Chapter 704


    As the cold breeze brushed against Lara, she shrunk her neck upon feeling the chilly sensation. When


    Niki saw that, he took off his coat and put it over her.


    “The weather’s so weird! Maybe we shouldn’t stay too long out here.” Having given up his coat, Niki


    was prone to the assault of the cold.


    “Yeah.” Although she was reluctant to leave, it wouldn’t be wise to stay out any longer.


    “If you like it here, we cane over anytime we want, Lara.” Niki saw her reluctance and smiled at


    the woman, offering to keep herpany the next time they came.


    Since havingpany was indeed weed, Lara nodded her head in agreement, feeling Niki was


    getting more and more pleasant. Now that she had the opportunity to assiduously observe him, she


    realized that he was rather outstanding. In fact, she wondered why she had never seen him in such a


    light before.


    “Don’t stare at me like that. You’re making me self-conscious.” Niki got curious about what she was


    peering at and touched his own face. There’s nothing on my face!


    Lara shook her head andughed. “What’s with that? Are you afraid that I’d fall for you?” Upon hearing


    her charmingugh, Niki’s heart started to palpitate uncontrobly.


    Nheless, he regained hisposure and hastily defended by saying, “No! Of course not!” Feeling


    as though she was toying with him, he couldn’t look her straight in the eyes.


    “Let’s go!” The moment Lara smiled, Niki felt like his entire world had brightened up.


    Although he wanted to hold her hand, he didn’t have the courage to do so—he withdrew his arm before


    he could fully extend it. Just like how he didn’t dare to admit his feelings for Heather openly, he couldn’t


    bear any indecent thoughts toward Lara, and he disdained himself for being so cowardly.


    However, he was not the only coward—Matthias was the same, for he was troubled by his inability to


    make a rational decision. As he clutched the note in his hand, he suspected that he had truly gone


    insane for being so indecisive.


    Despite having a clear answer in his heart, he couldn’t find a reason to convince himself. Perhaps that


    was the reason why he had been living so dully all this while.


    Not wanting things to continue this way, he quickly turned his car around. Since he wished to see Ether


    and no one could stop him from doing so, why would he burden himself with more doubts?


    As the car sped forward, Matthias tossed away every single thought of Heather in his mind, refusing to


    be such a pathetic man. Judging by Heather’s character, she would surely abhor someone with such a


    petty mindset; only a man who could afford to stand by her side deserved to be with her.


    Nheless, he wasn’t aware that every single movement of his was being observed by a certain


    someone, and him going for Ether was precisely what the person wanted.


    The anonymous person was dying to stir up more drama between Heather and Matthias, for it would


    make everything much more fun. After getting someone to follow Matthias in secret, it seemed like it


    had been a fruitful decision. When Heather sees these pictures…


    The person smirked subtly, eager to sabotage the couple’s rtionship. Bradford City is getting more


    and more interesting right now!


    Meanwhile, Matthias was immersed in his own world. He had always been sensitive to being trailed,


    but he failed to notice the stalker this time.


    Since Ether feared that her family would find out about her rather shameful job, she worked far away


    from home. Although they were needy, her elders were educated enough to disallow her from partaking


    in such a disgraceful line of work.


    After driving for more than 30 minutes, Matthias finally arrived at Ether’s home and parked his car at a


    spacious spot. To be exact, he had arrived at the suburbs of Bradfort City—one that was impoverished


    rather than renovated and breathtaking. Needless to say, it was a joke to the people residing in the city.


    After getting out of his car, Matthias adjusted his cors. Such a ce was one he rarely visited. Back


    when he was still under his mother’s care, they weren’t poor enough to live in a poorly developed area,


    so he was quite unfamiliar with the situation in front of him.


    As he stared at the disorganized apartments, Matthias was visibly speechless. In fact, trying to figure


    out which block Ether lived in was a perplexing puzzle.


    Instead of unnecessarily racking his brains, he thought it would be more efficient to ask the people


    nearby. When he saw a mother-daughter duo walking his way, he went over and asked them for


    directions.


    “Good day,” Matthias politely greeted.


    As it was a rarity for a fine man like such to appear in that area, the mother and her daughter were


    simultaneously captivated by Matthias’ appearance. They were so baffled that they even forgot what to


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    say to him, but the mother tactfully regained her senses first.


    “Good day to you too.” She grinned in a bashful manner, stunned by his handsomeness.


    “Could you perhaps point me to block 21?” Since the buildings weren’t numbered in order, Matthias


    was visibly confused. Indeed, it was a pain in the bum to navigate oneself in such aplex area.


    “We happen to live there as well! Why don’t youe with us?” The mischievous little girl offered


    assistance as she ogled at Matthias, for she was charmed by the man’s idol-like appeal!


    At that, Matthias revealed a smirk as he nodded. How could he not realize that it was his manliness


    that triggered the duo’s enthusiasm?


    Since the path was rather bewildering, it would have taken him a long time to locate block 21.


    Fortunately, he had bumped into the mother-daughter duo. As he followed them, Matthias kept quiet


    along the way, looking amiable yet prideful at the same time.


    The girl thought of various pick-up lines to use on him as they led Matthias to the block, but she


    swallowed her words since she didn’t know what to say to him. After all, the outstanding man behind


    her was so intimidating that she couldn’t bear it, and she became rather clumsy in his presence.


    Soon enough, they were almost at their destination. The girl became nervous, but she knew that she


    shouldn’t be fantasizing about such scenarios since she could never be on Matthias’ level. In the end,


    she remained silent as thetter took his leave.


    “Thank you for bringing me here. I shall take my leave now,” Matthias said as he walked toward the


    elevator, clueless to the fact that he had unintentionally wavered the youthful heart of a young girl.


    From what he remembered, Ether lived in unit 703. Soon enough, he located the unit and knocked on


    the door.


    After some time, an old woman opened the door. She gazed at Matthias’ unfamiliar face while thetter


    merely revealed a courteous smile.


    “Good day, madam. I’m here for Ether.” It was not until he blurted the sentence did he remember that


    he hadn’t gotten Ether’s real name.


    As things got awkward, the old woman expectedly glowered at him and asked, “Who’s Ether?”


    Instantly, Matthias regretted not having asked the clubhouse owner for Ether’s real name. How should


    he exin himself to the old woman now?


    Fortunately, when he heard Ether’s voice from inside the house, he tactfully imed, “I’m here for your


    granddaughter, madam. I heard her speaking just now.”


    The old woman glowered at him cautiously, thinking that he was probably one of the scoundrels in the


    area given his odd words.


    Evidently, the old woman wasn’t easy to deal with. As they stared at each other, a series of footsteps


    neared them.


    “Who is it, Nana?” As Ether’s voice got closer, she eventually showed herself and was surprised to see


    Matthias at her door. There was even a tinge of pleasure on her face, for she never expected him to


    find her ce.


    When he saw her, the man smiled slightly as she subconsciously yelled, “Why are you here, Director


    Locke?”


    “I’m here to tell you that I reject your resignation.” His beam suddenly turned into a sly grin.


    Upon listening to their conversation, the olddy realized what was happening. She assumed that


    Matthias was Ether’s superior, so she immediately weed him in with utmost enthusiasm.


    Meanwhile, the young girl’s heart fluttered since she hadn’t expected those words, wondering if


    Matthias had a little change of heart toward her.


    As he sat straight up on Ether’s home couch, he swept his eyes around the room, estimating the unit to


    be about a hundred square feet; such a tiny unit was able to contain four separate rooms.


    Evidently, the space in the house was truly limited and the structure of the family was rather


    Since it was still working hours, her parents weren’t home; school hadn’t ended yet, so the kids were


    absent as well.


    Right now, only Ether and her grandmothers were home. The two seniledies chatted animatedly with


    Matthias about their homely matters, and thetter would respond politely. Throughout the entire time,


    Ether couldn’t find an opportunity to interrupt the conversation. When his eyes met hers asionally,


    both of them were visibly helpless.


    Since she didn’t want her elders to bother the man any further, Ether came up with an excuse to take


    Matthias out of the house. Although she was still dwelling on the pleasure that she received from his


    visit, she felt somewhat embarrassed after calming herself down.


    Undoubtedly, Ether was conscious of how impoverished her home and family were—that was why she


    was reluctant to let him overstay. Besides, she felt that she looked rather old-fashioned with her house


    clothes on.


    I look hideous right now!


    However, Matthias never saw her that way. In fact, he preferred her current appearance since it


    reminded him of Heather. Even though they were far off in terms of looks and temperament, he could


    surprisingly detect Heather’s scent on Ether.


    As they walked along the alley, Ether lowered her head as she was too bashful to look at the man


    beside her, fearing that he’d judge her. Although she wanted to run away from him so that he wouldn’t


    see her ungodly appearance, she couldn’t withdraw herself from his charm.


    “I’m sorry foring without notice,” Matthias gently uttered, brieflyforting her trembling heart.


    “How did you know about my resignation?” With her head even lowered, she was simultaneously


    stupefied yet honored by his sudden apology.


    “I went to the club.” His tender timbre intoxicated her.


    It was only then that Matthias had gotten to know her true name, Natalia Wright. It had nothing to do


    with ‘Ether’, though.


    “You went to the club…” Natalia was too embarrassed to continue, for she felt that she’d appear rather


    narcissistic.


    “I went to look for you,” he answered directly, knowing what she meant to say.


    “Aboutst time, I hope you don’t take it to heart. You didn’t do anything wrong that night.” Natalia


    assumed that he was still dwelling on that night’s incident.


    Matthias wanted to deny her words as he stared at her, but he couldn’t say anything despite opening


    his mouth. Was he supposed to tell her that he decided toe and see her on a whim?!