Chapter 29
Rodney looked at Matthew subconsciously. “What’s wrong? Did you just think of something?”
Matthew shook his head slowly, but he was still deep in thought.
Rodney was impatient and couldn’t stand it. He pushed Matthew and said, “Do you know what I most hate about you? It’s how you say everything is fine when it isn’t. You never give any useful information. Do you know how anxious I am? What would happen if you told me more?”
Matthew glanced at him and pointed at the door. “Please leave then. Goodbye.”
Rodney was rendered speechless.
In the end, he chose to compromise. “Fine. If you don’t want to tell me, then don’t.”
Rodney turned his eyes back to the girl on the screen of Matthew’s phone and said, “But I don’t agree with your judgment. People can change. After all, the environment that she grew up in has changed, and she was so young at that time. Maybe she was spoiled by her family later on.”
Matthew glanced at the girl again. “Did nobody spoil her when she was a child? Everyone doted on her.”
“But…” Rodney frowned. “Maybe her family used to have a more positive outlook on life, but now, her family might be a little more arrogant and domineering, which has affected her imperceptibly?”
Matthew didn’t answer. He glanced at the girl on the screen of his phone again.
Rodney couldn’t help following his gaze and saw the outrageously ugly bracelet again. “To be honest, if it weren’t for the fact that the necklace meant a lot to her, why would she wear such an ugly bracelet at her age?”
Matthew said, “This bracelet is very valuable.
Rodney frowned. “Do you suspect that she picked it up somewhere?”
“It’s possible,” replied Matthew.
“Hang on… Rodney couldn’t help but glance at him thoughtfully. “Shouldn’t you be happy now that we have a clue about finding Nathalia? Why do you look so unhappy? Haven’t you been looking for her all along?”
Matthew said, “I’m just being more careful.”
“Come on,” Rodney retorted. “I know you well enough to know that you’re lying.
“Are you worried about what your wife would think about this?” he asked.
Matthew was slightly stunned.
“No.” His voice was very
very light.
Rodney snorted. He obviously didn’t believe that.
Matthew ignored him, glanced at the girl on the screen of his phone, and then looked away.
Logically speaking, it was good news for them to have a clue about finding Nathalia, but he was not as excited as he had imagined he would be.
He didn’t know if it was because Nathalia was different from the beautiful little girl in his memory, because he couldn’t accept the slightest change in her, or because had hoped that she was someone else subconsciously.
His long fingers, which were pressed against the phone, paused slightly.
Rodney looked at Matthew’s fingers, which had suddenly stopped moving, and then looked at his face. “Something on your mind?”
In response, Matthew replied in one word calmly, “No.“,
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1:42 PM
Chapter 29
He looked at Rodney and changed the topic. “So what are you really doing here?”
“I told you I was here to see you.” Rodney put a long arm around Matthew’s shoulder. “We haven’t seen each other in a long time. Why don’t we go downstairs and have a drink?”
Matthew pulled his arm down and stood up. “Let’s go.”
“Huh?” Rodney was stunned. “Really? Are you that ready to take me up on my offer?”
Rodney didn’t expect Matthew to agree. He just asked him out for a drink casually.
He had known Matthew for so many years. In the past, every time he asked him out, Matthew would turn him down because he had to either work overtime or go home. It was already the most Matthew could do as a good friend to have a meal with
him.
Matthew was never into socializing. He rarely went to bars or nightclubs. Other than his work, he would either go to the gym. or read. His life was boring and simple, but he was strictly self–disciplined.
Everyone they knew wanted to be as self–disciplined as Matthew was, but no one had his perseverance.
Matthew was already at the door and had taken his coat from the hanger. Seeing that Rodney was still staring at him in a daze, he raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, “You coming or not?”
“Yes, of course.” Rodney jumped to his feet and looked at him thoughtfully. “You must be having trouble with your love life.” It was not a question. Rodney was sure of it.
Matthew slammed the door shut directly, regardless of whether Rodney was still in the room or not. Rodney was so shocked that he chased after him in a hurry.
“Hey! I was just concerned about you. Why are you mad…
