“Doesn’t that car belong to your family?” Boyce asked after he saw Matthew. He felt that something
was amiss and was positive Matthew felt it too.
“Do you think... your father is here?” Boyce decided not to mention Victoria’s name, though he knew
that this car belonged to her.
But he dared not mention Victoria’s name so causally.
“What do you think she wants? Matthew said suddenly.
For someone who never mentioned Victoria’s name, it was groundbreaking that he had done so today.
The reason being, he suspected that Dolores might be meeting Victoria today. Victoria attended
Dolores’s grand opening at her fashion boutique, she even gave her a bracelet as a gift and she is
wearing it now.
It was very obvious that Dolores brought her children out today to meet up with her.
Matthew closed his eyes, why does Victoria want to get close to Dolores? What were her intentions?
“Do you think she is using Dolores to get close to you?? Boyce guessed, even though Dolores has
been distant towards Matthew these couple of years. “Look, Ms. Flores has given birth to two children
and they are yours, doesn’t matter if you love her or not, you have an obligation towards her, and your
children; the children belong to the Nelson family. Inevitably, your father likes them a lot, Victoria clearly
knows you don’t like her - why is she trying to get close to Ms. Flores and the children?”
To be honest Boyce’s evaluation of the situation made some sense, he knew that Dolores was an
intelligent woman, it was not like her to let her meet the children without thinking about it.
Besides, Dolores’s attitude towards him had clearly changed, if the change was brought on by Victoria,
that would be a scary thought. What did Victoria say or do to her to change her?
“Your stepmother is also very patient, it has been quite some time since she married your father, he
wasn’t that old back then, but they didn’t give birth to anymore children, and to you…”
Matthew turned his head to look at him. Boyce wanted to say something but was speechless, he
thought about saying using different words, “I heard a rumor that Stepmothers don’t care for her
husband’s children from his previous marriages, some even abuse the children, and also when she
married your father, she wasn’t old, they should’ve had children, but did not, she has never harmed
you, the only thing she should repent for is marrying your father as soon as your mother passed away.”
He can’t deny the fact that Victoria has never harmed him, Boyce’s evaluation was quite accurate, but
he cannot accept it. If he accepts it, how will his deceased mother feel?
“Find out whether there are any more villages around this area.” He had to make sure whether Dolores
was going to meet with her, and why.
Boyce nodded, “I will find someone and check.”
On the other side, Dolores kept on looking back while sitting in the car, she was weary of someone
stalking her. Luckily, this journey was on a quiet road, no other cars drove by.
The car arrived in front of the Forbis family.
Victoria was waiting at the door, she did not welcome them immediately when she saw them, she just
stood there, wondering how she should react since the children knew nothing about her situation.
But now, the situation had changed. “Look, that grandma is also here.” Said Simona when she held on
to Dolores’s hand.
Dolores stood the children beside each other, crouched down to their eye level “Simona, Samuel, you
need to promise Mommy something, ok?”
“What is it?” asked Samuel.
Dolores let the children look at Victoria, and announced magnificently, “That, is your grandmother.”
“I know, we’ve seen her before.” Samuel blinked his big, animated eyes, unsure of the reason why his
mother was announcing this news again.
Matthew’s mother is their grandmother. Dolores asked her children to go to their grandmother’s, “Go.”
Samuel overheard his mother talking to Jessica before and knew that this grandmother was Matthew’s
stepmother. However, if mommy was telling them she was, she must have her reasons; so he took his
sister’s hand and walked towards Victoria.
Victoria looked at their silhouettes, her eyes changed from a gentle and warm gaze to being moist, she
had not seen her son until he was six years old, after that she suffered from a psychiatric disorder and
forgot how he looked like when he was six. She recovered, and watched Matthew grow up gradually.
She missed out on his development, missed out on most beautiful times, she did not know when he
learnt to walk, when he started teething, what his first words were.
She didn’t know anything, she has too many regrets in life.
Two little children were walking towards her at that moment, she felt her heart ache unconsciously.
“Grandma.” Simona said it first, she was not as guarded as her older brother - all she knew was, when
Mommy said that she was their grandmother, she was definitely their grandmother. Her voice was soft
and refreshing, Victoria couldn’t hold back her tears when she said it, tears rolled down her cheeks;
she quickly wiped them off. It was not a good image to project in front of children.
She knelt down and hugged the two children, “Simona, Samuel, I have not seen you for such a long
time.”
Samuel rested his chin on her shoulder, actually, it hasn’t been that long he thought to himself, but this
grandma is quite nice - therefore, he took the initiative and hugged him. “We can see each other more
often in the future.”
Victoria felt motherly, Matthew had never let her get close to him, ever since she married into the
Nelson family, he had been aloof towards her.
She felt lucky to be able to cuddle his children today. “Come, I’m going to bring you to the garden.”
Victoria stood up, holding a child on each hand. Simona looked up and questioned her, “Grandmother,
do you have anything good to eat in your home?”
“Simona, are you tired from walking around?” Why did she think about food all the time?
It turned out Simona was a greedy little piggy. Victoria smiled and said, “Yes.”
“Daddy brought me and my brother to the mountain side today, there were so many persimmons, we
picked a lot of them, they are also very sweet, we even brought some here.” Simona announced
proudly. It was her first time spending time in the mountain, and picking up fruits. She was proud of her
achievements and thought she did a good job.
“Really? Were the persimmons on the West Mountain?” Victoria was surprised, all these years, she
saw Matthew as a cold and distant workaholic, she never thought that he would change if he had kids.
Now he was bringing his children up to the mountain to pick persimmons.
She thought this new Matthew had more of a human touch. It felt like he was made out of flesh and
bones.
She rubbed Simona’s hair, “Even though the persimmons are very delicious, you should not get greedy,
everyone can only have two each.”
When we were in the car just now Mommy told us persimmons are not good if we want to feel warm
naturally, and we cannot have too many; so I really wanted to have some. But I only ate three, I would
like to have some more, Mommy said no, and also, this persimmon is too small.”
She gestured with her hands, “Same size as a chicken’s egg, some are smaller.”
Dolores followed them slowly while carrying a plastic bag with some persimmons inside. She saw their
silhouettes and smiled like a Cheshire cat instinctively. It was almost noon, the blanket of fog has finally
been dispersed, she felt the warm rays of sunshine.
Victoria and her children were laughing and smiling when holding hands walking into the
courtyard.
When we were in the car just now Mommy told us persimmons are not good if we want to feel warm
naturally, and we cannot have too many; so | really wanted to have some. But | only ate three, | would
like to have some more, Mommy said no, and also, this persimmon is too small.”
She gestured with her hands, “Same size as a chicken’s egg, some are smaller.”
Dolores followed them slowly while carrying a plastic bag with some persimmons inside. She saw their
silhouettes and smiled like a Cheshire cat instinctively. It was almost noon, the blanket of fog has finally
been dispersed, she felt the warm rays of sunshine.
Victoria and her children were laughing and smiling when holding hands walking into the
courtyard.
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