Entwined Destinies: Captured Hearts

Chapter 35: A Rare OpportunityCopyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Helen entered the office with some documents in her hands, and when she caught sight of Dolores, a hint of brutality flashed across her eyes. Was this woman trying to seduce Matthew while she was gone? Matthew was hers. Dolores should never trespass this area! She wanted to slap Dolores so much. However, at this moment, Matthew spoke up instead. “What’s the matter?””I need your signature on this document,” Helen hid the brutality away immediately, forcing a smile while answering him. He grabbed the documents and started to leaf through them. He paused to ask Dolores to leave. “You’re not needed here at the moment. You may leave us now.”Dolores gave him a small nod before exiting his office.”Matthew, she-“”I have asked for her to translate something for me. Is there something wrong with that?” His face was unfazed as he interrupted her. There were no traces of him lying by looking at his face. He was secretly taking responsibility for what had happened to Dolores recently. He knew full well about Helen’s unfriendly attitude toward Dolores, but he couldn’t do anything to change the situation. He had some responsibility when it came to Helen.”No, nothing.” Helen walked over and started to give him a massage. “You can leave such things to me in the future.”Matthew simply mumbled some response.*****After getting off work, Dolores stood by the road next to the building. She saw a black car slowly emerged from the garage and she unconsciously straightened her back. She knew the identity of that person in the driver’s seat. The black car rolled to a stop in front of her. Abbott wasn’t with Matthew so he was driving himself. The window rolled down and Matthew’s calm gaze came into view. Dolores was wearing a red dress with a flat collar. Her waistline was accentuated and the dress reached just below her knees. Her pale legs were exposed to the slightly chilly night air. As she felt his burning gaze, Dolores hastily explained. “I didn’t want to be dressed too casually and embarrass you. After all, I am still your ‘wife.’ “She was deliberately giving the explanation because she was afraid Randolph would see through her lies and realize they didn’t love each other. During afternoon break, Dolores had specifically returned to the villa and picked out the particular dress. She’d never worn it before. It was given to her by Sampson on her eighteenth birthday. Dolores was always fair-skinned and the bright red colored dress was able to emphasize her skin’s contours even more. Her collar bones were sculpted and her neck was without any excess fat. She exuded charm. She was a sight to behold. A faint glint appeared in Matthew’s eyes and he dully said “Get in the car.”She sat in the passenger’s seat while thinking about what would happen next. Since they were returning to the Flores family home, she had to put on her best performance. Matthew was strangely too calm and Dolores couldn’t guess what was on his mind at all. Could it be that her attire was not appropriate? She rarely wore anything that stood out like the bright red dress. Back then, Sampson had commented that it suited her very well. As the scenery flashed by outside the window, the shadows moved ambiguously across Matthew’s handsome face. He looked like someone who only existed in a dream. He felt unreal and distant, just like their relationship; so near, yet so far. After deliberating for a while, she voiced her concerns. “Is my dress not up to your standards?”Matthew’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, but his fingers jerked up slightly. He shot her a glance and spoke up. “You’re fine.”Dolores relaxed the tension in her body a little, while not wanting to continue the conversation. Neither of them spoke for a while and a blanket of oppressing silence hung over the air in the car. Dolores’ gaze swept over his hands gripping the steering wheel. His fingers were long and chiseled. His fingernails were immaculate. It was another sight to behold. His fingers had the same impact on others as his face. It was an unforgettable sight.”Do they look that good?” His gaze was still trained on the road ahead. After hearing what he said, Dolores only then realized she’d been staring at him for some time. She instantly shifted her gaze elsewhere and pretended not to hear him. Matthew turned toward her slowly with his lips curled into a devious smile. “Is my face more good- looking than my fingers?”Dolores continued to pretend not to hear him and even pretended to fall asleep. She was criticizing him furiously in her heart. Where did his aloofness and nobility disappear to? Why did he suddenly sound like a narcissist? After roughly twenty minutes, the car stopped in front of the Flores family villa. Randolph was home earlier than usual, and Beulah had been busy preparing the dishes for dinner. The scale and quality of the food were very acceptable, in Randolph’s opinion. He seemed like he’d forgotten about their previous unhappy altercation for the moment.”The First Miss is home,” the maid arrived to announce. Randolph peeked at Beulah and Annabelle as he warned them in a low tone. “This is a very important ordeal for me. Don’t do anything that could ruin this meeting!”Beulah suppressed the anger in her heart as she straightened his suit. “You have nothing to worry about. We’ll never talk back or retaliate, even if she comes at us with fury. As long as she lends you a hand in the company’s matters, I can still do all of this for you considering I can be of no help to you in the company. So, she can vent her anger all she’d like.”Randolph felt Beulah didn’t waste any of his sentiments toward her in the past. “When the crisis in the company has been resolved, I’ll compensate you nicely.”Once Beulah gave her nod of approval, Randolph went to the door, wanting to welcome Dolores and Matthew personally. Dolores was standing next to Matthew, holding the contract regarding the piece of land in Repulse Bay. Matthew stole a glance at her and held out his arm. “Take my arm.”Dolores followed suit and together they entered the villa.w??.N?ve???o?e.???”Please, please, come in. I’m so honored you could join us for dinner this evening.” Randolph welcomed them with open arms. He didn’t act like his usual arrogant and entitled self at all. Instead, he was gracious and flattering. Matthew never had any good feelings toward Randolph, so he just nodded slightly while keeping his mouth shut and maintaining his indifference. Randolph froze slightly when he realized that Matthew wasn’t going to banter with him and ease the tension in the air. He hoped Matthew would have a different attitude, seeing that Randolph was wW(w).?????????e.???Dolores’ father and his father-in-law. He realized he was rapidly losing face and had to do something about it. Dolores simply laughed. “He’s always like this.”Randolph managed to brighten his expression as he invited them inside. “Come in now.”Beulah was playing the role of a decent wife and mother. They saw her arranging the cutlery on the table. At the sight of her guests, she flashed an insincere smile. “You’re finally here. Come sit down. Lola, you would never have thought that your dad asked me to prepare a scrumptious meal after he learned you were coming for dinner today. I hope you find the food to be enjoyable.”Dolores looked at her with a smile on her face. They were just putting on an act at that moment.

“I’m not an outsider, you don’t have to stand on ceremony.”As she replied, she tightened her grip on Matthew’s arm. She was only doing it for show. Beulah studied Dolores’ appearance as she tried hard to suppress the resentment in her heart. She continued with her fake facade.”You’re indeed right.”Dolores settled into her seat, still holding on to Matthew’s arm. Beulah and Annabelle sat opposite them. Annabelle had put on a red dress and delicate make-up. Despite being so young, she had a mature and flirtatious look at the moment. Dolores sneaked a scornful glance at Annabelle and snickered coldly to herself. Was Annabelle trying to seduce Matthew? As she looked into Annabelle’s fixed expression, she joked. “Sister, why are you staring at your brother- in-law like that? Is there something on his face?”Matthew’s eyes twitched slightly as he pondered Dolores’ intentions. He was uninterested in looking at such a heavily made-up face and, although both of them were wearing a red dress, Dolores, who had light make-up, looked infinitely better than her sister. She was a sight to behold around the dining table. Annabelle immediately lowered her head. Beulah was holding Annabelle’s hands under the table. She was trying to calm Annabelle down.”Alright, it’s nowhere near lunch anymore; you guys are probably ravenous.”Randolph was finding the chance to start a conversation with Matthew, but he couldn’t settle on a suitable topic. From the moment Matthew set foot in the villa, he looked like he was trying not to have anything to do with any of the Flores family. From time to time, he would pick up some food and place it on Dolores’ plate in a show of affection. Randolph watched their interactions silently. He didn’t expect his daughter, who never garnered his attention, was the apple of Matthew Nelson’s eyes. He couldn’t help but change his mind about Dolores. Dolores never intended to only have dinner with her family. She placed the contract on the table and raised her voice. “This is what you always wanted. Since I’ve brought this here, you didn’t forget about your promise, did you?”Since it wasn’t easy for her to gain Matthew’s support in the matter, she had to cherish the opportunity and get back what belonged to her and her mother. The smile on Randolph’s face slowly faded. “We’re still family in the end. Just tell me straight if you have any favor to ask from me.”His priority was to resolve the crisis in his company. He wouldn’t have much use for the piece of land at the moment. He was hinting at Dolores hard by blinking several times to start the topic in front of Matthew, but Dolores pretended not to understand him as she asked with concern, “Is there something wrong with your eyes?”If Matthew hadn’t been there, Randolph would have jumped up in fury. Matthew glanced at Dolores one more time and realized she was feigning ignorance, although she knew what she had to do. It made her look smart… No, it actually made her look adorable. Beulah interrupted them in an attempt to clear things up. She spoke up while scooping some food onto Dolores’ plate. “Lola, your dad’s company has some problems right now…” As she began, she focused her gaze on Matthew, “Matthew is our son-in-law and we need your help this time. If I have offended you in the past, I hope you can let it go for now.”Dolores’ face darkened at the mention of Matthew as their son-in-law. They really knew how to garner all the prestige for themselves.”Were you only involved in giving me life, or did you raise me too?” Dolores asked, inching toward Matthew as she looked at him. “Since when did my husband suddenly become your son-in-law?”Beulah curled her hand into fists underneath the table, but she could still maintain her smile. “I know you’re still mad about me and your dad, but we really do love each other-“”I’m coming here today to get back what rightfully belongs to me!” Dolores didn’t give Beulah a chance to finish her sentence. Did Beulah just say that they were in love? Dolores wanted to see for herself what choice Randolph would make when he was presented with benefits and love. Randolph noticed the atmosphere turned sour and there was no way to carry out a proper conversation anymore. He stood up and turned to Dolores. “Let’s continue this conversation in the other room.”Dolores got up and glanced at Matthew. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”Matthew mumbled a faint response. Dolores followed Randolph into his study. As soon as they were alone, Randolph changed his expression into one of cruelty immediately. “Have you told Matthew about my problem?”Dolores just stared at Randolph without any emotion on her face. It seemed she had gotten used to getting hurt, so she couldn’t be stirred by anything anymore.”Give me back what belongs to me first.” It was a rare opportunity for her. She had to get back her stuff first. Randolph glared at her and replied. “I’ll return them to you, but you have to make sure Matthew will help my company through this crisis.””Our deal last time only encompassed the piece of land and my things. The matter about your company is completely unrelated. I’ve mentioned this before. If you want me to convince Matthew to help you, divorce Beulah. If you do that, only then will I help you.” Dolores paused before continuing. “You can see for yourself Matthew loves me very much. He would immediately agree to help you if I’m the one who brings it up.”???.?????(s)?o??.co?Randolph sank into a deep silence upon hearing that. Dolores continued. “You have to consider which is more important to you: your company or your wife who can’t even give you a son.”Dolores turned around and was about to leave the study. At the last second, Randolph blurted out. “I agree to your terms.”Dolores smiled to herself. Just as she expected… Dolores stopped in her tracks and turned around to gaze at him. “I want my things back today.”She didn’t want it to drag on, fearing things would take a turn for the worse. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t retrieve everything at the moment, but she could still collect things such as money for now. Her???.n?ve???o?e.c(o)?mother’s medical bills were going to be due soon. Randolph gnashed his teeth, “Lola, remember we are still a family.”Dolores smiled in response. “I know, but what belongs to me and my mother always belonged to us. Shouldn’t you return them to no matter what?”They were a family? He finally remembered they were a family only when it suited him. mother’s medical bills were going to be due soon. Randolph gnashed his teeth, “Lola, remember we are still a family.” Dolores smiled in response. “I know, but what belongs to me and my mother always belonged to us. Shouldn’t you return them to no matter what?” They were a family? He finally remembered they were a family only when it suited him.