Chapter 232: Chapter 232



“Doesn’t that car belong to your family?” asked Boyce after seeing Matthew. He felt something was wrong and he was sure Matthew felt it too.

“Do you think… your father is here?” Boyce decided not to mention Victoria’s name, even though he knew that car belonged to her.

But he didn’t dare mention Victoria’s name so causally.

“What do you think she wants?” said Matthew suddenly.

For someone who never mentioned Victoria’s name, it was groundbreaking that he had done so today. The reason was that he suspected Dolores might meet Victoria today. Victoria attended Dolores’ grand opening at her fashion boutique, she even gave her a bracelet and she is wearing it now.

It was very obvious that Dolores took her children out today to meet with her.

Matthew closed his eyes, why does Victoria want to get close to Dolores, what were her intentions?

“You think she’s using Dolores to get close to you?” guessed Boyce, even though Dolores has been distant with Matthew this couple of years. “Look, Miss Flores has given birth to two children and they are yours, it doesn’t matter if you love her or not, you have an obligation to her, and your children; the children belong to the Nelson Family. Inevitably, your father likes them very much, Victoria clearly knows he doesn’t like you, why is he trying to get close to Miss Flores and the children?”

To be honest Boyce’s assessment of the situation made some sense, he knew Dolores was a smart woman, it wasn’t like her to let him meet the children without thinking about it.

Besides, Dolores’ attitude towards him had clearly changed, if the change had been brought about by Victoria, that would be a frightening thought. What had Victoria said or done to him to change her?

“Your stepmother is also very patient, it’s been quite a while since she married your father, she wasn’t that old then, but they didn’t have any more children, and you…”

Matthew turned his head to look at him. Boyce wanted to say something but was at a loss for words, he thought about saying using other words, “I heard a rumor that stepmothers don’t take care of their husband’s children from their previous marriages, some even abuse the children, and besides when she married your father, she wasn’t that old, they should have had children, but they didn’t, she has never hurt you, the only thing she should regret is that she married your father as soon as your mother passed away.”

He can’t deny the fact that Victoria has never hurt him, Boyce’s assessment was quite accurate, but he can’t accept it. If he accepts it, how will his late mother feel?

“Find out if there are any more towns around this area.” He had to make sure if Dolores was going to meet her, and why.

Boyce nodded, “I’ll find someone and check.”

On the other hand, Dolores kept looking back as she sat in the car, afraid someone was stalking her. Luckily, this trip was on a quiet road, no other cars were passing by.

The car arrived in front of the Forbis Family.

Victoria was waiting at the door, she did not immediately greet them when she saw them, she stood there, wondering how she should react since the children knew nothing of her situation.

But now, the situation had changed. “Look, grandma is here too.” Simona said as she grabbed Dolores’ hand.

Dolores put the children side by side, crouched at eye level “Simona, Samuel, you have to promise mom something, okay?”

“What is it?” asked Samuel.

Dolores let the children look at Victoria, and announced magnanimously, “That, is their grandmother.”

“I know, we’ve seen her before.” Samuel blinked his big, animated eyes, not knowing the reason his mother was announcing this news again.

Matthew’s mother is his grandmother. Dolores asked her children to go to their grandmother’s house, “Go.”

Samuel overheard his mother talking to Jessica earlier and knew that this grandmother was Matthew’s stepmother. However, if Mom was telling them she was, she must have her reasons; so he took his sister’s hand and walked toward Victoria.

Victoria looked at their silhouettes, her eyes changed from a soft, warm look to being moist, she hadn’t seen her son until he was six, after that she suffered a psychiatric disorder and forgot what he looked like when he was six.

She recovered and watched Matthew grow up little by little.

She missed his development, she missed the most beautiful moments, she didn’t know when he learned to walk, when he started teething, what his first words were.

She knew nothing, she had too many regrets in life.

Two small children were walking towards her at that moment, she felt her heart ache unconsciously.

“Grandma.” Simona said it first, she wasn’t as reserved as her older brother, all she knew was that when mom said it was her grandmother, it was definitely her grandmother. Her voice was soft and refreshing, Victoria couldn’t hold back the tears when she said it, tears rolled down her cheeks; she wiped them away quickly. It was not a good image to project in front of the children.

She knelt down and hugged the two children, “Simona, Samuel, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

Samuel rested his chin on her shoulder, actually, it hasn’t been that long he thought to himself, but this grandmother is quite nice – so 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 he married into the Nelson Family, he had been distant with her.

She felt lucky to be able to hug her children today. “Come, I’ll take you to the garden.” Victoria stood up, carrying a child in each hand.

Simona looked up and asked, “Grandma, do you have anything good to eat at your house?”

“Simona, are you tired from all the walking?” Why was she thinking about food all the time?

It turned out that Simona had a sweet tooth. Victoria smiled and said, “Yes.”

“Daddy took my brother and me to the mountainside today, there were lots of persimmons, we picked a lot, besides they are very sweet, we even brought some here.” announced Simona proudly. It was the first time she had spent time on the mountain and picked fruit. She was proud of her accomplishments and thought she had done a good job.

“Really, the persimmons were in the Mountain West?” Victoria was surprised, all these years, she saw Matthew as a cold and distant workaholic, she never thought he would change if he had children. Now he was taking his kids up the mountain to pick persimmons.

She thought this new Matthew had a more human touch. He felt like he was made of flesh and blood.

He rubbed Simona’s hair, “As delicious as persimmons are, don’t be greedy, we can each only take two of each.”

When we were riding in the car just now, mother told us that persimmons are not good if we want to warm up naturally, and that we can’t have too many; so I really felt like eating some. But I’ve only eaten three, I’d like to have more, mother said no, and, besides, this persimmon is too small.”

She pointed with her hands, “The same size as a hen’s egg, some are smaller.”

Dolores followed them slowly as she carried 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 had finally dispersed, she felt the warm rays of the sun.

Victoria and her children were laughing and smiling holding hands as they entered the courtyard.

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