Chapter 6: The Three of Them Could Live with Each Other

Matthew's brow furrowed, and he felt a surge of betrayal coursing through him.

In the living room, Coral had already begun preparing breakfast. When she spotted Dolores sitting alone on the sofa in her pajamas, Coral greeted her with a bright smile. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Coral had assumed that Matthew wouldn't return, considering he had been with Helen. However, she had heard some commotion during the night and discovered that Matthew had indeed come back and even slept in his room.

Dolores, as the wife of Young Master Nelson, was wed through an arrangement by the late Mrs. Nelson. Naturally, Coral expected her to be a virtuous woman. Coral, who had been taking care of Matthew for years, felt joyous that the young master had finally tied the knot.

But her overly gracious tone and demeanor made Dolores uneasy.

Dolores forced a stiff smile. "Yes, I slept quite well."

"Then hurry and change your clothes. I'll have breakfast ready by the time you're dressed," Coral said, entering the kitchen to start preparing the meal.

Dolores glanced down at her pajamas. The clothes she had brought were still in the room.

Matthew should have finished his shower and changed by now, shouldn't he?

Determined, Dolores stood up and made her way to the bedroom. Standing in front of the door, she softly knocked a few times, but there was no response. Knocking again yielded the same result. Not wanting to linger in the hallway, she reluctantly opened the unlocked door, which swung open with ease.

However, as soon as the door opened, Dolores was hit by a bone-chilling gust of wind, as if it were the depths of winter in December.

Matthew sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze coldly fixed on a piece of paper.

That paper...

As Dolores caught sight of the paper in Matthew's hand and the scattered mess on the floor, her heart sank, and anger surged within her. She felt utterly humiliated as her privacy was completely disregarded.

Dolores hurried over to him, snatched the paper, and demanded, "How dare you touch my things without permission? Have you never heard of privacy?"

Matthew sneered, his smile sending a shiver down her spine. "Privacy?"

His tone was laced with an unsettling eeriness. "You married me while carrying an illegitimate child, and now you dare lecture me about privacy?"

"I-I..." Dolores tried to explain, but words failed her in that moment.

Matthew rose from the bed, his movements almost mechanical, as if altering the very atmosphere of the room. His brow furrowed in anger.

"Tell me, what is it that you want?"

Matthew's mind was in turmoil. Did she expect him to embrace her illegitimate child and make it the first grandchild of the Nelson family? Was their previous arrangement merely a trap?

The more he pondered it, the darker his expression became.

Dolores pressed her lips into a thin line, her body trembling. She instinctively took a step back until her back met the wall, her hands protectively covering her abdomen, fearing that Matthew would harm her child.

"I didn't intend to keep it from you. The marriage was only temporary, which is why I-I hid it. I swear, I have no ulterior motives."

Matthew's voice thickened with an unsettling intimidation. "Is that so?"

Dolores kept her hands firmly over her abdomen, desperately devising a plan. "I can assure you that such matters can't be brushed aside. If I harbor any deceitful or wicked intentions, I swear I'll suffer a miserable fate. Furthermore, Mr. Nelson, if I cause you any trouble, I'm certain you have countless ways to punish me, don't you?"

Though her actions were subtle, Matthew couldn't help but notice. He glanced briefly at her covered abdomen before returning his gaze to her face.

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

Matthew wouldn't easily believe her words. Her hands instinctively clenched into fists, protecting her abdomen. The unexpected child was a surprise for her as well, but it was her own flesh and blood. Having already lost her brother, she wanted to give birth to this child as a way to honor his memory.

In the future, Dolores envisioned a life with her mother, the three of them together, just like in the past.

Recalling the events of the previous night made Dolores tremble, and she wiped her cold, clammy hands on her shirt. "I-I only found out not long ago myself..."

She hadn't even had the chance to tell her mother yet. She didn't dare mention the battery of tests she had undergone at the hospital. Leaving any paperwork behind in the house was out of the question, as she feared Jessica might stumble upon it.

She hadn't anticipated that her pregnancy would cause such a huge uproar. The last thing she wanted was for Matthew to think she was attempting to deceive him.

Despite her youth, she had unexpectedly found herself in a scandalous situation. How promiscuous must her private life seem?

Matthew's face grew increasingly grim, his voice carrying a warning tone. "You better behave for the next month. If I find out you're causing any trouble..."

"No, I won't cause any trouble. I'll be obedient, and if I step out of line, you can do whatever you want with me," Dolores hastily promised.

Even if she couldn't earn his trust, she wouldn't allow him to doubt her intentions. She was already in a difficult predicament, and having another enemy would only further complicate her efforts to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

Matthew scrutinized her with probing eyes, as if he were assessing the sincerity of her words.

Knock knock...

Both of them turned their attention to the door as Coral's voice rang through. "Breakfast is ready."

Matthew ceased his stare, swallowing his anger. "Clean up the mess on the floor. I'll meet you downstairs."

Before he had even finished speaking, he turned around and left the room.

As soon as Matthew departed, Dolores's legs gave way beneath her. She leaned against the wall for support, gripping a low cabinet as she regained her strength. Once she felt steady enough, she crouched down and began gathering the clothes scattered across the floor.

When her eyes fell upon the ultrasound pictures, tears welled up and trickled down her cheeks, staining the images. She wiped her face, reminding herself that she couldn't afford to cry. Weakness was not an option. Her mother and the baby inside her needed her to be strong.

She carefully folded the pictures and placed them in her bag. Then, she changed into her own clothes and headed downstairs.

The dining room was already empty, with only an empty coffee cup and plate on the table, indicating that Matthew had finished eating and left.

Dolores breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that she wouldn't be pressured into spending more time with Matthew.

She took a seat at the dining table and enjoyed a satisfying meal.

After breakfast, Dolores left the house. She had promised her mother that she would visit as soon as she could, not wanting Jessica to worry about her.

As soon as she arrived, Jessica intercepted her at the door. "The young master of the Nelson family..."

"Mom." Dolores's voice carried a heavy tone, indicating that she didn't wish to discuss any of it. "He's actually a very kind person. Please don't worry about me."

Jessica let out a sigh. Her daughter had grown up, thinking for herself, and was no longer interested in her mother's advice. It left Jessica feeling somewhat disappointed. "I'm only concerned about you."

She feared that Matthew would mistreat her daughter.

Dolores embraced Jessica, unintentionally seeking solace, but also feeling utterly drained after her efforts to confront Matthew and convince him of her sincerity. "Mom, I'm just a little tired. I didn't mean it."

"I understand. I'm not blaming you." Jessica could sense her daughter's exhaustion. "If you're tired, take a rest."

Dolores nodded. Though she didn't really want to sleep, fatigue weighed heavily upon her. Once in her room, she succumbed to sleep without even realizing it.

At noon, Jessica prepared lunch and woke Dolores up to eat.

As Dolores sat at the table, Jessica served her a plate of rice. "I made your favorite fish dish."

Jessica felt guilty for her daughter. Despite giving birth to her in a good place, she hadn't been able to provide Dolores with a good childhood and had allowed her to suffer alongside her.

Dolores looked at the sweet and sour fish her mother had cooked, a dish she used to adore. However, as the aroma wafted towards her, her stomach churned.

Unable to suppress it any longer, she let out a groan. "Urg..."

"Lola..."

Dolores had no time to explain. She covered her mouth and rushed to the washroom, bending over the sink and retching.

Concerned for her daughter, Jessica followed. Having experienced it before, when she witnessed her daughter's reaction, her face paled. Yet, Jessica found it hard to believe, considering that her daughter had always been conservative and obedient, never having had a boyfriend at school. She had always been honest.

Trembling, Jessica asked with a quivering voice, "Lola, what's wrong with you?"

Dolores stiffened, her hands clenched into fists on the sink. She had made the decision to carry the child to term, so sooner or later, Jessica would find out.

Dolores turned to face her mother, summoning her courage.

"Mom, I'm pregnant."

Stunned, Jessica stumbled back momentarily, unable to grasp the reality of it. Her daughter was only eighteen, and this news caught her completely off guard.