My Heart only Beats for You

"Exactly." Erine was excited beyond compare. "When I heard that you were coming back today, I thought about going to the market to buy some fresh produce so I could cook a delicious meal for you." Matthew could not suppress a smile. "Erine, you don't have to bother with buying groceries. Leave it to the kitchen staff."

Erine immediately shook her head and protested, "Sir, you don't know this, but those kitchen staff don't know how to choose the freshest ingredients. If we want the best of the best, I'll have to go myself." Matthew's smile lingered. "Alright then, Erine. Go."

Erine was also all smiles as she looked Matthew over. "Sir, I'm delighted to see you back here. I've been worried sick."

"How's Selina?" Matthew questioned.

"Miss Whitlock is still sleeping."

"Is she in a better mood these days?"

Erine hesitated for a moment.

Selina wasn't exactly in high spirits as of late.

Erine gave a vague answer. "Miss Whitlock was lonely when you were not around. She wouldn't be in the best of moods, naturally."

A shadow came across Matthew's expression.

"I won't leave like that in the future," he replied in a low voice.

Erine rejoiced at his words.

"That's wonderful. Your departure made everyone worry." Erine paused and then asked, "May I bring up something else?"

"Go ahead."

Erine spoke hesitantly, "Sir, can you not block me? Not being able to contact you for these few days, and not knowing how you were doing... The anxiety nearly killed me."

Matthew smiled in response.

"Okay," he acquiesced.

Only then did Erine smile in return. "Thank you, sir."

After bidding Erine goodbye, Matthew then headed upstairs. Upon reaching the bedroom, he gently pushed the door open.

Selina was still deep in sleep.

Although thick curtains hung at the window from the ceiling to the floor, some light still seeped through and illuminated part of Selina's face. The sunshine made Selina's porcelain fair skin even fairer. It looked almost translucent, and Matthew could see every tiny pore and hair on her face.

Her breathing was soft and her lips were slightly parted.

Matthew sat at the foot of the bed, gazing at the sleeping Selina. His lips curled inevitably as he watched her.

He sat there just looking at her, unmoving, for nearly an hour. Then, Selina's lashes and eyelids began to tremble and flutter a little.

Her lids lifted, and she opened her eyes.

of her bed gave her the

rubbed her eyes. "Am

bolted upright and fixed her gaze on

Matthew laughed.

he hugged her, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. "Do you think this is a

familiar masculine

breath hitched in

not a

not a

Her eyes

as he

was the best way to erase all the worries and turbulent emotions

to Matthew warmly and

kissed, Selina fell onto the bed once more. Matthew's

a heap on the floor. Their bodies intertwined

was noon by the

was because

them went downstairs to

already prepared an entire feast of sumptuous

Selina's appetite returned in full force.

Matthew also ate heartily.

cutlery and asked, "Matthew, has everything over there

no room for

Saoirse promise to write you

taken aback. "What

Selina was left speechless.

she thought to herself, wasn't Matthew aware of

proceeded to tell the full

sank. His roiling emotions, as dark as night,

hadn't brought any of it up before he

He had almost forgotten.

knew that Saoirse would take it to heart? She had even given him such a great gift before he returned. Matthew's voice

Selina caught her breath.

was

alright?" Selina

good. The surgery was a

a man who fancies Saoirse..."

flashed in Matthew's eyes. "Yes, that's right. They're a couple

as a

right? But they were indeed already

was fraught

long pause, she

into hers. "I told you

Selina's heartbeat accelerated.