Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Matilda had a splitting headache. Her father had once told her that words should always be steady and reliable-she couldn’t afford to undermine herself.
She had no choice but to let Allen misunderstand for now. Feeling guilty, she turned her eyes away.
The moment Brandon saw Allen holding a peeled pomegranate, he immediately realized this must be the neighbor Matilda had fallen for at first sight. His cold, sharp eyes locked onto Allen.
But Allen stayed calm, carrying himself with quiet confidence. He looked back at Brandon with ease, even wearing a faint smile, his posture relaxed and elegant.
If Brandon lost his temper, he would only make himself look like a fool.
He forced himself to cool down and said flatly, “Dr. Saunders, you’re skilled in medicine and refined in character, clearly not an ordinary man. You must understand-her first self, the way she used to be, is something you’ll never get to see.”
Allen’s smile didn’t fade. “I can’t compare to your good fortune, Mr. Grimes. I met Matilda late, but from here on out, we’ll walk through life side by side.”
Matilda stared at Allen in surprise. He slipped into the role so naturally-it moved her deeply.
Brandon’s fists clenched as he tried to hold back his anger. “That’s absolutely impossible.”
Allen’s smile turned cold. The two men said nothing more, just stood there staring each other down, both showing their cultivated composure.
Only Brandon could see the mocking glint behind Allen’s glasses.
Matilda quickly called the property manager to throw Brandon out.
Before leaving, Brandon gave Allen one last fierce glare.
The moment he stepped outside the complex, he called Zack. “Check everything about Allen from Saints International Hospital. As detailed as possible.”
After Brandon left, the property manager kept apologizing.
Matilda put on a show and said, “If this happens again, I’m not paying property fees.”
She figured she’d save money wherever she could.
The property manager swore, “If it happens again, I’ll cover your fees for the next ten years.”
Matilda couldn’t argue with that, so she let him go.
When she looked up, she met Allen’s smiling gaze. For a moment, she froze, then felt flustered. “Dr. Saunders, about what I said earlier-”
“I’ll think about it seriously,” Allen replied, looking solemn.
“I just meant… don’t take it to heart,” Matilda stammered, her face burning red.
Allen smiled again. “Just teasing you.”
1/3
Matilda let out a breath of relief. Then it hit her-she was still on a video call with the vice president of Micronel Tech.
“Oh no!” she yelped and rushed into the study.
Allen followed a couple of steps inside. He heard her speaking a fluent foreign language, apologizing over and over, promising she could take the job anytime.
When she finally came out, her expression was downcast.
Allen’s heart tightened with worry. “Are you going abroad?”
“Yes, that was the plan. But now it’s impossible. Brandon, that curse of a man!” Matilda didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
Seeing how drained she was, Allen said softly, “Don’t think too much. Rest first. You know, after the worst luck comes good fortune, right?”
Lying in bed, Matilda shook her little bell and thought Allen really was special. Just a few words from him lifted her from rock bottom back to hope.
After the worst luck would come good fortune. She fell asleep holding on to that thought.
When she woke up, her phone reminded her-twenty-one days left until the cooling-off period ended.
Matilda set her phone on the nightstand, freshened up, and came out to find it buzzing nonstop.
It was Anna from a headhunting firm. Twenty-three, cheerful and bold, Anna had that fearless energy of youth.
Last year, she had snuck into a Crossen Technology reception pretending to be a reporter. Not knowing Matilda was the CEO’s wife, she had tried to recruit Matilda with a generous offer.
Matilda had found her amusing and kept her number, though they hadn’t spoken since.
Now desperate for work, Matilda picked up immediately.
Anna’s sweet voice came through. “Matilda, this is Anna. Remember me?”
“I remember you well,” Matilda said.
“Wow, what a memory! You’re brilliant. Could you spare ten minutes to meet? I have a job I’d like to run by you,” Anna said.
Matilda agreed, and they set up a meeting at a café near Maple Heights.
Anna showed up with her hair in a high ponytail, wearing a snug black camisole dress and combat boots-sweet yet edgy, like a college girl. She greeted Matilda warmly and handed her a handmade gift.
Once she was sure Matilda had a good impression of her, Anna got down to business.
“Horton Group acquired Lurith Tech. Everything else is running normally, but for the chip production line, they need someone with deep technical knowledge and big-company experience. You’re perfect for it,” she said.
Matilda’s face stayed calm. “Don’t they care about my past issues with trade secrets?”
She always spoke straight. She didn’t want to throw herself into the job only for old scars to be dug up again.
Anna raised her hand like she was swearing an oath. “If the client hadn’t asked for you by name, I wouldn’t dare come. It’s rare to find someone like you who can step in right away.”
2/3
the new manager.
At noon, Shelby showed up at Brandon’s office with chicken soup she had made. Everyone there knew she was Brandon’s beloved “sister,” so no one stopped her.
She found the office door ajar and overheard Zack’s voice. “That neighbor of Matilda’s-he is renting the place.”
“Renting?” Brandon was shocked.
A 10-million-dollar apartment, and Allen rented it. He thought Allen, for all his polished looks, wasn’t that impressive after all.
“Dr. Saunders is from Itera City. At seventeen, he was badly injured by some guys from Foghide Alley, then went abroad. He comes back once or twice a year. He has a five-year-old daughter in the same daycare as Lola,” Zack explained.
“He has a daughter? He’s married, huh?” Brandon asked.
“Most likely.” Zack nodded.
Brandon finally pieced it together. Last night, Matilda had lied just to provoke him. She wanted to make him jealous, to force him into being the first to back down and ask her home.
Just then, Zack’s phone rang. He saw it was a servant from home and put it on speaker.
“Mrs. Tessa Maxwell is planning to go shopping at Everbright Mall this afternoon with a friend,” the servant said.
Outside the door, Shelby’s eyes lit up. She had been racking her brain on how to arrange a run-in with Matilda. Now the chance had fallen right into her lap.
3/3
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