Chapter 161 Trip to Italy
"When do we leave?" Mitchell asked.
"In about a week," Matthew estimated.
"Does Sister know yet?" Liam inquired, his concern evident.
Matthew was quiet for a moment before responding, "Not yet. I'll find the right time to tell her."
The conversation ended there. Each recognized that Matthew had his reasons and his way of managing the situation. Their role was to support him and prevent any distractions.
Patrick, seeking to lighten the mood, suddenly stood up and started arranging plans. "Victor's back, so let's hit Jonah's bar tonight. Get our sister and Willow's crowd to join."
"You all go ahead. Sister probably took the kids back to Aurora Heights. With both of us out, there will be no one to look after them," Matthew pointed out, dousing Patrick's enthusiasm like a bucket of cold water.
Victor rarely chimed in, but he did so then, "Let's go with Matthew's plan. The rest of us will have a drink—it's been a while since we've all been together. Patrick, call Willow and bring yours along, too."
With that, Patrick eagerly dialed Willow to make arrangements.
When Matthew announced he'd be away for a while and would send his work schedule to a few email addresses, he added that T would oversee the operations at JK Group during his absence. "That's it for today," he concluded, standing up to grab his coat and ready to leave.
The others stood up as well.
Mitchell nodded in acknowledgment, accepting the responsibility, "Got it, Matthew."
After finishing a phone call with Willow, Patrick clamored to leave with Matthew, as Willow mentioned she was at Aurora Heights with Little Sister-in-law.
So, Matthew ended up giving Patrick a ride, and the two headed to Aurora Heights, leaving Liam to pick up Ophelia and Victor, joining Mitchell for drinks at the bar.
Upon reaching Aurora Heights, Patrick insisted on going upstairs, claiming he wanted to check in on Quentin and Hannah. As soon as they entered the house, he started calling for them, "Quentin, Hannah, Uncle Patrick is here!"
No one was in the living room; everyone was in their rooms but came running out at the sound of Patrick's voice. Quentin and Hannah adored Patrick, who often took them out to play since he had more free time and always spoiled them with limited-edition toys.
The kids left their rooms and rushed over upon seeing Patrick and Matthew return. Little Hannah clung to Patrick's leg without letting go, while Quentin hovered around him. Their father felt snubbed off to the side and frowned.
You little brat, I told you not to come upstairs.
Quentin asked Patrick earnestly, "Patrick, why did you come back with us?"
With her head tilted back, Hannah echoed with curiosity, "Yeah, why are you with us, Patrick?"
Bending down to pick up Hannah, Patrick greeted Madison before answering the kids, "Patrick was at a meeting today, so that's why I came back with Matthew."
They both nodded seriously as if they understood.
"Patrick, you should stay for dinner," Madison invited warmly with enthusiasm.
Patrick hesitated for a moment; after all, it had been a while since he'd tasted his sister's soup. However, considering the task at hand was to take Willow to the bar where the other brothers were waiting, he steeled himself and politely declined, "I won't get to enjoy your cooking today. That's a bummer. Willow and I are about to meet up with Jonah and the others."
Madison smiled understandingly at Patrick, "Then come over next time."
"Sure thing," Patrick replied, not one to pass up a chance for a free meal.
Matthew stood nearby and saw Madison's cheerful demeanor toward others. He wore a sullen expression and directed a barefaced hint at Patrick: "Get moving already."
Seeing Matthew's frosty demeanor, Patrick quickly put Hannah down, grabbed Willow, and made a hasty exit, not forgetting to promise the kids they'd hang out another day.
Willow, with her bag in hand, barely had time to say a rushed goodbye to Matthew's family before being whisked away.
In the car, Willow sat in the passenger seat while Patrick drove. Trying to conceal her irritation, she complained, "Why the rush, Patrick?"
Patrick kept his eyes on the road, "Didn't you notice how sour Matthew looked? He clearly felt we were cramping his style. It's only right we make ourselves scarce."
Willow tilted her head, thinking, "Really? I didn't notice. Isn't Matthew's face always like that, expressionless?"
Patrick burst into laughter, finding the term 'expressionless' a very apt description for Matthew's face.
"What's so funny?" asked Willow, puzzled if she had said something wrong.
"If Matthew hears you are calling him 'expressionless,' you're dead meat," Patrick said, trying to suppress his amusement.
Willow nervously justified her comment, "I didn't say it to his face. And you better not tell him. If he finds out, it'll definitely be because you spilled the beans."
"Alright, alright, I wouldn't dare say that to Matthew," Patrick said, touching his nose and shivering at the thought of Matthew's icy demeanor.
He wondered how his sister managed to tolerate living with such an iceberg every day.
When the two arrived at the bar, everyone else was already there.
Daniel and Ophelia dashed over to Willow, each taking her by the arm. The trio of girls retreated to a corner to whisper among themselves.
Willow, upon seeing Ophelia, quickly showed concern, "Ophelia, you didn't get 'snapped' by Liam after you left the other day, did you?" she asked, making a slicing motion across her neck.
As Ophelia listened to their reminiscing about that night, a blush climbed onto her cheeks unconsciously. She was grateful that the dim lights of the bar obscured her flushed face.
She hesitated before answering, "No... no, I just went home and fell asleep in a daze."
In truth, that night after she had gotten home, she had no idea if Liam was angry or not because she was so out of it. Someone had undressed her... again and again... and devoured her... to the point that she missed her schedule the next day, having overslept. She scrambled out of bed at noon, frantically looking for her phone, only to find not a single missed call or message. Puzzled, she wondered if she remembered the schedule wrong, and then she saw someone who looked satisfied after a hearty meal bringing in a bowl of creamy corn soup. Seeing her holding the phone with a confused look in her eyes, he explained that he had called her agent in advance to cancel her morning appointments.
Despite it all, the matter of her sneaking away to watch a game was overlooked.
Still, Ophelia couldn't help but cry silently in her heart, lamenting that not only was her body compromised, but she also lost out on her appearance fee.
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