Jessica didn’t beat around the bush and said what was in her heart, “I don’t know what is going on between you and Dolores. I just think, if you and Dolores can’t be together then I want the children to be raised by me and her…”
Jessica’s mind had travelled quite far, she had thought about it too much.
If Dolores could make a home with Matthew, it was good. If not, she hoped that Matthew was not going to try and win the custody of the children.
If he really wanted to win, she and Dolores were never going to be able to win.
So, she clearly expressed her feeling beforehand.
“She and I did not apply for a divorce.” Even though it was not an explanation, it was still better to explain, “We are still husband and wife in the eyes of law. I like your daughter, not because she gave birth to my children, but because I like her for who she is.”
Jessica sighed in relief. This was of course good.
She just didn’t know how to respond to his bluntness.
“I have to go to Country A for a business trip, she will be going with me. We may not come back for a couple of days and we will have to trouble you with Samuel and Simona. I have arranged for someone outside the villa, if you need to go out, take them with you.” He explained.
He had still not found Dolores. He was afraid that Jessica was going to get worried and that the children were going to look for her too.
So, he deliberately told Jessica that she was going on a business trip with him.
“Okay, I will take care of them.”
After talking to him, Jessica felt much better.
“Simona…”
“She is in my room.” Jessica seemed to know what he was about to ask so she quickly replied, “She woke up last night calling for Dolores, I couldn’t do anything but to bring her to my room to sleep. I coaxed her for a long time before she finally went to sleep. She should still be asleep right now.”
Before she finished talking, they heard a soft voice, “Mommy… Daddy.”
She was wearing pajamas with little yellow ducks printed on them, her skin was white and soft. With her messy hair and fair face, Simona threw herself at Matthew, sweetly calling, “Daddy…”
Matthew took her into his arms.
She put her arms around his neck and kissed him, as if making up for Samuel not letting her to be close to her father, “I missed you.”
Actually, she was afraid that Matthew was going to be angry at her and was not going to want her anymore.
Her wish to somehow please him was hidden in her voice.
Matthew brushed her hair away from her forehead, exposing her entire face. Her full forehead, big watery eyes and innocent face looked very cute.
He rubbed his thumb lightly on her cheek, “Missed me? Where?”
Simona rolled her small eyes and clutched her chest, pointing to her heart, “Missed you in my heart.”
“Didn’t Mommy come back with you?”
Unable to find Dolores, her eyes searched everywhere.
Matthew’s throat constricted, his face still calm, “Your Mommy had something to do, so she didn’t come back…”
At this moment, the cellphone in Matthew’s pocket vibrated.
He took it out and glanced at it. It was a call form Boyce. He didn’t pick it up right away. Instead, he put Simona down and patted her on her head, “Daddy has to answer a call.”
Simona was obedient, then Jessica came over and said, “I will take her to wash up and change her clothes.”
“That will be good.” Matthew nodded.
Seeing Jessica lead Simona into the room, Matthew walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window to answer the call.
When the call was connected, “We have found her.”
It was as if an electric current had travelled throughout his body, stimulating every cell in Matthew’s body.
Boyce said he found her?
His pupils were very dark. He thought he was being very calm but his voice was not calm at all as he asked, “Where are you now?”
“Outside the city. I will send you the location.”
When the call was disconnected, Matthew received the information about the location from Boyce.
He started the car quickly and drove to the destination.
The sky was getting brighter and brighter, and by the time he got there, the sun had already come out and the clouds in the east looked red as if they were burning with fire. The morning mist had disappeared and life seemed to have restored back to normal.
When the car reached the destination, he saw a burnt-out van parked in the wasteland in the outskirts of the city and it was surrounded by police cordon.
He didn’t know why but the closer he got the more flustered his heart felt.
Maria didn’t hurt her, Dolores wasn’t hurt, right?
He had no idea.
His usual calm pace was a little messy. Boyce lifted up the cordon and got out from under it, “Here you are!”
“Where is she?”
“In my car.” Boyce walked towards his car and pulled opened the door to show a thin figure curled up in the back seat. Her hair was messy and her face dirty, but otherwise she looked unhurt. Matthew breathed a sigh of relief.
“Fortunately, she is okay.” Boyce felt thankful, “She must be very tired, she fell asleep.”
He closed the car door, seemingly afraid of waking up the woman in the car, “You can take my car, I will take yours in a bit.”
Boyce extended his car keys.
Matthew did not answer him but asked in return, “What is the situation now?”
When we got here, the van was on fire and she had twisted her foot and fallen down not far from the van. She was awake and said that someone wanted to burn her to death and had tied her to the seat. She was able to free herself and flee just…”
Matthew’s hands clenched into fists suddenly, “Was there no one else here at that time?”
“No, whoever it was must have left after setting it ablaze. I sent people to see if anyone can be found nearby.” Boyce knew that no one knew when that person had left and it was almost impossible to find them, “Fortunately she is fine and we also have Maria in our hands so it’s no big deal.”
Matthew frowned slightly, doubts rising in his heart.
“Why don’t you take her to the hospital to have her foot injury checked?” Boyce gave him the car key again, “At that time, she said she was fine so I didn’t call an ambulance.”
This time, Matthew took the keys and got into the car. He took Dolores to the hospital for a check-up.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Convenient Marriage: Mr. Nelson's Love Trap