Chapter 2
Matthew pulled away as if shocked. His movements were swift and precise as he was afraid of waking up the sleeping Nelly.
Nevertheless, Nelly remained blissfully unaware, lost in her dreams. The corners of her lips even curled into a slight, contented smile as she murmured, “Mmm, pork ribs… delicious.”
The unexpected comparison brought a flicker of amusement to Matthew’s face, his lips raising in a barely noticeable smile.
“With how soundly you sleep, you probably wouldn’t even realize it if someone carried you off,” he murmured, his voice carrying an unintentional trace of tenderness.
Just then, his phone rang sharply.
Matthew quickly retrieved his phone and silenced it with practiced efficiency. His warm expression hardened instantly, and his gaze sharpened to an icy glint.
“Speak,” he commanded curtly.
On the other end, Kai Yorke, one of his personal bodyguards, shuddered at his tone. “Mr. Yorke, we’ve lost track of your location. Where are you?” he asked respectfully.
Although they all had satellite tracking, Matthew was the exception.
Matthew turned to glance at Nelly, a subtle trace of affection flickered in his eyes before his voice returned to its usual detached tone. “I’ll send you my coordinates.”
“Yes, sir,” Kai responded promptly.
Ending the call, Matthew looked at Nelly.
He quietly picked up the blanket from the couch and gently draped it over her. Then, taking a pen and paper from her desk, he scrawled his name in bold, sweeping strokes—Matthew Yorke.
Afterward, he slipped out of the apartment and vanished as if he’d never been there.
…
Outside, as Matthew reached the bottom of the stairs, a convoy of sleek, limited-edition luxury cars pulled up in front of him in a flashy fashion.
Fortunately, it was still early in the morning, and the streets were mostly empty. Otherwise, onlookers would’ve swarmed at the spectacular sight.
Kai stepped forward and asked worriedly, “Mr. Yorke, you’re injured?”
“It’s nothing serious,” Matthew replied indifferently.
Taking the hint, Kai didn’t press further. Instead, he moved to open the door of a Porsche Cayenne.
Matthew slid into the car and unbuttoned his shirt to inspect the wound on his abdomen. Nelly’s face flashed across his mind unbidden, and an imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Meanwhile, Kai nearly fell out of the front passenger seat when he caught Matthew’s expression. He couldn’t believe he was seeing a smile on his usually emotionless boss’s face.
While Kai was bewildered, Matthew’s smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. His stoic demeanor returned as he instructed, “Look into someone for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
When the preliminary report came in, Kai was utterly stunned to learn that the someone was a woman. He couldn’t help wondering if Matthew was finally showing interest in someone.
However, the woman looked so young.
…
Psyros Group, ruler of Megham’s corporate landscape, was an enigma.
No one knew the true identity of its owner. Apart from his personal bodyguards and a select circle of close friends, none of the company’s employees had ever seen him.
Not even the most relentless paparazzi had ever managed to capture his appearance.
It was said that no one dared to provoke him.
How Matthew had achieved this level of untouchability was a mystery, and no one dared to inquire. And yet, the man Nelly had saved last night was none other than the elusive CEO of Psyros Group.
On the 98th floor of Psyros Group’s towering office building was a sprawling office decorated in black and white. The floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor office offered a panoramic view of the bustling city below.
To Matthew, the cars looked as insignificant as ants. As he stood by the window, one could sense his domineering presence from his tall silhouette alone.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in.”
Kai entered, holding a file. “Mr. Yorke, here’s the information you requested.”
“Leave it on the desk,” Matthew replied impassively.
“Yes, sir.” Kai placed the file on the desk and turned to leave.
Just then, an indignant voice rang out.
“Matthew, are you trying to get yourself killed? I went through hell to heal your old injuries, and here you are risking it all again! Next time, don’t count on me to save you!”
The office door swung open with a bang, and a strikingly handsome man stormed in. His complexion was smooth and fair, his features sharp and well-defined, with mesmerizing eyes that radiated charisma. His looks screamed elegance and nobility.
“Mr. Yorke,” Kai called out tentatively, glancing at Matthew.
“Leave us,” he ordered calmly.
“Yes, sir.” Kai retreated, stopping momentarily to greet the man who’d barged in. “Mr. Murphy.”
Quentin Murphy nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
Kai left and closed the door behind him. Though he was concerned about Matthew’s condition, he knew better than to pry.
Those who worked closely with Matthew had been handpicked through rigorous selection. Only those who earned Matthew’s approval could officially become his personal bodyguard and would bear the honor of taking his last name to signify their allegiance to the Yorke family.
“Matthew, do you even care about your health?” Quentin scolded angrily.
Matthew shot him a disinterested glance before walking to his desk.
As he looked over Nelly’s file, the icy expression on his face melted away, replaced by tenderness and affection that even he didn’t fully understand. It was unprecedented that a simple document could evoke such change in him.
His fingers brushed his lips absentmindedly as he recalled the kiss from earlier that morning. Then, a small smile crept onto his face.
Quentin froze in shock, his mouth hung open at the sight. He felt as though the Matthew he knew had transformed into a stranger overnight.
Before Quentin could regain his composure, the atmosphere shifted. Matthew’s expression darkened as his gaze lingered on the documents in his hands.
As his close friend, Quentin knew all too well what that ominous look signified. He assumed an employee must have angered Matthew and casually commented, “Matt, it’s just an employee. Don’t let it get to you.”
Matthew, however, wasn’t listening. His eyes were glued to the papers in front of him. As he read about Nelly’s background, a pang of inexplicable sorrow stirred within him.
Quentin looked frustrated as he prodded impatiently, “Hey, are you going to say something?”
Matthew glanced up at him, his indifferent expression silencing Quentin immediately.
Curious about what had captured Matthew’s attention, Quentin moved closer to sneak a peek. As soon as he glimpsed the information on the document, his jaw dropped.
