Chapter 240 Keep Me Company

Chapter 240 Keep Me Company

Gavin visibly froze for a second, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Thomas on the hospital bed and Matilda. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

"Your ex-husband followed you all the way to Meadowbrook City?"

"I have no idea how he tracked me down." Matilda tugged at the corner of her mouth, her tone remarkably calm.

Gavin, tactful enough not to pry further, patted her shoulder. "Alright then, you stay here with him. Call me if you need anything—I'll be at the inn."

"Okay. Thanks. I really appreciate it."

Gavin waved her off and turned to leave.

The hospital room fell silent.

The IV drip ticked steadily, one drop after another, as the light outside the window gradually faded into darkness.

Matilda sat in the chair beside the bed, elbows propped on her knees, staring blankly at the floor.

She didn't even know why she was still here.

She could have left. Nothing was stopping her.

Matilda asked herself—Thomas wasn't helpless. Once he woke up, he could take care of himself.

But her feet wouldn't move.

She didn't know how much time had passed.

Thomas stirred on the bed.

His lashes fluttered a few times before his eyes slowly opened.

He stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above him, momentarily disoriented.

Everything around him was strange. The sharp scent of disinfectant filled his nostrils.

After a while, the memories before he'd collapsed came flooding back.

This was a hospital. He'd passed out in front of Matilda's door.

He turned his head.

Matilda sat in the chair beside the bed, one hand propping up her chin, her gaze fixed somewhere distant.

Thomas's throat felt like sandpaper. When he spoke, his voice came out rough and hoarse.

"You're here?"

Matilda snapped out of her daze and looked up at him.

The moment their eyes met, her expression visibly hardened.

"You're awake?"

Thomas braced his hands against the mattress, trying to sit up, but the IV needle in the back of his hand stopped him short.

He frowned in discomfort but forced himself upright anyway.

Matilda didn't move to help him. She just watched him quietly, as if he were a stranger.

"Thomas, what exactly do you want?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word carried suppressed anger.

"Getting drunk in the middle of the night, then chasing me to Meadowbrook City. Do you think I wasn't clear enough before, or did you just not take anything I said seriously?"

Thomas leaned back against the headboard, watching her.

He didn't explain why he'd been drinking. He didn't explain how he'd found her.

He just looked at her. Several seconds passed before he spoke.

"I wanted to see you."

His voice was soft, his tone hoarse—like his throat was full of sand.

Matilda froze for a moment.

"You wanted to see me?" She repeated the words, finding them almost absurd. "What if I didn't want to see you? I came all the way to Meadowbrook City specifically to avoid you. Don't you get that?"

Thomas said nothing.

His hand emerged from under the blanket, his fingertips brushing lightly against the back of her hand where it rested on the edge of the bed.

Matilda jerked her hand back reflexively.

"Don't touch me."

Thomas's hand hung frozen in midair. His pale face seemed to carry a trace of loneliness and vulnerability before he slowly withdrew it.

The room fell silent for a long while.

"I know you hate me." Thomas lowered his gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. "What happened before—that was my fault."

Matilda didn't respond.

"You don't have to forgive me." He paused. "But can you stop avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you." Matilda stood up and took a step back. "I just didn't want to stay in Harmony City anymore. It has nothing to do with you."

Thomas looked up at her.

His face was still pale. Like this, he bore almost no resemblance to the imperious Mr. Stuart everyone knew.

Matilda looked away. She didn't want to keep looking at him.

She was afraid that if she did, she'd soften.

"Just focus on getting better first." Her tone was stiff. "We can talk about everything else later."

Thomas's lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't get the words out.

"Okay."

Matilda felt a tightness in her chest.

She turned and walked to the window, pretending to look at the scenery outside.

Why had he suddenly become like this?

Where was the arrogant, unyielding Thomas who never bowed his head?

While she was lost in thought, the hospital room door swung open.

Gavin walked in carrying two takeout bags. Spotting Matilda by the window, he waved them at her.

"Figured you probably hadn't eaten, so I picked something up on the way."

He set the bags down on the bedside table, then glanced at Thomas, who was now awake.

"You're up." Gavin pulled a chair over and sat down with easy familiarity, unpacking the food. "You haven't eaten either, right? I bought an extra portion—let's eat together."

Thomas's gaze landed on Gavin.

He didn't say anything. He just narrowed his eyes slightly.

Sizing up the man before him from head to toe.

White dress shirt. Casual pants. Clean-cut features. When he smiled, his teeth were perfectly white—he looked innocent and harmless.

But Thomas knew his history. He couldn't shake the feeling that Gavin wasn't as pure-hearted as he appeared.

Gavin didn't flinch under his scrutiny. Instead, he extended his hand proactively. "Hi, I'm Gavin. I'm staying next door to Matilda—guess you could say we're neighbors."

Thomas didn't reach out.

He leaned back against the headboard, his voice flat and emotionless. "Neighbors?"

Gavin's hand hovered awkwardly in midair for a second before he naturally withdrew it, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, right next door. Actually, Matilda and I ran into you once before when we were together. Not sure if you remember."

The words sounded casual enough, but to Thomas's ears, they were grating.

His gaze shifted from Gavin to Matilda's face.

Matilda had already walked over. She looked at Gavin with a hint of apology. "Thanks so much. I didn't expect you to make a special trip just to bring food."

She hadn't expected Gavin to come at all. After all, they'd only known each other for two or three days. She was surprised by how thoughtful he was.

"No problem. Have some soup first."

Gavin smiled and handed her a bowl.

Matilda paused mid-motion, then turned to Thomas. "You should eat something too. The doctor said once you're awake, you can eat, but it's best to stick to liquids."

Her tone was flat and detached, as if she were relaying information about something that had nothing to do with her.

Thomas lowered his gaze to the soup.

"Thank you."

She didn't reply. She sat back down in her chair and unwrapped the other portion of food Gavin had brought.

The three of them ate in silence.

Gavin seemed completely unbothered by how awkward the atmosphere was. He chatted with Matilda between bites.

"Oh, by the way, there's a market tomorrow. Apparently it's pretty lively—it's some kind of local festival. Want to check it out?"

Before Matilda could answer, Thomas's voice cut in.

"She's busy tomorrow."

Both Matilda and Gavin turned to look at him.

Thomas held his soup, his expression unchanged as he took another sip.

Matilda frowned. "What am I busy with?"

Thomas looked up at her, his voice still carrying that low, post-illness rasp.

"Keeping me company."