Chapter 193 Matchmaking
In the evening, when Samuel Anderson's call to Zachary Bailey went unanswered, he inquired with Dylan Collins and learned that Zachary hadn't been to the office. Samuel knew for sure that Winona Sullivan must have rejected him again.
He drove straight to Regal Oaks, where the servant opened the door for him, “Mr. Bailey is in the second-floor study.”
He thanked the servant and made his way up the familiar path.
The study door was unlocked, so he gave a courtesy knock before entering.
"You're not eating, then leave," came Zachary Bailey's indifferent voice from within the room.
Samuel Anderson didn't care whether Zachary ate or not, he just pushed open the door and strode in.
Zachary Bailey was already in a bad mood, and the uninvited entrance of the visitor fueled his irritation. He wanted to lash out but restrained himself when he saw who it was. Gruffly, he asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I brought you a gift," Samuel replied.
Zachary eyed the cheap-looking plastic bag in his hand with little interest. "What is it?"
It was the first time Samuel Anderson had shown up with something in hand. At their level of wealth, they could buy anything they needed; it was rare for a gift to pique any interest.
Samuel tossed the duck he had bought for a few bucks from the market onto Zachary Bailey’s million-dollar wooden desk, a few drops of blood splattering from it.
Zachary frowned in disgust, scooted his chair back, and remarked, "Have you ever been short of food at Regal Oaks? Got to bring it yourself? Take it to the kitchen staff for lunch; why throw it in front of me?"
"I brought it to show you how tough it is."
Zachary cringed at the remark. Just hearing that word made his head throb with pain. Was he never going to live down this ‘tough or not’ thing?
"I’ve already meddled enough to throw you at her, and you still haven’t sealed the deal. Are you too drunk to handle it, or is it Winona Sullivan you can’t handle? Or you can't keep going without running your mouth?" He ignored Zachary's growing scowl. "Do I need to strip her and stuff her in your bed? Probably not, I bet you wouldn't get hard unless she’s on top of you. And I'm not your parent to teach you how to get it on with a woman."
He wasn’t particularly keen on playing matchmaker between him and Winona Sullivan; it's not like he was a god of marriage, keen on tying strings of fate. But Zachary was just so annoying, showing a deadpan face when things went south with a girl, acting as though everyone owed him billions, treating everyone with disdain and a thorny tongue as if he wished to curse someone back into the womb.
And yet, people still kept calling him to clean up Zachary’s messes.
If it weren't for Zachary being fixated on Winona Sullivan, Samuel would have found him a woman to get it over with by now.
Zachary glared at the dead duck. "You’ve been up there plenty. You couldn’t shake off Juila and get treated like you’re just a gigolo. You're just like it; take a good look, you might get a twisted ankle one of these days."
Samuel Anderson paused and replied, "Matthew's Aunt Nie hasn't been setting him up on blind dates lately."
Zachary Bailey was aware of this. The social circle was small, and even though he wasn't one for gossip, word got around.
"One day at the mall, I bumped into Aunt Nie. She mentioned she's planning to invite Winona Sullivan over for dinner this weekend."
It's like they're intent on hurting each other. Come on, let's see who can withstand the sting!
After a long look, Zachary Bailey's lips pressed together tightly, "You can leave now."
Samuel Anderson let out a 'huh' with a cold laugh and stood up to go.
Behind him, Zachary Bailey called out, "Take your buddy with you."
...
On the weekend, Winona Sullivan, carrying gifts she had picked up from the mall for the Watson family elders a couple of days ago, drove to the Watson Family's Crest Manor.
She used to come here often as a child, sometimes with her grandfather, sometimes with her mother. After all these years, Crest Manor had remained as she remembered it. Even after renovations, it hadn't changed much, and it felt even more familiar to her than the Sullivan family's Tranquil Lake villa.
The one to open the door was Nova Watson.
"Aunt Nova," greeted Winona Sullivan.
Nova Watson shared the same kindly appearance as Matthew Watson. She took the gifts from Winona's hands, "Come in quickly, it's chilly outside."
The weather had turned unexpectedly colder, feeling even more freezing than winter.
As she looked past Winona Sullivan, "Where's Matthew? It's been a few years since you've visited, and he was worried you might not remember the way. He went down the hill to meet you."
"I might have just missed him."
As they spoke, Matthew Watson's car appeared in the driveway.
Nova Watson quickly ushered Winona inside, "Come in and get warm. Forget about him."
With no other people in sight, Winona Sullivan asked, "Where are Uncle and Grandpa Nie?"
"Dad went hiking with some friends, and Matthew's father is away on business," Nova entered the kitchen, "Just make yourself comfortable, Winona. Let me show off my cooking skills. Matthew told me all about your favorite dishes. I've been practicing for days. You'll have to try and see if I've mastered them."
But Winona Sullivan could not just sit by while Nova worked alone in the kitchen, hastily she followed her, "Aunt Nova, let me help."
"Go sit down, don't dirty your hands. The maid took the day off, and it's not often I get to cook. I'm actually quite excited."
"It's so boring to cook alone. Any potatoes need peeling?"
"You can peel a few potatoes, then go out and play with Matthew..." Winona Sullivan squatted there peeling potatoes, chatting with Nova Watson about their childhood, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. As soon as Matthew Watson entered, he heard the pleasant voices of the two women chatting. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he made his way to the kitchen. "Need a hand with anything?"
"You..." Nova Watson was about to send him out when she paused, reconsidering, "Help Winona with the potatoes. Peel a bunch, I'm planning to make bacon mashed potatoes."
The Watson family's old house had seen better days. Due to Grandpa Watson's sentimentality, they never moved, although it was still a villa, the kitchen wasn't particularly spacious, especially the corner designated for peeling potatoes. There was enough room for just Winona Sullivan alone, but when Matthew Watson joined her, the space became cramped.
As he crouched down, their legs were almost touching.
She could even feel the warmth radiating from him, making Winona Sullivan a bit uneasy, but Matthew Watson seemed unfazed and focused on the task at hand. She felt that getting up and leaving now would only draw more attention to the awkwardness between them.
Amid the discomfort, the doorbell rang.
Winona Sullivan moved to answer it, but Nova Watson, as if swept up by a gust of wind, swept out before her, "Keep peeling, you two. I'll get the door."
Outside, Zachary Bailey and a reluctant Samuel Anderson, both bearing gifts, spoke in unison, "Hello, ma'am."
Nova Watson had invited Winona Sullivan over because her son had confessed his feelings for her, and it took her a whole week of soul-searching to come around to the idea of setting them up. Seeing Zachary Bailey now, she was nothing but embarrassed.
It was an awkward scene indeed, to encourage matchmaking for your ex-wife in front of your former husband. "Zachary, Samuel, what brings you here?"
"I..." Zachary Bailey began.
"Crash, clatter, bang..."
A series of sounds emanated from the kitchen as things hit the floor, startling everyone at the doorway. They rushed to the kitchen without another word.
Upon reaching the doorway, they all came to an abrupt halt.
Amidst the chaos on the floor, Winona Sullivan and Matthew Watson lay there, with Winona Sullivan's head resting against the man's lower abdomen. To an outsider, the scene was explosively provocative, enough to set pulses racing.
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