Chapter 160 Reunion
Zachary Bailey raised his eyes with a look of indifference. "Did you charter the plane?" he inquired.
Matthew Watson offered no response, choosing to remain silent.
"So quick to introduce someone new to your family after your divorce?" Zachary prodded.
Again, Matthew chose not to respond, disregarding the remark.
The atmosphere within the first-class cabin was icy throughout the flight, charged with a tension that was almost tangible.
Upon landing, as her phone signal returned, Winona Sullivan discovered a text message from Isaac. He had arrived to pick her up.
Isaac was notorious for being under his wife's thumb, and Melissa was a woman who had eyes only for wealth. Consequently, their families merely maintained a cordial relationship, exchanging greetings on holidays.
The sole reason Winona had informed Isaac of her arrival was out of courtesy, for the visit to her grandfather's grave. She had already taken care of her hotel reservation.
As the plane emptied, Winona rose from her seat and joined the departing passengers. As she passed the first-class section, all the seats were vacant, except for two. One was occupied by Matthew Watson, and the other by Zachary Bailey.
Winona furrowed her brow in confusion. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
Zachary stood, retrieving his luggage from the overhead compartment. "Didn't Isaac tell you? He invited me as a guest."
Not wanting to obstruct the aisle, Winona was forced to move on.
Once outside the cabin, she quickly caught up with him. "Zachary Bailey, we are divorced. What business do you have to visit my relatives?"
"Is there a problem? Am I obstructing you?" He glanced over his shoulder at Matthew, who was trailing behind.
Winona clenched her teeth in frustration. "Yes, you are. You need to book your return flight immediately."
"You can have Isaac relay that message, since he's the one who invited me."
It was unusual for Isaac to pick someone up from the airport, and it wasn't even for her. He was there for Zachary Bailey!
Winona decided to ignore Zachary. After all, she would be staying at a hotel for the next few days, paying her respects to her grandfather, and then returning to New York. Their paths were unlikely to cross much.
On the other hand, Matthew had come to pay his respects to her grandfather and was a guest. She felt a sense of obligation to look after him.
Approaching Matthew, Winona asked, "Have you arranged your accommodation?"
"Not yet; I'm not familiar with Silverton. I was planning to find a hotel after leaving the airport."
Winona pulled out her phone. "How about I book a room for you at my hotel? It's conveniently located in the heart of Silverton. If you have some free time, you can explore the area."
Unsure if Matthew would be comfortable at the modest hotel she had chosen, she showed him actual photos from the review section. "There's also a luxury hotel nearby, but there isn't a five-star one in the area if that's what you were hoping for..."
"That won't be necessary; your hotel looks fine," he replied.
By this time, the other passengers had all dispersed, leaving only the three of them in the aisle. Winona's voice carried clearly to Zachary Bailey, who was ahead.
His expression darkened, his lips pressed into a thin line, corners downturned.
Winona and Matthew proceeded to retrieve their luggage. When they looked back, Zachary Bailey had disappeared. Winona didn't give it a second thought.
Isaac's voice came through her phone. "Winona, are you out of the airport yet? My car's parked right outside the second exit, a black Mercedes. You can't miss it."
Isaac's vehicle was conspicuously parked, immediately catching Winona's eye as she exited the airport. She made her way towards it, pulling open the back door to reveal Zachary Bailey inside, his eyes closed in restful repose.
"Winona, why didn't you and Zachary come out together? And this is... Matthew?" Isaac queried, his attention having been previously engaged in conversation with Zachary Bailey. He hadn't noticed Winona's arrival, let alone her company.
Isaac had spent the majority of his life in Silverton, only venturing out a few years prior when his father had taken him to visit the Watson family in New York. It was there he had met Matthew Watson on a handful of occasions. Now, years later, they were practically strangers.
"Hello, Isaac. I'm Matthew Watson," Matthew greeted cordially. "I trust you don't mind my unexpected arrival. My grandfather sent me to pay respects to Winona's grandfather."
"Of course," Isaac responded succinctly, "Your grandfather is a generous man. Please, get in the car. It's a bit cramped, but I hope you won't mind."
Winona Sullivan directed Matthew Watson to the back seat, claiming the front passenger seat for herself.
Isaac cast an awkward glance at Zachary Bailey, who was sporting a stern expression in the back seat, before turning his attention to Winona.
"Why aren't you sitting with your husband?" He questioned, careful to keep his tone neutral in the presence of their guest.
"Melissa has arranged dinner for us at the Namhao Hotel," Isaac explained. "She mentioned it's been years since your last visit. Upon hearing of your return, she hastily made a reservation. The place has been fully booked for some time. She paid a hefty sum to someone else to change their reservation time for us."
Feeling the atmosphere in the car grow tense after he spoke his words, Isaac opted for silence.
Namhao Hotel.
As the car pulled up, Winona spotted Melissa and her cousin eagerly waiting at the entrance.
Melissa approached them with a bright smile, "Winona, it's been three years, hasn't it? Isaac and I eagerly anticipate your visit every year. And now, you're finally here!"
Winona regarded Melissa's radiant expression with a tepid response, "Melissa."
Three years prior, things had been different. Melissa had been the one to answer Winona's video call when she had sought a loan from Isaac. Melissa's face had contorted in disgust as she told Winona, "The debt is so great, selling Isaac wouldn't cover it. Don't return to Silverton. Don't bring trouble to our doorstep. Our money is reserved for your cousin's college tuition!"
Melissa's attention then shifted to Zachary Bailey. "You must be exhausted from the journey, Zachary. Silverton is quite different from New York, isn't it? Justin, fetch your brother-in-law..." Her words trailed off as she finally noticed Matthew Watson, mistaking him for a friend of Zachary's due to his sophisticated attire. "And his friend a cigarette."
Justin awkwardly offered a cigarette, his naivety evident in his actions.
They made their way into the restaurant, gravitating towards Zachary Bailey as if he were the sun. Winona felt like an outsider, even more so than Matthew Watson, who was completely unfamiliar with the group. At least Melissa occasionally engaged Matthew in conversation.
Their reserved private room was situated on the second floor. Arriving amidst the dinner rush, they found the elevator teeming with patrons. Their party of six would undoubtedly overload it.
"Winona, could you wait for the next one? Let the guests go up first," Melissa suggested.
"Sure," Winona agreed, not particularly keen on sharing an elevator with Zachary Bailey.
"I'll wait with you," Matthew offered. As his hand brushed against Winona's, he frowned, quickly taking her hand into his. "Why are your hands so cold?"
Zachary Bailey had a clear view of the interaction, his gaze fixated on their intertwined hands. His expression visibly hardened, turning icy.
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