Chapter 47. Separate but Fondly Remember

Meanwhile, Flora was plagued with worry, tossing and turning well past midnight before succumbing to a troubled sleep. Unbeknownst to her, the storm was only just beginning to gather force outside.

Once Flora had drifted off to sleep, in the engulfing silence of the darkness, the man lying next to her abruptly opened his eyes. He looked at her in the dim light, his fingers delicately tracing the beautiful contours of her face, before heaving a heavy sigh.

He had desperately hoped for a genuine response from her, yearned for a love untainted by falsehood. However, perhaps such desires were too extravagant in this deceitful world.

Leaving the bed, he picked up his phone, its screen flickering sporadically, and made his way downstairs. In stark contrast to the darkness of the upper floor, the mansion's first floor was ablaze with light. Someone had been waiting there, and upon seeing Matthew, promptly stood to greet him: "Boss, you've come down."

"Have you been