Matthew’s face grew stern, his eyebrows knitting together. “We can’t divorce now. Grandpa is still in the hospital. It’s not the time to add to his worries.”
Stella scoffed coldly, “Let me know when your grandpa is discharged. I’ll be ready anytime.”
Stella’s phone rang just as she finished speaking; it was Doreen.
Grasping at the call like a lifeline, Stella answered quickly and left the room without a backward glance.
.. ‘s …
As she opened the door, she saw Lindsay sitting in her wheelchair.
Stella gave her a fleeting, indifferent look as if she hadn’t really seen her, and continued on her way.
Lindsay caught sight of Stella’s tear-filled eyes and felt a surge of pleasure, barely concealing a smirk.
When Matthew appeared, Lindsay adjusted her expression to one of concern and gently asked, “Matthew, did something happen with Stella? Are you both okay?”
Matthew ignored her inquiry and replied flatly, “I need to head to the office. The bodyguard will take you home.”
Lindsay’s face brightened as she quickly responded, “I’m headed to the office. I have tasks to attend to there.”
Matthew, visibly annoyed, dismissed her with a wave. “Do as you Like.”
He moved ahead, absentmindedly forgetting to assist with Lindsay’s wheelchair.
Lindsay’s smile vanished, and she was about to remind him when she saw him stop. Hoping he had remembered her, she brightened up again.
Instead, she heard Matthew caution her, saying, “Grandpa can’t handle any stress. Make sure you don’t speak carelessly around him.”
Realizing he was criticizing her earlier interruption in the ward, Lindsay stiffened, resentment flickering in her eyes as she replied sharply, “Understood.”
She thought to herself how Stella was like a Lurking danger. With Matthew’s memory bound to return, she needed to ensure that Stella and Matthew completely cut their ties.
Matthew had just stepped into his office and was about to sit when his phone rang; it was Lucia.
Although he had only reconnected with the Clark family as an adult and was known for his reserved demeanor, Lucia had become intimately acquainted with his life, understanding him more than Waldo did.
She was still troubled about the potential divorce, aware that such matters were not trivial and suspecting there was substance to the rumors.
Lucia didn’t hesitate on the call, asking Matthew directly, “You mentioned at the hospital that you wouldn’t divorce. Was that sincere, or just to appease us?”
Caught off guard by Lucia’s direct approach, Matthew answered vaguely, “Grandma, that’s just nonsense. Work has been demanding, and with some memory issues, I might have inadvertently made Stella unhappy. But there’s no significant problem between us.”
Lucia, not entirely convinced, asked him further, “Is that truly all there is to it?”
Matthew’s assurance was firm, his voice steady. “It’s true, Grandma. Don’t worry about it.”
Lucia’s concern lingered, her tone gentle but insistent. “Matthew, you’ve lost part of your memory, so your circumstances are unique. If there’s tension with Stella, try to be patient with her. If we hadn’t decided to visit Prosper Bay on a whim and overheard Stella’s conversation with Miley, we wouldn’t have realized things had gone so far between you two.”