Snare of Love

It was a week since Matthew left. Eventually, Dolores became at peace with this and went back to work as per normal.

"I heard that Mr. Nelson had gone to A Country to keep Ms. White company." Everyone started to gossip during lunch.

"Since Mr. Nelson had already regarded Ms. White as his girlfriend, it was normal for him to go and see her. Except that..." The lady looked into her pocket mirror and adjusted her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror and grinned. She felt that the woman in the mirror was truly a beauty.

Everyone was already used to her self-professed beauty but was curious about what she wanted to say, "Except what?"

The woman glared at everyone and said, "If Mr. Nelson really liked her, why would he send her to A Country? There are so many people in the company. Why can't he send someone else?" Some felt that she had a point. But others disagreed.

"If it was as you mentioned, Mr. Nelson doesn't like Ms. White, then how do you explain that he had not come to the company for a week just to take care of her? You should know that that had not happened in the past."

Both of them had a point but their point of view was different. Some said that Matthew loved Helen while others disagreed.

"Hey, Dolores what do you think? Does Mr. Nelson love Ms. White?" A colleague asked Dolores who sat at her place silently, "Why don't you participate with the group?"

Dolores laughed bitterly inside her. Wasn't it ridiculous to discuss whether her 'husband' loved another woman?

A colleague shook Dolores, "Say something will you?"

Dolores helplessly said what she thought, "I don't know. I just came to the company and don't understand their relationship. I think he should like her, if not why would he regard her as his girlfriend?" Everyone kept quiet for several seconds and felt that she had a point. If Matthew didn't love Helen, why would he acknowledge her status?

"See, I knew that Mr. Nelson loves Ms. White."

They didn't stop gossiping and Dolores made an excuse to sneak away from them. After the break was over, everyone left and Dolores went back to her seat to work. Matthew didn't go back that day.

Dolores wanted some time alone after listening to the colleagues' gossips. Who would expect Coral to nag when she went home?

"Why hasn't Young Master come back?"

Dolores felt a headache and rubbed her temples. Coral thought that she wasn't feeling well and asked, "Are you feeling sick?" Dolores shook her head, "No."

"Then you..."

"Oh..." Dolores suddenly detected a fishy smell and frowned and looked at Coral, "Did you buy fish?"

Coral nodded and pointed to the groceries on the table, "I just went to the supermarket. I'll cook fish for your dinner..."

Before she could finish, Dolores already cupped her mouth and ran to the bathroom and vomited.

Coral hurried over and stood by the door looking at Dolores, "You... are you pregnant?"

Although Dolores and Matthew had slept in different rooms, they shared the same room during their wedding night. Perhaps they conceived on the first attempt? Coral was elated, "Come, let's go to the hospital." With a child, any mistresses would have to be discarded.

Dolores shook her head, "No need. I... have gastric discomfort."

"Then we'll have to go as well." Coral was resolute and only trusted the doctors.

"Coral." Dolores struggled but Coral wouldn't release her hand, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"Change your shoes." Coral pulled Dolores out.

Dolores didn't dare to be too forceful for fear of hurting Coral and the baby in her abdomen.

Clunk!

Just as Dolores was trying to figure out how to convince Coral, the door was pushed open. Dolores and Coral looked towards the door at the same time.

Matthew stepped in with his jacket over his arm. His collar was undone and the shirt was open, revealing his collar bones. His chin had stubble and his eyes were dark from the lack of rest. He was unlike his usual self which showed that he was really tired. Dolores was thinking that he must not have rested well since he was there to take care of Helen.

When she saw that it was Matthew, Coral was elated, "Young Master, Missus is probably pregnant."

Matthew's expression was unchanged while Dolores felt embarrassed. Their eyes met but they all understood the situation. Only Coral didn't know about the truth and that was why she stared at Matthew, "Aren't you happy that your wife is pregnant?"

Matthew frowned deeply and said calmly, "Let's divorce."

It was a matter of time. Except that she didn't think it would happen so suddenly. It was a wrongful engagement and should be terminated. Nothing was keeping her except that she felt empty. Everything was empty to her.

She smiled, "Okay."

She replied so willingly that Matthew couldn't react to it. It was difficult for him to accept her willingness to divorce. Dolores said calmly, "Let's do it tomorrow." She turned to return to her room as soon as she finished saying.

Coral felt as if she was struck by a lightning. Did they want to divorce? Was marriage a game to them?

"Young Master, you, you want a divorce?" Coral thought that she heard wrongly. Why would he suddenly request to divorce and both of them were so calm about it?

"I'm tired." Matthew was unwilling to talk about this. He thereafter proceeded to his room.

Coral was stunned and stared at Matthew's back, "This was the marriage your mother arranged for you when she was alive."

Matthew's footsteps paused momentarily and he continued up the stairs.

Coral persisted, "You don't bother even when Missus is pregnant?"

Bang! The bedroom door was slammed shut. Matthew expressed his unhappiness without saying a word!

The baby inside Dolores wasn't his. Wasn't his! He wouldn't be so angry if the child was his. But his child was dead! Dead!

Coral was startled as he very seldom vented his anger at home.

Dolores practically didn't sleep that night. She sat at the head of the bed with her luggage all packed. She didn't have many belongings anyway. She just had a few clothes and some toiletries. When the day broke, she changed her clothes and walked out of the room. Matthew also woke up and was dressed in a well-tailored business suit that covered his tall and sturdy frame. He was dashing and handsome like a prince out of the fairy tales. He exuded nobility, was dashingly handsome, and his magnetism was without comparison.

Dolores spoke first, "It's still early and the registrar of marriages hasn't opened. I'll go out first to run an errand." She looked at the time as she said, "I'll be back by nine o'clock. Are you free at that time?" She had to go and look for somewhere to stay. Matthew initiated the divorce so suddenly which didn't give her any time to prepare. This was her mistake as she should have been better prepared. Matthew walked down and said, "Abbott will settle the divorce." He proceeded to the dining room after he said.

Dolores scoffed to herself. How could she forget? It was Abbott who brought her to get the marriage certificate done and Matthew didn't go personally. So now similarly there wasn't a need for Matthew to go for the divorce procedures.

Their marriage was arranged by fate and was fixed since they were young. However, this short-lived marriage was now a joke. Dolores took a deep breath. It was time to end this.

Matthew sat at the dining table for his breakfast.

Dolores walked over and sat opposite him and asked, "How is Ms. White?"

He went to see her and made his decision to divorce her so he should also be prepared to marry Helen.

But didn't he know that Helen was very cunning?