Chapter 16
She closed the door with a smile, and Matthew's expression changed several times.
He knew it. She would remember that line.
The agreement meant to bind her, he was the first to break it.
Matthew suddenly felt irritated. He went to the wine cabinet and grabbed a bottle. Just as he was about to open it, Sophie opened the door.
"You're going to drink?" Sophie saw the bottle in his hand.
Matthew ignored her.
"You can't drink." Sophie walked over and took the bottle away. "Take care of your body."
Matthew reached out, "Give it to me."
"No." Sophie stepped back. "Even as your wife in name only, I need to make sure you take care of your body while you're my husband. Even if there isn't much time, we can't add anything that might reduce it."
Sophie was stubborn about this.
If she didn't see it, she could let it go, but once she saw it, she had to step in.
"You're trying to control me?" Matthew's tone was displeased.
"Can't I?" Sophie asked.
Matthew walked over, reaching to grab the bottle from her hand.
Sophie raised her hand and opened her fingers.
The bottle fell to the ground and shattered everywhere.
Wine splattered, dotting the floor around their feet.
Matthew looked at the mess on the ground, his heart tightening sharply. He took a deep breath and looked at Sophie again. Her eyes were still bright and clear, without any panic.
Their gazes locked, both holding their ground.
This time Matthew truly realized that Sophie wasn't someone who could be controlled, and she really wasn't afraid of trouble.
Finally, Matthew took a deep breath. He turned around, poured a glass of water, and drank it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Sophie squatted down to clean up the broken glass.
"Matthew."
"Take care of yourself." Sophie picked up the glass pieces. "In this world, someone cares about you."
Matthew turned slightly, watching Sophie carefully place the broken glass in her palm. For a moment, something seemed to flash through his heart.
"Hiss."
Sophie looked at her finger cut by the glass. She squeezed it, and blood oozed out.
Matthew's eyes flickered.
"Matthew," Sophie suddenly looked up, raising her bleeding finger to show him. "It's bleeding."
Matthew frowned slightly, thinking she would handle it quietly.
She held up her finger, blood dripping from it onto the floor, her eyes welling up.
Matthew didn't think she was the type to cry over a small injury, but the tears about to spill from her eyes made him walk over with a stern face, grab her hand, and put it under running water.
He squeezed her wound hard, and the blood thinned as the water washed over it.
"It hurts," Sophie blinked, and tears came out.
Matthew felt stuffy inside. He knew she might be faking this vulnerability, but right now he couldn't bring himself to push her away.
"With such a temper, why cry over a little injury?"
Hearing this, Sophie raised her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes, putting on a show of being strong.
Seeing this, Matthew's movements became gentler. He turned off the water, dried her finger, got the first aid kit, found the disinfectant and cleaned it again, then wrapped it with a bandaid.
"Matthew." Sophie suddenly grabbed his hand.
Matthew frowned.
Her hand was delicate and soft, and when she squeezed gently, the sensation felt like a current running through him.
He was about to shake off her hand when he heard her say, "There's some blood here."
Her finger traced the bit of blood on his hand.
Matthew turned his hand to look. There was indeed a little.
Sophie had already let go of his hand, showing no intention of taking advantage of him.
Matthew went to wash his hands. Sophie squatted down again to pick up the remaining glass.
Matthew said, "Move aside."
Sophie looked up.
Matthew showed his impatience, grabbed her arm and pulled her up. "If you can't do it, don't do it."
"You're afraid I'll hurt myself again." Sophie smiled at him. "Matthew, you're actually pretty kind."
Matthew didn't bother with her. He wrapped the broken pieces in tissue and threw them in the trash, then carefully wiped up the wine.
Sophie just stood there watching him clean up. His fingers were long and well-defined. Even doing something like cleaning up trash looked pleasing to the eye.
Matthew finished cleaning and stood up. His eyes swept toward Sophie, and she put on a bright smile. "Matthew, you're really good-looking."
"Crazy." Matthew didn't look at her again and took the trash bag outside.
Sophie said with a smile, "Your ears are red."
Matthew closed the door, ignored Sophie completely, and went straight to his room.
The door closed, and Sophie's smile deepened.
She admired her index finger with the bandaid on it. Actually, this was a good start, wasn't it?
The next day, before dawn, Sophie got up.
She made the bed and sat on it waiting.
When the sky began to lighten, there was movement at the door. The sound of someone entering the password.
She immediately rushed into Matthew's bedroom, closed the door, and jumped onto Matthew's bed.
Matthew was startled awake. "What are you doing?"
"Your mom's here." Sophie lowered her voice, staring at the door.
Matthew didn't believe Evelyn would really make a surprise visit, but hearing the noise at the door, he had to believe Evelyn would do such a thing.
Sophie quickly took off her jacket. Underneath she wore a V-neck nightgown. She pinched her neck hard, and it quickly turned red.
"What are you doing?"
"We need to make Evelyn believe I'm really trying to have children for you." Sophie lifted the covers and got in. She pushed Matthew. "Go open the door."
Matthew looked at the woman burrowing into his bed. His feelings were mixed.
This was the first time a woman had crawled into his bed, and he couldn't throw her out.
"If you don't open the door, just lie down." Sophie pulled his sleeve, her voice getting softer. "If she comes in and sees us sleeping together, she probably won't come back for a long time."
Evelyn wanted a grandchild even more than Matthew wanted a child.
Because of the noise outside, Matthew had to consider Sophie's suggestion.
Before he could get out of bed, the door was gently opened.
Sophie quickly moved closer to Matthew, wrapping her arms around his waist.
This movement made Matthew's body tense. He wanted to remove Sophie's hands, but Evelyn happened to lean in and look over. Mother and son's eyes met unexpectedly.
Embarrassment appeared on Evelyn's face. She quickly backed out and closed the door.
Sophie asked quietly, "Did she leave?"
"Yeah." Matthew looked at the woman still holding his waist. "Let go."
Sophie pouted and reluctantly removed her hands.
Matthew threw off the covers, got out of bed, and walked into the bathroom.
His bedroom had its own bathroom. Sophie also got out of bed and walked to the bathroom door, leaning against the wall.
When Matthew came out, Sophie said, "Be a bit more affectionate when we go out."
Matthew's gaze fell on her exposed neck, where the red marks looked exactly like kiss marks.
"Once Evelyn leaves, I'll go back." Sophie's eyes were clear. "I hope you can be happier."
This wasn't the first time Matthew had heard her say such things.
She said she hoped he would live well.
She said she didn't want him to die.
She said someone in this world cared about him.
She said she hoped he could be happier.
Matthew's heart was touched by her words.