Chapter 147 A Different Collaboration
Matthew had not expected him to bring up K Corporation so bluntly, and he paused, taken aback.
"What do you mean, Dorian?" Matthew asked, his expression cold and stern.
Dorian set aside his cutlery and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "The steak tastes good; the wine, not so much."
Matthew kept his gaze fixed on him, trying to figure out what was going on. Who was this man, exactly?
Finally, dropping his flippant demeanor, Dorian spoke earnestly, "Matthew, I know you're investigating the K Corporation, looking into your parents' death. You must have known my identity the first day I arrived in Horizon City, right?"
"So, what are you getting at now, Dorian?"
Dorian toyed with the stem of his glass. "How about we discuss a different business proposition?"
After saying that, he looked over at Matthew through the glass.
The lights in the private room were bright, but the man seemed to radiate a light of his own. He exuded an innate confidence as if he held every situation firmly in his grasp.
Meeting his gaze, Matthew remained silent.
Each man harbored their thoughts, neither able to fathom the other—an unspoken standoff filled the air.
Finally, Matthew spoke slowly, "Let's hear it."
After dinner, it was past midnight. Matthew drove away from the Imperial Hotel. When he arrived back at The Old Residence, Madison and the two kids were already asleep.
Instead of going straight to his room, he went to the study. There, he sat alone, slowly absorbing the information Dorian had given him.
Dorian, known as "Hawkeye," was K's trusted right-hand man. What Matthew hadn't expected was Dorian's true identity as a police officer from H-city, undercover to collect evidence of K's criminal activities. Dorian was his real name.
Furthermore, Dorian mentioned a younger Madison, snatched away soon after birth. He'd been searching for the younger Madison's whereabouts for years.
He suspected Madison might be the younger Madison because she resembled her mother in many ways, especially in those eyes. From the first meeting, he felt an indescribable closeness, which he believed was due to a blood relation.
Matthew sat in the study chair, recalling Dorian's request to inquire about Madison's early life. Dorian had suspicions, but Matthew was cautious; he didn't want to impact Madison negatively.
Dorian's other proposed collaboration was to work together from the inside out to take down the K Group.
Matthew also learned crucial information: Brianna was K's adopted daughter. She had been taken in at a young age, funded through school and dance lessons, and groomed into a stellar member of the group. When she went abroad, it was likely on K's orders.
However, the plane crash that killed his parents was indeed sabotage linked to the K Group, although whether Brianna was aware of this was unclear. He had only accidentally seen Matthew's parents' information in K's possession.
Frowning, Matthew uncharacteristically opened a drawer, found the leftover pack of cigarettes, and lit one. He had quit smoking a long time ago, but the irritation was unbearable. The truths he had chased for years now seemed on the brink of revelation.
After all those years of effort, there was finally a glimmer of hope.
After taking a drag, he snuffed it out anyway. He rose from his seat, left the study, and returned to his bedroom.
Madison lay quietly on the bed, deeply asleep, with her arms and legs sticking out of the blanket. Matthew tiptoed over and carefully covered her before walking into the bathroom to take a shower, making sure to close the door behind him.
After brushing his teeth, he sniffed his breath repeatedly, worried that Madison might smell the cigarette smoke he'd been around. Once he was sure there was no lingering scent, he opened the bathroom door and returned to the bedroom.
He gently lifted the blanket and slipped into bed, wrapping his arms around his beloved from behind. Despite his cautious movements, Madison stirred slightly. A soft murmur escaped her lips. She hadn't slept well without Matthew, always half-awake. Earlier in the evening, he had called to tell her that he would be out late and not to wait up for him.
After dinner, she had taken a stroll in the garden with the kids, chatted with Mr. Johnson for a bit, and then put Quentin and Hannah to bed.
Now that the kids had grown accustomed to sleeping on their own, their time at summer camp had paid off, especially for Hannah, who had become much more independent. Although she still loved to cuddle with Mrs. Jonah and Matthew, her self-sufficiency at home had nearly caught up to her brother's. Madison later told Matthew they should let the children participate in such activities more often.
Feeling Matthew behind her, Madison's sleepy voice whispered, "What time is it? Did you get back?"
Patting her back gently, much like he would soothe Hannah to sleep, Matthew replied softly, "Yeah, I'm back now. It's still early; go back to sleep."
"Mm, you rest too," murmured Madison, drifting back into slumber. Perhaps feeling reassured by Matthew's presence, she slept soundly through the night without waking until morning.
Matthew fell asleep shortly after getting in bed, as well.
The next morning, Madison's alarm clock woke them both, which also roused Matthew. He sleepily reached out to silence the alarm and pulled Madison close, saying, "Stay with me a little longer."
Madison struggled to get up, knowing she had to take the kids to preschool soon. If Mr. Johnson and the little ones woke up to find them still in bed, it wouldn't look good.
"You keep sleeping. I need to get up now. Quentin and Hannah have preschool, and we'll be late if we don't get going."
Hearing that she was about to take the children to preschool prompted Matthew to abandon his desire to sleep in. "I'll get up too. I'll take you guys. Let's go together," he said.
"Get some more rest," Madison insisted, concerned that he had not gotten enough rest the night before.
Matthew had already sat up. "No worries, I couldn't sleep without you here."
Madison's cheeks turned red with embarrassment that early in the morning, while he, unfazed, started to take off his pajamas and get ready to change into his day clothes.
Madison quickly rushed into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth.
The family of four finished breakfast and left the house together. The two little ones were clearly thrilled to leave with Matthew and Mrs. Jonah in the morning. After dropping Quentin and Hannah off at kindergarten, Matthew asked Madison if she was still planning on going to the studio that day.
Madison nodded and replied with a smile, "Yeah, let's head to the studio. It's not as busy lately, but with Rachel running around outside every day, I should really help out more."
"Alright, then I'll drive you there. I know Madison, you're really capable, but don't forget to rest," Matthew said as he gently stroked Madison's nose and affectionately pinched her hand.
"Okay."
Matthew started the car and drove toward the studio.
On the way, he remembered the early morning Facebook message he had received from Dorian.
【Matthew, I left for Dubai. Please take good care of younger Madison for me.】
The more time he spent with Dorian, the more he realized that the man was as cunning as a fox and showed no traits of a policeman.
Matthew knew that Madison had only had Mr. Johnson to rely on. After Mr. Johnson passed away, she was left alone, never mentioning her parents to him. She also has yet to talk about having any other relatives from her hometown.
"Madison, I've never heard you mention your parents. Are they..."
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