Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Matilda's POV

I stood frozen like I'd been struck by lightning, my shocked gaze sweeping over Rhys's smiling face several times. A completely inappropriate thought popped into my head: 'Rhys, do you have any idea you personally delivered your boss into my bed?'

Wait—should I even be thinking about this right now?

Last night, Wellington could have sent someone else, or had Rhys forcibly take me away. Why did he come himself? Why, after everything that happened—things that went far beyond just handling a problem—could he still so calmly arrange everything, even cleaning me up and preparing clothes for me?

In Rhys's account, I didn't hear a single mention of Wellington making arrangements for himself. Only me. Everything revolved around me.

"Rhys," I began, my voice hoarse. "Is Mr. Learmond this concerned about all his female employees?"

The smile on Rhys's face paused for a moment, then became even more knowing. He blinked and leaned close to my ear with clear implication. "Ms. Hamilton, I've been with Mr. Learmond for many years. He's always been strict with his subordinates, but also fair with rewards and punishments. However, a situation like last night—him personally handling it and arranging everything so thoroughly—this is definitely the first time I've seen it."

His hint couldn't have been more obvious. And I finally realized what an absurd question I'd just asked!

My face instantly turned completely red again. I frantically waved my hands to cut him off. "Stop! Rhys, let's just go back!"

With that, I covered my face and fled toward the elevator.

When Rhys dropped me off at the villa, the car had barely stopped before Uma and Irene came rushing out. "Ms. Hamilton! You're finally back!" Uma hurried forward, supporting my arm. "You were out all night—we were so worried! Does your head still hurt? Mr. Learmond specifically instructed us to prepare hangover tea for you."

I was helped to sit stiffly on the sofa, a cup of warm tea pressed into my hands. Uma's phrase "Mr. Learmond specifically instructed" instantly threw my barely-calmed emotions back into chaos.

Wellington had even thought of this?

"Thank you." I clutched the teacup nervously, head down, taking small sips, trying to suppress my racing heart. But as the warmth of the tea flowed down my throat, something I'd pushed to the back of my mind suddenly surfaced.

"Uma, does Mr. Learmond know why I went out last night?" I asked tensely.

I'd really lost my head during that sudden argument yesterday, saying so many things I shouldn't have. If Uma and the others had heard and told him...

Uma sighed softly, lowering her voice. "Ms. Williams was very emotionally unstable last night. When she ran out, she was in really bad shape. In that situation, we didn't dare hide it—we had to report to Mr. Learmond. After learning about it, he immediately contacted a professional psychologist. The doctor arrived early this morning and is upstairs with Ms. Williams now."

I froze. Kerena was back?

But Uma's words also made me breathe a secret sigh of relief. They hadn't noticed that my first time with Wellington had been replaced by Kerena.

Yet my heart didn't feel much lighter. Even now, I didn't know whether to believe Kerena's warnings or trust the Wellington I'd seen with my own eyes.

Should I come clean with Wellington? Should I tell him that the first time was actually me too, and completely end this lie full of holes?

But what if Kerena was telling the truth? What if Wellington's current kindness was just a more sophisticated disguise?

Maybe his kindness toward me was genuine, but he'd also arranged for a psychologist for Kerena. If I rashly revealed everything and Wellington discovered Kerena was a fraud, even if he could forgive my deception, what about Kerena?

Even though Kerena had become increasingly unfamiliar, I really couldn't bear to see my friend of so many years suffer any more harm. She'd already endured enough.

Suddenly, footsteps came from the stairs. I instinctively looked up to see Kerena and the psychologist coming down. She spotted me immediately, and her lips curved downward almost imperceptibly as she let out a cold snort through her nose before quickly looking away.

She didn't look at me again, walking the psychologist straight to the door, then turning to go back upstairs without any pause.

I instinctively straightened my spine, my fingers tightening. The rift between us, it seemed, could never be repaired.

Uma, standing beside me, naturally saw this scene too. She sighed softly, her gaze following Kerena's figure as it disappeared through the doorway, then turned back to look at me.

"Ms. Hamilton, I know Ms. Williams went through something terrible and must have deep psychological scars. Her emotional ups and downs are normal. We all understand and try our best to accommodate her feelings." She bent down, clearing the dessert plates from the coffee table in front of me while speaking in a volume only we could hear. "But you need to understand—her trauma wasn't something you deliberately caused. Some things happen, and when they do, it's not anyone's fault, or at least not entirely one person's fault. And not all psychological issues and emotions are things outsiders can or should bear. Sometimes, excessive guilt and accommodation only trap both people in an even more painful situation."

Uma's words were tactful, but the meaning was crystal clear. She was reminding me not to completely blame myself for Kerena's breakdown and emotions, and not to try to shoulder responsibilities that weren't mine to bear.

Everyone had their own life and challenges to face. Some hurdles could only be crossed alone.

Listening to her words, my feelings were complicated. Uma made sense, but was it really that simple?

If it weren't for me, Kerena wouldn't have been targeted by Caspian, wouldn't have suffered through that nightmare. How could I possibly absolve myself of that karma?

Besides, Uma didn't know the full story. Kerena's resentment toward me probably went far beyond just being collateral damage.

Last night, I'd desperately hoped for a completely honest conversation with Kerena. Even if it got intense, even if we fought, using the most vicious words to hurt each other—if we could just speak our truest thoughts, then cry together at the end, dry each other's tears, and say we were still best friends...

But it seemed different now. We could no longer be friends who opened our hearts to each other. Kerena had changed. I had changed, too.

I lowered my head, tears helplessly dropping one by one into my cup.

'Matilda, don't make yourself sound so noble. You have no right to blame Kerena either. After the first time you slept with Wellington, didn't you also want to hide it from her?'