Chapter 11
Matthew floored it, desperate to get home. The city lights blurred into streaks outside his window.
All he could picture was Sophie holding their daughter, and he yearned to burst through the door and wrap them both in his arms.]
But when he opened the door, the smiling welcome he’d imagined wasn’t there.
“Sophie?”
The house was so quiet he could hear his own breathing. He called her name twice, but only the empty echo answered.
He searched every room, upstairs and down. They were all empty. Even the nanny was gone.[]
He opened Sophie’s closet. More than half her clothes were gone. The two suitcases she always used were missing from the corner of the walk–in closet.[]
Matthew scoffed to himself.
She’s throwing a tantrum. Probably took the baby and is hiding out somewhere.
The burning urgency he’d felt moments ago was instantly extinguished, replaced by a pang of regret.]
Knowing this, I should have just stayed at the villa with Monica.]
But in the next second, a sharp pain seized his stomach.]
ree days of amusement park junk food with Joseph–fried chicken and burgers–had triggered his chronic stomach problems.[]
Three
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He doubled over in pain, fumbling for the medicine cabinet. But the pillbox that Sophie always kept meticulously stocked was empty.
Before, whenever his stomach acted up, Sophie would be there with a glass of warm water and his medication before he even had to ask
Now, crouched on the floor clutching his stomach, Matthew felt a sharp, clear pang of longing for the woman who had always taken such perfect care of him.[]
“Sophie, what game are you playing at…“]
He weakly ordered takeout, managed a few bites, and passed out, the dull ache in his gut a constant companion.]]
The next morning, his phone rang, shrill and demanding
Matthew fumbled for the phone. His assistant’s name flashed on the screen.[]
“Mr. Wilson, it’s a disaster the voice on the other end was a hushed, frantic whisper. “You have to get to the office right away! Something terrible has happened“]
He rushed to the company. The moment he walked into his office, he froze.]
Joseph was spraying a water gun all over the carpet, and Matthew’s encrypted flash drive–the one he kept locked in his desk–was floating in the fish tank.]
It contained three years of core project plans. Now it was just a useless piece of plastic.]
“You little monster, what are you doing?!“||
The pain in his stomach from the night before hadn’t subsided, and now a fire of anxiety roared through him. The words came out as a shout
Monica immediately shielded the boy with her body. “Mr. Wilson, please, calm down! Joseph didn’t mean to, he was just curious…”
“Curious?” Matthew sneered, his gaze piercing. “How did he get into my locked office and open my locked desk drawer?“]
Joseph flinched at his tone and immediately started wailing. “Mean daddy! You never play with me! Waaaah…“]
The nearby colleagues were stunned, whispering amongst themselves.]
“Did that kid just call Mr. Wilson ‘Daddy‘?”
“And he can get into the CEO’s office… does that mean…”
Monica, terrified, clapped a hand over her son’s mouth, her face drained of all color.[]
She knew better than anyone how much Matthew valued his public image. He had warned her explicitly never to reveal Joseph’s identity in front of others.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Wilson. It’s my fault, I wasn’t watching him closely enough.“]
She nearly fell to her knees, her eyes perfectly red–rimmed. “He grew up without a father to discipline him… he’s a bit wild, just a playful boy who doesn’t know any better. That’s why this happened.“]
“If you’re angry, punish me. Please don’t blame the child…”
Watching her performance, Matthew’s anger inexplicably subsided.]
“Alright, get up. It’s not your fault.”
Monica pushed Joseph’s head down. “Apologize to your father. Now.”
Matthew waved it away, but he couldn’t help thinking that Monica was too soft on the boy. If it had been Sophie, she would never have let him get away with this.[]
After a full day and long into the night, the tech department managed to salvage only a fraction of the data.
Exhausted. Matthew dragged himself back to Monica’s villa.[]
The sound of the shower stopped, and Monica emerged, wrapped in a silk nightgown that barely reached her upper thighs
She pressed against him, her fingers tracing a line down his chest.
“Matthew, Joseph’s tantrum today… I think it’s because he’s lonely.”
She nestled closer. “I was thinking, if he had a little brother or sister to play with, maybe he wouldn’t be so clingy with you?“]
