A wave of irritation washed over Matthew, and his response came out sharper than intended. “Stop worrying about such things. Just go to the hospital and take care of your injuries.”
Finishing his thoughts, he turned to Fernando, his voice firm.
“Ensure she gets to the hospital. We can’t afford any complications with her wounds.”
Lindsay watched him walk away, her heart tangled in a web of emotions that she couldn’t quite name.
She lowered her gaze, her hands tightening on her knees. A silent vow formed in her heart to achieve her aims before Ronan’s arrival.
A mischievous smile crept across her lips, tinged more with scheming than benevolence.
Meanwhile, Matthew made his escape to the gun range.
Irritation and confusion clouded his eyes, suggesting that this was his refuge, the only place where he could find a moment’s peace.
He seized a firearm, took aim, and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the target. Each shot seemed to scream into the void, releasing the pent-up storm of his inner turmoil.
As dusk bled into night, the rhythmic thunder of gunfire filled the air, only ceasing when a dull ache in his arm signaled it was time to rest.
It was then that Neville appeared, breathless and flustered.
With Matthew unreachable, the desperate Fernando had enlisted Neville’s help. Guessing Matthew’s retreat, Neville had hurried to find him at the range.
Breathing heavily, Neville blurted out, “Matthew, have you heard? The internet is teeming with rumors about you and Stella. Rumor has it you paraded a new love at Stella’s launch today, and she even boldly claimed her place right in front of Stella! What in the world is going on?”
Matthew paused in wiping his brow, his features knitting together in displeasure. “Are you actually giving credence to those online fantasies?”
As Matthew’s glare pierced through the growing shadows of the evening, Neville’s curiosity only deepened. “Is it true?”
Silence fell between them, heavy and revealing. Matthew’s stern Look was as telling as a spoken confession.
Undaunted, Neville ventured another guess. “Was it Lindsay you took there?”
The silence lingered, thickening with each passing second—a silent nod from the universe.
Alarmed by the implications, Neville’s tone took on an edge of reproach. “Have you completely lost your mind? Skipping the Launch would have been inconsequential, but why bring Lindsay into this? Are you seriously considering her as your new focus? Don’t forget, Stella is still your wife!”
Matthew’s expression soured further, frustration etching his features.
“It was merely a fashion show, nothing more. The event was public, open to all eyes. The press is simply stirring the pot unnecessarily. You’re reading too much into it.”
With that, Matthew reached for his phone, intending to quash the unwanted headlines before they grew further out of control.
Neville quickly added, “I’ve already spoken to Fernando about removing the news. I know you well enough to handle this.”
Matthew aborted the call, his phone now a dead weight in his hand.