Chapter 4
Matilda didn’t bite at his weirdly intense comment.
:
Her gaze zeroed in on him, steady as a rock. “Put the kid down. Now.”
The guy didn’t flinch.
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Matilda had been kicking butt in boxing since she was a kid, taking down five box champs like it was a walk in the park.
Scared? Not her style. She threw another punch, quick and fierce.
The guy flipped a switch, going all smooth and gentlemanly, blocking her with one hand, dodging but never throwing a punch back.
Matilda saw her shot and aimed a sharp kick his way.
“Lady, that’s my dad!” the little girl yelped, her voice tight with panic.
Matilda yanked her leg back mid–kick, stumbling a step or two before finding her footing.
In the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a pair of slick, high–end sneakers stepping closer.
His voice came soft, almost too calm, like a warm summer breeze.“You good?”
Matilda didn’t answer. She flicked her eyes up to the girl. “He’s really your dad? Then why were you screaming for help?”
The girl nodded, cheeks pink with embarrassment. “I wanted to light a candle, but Daddy said no way.”
Matilda turned to the man.
He looked about her age, but there was something deep about him. Hard to pin down.
When he’d blocked her punch, he was all fire and precision. Now, with a faint smirk tugging at his lips, he seemed chill, almost nerdy–like he’d just strolled out of a bookstore with a latte.
He adjusted his glasses with a polite nod and said, “Too many people around. Didn’t want her getting lost in the crowd.”
“I’m not gonna get lost!” the girl huffed, rolling her eyes big–time. “You’re the one who’s a total mess, Daddy.”
She sidled up to Matilda, dropping her voice like she was spilling some serious gossip. “Miss, my dad seems all cool and tough, right?
“But he’s, like, a complete disaster with directions. Can’t even handle a GPS without screwing it up.”
Matilda’s jaw nearly dropped. ‘So, what, this guy’s a total space
cadet?‘
9:13 Mon, Oct 13
Chapter 4
:.
The man shot his daughter a playful side–eye, like he wasn’t thrilled about being roasted.
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But when Matilda glanced at him, he just shrugged, owning the “lost puppy” vibe with zero shame.
“Alright, fine, I’m lost. Could you help us get outta this creepy cemetery?” he asked, his voice carrying a hint of defeat but still polite.
Matilda didn’t say a word.
The little girl skipped along in Matilda’s shadow, practically bouncing with energy. “Hey, miss, I’m Jolene! And this is my dad, Allen!” she chirped.
Matilda’s mind should’ve been on the moment, but a random phrase popped into her head: No wants, no needs.
She snuck a glance at Allen.
His crisp white shirt and dark slacks screamed quiet confidence, like he had it all together.
Hands clasped behind his back, he stared at the ground, his blank expression giving off major zen master
energy.
But it had to be a front.
‘No wants, no needs?‘ she thought. ‘Yeah, right. Then how’d he end up with a kid?‘
Her stare must’ve been too obvious, because Allen caught her looking.
His tone was easy, like they were old pals grabbing a beer.“You’ve got some serious skills. Gotta ask–what’s with the bruise on your face?”
Matilda kept it straight. “Pretty obvious, right? Someone clocked me.”
“Who?”
She shot him a look. “Okay, now you’re getting way too nosy.“”Exit’s just up there. Later.”
Matilda strode into the darkness without a second glance.
Behind her, Allen’s soft eyes, hidden behind his glasses, flickered with something dark and unreadable…
*****
At Itera City Airport, Matilda had barely stepped off the plane when her assistant, Cassandra Gallagher, hit her
- up.
“Hey, boss, I emailed you the dirt on Mr. Grimes‘ assets and his bank transfers with Shelby over the last six years,” Cassandra said.
“Got it. Make sure the PI gets paid,” Matilda said, keeping her voice steady.
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Chapter 4
:
She skimmed the files, pushing down the knot in her chest, and dialed Brandon.
“Where you at?” she asked.
“Home. Mom and Dad just got back from Friusia,” Brandon replied, his tone flat as he hung up.
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He looked up to see Shelby tiptoeing around their dad, who was parked at the head of the dining table.
“Uncle Daniel, please,” Shelby said softly, “Matilda didn’t mean to hurt me or Brandon. She’s finally cooled off and coming home–can we just let it go?”
Daniel slammed his teacup down, the sound sharp enough to make everyone flinch. “This is ridiculous! First, she goes after her sister–in–law, then her own husband. The Grimes family’s name is mud because of her!”
He turned his glare on Brandon. “This is on you for letting her run wild.”
“Why’re you blaming him?” Kathy snapped, jumping to her son’s defense. “It’s all Matilda’s fault.
“That woman’s gotten too big for her britches. When she gets here, she’s gonna get what’s coming.”
Lola, eavesdropping on the grown–ups, tugged at Brandon’s sleeve. “Daddy, is Mommy coming back?”
Brandon ruffled her hair. “Go play upstairs, kiddo,” he said, nodding to the nanny.
Lola trudged off, pouting. ‘Why’s Mom even coming back?‘ she thought. ‘She just makes everyone miserable, always bossing us around.’
Brandon wasn’t exactly stoked either.
Since they got married, he’d steered clear of other women, only looking out for Shelby, who’d had a rough go of it.
‘So why is Matilda acting all jealous?‘ he thought. ‘Am I not giving her enough?‘
His buddies always bragged about their side chicks–three or four at a time–and laughed at him for being so loyal they called him a freak.
They’d warned him: let a woman get too comfortable, and she’ll walk all over you.
He was starting to think they weren’t wrong.
*****
Matilda pulled up to Rose Villa, her eyes tracing the gorgeous lines of the mansion.
This was where Brandon had dropped to one knee, his words still echoing in her head. “The second I saw you at that job fair, I knew you were the one. I’m gonna love you forever.”
That was just six years ago.
Then Shelby came back from overseas, and everything went sideways.
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Chapter 4
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Matilda couldn’t shake the thought that maybe Brandon had always loved Shelby deep down.
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She was his “sister” in name only, after all. Maybe when he’d wanted to settle down, Shelby was too young, and Matilda was just the next best thing.
Her gaze turned cold as steel.
She left her suitcase by the door and stepped into the main hall. Out of nowhere, a cup came flying at her head.
She dodged it with a quick lean, but the scalding coffee splashed her arm, leaving angry red blisters in its wake.
Brandon’s jaw tightened, and he half–stood before sitting back down, like he’d thought better of it.
Matilda’s forehead glistened with sweat from the pain, her sharp eyes scanning the room.
Brandon didn’t budge. Daniel sipped his coffee like nothing happened. Shelby’s smirk was barely hidden. Kathy let out a cold chuckle.
“Matilda, that’s what you get,” Kathy sneered. “The Grimes family’s not your playground. Lower your head and apologize to Shelby and Brandon-”
Before she could finish, Matilda scooped up a jagged piece of the broken cup and chucked it right at Brandon’s head.
He didn’t see it coming. The shard sliced his forehead, blood trickling down.
Matilda locked eyes with Kathy. “You hurt me, I make your son pay double.”
Her heart wasn’t stone–she hated hurting her husband.
But he and his family had struck first. She didn’t go easy on anyone who crossed her, not even the man she loved.
“Enough!” Daniel roared, slamming his hand on the table as he shot to his feet. But before he could lay into her, a thud cut him off–Kathy crumpled to the floor like a shot bird.
The room erupted into chaos.
Brandon lunged forward, his hand wrapping around Matilda’s throat as he pinned her against the wall, veins popping in his arm.
“Matilda,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous, “you’ve really gone and done it now.”
