 126
At the veterinary hospital.
Matthew arranged the most comprehensive examination for the puppy.
The results came quickly. The health report showed several poor indicators—a viral infection that would be expensive to treat.
In most cases, many people would abandon this kind of stray dog.
Chloe listened with partial understanding, her little face scrunched up with worry.
"Use the best medication to treat it. Money isn't an issue." Matthew gently patted Chloe's shoulder and told the doctor.
In the end, the puppy was admitted for treatment.
Chloe stood in front of its isolation room, staring unblinkingly inside, her little mouth pressed tight.
"I promise I'll come check on it every day. Don't worry." Matthew reassured Chloe again.
Just then, Matthew's phone rang.
He instinctively knew it was Caleb calling.
Sure enough.
"Please bring Chloe to the east side of the building. Our car has arrived. Pearl will take her home."
"Alright." Matthew agreed and looked down at Chloe. "Your family is here to pick you up."
Chloe froze, her little hands unconsciously tightening.
She could have gone home by herself, and she wanted to stay with the handsome mister a bit longer.
"Your brother is quite impressive." Matthew carried her toward the east side, speaking sincerely.
"Yes, my brother is super smart!" Hearing the handsome mister praise Caleb, Chloe's face immediately lit up. "Caleb is amazing at computers!"
"My uncle is a really good hacker, and even he says sometimes he can't match Caleb."
Matthew smiled. "Chloe is good at drawing, and your brother is good at computers."
"You're both geniuses. Your parents must be very proud of you."
"Yes!" Chloe nodded vigorously. "Mommy often says Caleb and I are her pride! But Mommy is super amazing too!"
"You always mention Mommy. What about Daddy?"
Chloe froze, the smile on her face fading.
"Daddy... Daddy should be amazing too, I guess?" She answered somewhat uncertainly.
Matthew understood.
Most likely a household where the father worked outside and the mother stayed home, with Dad spending less time with the children.
He didn't ask further.
East side of the building.
Pearl's eyes were red from crying as she stood anxiously by the car, looking around.
Seeing two figures, one large and one small, approaching from afar, she hurried toward them.
When she saw Chloe, tears threatened to fall again.
"Pearl, why are you crying?" After Matthew set her down, Chloe scampered into Pearl's arms.
"I didn't know where you'd gone. Of course I was worried. Why didn't you tell me?" Pearl's voice choked with emotion.
"If I told you, Mommy definitely wouldn't let me come." Chloe tilted her head, then added, "Besides, Pearl, I left a little note in my room."
"What little note?" Pearl's eyes widened.
"The note saying I was going to find the handsome mister. I put it on the desk."
Pearl slapped her forehead in frustration.
She'd been too careless, causing all this commotion.
If Caleb hadn't found Chloe, who knows what chaos would have ensued.
Matthew watched their exchange, his brow furrowing slightly.
This was who knows how many times this nanny had lost track of Chloe.
He truly didn't understand how Chloe's parents could be careless enough to entrust such a young child to this kind of caregiver.
Pearl also felt the weight of Matthew's gaze. She steeled herself to thank him. "Sir, thank you again. We'll be going now."
Chloe reluctantly said goodbye to Matthew. "Handsome mister, can you send me pictures of the puppy every day?"
"Of course. Don't worry, I'll make sure the hospital treats it well. Your brother must be very worried about you. Hurry home."
Matthew's guess was right—Caleb was in the car.
Chloe waved her little hand at him and was carried into the car by Pearl.
The car window rolled down. She still gazed at Matthew longingly, reluctant to look away.
Inside the car, Caleb's voice sounded, unprecedentedly serious. "Chloe, you're not allowed to see him again."
"Why?" Chloe's voice was full of grievance. "The handsome mister and I are good friends!"
"He can't be your good friend." Caleb's voice lowered but became even stricter. "If Mommy finds out you met him, she'll be sad. Do you want to make Mommy sad?"
Chloe was shocked.
Being friends with the handsome mister would make Mommy unhappy?
Caleb must be lying!
"You're lying!" Chloe pouted, huffily turning her head away.
Caleb looked at her with complex emotions but maintained his firm tone. "I didn't have Pearl tell Mommy about today."
"If you think Mommy won't be sad, then you tell her yourself."
"If Mommy gets sad after knowing, then you can never see this mister again. Okay?"
Caleb had never spoken to Chloe so sternly before. Chloe covered her little face and cried grievously.
Pearl sat beside her, frantically wiping her tears.
In over three years, this was the first time Chloe and Caleb had such a serious argument.
Matthew watched the car disappear over the horizon, returning to his office somewhat deflated.
His state was night and day from earlier, like something had been drained from him.
The executive office staff saw everything and started gossiping again.
"I'm telling you, I checked—the Perkins family has no children this age."
"That child probably isn't Mr. Perkins' relative's kid, but Mr. Perkins' illegitimate daughter!"
"Yeah, I think they look alike too."
"Look how much Mr. Perkins dotes on her. It's pretty much confirmed."
They chattered away, speaking as if it were fact.
"What are you all talking about?" Sloane appeared at the door with a bright smile.
Several people awkwardly fell silent.
Sloane kept smiling, though Chloe's image automatically surfaced in her mind.
"I just heard you mention a child?" she asked.
The outspoken Delta spoke up. "A child came looking for Mr. Perkins this morning but was stopped by security."
"Later Mr. Perkins found out and rushed down to find her. He even fired the guard along with the heads of security and administration."
"I see." Sloane smiled. "Was it a three or four-year-old little girl? With big eyes?"
"Yes! How did you know?" Delta's eyes widened in surprise. "Could this child be yours and..."
Sloane raised her hand to stop her from continuing but showed a coy expression on her face.
Her hesitant manner set everyone's imaginations running wild.