Chapter 198
“Matthew…” I stammered, my voice shaky with shock.
“Rea,” he said, giving me a strained smile.
“Your hair…” I reached out, instinctively wanting to touch it.
He frowned, confused. “What about my hair? Is it messy?”
Suddenly, tears started streaming down my face.
vare
Seeing me cry, he looked even more confused. “What’s going on? Why are you crying? Did Lindey say something to upset you? Don’t listen to her, you know how she is.”
It hit me he hadn’t even noticed that his hair had turned almost completely gray.
Just a few days ago, his hair was still black. But now? It wasn’t totally gray, but at least eighty percent of it had gone silver.
He looked like a completely different person, like he’d aged decades in just a few days. From a strong, middle–aged man to someone who seemed… fragile.
I couldn’t find the words. Especially since he had no idea what had happened to him.
Instead, I stepped forward and hugged him tightly, the tears flowing freely now.
He patted my back gently. “Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’m fine. I just needed some time alone. Lindey’s been nagging at me nonstop, and now she’s pulled you into this mess.
He thought I was crying because I was worried about him locking himself away for a whole day and night.
I shook my head against his shoulder, my throat tight like I couldn’t breathe.
“Come on, sit down for a bit. I’ll make us some tea,” Matthew said, his voice steady, like nothing was wrong.
But I could see through it. He was just putting up a front, trying to keep me from worrying. The gray in his hair said it all.
“Matthew, let Jace do what he wants. Don’t let this tear you apart. Please, don’t let it get to you.”
I’d never felt this much sympathy for someone before. Seeing Matthew like this broke my heart in a way I couldn’t even explain, like he was my own father.
His eyes darkened. “He’s let me down too many times, Rea. And I’ve had time to think–it’s because we spoiled him. We let him get away with too much.”
“That’s not on you. Jace is grown now. His choices are his own, and he’s gotta live with the consequences,
I said, trying to comfort him.
Matthew didn’t respond. I could tell my words hadn’t hit home. He was as stubborn as they come. No matter how calm or easygoing he usually seemed–whether Lindey was nagging or people were criticizing him–deep down, his convictions were rock solid.
I never imagined Jace’s choice of a girlfriend or wife would hit him this hard. Enough to turn his hair gray
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Chapter 198
practically overnight.
“Come on, sit with me. Let’s have some tea,” Matthew said, guiding me to sit by the tea table before he went to fetch the tea leaves.
As I watched him walk away, something about his posture struck me. His back looked a little hunched, like the weight of everything had finally caught up to him. With his gray hair, he suddenly seemed… old.
“I’ll make you that black tea you brought over a while ago. I’ve been saving it for…” His voice trailed off.
His hand, reaching for the tea cabinet, froze. He just stood there, staring at the glass door.
Something wasn’t right. I rushed over. “Matthew…
That’s when I saw it too.
In the glass reflection, Matthew had finally noticed his gray hair.
“Matthew,” I whispered, gently grabbing his arm.
He blinked and let out a bitter smile. “So that’s why you were crying earlier, huh?”
That smile–it was empty, full of this quiet resignation that tore me up inside.
“You’ve… you’ve…” I tried to say something, but the words caught in my throat.
“I’m over fifty now. Gray hair’s bound to happen. Guess now Lindey won’t have to worry about some younger woman catching my eye, right? I’ve officially turned into an old man. Who’d be interested in me now?” Matthew joked, forcing a chuckle.
But I couldn’t laugh. I pressed my face into his shoulder, quietly sobbing.
Matthew’s hand gently stroked my hair. “Alright, alright, don’t cry. We all get old eventually.”
Chapter 199
