Matthias looked at Evan sympathetically. He didn’t know what Heather would do next, but it seemed that he could only trouble Evan for this. In reality, he was looking forward to it deep down inside as well. Even though a dancing man wasn’t worth watching in his opinion, he hadn’t seen Evan dance for a long time.
Obviously, Matthias had sold Evan out to please Heather. Upon realizing what had happened, Evan looked at Matthias furiously. So what if he was an all-around butler? Matthias couldn’t make him do whatever he wanted him to do.
Seeing how the two buddies had fallen out and turned against each other, Heather smiled unapologetically. “Aren’t you two getting inside?” She entered the villa first on her own. Then, she pricked up her ears and listened as Matthias and Evan whispered to each other.
“Why would you want me to dance?” Evan asked in displeasure; even his deliberately lowered voice couldn’t conceal his anger.
Meanwhile, Matthias didn’t know how to explain the matter to Evan. Feeling rather helpless, he said to Evan, “You dance really well.”
Matthias was completely at sea, but when he thought about it, he realized that Evan didn’t like to dance, and he really screwed up this time. Evan had a dancing partner who was particularly in rapport with him when he dominated the dance floor many years ago, and they naturally developed feelings for each other. When they broke up afterward, Evan had never danced since then.
Perhaps it didn’t even occur to Heather that what she mentioned as a joke would remind Evan of a past that he couldn’t bear to look back on. Matthias had also forgotten this incident for a moment, and it wasn’t until he saw Evan being so angry right now that he remembered it.
Matthias was in a dilemma; he had never been courteous to Evan, but the situation was different this time since this incident had crossed Evan’s limits. Besides, Matthias couldn’t go so far. Still, he found it embarrassing to tell Heather that he had to backtrack on what he had promised her.
Evan had a rough idea of what was going on when he saw how troubled Matthias was, but he had always liked to add fuel to the fire. So, he leaned close to Matthias’s ear with a scowl and whispered, “I think Miss Langston wants to watch you dance, so why don’t you dance for her instead?” Naturally, he wanted to teach Matthias a lesson when he thought of how the latter had ignored his buddy for the sake of a woman, so he wanted to watch him make a fool of himself. As soon as he finished talking to Matthias, he came up to Heather’s side and said to her, “I wonder if you’ve heard a rumor before, Miss Langston.”
Matthias was alarmed at once. It seemed that Evan was going to do something harmful to him, but it was already too late to stop him at this moment.
On the other hand, Heather looked at Evan curiously, wondering what kind of rumor she would hear from him.
When he saw that Heather was interested, Evan immediately struck the iron while it was hot. “Actually, Director Locke is a fabulous dancer. It’s more interesting to watch him than to watch me dance.”
Matthias hurried up to them as well. He just knew that Evan would get back at him, for Evan was very good at stabbing someone in the back.
Heather turned to look at Matthias beside her with the corners of her mouth turned up slightly; she seemed to be eager to watch him dance. On the other hand, Matthias’ scalp tingled when he met Heather’s gaze. Instantly, a bad feeling spread all over him.
“It turns out that you’re a superb dancer.” Heather smiled charmingly. Now, it seemed that Matthias was doomed to dance in front of her.
Evan winked at Matthias as he successfully gave the latter a hard time. He had always sided with Matthias in front of Heather, but it seemed that Heather had successfully turned the two buddies against each other this time.
Luckily, Matthias had quick wits. He immediately suggested, “I like dancing with a partner, but I don’t have one right now.” Even if he really had to dance, he would get Heather to dance with him. After all, the idea of dancing with Heather seemed nice to him.
However, Heather pointed to them both. “Isn’t Evan here?”
Evan and Matthias frowned simultaneously, probably not expecting Heather to say that. As expected, they were outsmarted by the cunning lady. “I can’t dance the female part,” Evan protested immediately. It was impossible for him to dance in the first place, so it was absolutely impossible for him to dance the female part.
“Haha!” Heather burst into laughter. “Why can’t Matthias be the one dancing the female part? As expected, you’re a bottom!”
Matthias and Evan were speechless at the same time. Heather had changed so much recently that they couldn’t accept it for a moment; it was as though she had changed into a different person.
“You still remember what you’ve promised me, don’t you, Matty?” Heather suddenly addressed Matthias affectionately.
Upon hearing this, Matthias tensed up deep down inside; he had no idea what mischief Heather was up to again. “Well…” He was in a quandary. He had reluctantly agreed to dance in Evan’s place, but he didn’t expect that Heather was still unwilling to let him off.
As she ignored the troubled look in Matthias’ eyes, Heather said on her own, “In that case, it shouldn’t be a big deal for you to dance the female part for a while.”
Evan couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this. Is Heather really not here to pull a prank on Matthias? he thought to himself. On the other hand, Matthias gave Evan a look to remind the latter to unite with him against Heather.
However, Evan turned traitor at the critical moment. He didn’t want to dance ever again, but he didn’t mind sacrificing himself if he could watch Matthias dance the female part. “I don’t mind dancing if Director Locke is willing to dance the female part.” He passed the buck to Matthias again.
The latter was surprised that Evan would turn traitor to him. This is really infuriating! he thought to himself.
Heather looked at Evan with satisfaction upon hearing his words. Only then did Matthias realize that she was full of mischief. It seemed that he and Evan really didn’t know much about the other side of her personality, so they had to uncover more of this hidden side in the future.
Now that Evan had left no room for maneuver, Matthias could do nothing at all. At this moment, Heather urged Matthias again, “You see—Evan has agreed to it, Matty.” There was a sly look in her attractive eyes.
Thus, this matter was decided for the time being—it didn’t matter if Matthias agreed to it or not. After all, he couldn’t turn Heather down at all. He stared at her happily smiling face; how could he have the heart to say no to such a good-looking face? Besides, he thought it was worthwhile since he could get the woman he loved to smile, so he couldn’t say anything else regarding the rest of the matter.
Evan then stepped back so that Heather and Matthias walked side by side. Just then, Heather asked to go to the rooftop. She liked the rooftop of Matthias’ villa as the Langston Family’s chateau didn’t have one. Moreover, she liked an open environment where she could look far into the distance. A cold breeze lifted a corner of her dress, and such a natural and refreshing breeze made her feel comfortable.
The sky was already dark in the winter. At this moment, Evan had slipped off quietly, leaving only Matthias by Heather’s side. As there were only the two of them on the large rooftop, Matthias hugged Heather from behind. Smelling the pleasant scent of her hair, he rested his head on her shoulder as they completely let their guard down. “You smell so nice.” He recalled the scene where he met Heather for the first time, and he still remembered the faint fragrance on her to this day.
“Your breath itches me so much.” Matthias’ warm breath caressed Heather’s neck, creating an itchy sensation that made her feel somewhat ill at ease.
“When will you agree to be my woman, Heather?” Matthias asked Heather. He was inwardly tormented by the ambiguous relationship between them.
“When everything is over,” Heather replied meaningfully.
“When everything is over?” Matthias also wished he could put an end to everything sooner, but would everything be over so easily? Apparently, that wasn’t going to happen. Matthias wished he could live a peaceful life with Heather. Each day was torture right now; he was so near, yet so far away from her.
“There are too many problems between us, and I don’t want to be together with you when there are misunderstandings between us,” Heather replied from the bottom of her heart. She wanted a comfortable relationship, not one with a jumble of factors mixed in it.
“I also hope that I can put an end to all of this sooner.” Matthias planted a kiss on Heather’s neck. They were like lovers, but they were also like an unhappy couple.
“I don’t know what you’re planning exactly, Matthias.” Since she felt that the atmosphere was pretty nice, Heather decided to be more forthright. “I just hope that you’ll never betray or hurt me.” She didn’t want to be exploited by the person she loved, and perhaps she was already able to understand what Myra felt upon learning everything.
“You’re the most indeterminate factor, Heather. I’m also afraid of being betrayed and hurt,” Matthias replied while looking visibly moved. Heather seemed to have developed an instinct to take advantage of others. How could he put his mind at rest when she showed such a tendency?
“My interests are closely linked to that of the Langston Family. As long as no one hurts the Langston Family, I won’t do anything over-the-top.” Heather told Matthias clearly that she would safeguard the Langston Family’s interests and forbid anyone from doing anything harmful to her family.
“What if it’s only an expedient measure?” Matthias made an assumption.
“The Langston Family isn’t a pawn in someone else’s expedient measure,” Heather stated resolutely. Whatever the reason was, the action of exploiting and harming the Langston Family was unforgivable.
Matthias grew more worried when he heard how Heather kept stressing that she would protect the Langston Family. She used to focus her attention on the Langston Group, but she had turned her attention to the Langston Family instead. In other words, Heather seemed to have become more attached to the Langston Family. It was already hard not to hurt the Langston Group, but it was even harder not to hurt the Langston Family. At the thought of this, Matthias became even more unwilling to lift his head from Heather’s shoulder. Instead, he tightened his arms around her.
Heather was also aware deep down inside that she had gone a little too far by making such a request to Matthias. After all, Matthias had to use a lot of pawns for his plan, and the Langston Family played a key role. Evidently, she was also worried about what choice Matthias would make. “At times, I wish to be the most ordinary one among all people,” she said emotionally. If that was the case, she wouldn’t have so many things to worry about.
“Me too.” Matthias also wanted to live an ordinary life, but he was doomed to have a life full of ups and downs when he chose to become the head of the Locke Family.
Heather also knew a little about Matthias’ past, so she couldn’t help but ask, “You had the opportunity to make another choice back then, so why did you make such a choice instead?”
“I had to do that despite myself. There are people and things that you care about, and similarly, there are people and things that I care about too.” Matthias thought of his mother, who died young many years ago. Would she want to see him looking like this if she was still alive?
“You and I have both embarked on a path of no return, so we can’t turn back,” Heather said emphatically.
Matthias turned her around so that they looked at each other. “Why would I have to turn back when you’re accompanying me along the journey?”
Heather looked at Matthias unblinkingly. A romantic air surrounded them, and she smelled Matthias’ scent even as she breathed.
