384.Chapter 384
Matthew stared at Gabriel in shock Tather, what do you mean by that?"
Gabriel paused for a moment. "You know exactly what I mean, Matthew"
"I don''t understand? Matthew shouted, his voice trembling with anger as he red at Gabriel
Gabriel let out another heavy sigh. "It''s just an engagement. I know you''re unwilling, but Benedict doesn''t have much time left. If we don''t get the medicine soon, he won''t make it. Can you truly stand by and watch Benedict die?"
Matthew''s voice trembled as he asked. "Are you really asking me to give up my engagement to save him? When other solutions exist, must you plead Eliza?"
"What other way is there?" Gabriel''s expression darkened, his tone sharp. "Snowlotus? A century old Purple Shroom? Or that mythical Bloodshade Blossom no one''s even seen? Do you think any of those are easy to find?
"It Benedict could hold on for another week or two, I wouldn''t be this desperate! But he could die at any moment now! These medicines are the only thing keeping him alive. If we don''t get them, we''ll be preparing for his funeral instead!"
The moment those words were uttered, a heavy silence descended between Gabriel and Matthew
Matthew stood frozen in ce, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his eyes bloodshot with suppressed
emotion
Gabriel looked at Matthew''s pained expression, quilt flickering in his heart. But he had no choice.
He couldn''t abandon Benedict.
Matthew, break off your engagement with Diana. She already said she wanted to end it, didn''t she?"
Matthew''s voice cracked, his eyes brimming with tears. “No, she was just upset! She didn''t mean it. I can make it right! I can make her forgive me! But if I really break it off, she''ll never forgive me! Father, I''m begging you. Don''t make me end things with Dianal
Matthew dropped to his knees before Gabriel, tilting his head back as he pleaded desperately.
But Gabriel stood there, his expression as cold and unyielding as stone, unmoved by Matthew''s desperation.
Father Matthew''s voice trembled, panic creeping into his tone as he called out again
This time, Gabriel finally reacted. Slowly, he raised a hand and ced it gently on Matthew''s head, ruffling his hair in a gesture so tender that, for a fleeting moment, Matthew thought Gabriel had relented.
But just as hope lit up Matthew''s face, Gabriel''s voice cut through the moment like a de, “Matthew, it''s not that I''m being cruel But I can''t turn my back on Benedict. Be a good son and listen to me."
The words struck Matthew like a thunderp. His body froze, his face drained of all color
Elza set her cup down, a satisfied smile ying on her lips. "Renee, take the annulment papers and the engagement token to Lord Mowbay
It didn''t take long for Renee to present both items to Gabriel
The engagement token for Eliza and Caleb was an emerald hairpin, while the one for Diana and Matthew was a pendant
That pendant had been painstakingly carved by Matthew himself years ago when they were engaged.
Now, however, it was being returned to its original owner, along with the annulment papers.
Matthew''s gaze locked onto the document, his eyes dark and story as they fixated on Diana''s name and the red fingerprint sealing her decision
His teeth sank into his lower lip, breaking the skin. Blood trickled down theer of his mouth, but he didn''t seem to
ΠΟΛΙΤΕ
"Where is Diana?" he suddenly asked. "I need to see her
"She doesn''t want to see you, Eliza replied coolly
7 said I need to see her Matthew roared, his voice raw with fury as he pped Renee''s hand away
Renee''s hands hurt from the impact, and she was startled by the sudden outburst. By the time she recovered and reached out again, she only managed to grab hold of the annulment papers.
The pendant, however, slipped from her grasp Sessfully unlocked! sound. The pendant shattered into two
pieces
Matthew, still furning, suddenly froze when he heard the sound. His gaze dropped, and panic overtook him
He quickly snatched up the shuttered pendant. Seeing the cracks, hig anger boiled over, and he exploded at Renee. "How dare you break my stuff? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
wasn''t mat You hit my hand.
wretched girl, hoe dire you Talk
Matthew shot to his feet, his face twisted with fury, and raised his hand to
"Matthew! Gabrieft
Henne dodged. fut
was already toote
set annugh. The p graved past her cheek, andnded on the
forward, and a trudi sharper p rang out
Matthew''s head mapped to the side a vivid red handprint Mooming on his cheek almost immediately
Thieu''s eyes horned with fury me the red at him getting her teeth Matthew, who do you think you are daring to lecture
The pulled tienes behind her protectively and snatched back the animent papers "You don''t want to sign? I''ve got plenty
Matthew smirked his cheek will stinging from the step, his expression dark and venomout "Oh really? Go ahead, try m
Just woll and new Matthew Eliza''s voice was cold as ice "You''ll regret that stap
he turned sharply and issued amand "Tina, show them out."
Gabriel said "WW"
Gabriel waspletely blindsided by how quickly things had escted
He tried to stop Fle, but before he could say anything, a sharp de sliced
through the air and embedded self into the
to his head with a deafening thud
dangerously close-if Gabriel
aken even one step forward, the de would''ve been lodged in his
Tinanded inside the courtyard gate, her gaze icy and unyielding the spat out a single word, "Leave."
Momentster the courtyard door mmed shut with a resounding bang, leaving Gabriel and Matthew standing outside G''s face tumed icy as he stared at the tightly shut courtyard gate.
The ar grew heavy with tension. After a long suffocating silence, he turned to Matthew, his voice sharp and cold. is this
ter Heredict dead?"
Mattiune: aviped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his head lowered as he
spoke in a submissive tone, 1 don''t w
call off the engagement either Father, you''re a brilliant man–there must be another way, Pleas
of in death.
never change. I will never let her gor Matthew thought
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