Chapter 37 Discovering a Woman’s Trace in Matthew's House
Willow and Patrick first stopped at the supermarket to buy some fruits and food, then went to the pharmacy to pick up some cold medicine, guessing that her cousin's place was likely empty of such things.
The two hurried to Matthew’s villa, rang the doorbell, and waited long without a response.
"Matthew might have fainted inside," Patrick surmised logically, considering that one could have a high fever and even lose consciousness with a severe cold.
"Ah, Patrick, what should we do? Should we call the police? Or an ambulance?" Willow panicked, continuously banging on the door.
"I'll call someone to open the door," Patrick said, taking out his phone to find a locksmith. Suddenly, the front door opened from the inside. Willow, who had been pounding on the door, nearly fell in.
Matthew looked haggard, his face flushed in an unhealthy way, standing weakly inside yet with a visibly stronger irritation.
"You're making so much noise," Matthew said with annoyance at the two at the door, then turned and walked toward the sofa, leaning back into it after sitting down.
They hurried inside, put the food in the kitchen, and found Matthew still in the same position, eyes closed like sleeping. Sensing them approaching, he lifted his eyelids and asked with a furrowed brow, "What are you two doing here?"
"Bro, we heard you were sick this morning and were worried since you're alone. Willow and I came to check on you."
"Work done. I'm fine, and you can leave now."
After issuing the eviction notice, Matthew stood up to go upstairs to sleep, but just as he did, he felt a blackness before his eyes and fainted.
Patrick was by his side and quickly supported him, while Willow was terrified.
"Matthew! What's wrong with you?" she exclaimed while touching his forehead.
“My god, it’s so hot.”
Patrick remained calm in the crucial moment.
“Help me carry him. We need to get Matthew to the hospital.”
“Oh, yes, to the hospital, we’ll go right now.”
Being flustered, the two finally got Matthew to the hospital and into a ward.
By the time Victor, Mitchell, and Liam arrived, Matthew was already on an IV drip, still unconscious. The doctor said it was nothing serious but recommended a two-day observation. He had fainted because of a fever that had lasted all day without any intervention or medication. Plus, he hadn’t eaten much, which contributed to his collapse. He would wake up soon.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. When they were informed of Matthew’s situation, they were all startled, and they worried for William due to his age. Nobody wanted to burden him with the worry.
After sitting for a while, Willow remembered the doctor's advice for a two-day hospital stay. She guessed her cousin wouldn't be comfortable with the hospital provisions and told everyone she would go back to gather some things needed for an overnight stay. In their hurry before, they had left without taking anything with them.
Mitchell offered to drive her back. She wanted to refuse, but with all these guys there, it was difficult to say more, so she nodded in agreement. Once in the car, Willow said nothing.
"What's the matter? Who upset you again?" Mitchell asked, thinking her silence was due to work trouble.
"Nothing," she said, then turned to look out the window.
Sometimes, she hated herself, knowing all too well Mitchell didn’t see her romantically—just like Quinn, he only saw her as much as a younger sister. Despite this, she couldn’t help her feelings, as she had always dreamt of marrying him since she was young. But years had passed, and she couldn’t even confess her feelings, finding herself single and pressured by her parents to consider suitors.
She knew that as the boss of the Nightshade Bar, Mitchell was never short of women throwing themselves at him. Whether he had been involved with any was based on hearsay, but she frequently saw him in the company of many. She feared being alone with him because she would struggle to control her feelings.
‘You’re such a coward,’ Willow thought to herself.
Mitchell noticed that Willow, usually so talkative, seemed down today. Although she worked at JK Group, he had rarely seen her lately, wondering what could be wrong with the young girl.
He made a mental note to ask Quinn about it later. The car stopped at the villa’s gate, and this time, Willow had keys and went straight inside.
“I’m going upstairs to pack a couple of sets of clothes for Matthew. You wait here,” she told Mitchell.
Willow entered the room, opened the wardrobe, and grabbed two sets of loungewear and a pair of slippers. She planned to take something clean for Matthew, but when she turned her head, she saw a piece of black clothing draped at the end of the bed. She intended to tidy up, thinking it was something Matthew left out due to illness. To her surprise, she discovered it was a lady's evening gown—and it had clearly been worn.
Willow was taken aback. Her cousin had been divorced for four years, and the gown certainly wasn't Brianna’s. Before the divorce, he and Madison had lived together in this villa, and he had continued to live here afterward. Brianna, let alone spending the night, had barely visited the villa at all. Willow didn't really know why they had divorced, and Madison had all but disappeared since then.
‘Could it be that Matthew was seeing someone new?’
She scooped up the dress and raced downstairs.
"Mitchell, look! What is this?!" she exclaimed.
Looking at the young girl who was just upset and now was shockingly holding a piece of black clothing and eagerly awaiting his reaction, Mitchell ventured a guess.
"Um... clothes?" Mitchell ventured tentatively.
"A dress! It's a dress! A woman's dress! Found in his room, on his bed."
Upon hearing this, Mitchell's interest was piqued, but then reconsidered, "It couldn’t possibly belong to Brianna, could it?"
"It's completely impossible. Brianna has never spent the night in this villa."
"How do you know that so clearly?" Mitchell was curious.
"Ah, that's the result of women's gossip. I'm so curious about the woman who spent last night with my brother."
Suddenly, Willow had a thought, "Oh my God, dare I make a bold guess? Could his severe cold and fever be from doing that thing last night and then overdoing it?"
"What 'thing'?" Mitchell was puzzled. Was he just too old to understand the young girls' lingo these days?
"You know, kissing and cuddling, followed by a series of indescribable movements."
Mitchell didn’t expect her thoughts to go there and felt a bit awkward. He gently patted Willow on the head, "What would a young girl like you know! Get things needed and hurry back to the hospital."
Willow turned to head back upstairs with the dress, muttering softly, "What young girl? I'm already 25. Other people my age are already married with kids."
Listening to her mutter as she walked away, Mitchell asked, "What did you say?"
"Ah! Nothing much, just that I'll get the stuff and then leave."
"He always treats me like a child," she complained nonetheless, unable to help herself.
The two carried Matthew’s belongings and drove back to the hospital, where Matthew had already awoken, half-reclining on the hospital bed with an IV drip in his arm.
The rest were absent, likely sent away.
"Bro, you're awake. Feeling better? We were scared when you fainted. Here are your clothes and shoes."
"Thanks, I feel much better. You should head back early. Mitchell, could you take Willow home?"
"Matthew, let me stay and take care of you. What if you feel unwell at night?"
"No need. It's just a little cold. You two go back home."
Seeing that Matthew's spirits were mostly recovered and there was nothing serious, Mitchell left with Willow.
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