A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chapter 31

The next day, Matilda asked Gideon to drop her son off at school before sitting alone in her studio, lost in thought. She sipped her coffee, finding its bitterness oddly comforting. Setting down her mug, she sighed deeply.

Upon returning, Gideon noticed his sister’s melancholic air and gently stroked her hair, his fingers weaving through the soft strands. “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

Matilda looked up at her brother and whispered, “I’m considering whether we should take up Mr. Farrell’s offer for collaboration.”

Gideon paused, leaning in, “Mat, if you’re not comfortable, there’s no need to push yourself…”

Shaking her head, Matilda replied to Gideon, “No… I think Mr. Farrell is right. Some scars do need to be exposed to sunlight.”

“Yvan… the raw wounds you left me with might not even hurt anymore,” she thought to herself.

That afternoon, Matilda called Mason to set up a meeting.

After finalizing the details with him, she told Gideon, “Could you pick up Logan from school later? I need to meet with Mason on my way.”

“Have you made up your mind?” Gideon asked from behind her.

turning back, Matilda’s slender silhouette pushed open the studio’s door

out.

up on Matilda’s call, he dialed Yvan, “Your ex–wife

who was in the middle of

the cool

he listened to Mason relay an address, then took a deep breath

scalding welcome,” Mason teased, whistling. “Mr. Boyd; are you getting soft on

chest, prompting a reflexive sneer. “Don’t bother with

the documents and straightened his attire before calling the

a table for two at the Hof at eight tonight. Yes, somewhere private, not

eyes momentarily as if taking a deep breath, and when they reopened, they flickered with an intense, frosty glint.

Chapter 31

to see how long you can keep up

7:40 PM, just after Gideon had brought Logan home and dropped her

rolled down the window from the back seat to look at her, “Mommy, come