Chapter 238 Matthew is Missing
Matthew stopped crying. Even at his young age, he knew that crying wouldn't solve any problems. He reached out to wipe away his tears, smudging his handsome face with dirt.
Lauren thought that Matthew had listened to her. She gently stroked Matthew's head and continued patiently, "Matthew, you're the best. I promise I'll play with you from now on, just like your father did, okay?"
Matthew's eyes were distant. He nodded but refused to say another word.
Lauren knew Matthew was throwing a tantrum, but she didn't think much of it. Since he couldn't eat dinner, Lauren brought some food upstairs for Matthew.
Matthew obediently finished his meal. Then, as usual, he took Lauren's tablet and lay on the bed watching cartoons.
After putting Matthew to bed, Lauren left the room with her work stuff. Little did she know that just a few minutes after she left, Matthew got dressed, took his piggy bank, and left the room as well.
Ethan was agitated and puzzled by Matthew's opposition to his relationship with Lauren. He suspected Quentin had influenced Matthew, believing Quentin must have said something to turn Matthew against him.
Ethan despised Quentin's behavior, despite it was all in his imagination. Finally, Ethan decided to talk to Lauren, hoping to determine if she had been influenced by Matthew.
Ethan knocked twice on the study door, and Lauren invited him in. Ethan smiled, holding a cup of hot coffee as he opened the door.
Ethan advised, "Working so late? Here, have a cup of coffee and take a break."
Lauren put down her pen and said, "I'm almost done with this design draft. I want to finish it tonight so I can take Matthew out for some fun tomorrow. He's been so bored at home that he's become stubborn. I am really sorry for Matthew's behavior tonight. Please don't be mad, okay?"
Ethan smiled calmly. He replied, "Kids throwing tantrums can be cute sometimes. Besides, haven't I known what kind of Matthew is for the past three years? I've always told you that I consider Matthew to be my child, so you don't need to worry about me being angry."
Lauren couldn't help but sigh. She had finally mustered the courage to start a relationship with Ethan, only to be met with Matthew's opposition. Lauren knew that if she had to choose between Matthew and Ethan, her heart would still lean towards Matthew.
Matthew was her most important child, and she didn't want to make him sad. Besides, she felt very guilty towards Ethan. His love and support moved her deeply, and she had no reason to reject him.
So, Lauren decided to spend more time with Matthew. She thought that maybe Matthew felt too lonely and overly dependent on her, which made Ethan seem like an enemy. If she could make Matthew feel her love, perhaps he would accept Ethan, given how well they used to get along.
Lauren remarked, "Ethan, thank you for being so understanding. Please give me a little more time, and I promise I'll handle Matthew's situation."
Ethan gently put his arm around Lauren's shoulder and said, "Don't mention it. We're family, after all. Lauren, I might be rushing things, but I still want to say that when you have time, I hope you can come home with me to meet my parents. Is that okay?"
Lauren was stunned. She had just agreed to start dating Ethan today, and now he wanted her to meet his family. Wasn't this moving too fast?
Lauren wryly smiled. Actually, it was slow. She and Ethan had known each other for over twenty years and were once neighbors. Their parents were very familiar with each other.
She looked up at Ethan's deep eyes and couldn't find the words to say. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, she forced herself to suppress it, smiled, and nodded.
Realizing Lauren agree, Ethan was overjoyed. He said, "Lauren, that's great!"
Watching Ethan, who was as happy as a child, Lauren felt a pang of bitterness. She wondered if falling in love with her was the biggest mistake of Ethan's life.
Ethan came back to his senses and slowly approached Lauren, wanting to give her a big hug. However, just as he was about to reach her, she turned away, presenting her back to Ethan's outstretched arms.
Lauren's action seemed unintentional, but it was deliberate. She didn't know why she disliked intimate contact with Ethan. Maybe it was because they had been friends for so many years, and suddenly, becoming a couple was hard to adjust to.
"Ethan, you have work tomorrow. It would help if you went rest. I'll rest after I finish this design draft," Lauren said, walking to the desk, and picking up her pen, and focusing on the draft.
Ethan awkwardly withdrew his arms. He said, "Alright, don't stay up too late. You've had a long day. Get some rest."
Lauren smiled and nodded, watching Ethan leave the study. As soon as he closed the door, her smile faded, and she fell into deep thought.
Lauren was lost in thought for a few minutes before snapping back to reality. She focused on finishing the design draft, and by the time she was done, it was already 11 PM.
She stretched and prepared to check on Matthew before washing up, only to find that Matthew wasn't in his room. Lauren didn't think much of it, assuming Matthew had gone to the bathroom or was playing downstairs.
Lauren took her clothes to the bathroom but didn't see Matthew. Panicked, she put down her things and started searching the villa for Matthew.
"Matthew, where are you? It's time to rest! Please stop playing, okay?" Lauren tried to keep her voice calm, hoping Matthew was somewhere in the villa.
However, the large villa showed no sign of Matthew, and he did not respond. Lauren became more anxious, quickening her pace as she searched and called out for Matthew.
Hearing Lauren's calls, Kimberly and Ethan came out to check on the situation.
When Lauren told Kimberly and Ethan that Matthew was missing, they were both shocked and worried. They also began searching for Matthew.
"Lauren, when did Matthew miss? Is he hiding from us because he's upset?" Ethan asked.
Lauren was completely panicked, her mind blank. She had lost the ability to think.
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