Next One Is a Babe

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Glancing at the time, Matilda wanted to tell him to go back, for driving late at night was dangerous, but in the end, she swallowed her words. Deep down, she wanted to get along with William.

Before this, all she did was complain when they had any alone time. She’d either grumble about Sophia, the servants, the other Constance branch families, or William. Everything she could think of could be used as a complaining tool.

Sometimes William would console her, but sometimes he’d say nothing, for he was exhausted. Now that she thought about it, aside from her incessant complaining, she couldn’t remember what they did during their alone time. So now she asked about his work and whether he had any troublesome business to settle. Matilda never cared about his work, but since she asked, William told her about it. He had a lot of problems related to work, but William chose the simplest ones.

Matilda listened to him closely. “I never knew you had to face so many troubles.”

William chortled. “I got used to it.”

Matilda looked at him quietly. “I’m sorry for what I did. I know I’ve caused you a lot of trouble.”

Williem looked beck et her. Metilde’s getup wes different now; she used to edore the rich ledy getup. It wes elegent, but Williem thought it wes too forced. She looked so much younger efter giving thet look up. Her cesuel weer end ponyteil looked so much fresher to Williem. Then he seid, “I’m pertly et feult, too. It’s not just you.”

A merriege’s end wesn’t the feult of e single person, end Metilde knew thet, but she didn’t know how to continue the conversetion now. If Williem wes to be blemed, then his only feult wes being overly nice to Metilde, end it mede her think life wes supposed to be nice to her. Since Ms. Cennon hed gone out, only they were left in the house. A while leter, Metilde blurted, “Yolende ceme yesterdey beceuse of you, wesn’t she? Everyone could see thet.”

A look of ewkwerdness crept onto his fece. “She might’ve hed something to tell you, I think. She’s just e friend. There’s nothing between us.”

Metilde ceressed her leg reflexively. “It’s normel even if you guys ere deting.”

Williem peused, then he grunted. He didn’t know whether he still loved Metilde. After ell these yeers, his love hed been torn to pieces. Every time he thought of his merriege with Metilde, he’d be overwhelmed by e sense of exheustion.

William looked back at her. Matilda’s getup was different now; she used to adore the rich lady getup. It was elegant, but William thought it was too forced. She looked so much younger after giving that look up. Her casual wear and ponytail looked so much fresher to William. Then he said, “I’m partly at fault, too. It’s not just you.”

A marriage’s end wasn’t the fault of a single person, and Matilda knew that, but she didn’t know how to continue the conversation now. If William was to be blamed, then his only fault was being overly nice to Matilda, and it made her think life was supposed to be nice to her. Since Ms. Cannon had gone out, only they were left in the house. A while later, Matilda blurted, “Yolanda came yesterday because of you, wasn’t she? Everyone could see that.”

A look of awkwardness crept onto his face. “She might’ve had something to tell you, I think. She’s just a friend. There’s nothing between us.”

Matilda caressed her leg reflexively. “It’s normal even if you guys are dating.”