“Ms. Chambers must be joking. How could a third party understand someone else’s feelings?
Furthermore, you are not a mind reader so how could you know? Tonight’s dinner is organized in Ms.
Chambers’s honor.” Dolores smiled warmly to ease the verbal exchange.
Chloe scoffed and replied, “Me? Isn’t it for you?”
Dolores took her time to chew and swallow before replying, “Matthew is my husband and Jeffery is his
uncle. We are a family. Ms. Chambers, you are our guest, aren’t you?”
Chloe’s smile waned.
Dolores pretended not to notice and continued, “As a show of respect, the guest should seat at the
prominent position, so isn’t Ms. Chambers the star of tonight?” It was unlike Dolores to be
confrontational but when provoked, she would not pull punches because she knew that she would be
bullied if she appeared to be weak.
From the moment Chloe came, she had been saying certain things trying to drive a wedge between
Matthew and her. She did not know what happened when Chloe claimed that she met Matthew at the
hotel. Dolores had been unsettled by this. However, she knew that if she showed that she was flustered
by the claims, then others would have doubts about the stability of her relationship with Matthew. She
wanted to question Matthew about Chloe’s claims but only privately. She would never question
Matthew about this publicly.
Chloe’s expression began to turn nasty and then she stood up abruptly, “What a sharp tongue you
have!”
Dolores maintained her composure and replied, “Oh you flatter me, Ms. Chambers. I’m just stating the
truth, so why should you be upset?”
“Jeffery, I’m done with my dinner.” Chloe said and then rushed out of the room. She felt that Dolores
had embarrassed her and would be made a fool if she continued to stay in the room. This was the first
time she felt so disrespected.
Jeffery’s expression darkened and said, “She is my guest, why are you so aggressive?”
Dolores was about to respond but was stopped by Matthew when he grabbed her hand and said, “Wait
for me in the car.” He wanted to speak privately to Jeffery.
Dolores hesitated for a moment because she was worried about Matthew as she did not know what
Matthew would bring up. She was worried that Matthew and Jeffery would end up in a conflict. She
wished that both Jeffery and Matthew could maintain a cordial relationship.
“I’m sorry I lost my composure and upset Ms. Chambers…”
“Go ahead.” Matthew interrupted her. He clearly knew who was at fault, there was no need for her to
apologize as she did nothing wrong.
Dolores pursed her lips as her abilities were limited to control the situation. She pushed back the chair,
stood up, and proceeded to leave the room.
Very soon the room was quiet.
Matthew wiped his hand, threw the napkin onto the dining table, and leaned back into the chair. Any
doubts that he had previously about Jeffery’s attitude towards him was confirmed during this dinner.
“Do you have something to say about Dolores?” Matthew asked. Matthew was respectful of Jeffery and
wished to remain in a cordial relationship with those whom he cared about. But now there was an
exception. In the past, Jeffery did not seem to hate Dolores…
Matthew maintained a relaxed posture.
Jeffery did not answer directly and said, “Drink with me.”
He called out to the waiter to serve them drinks. Matthew acceded and drank a glass. Jeffery wanted to
make it clear with Matthew but he changed his mind when he saw Matthew’s attitude towards Dolores.
“Chloe’s father and I are colleagues and friends. Today it was a coincidence that I met her at the
restaurant and asked her to join us without informing you. I sense that you are upset. Is it because of
this?” Jeffery intentionally changed the topic and diverted the issue away from Dolores.
Matthew clearly understood Jeffery’s intentions. Regardless of what Jeffery tried to do, Matthew wanted
to express his opinion about this. He filled up his wine glass and took a sip before placing it firmly down
with a loud clank to indicate his displeasure, “She and I… Our marriage is short and we quickly
divorced. She wasn’t the best woman I’d seen but she was whom I liked most.”
Matthew looked at Jeffery and continued, “I was shocked and surprised when I found out that she bore
me to children.” He did not want to reveal too much.
“She was my wife and what can I say about myself if I can’t even protect my woman?”
Jeffery now understood where Matthew was coming from. It was clear that in any conflict that he may
have with Dolores, Matthew would stand on the side of Dolores.
“Matthew, I’m your uncle, all these years…”
“I know that.” Matthew interrupted him. He knew that Jeffery would resort to this and emphasized, “I
know and I will never forget. I had never doubted you. You had taught me to take care of my relatives
and the family. This is something that I will never forget.”
He had never doubted this before but now…
Jeffery wanted to speak but he could not utter a word. He indeed said these words to Matthew.
“You must believe that I am doing these in your interests. Your mother and I share the same surname.
We are one family and you are her only child. Will I do you harm?” Jeffery was clearly emotional as he
slapped his hand firmly on the table and declared, “If it wasn’t for Victoria, your mother may not have
died.”
Not only his hatred for Victoria had not waned over these years but it deepened instead.
Matthew closed his eyes for a moment to ponder about what Jeffery had said.
Victoria.
Had Jeffery’s opinion of Dolores been clouded by his animosity against Victoria?
He knew about the relationship between Dolores and Victoria. That was why… for tonight’s dinner,
there was an opportunity to chance upon Chloe when he took the document.
So, everything was planned by Jeffery.
Was his motive to make him leave Dolores and draw closer to Chloe?
This was ridiculous!
“Those were in the past. You should take good care of yourself. It’s late. I’m leaving.” Matthew stood up
and left the room.
“Matthew.” Jeffery called out to him just as he was about to step out and asked, “Are you angry?”
Matthew stopped and said with his back facing Jeffery, “Yes, I am. I’m angry that you ganged up with
an outsider to attack Dolores. How am I going to answer my children when they found out that I allowed
their mother to be bullied? Jeffery, you are also a father and I’m sure you agree with this.” Matthew left
after saying without turning back.
Jeffery was speechless. Although he had much to complain about his son, he would defend his son if
anyone were to attack him. He closed his eyes and realized that it would be difficult for him to drive a
wedge between Matthew and Dolores.
Why was Marina unable to handle Dolores today? Otherwise, Matthew would not be so willing to
express himself so clearly towards him.
Jeffery left the restaurant after paying up. A Jeep drove over and a bodyguard exited the car and
opened the door and asked, “Going home?”
Jeffery affirmed in fatigue and entered the car.
After 20 minutes, the car arrived at the residence and the bodyguard opened the door and Jeffery
dismissed him for the day.
“When should I pick you up in the morning?” The bodyguard asked.
“Same time as per usual.” Jeffery said and walked into the courtyard.
Marina was waiting for him at home as she wanted to discuss an issue, which concerned Dolores, with
Jeffery.
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