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.

the man at the foot of her bed gave her the

eyes.

bolted upright and fixed her gaze on Matthew,

Matthew laughed.

around her slender waist. "Do you think this

familiar masculine

breath hitched in her

was not a

was not a

eyes reddened with

hers as he kissed her

way to erase all the worries

responded to Matthew

onto the bed once more. Matthew's body

clothes joined a heap on the

noon by the time they were

was because Selina

went downstairs to have

an

Selina's appetite returned in full force. She devoured two helpings of

Matthew also ate heartily.

her cutlery and asked, "Matthew, has everything over

left no room for

you do? Did Saoirse promise to write you a statement?" Selina continued

taken aback. "What

Selina was left speechless.

herself, wasn't

tell the full

His roiling emotions, as dark as night, were

any of it up before

He had almost forgotten.

it to heart? She had even given him such a great gift before he returned. Matthew's voice was low as he said, "Selina, Saoirse didn't tell me any of

Selina caught her breath.

was how

Saoirse alright?" Selina asked

surgery was a resounding

there's a man who fancies

"Yes, that's right. They're

It came as a surprise

they were indeed already

heart was fraught with unspeakable

long pause, she murmured, "That's

deep as the ocean, gazed straight into hers. "I told

Selina's heartbeat accelerated.