Chapter 418 - These Memories...

"It's me…' Zoey whispered, caressing his cheek as her eyes softened. She had never witnessed Matthew lose his thoughts. He was acting as if he was a hurt beast, being too cautious so he wouldn't get hurt again.

"You're safe, hmm?" She added, speaking and acting as what she would do in his times of need despite the pain he was causing her wrist. She stared at his dimmed pair of russet eyes, her emotions swirled across her eyes as she nodded her head wordlessly.

Matthew blinked his eyes, his thoughts coming back together. Upon realising his grip on her wrist, he immediately let it go. "I -- I'm..." For the first time since his existence, Matthew stuttered as he drew back to gather his thoughts.

His eyes inadvertently moved towards her wrist, seeing his hand imprinted on her skin in a reddish hue. The sight shot pain in his heart, revealing it in his eyes as it flashed a glint of remorse. "I didn't mean to." He said as his hands involuntarily moved to reach her. 

However, Zoey instinctively pulled her hand closer to her, causing his heart to sink. Matthew retracted his hands slowly, hanging his head low as he never felt this strange pain. It was strange yet at the same time painful.

He knew he shouldn't have the right to feel this hurt. After all, he was the one who tried to harm her, not the other way around. However, he resented himself more than he ever did.

At the same time, Zoey realized the reaction of her hand upon sensing danger. "It's okay!" Zoey immediately grabbed his hand and then placed it on top of hers. "I mean, you can kiss my wrist now and be a sweet human being. I accept that as a form of apology -- plus, you won't sell my building. Hehe" She humored out of impulse, beaming him a smile while her hand was still trembling as it was a reaction she couldn't control.

Matthew raised his head, her makeup graced by a silly smiling face that was akin to a clown. He pursed his lower lip, holding her hand gently as he gazed down on it. "I'm sorry." He apologized genuinely.

Zoey watched him rub her wrist using his thumb. She could feel her heart melt, but at the same time, she was worried deep down. Never in her previous life had she witnessed him snap. She wondered why?

Why was he so different? Why did it seem that it seemed like not only Matthew was different in this lifetime, but also the people around him. Zoey seemed to realize that she truly didn't know him just like how little knowledge Matthew had of her..

Crazy, indeed. That both of them were married to each other knowing too little about each other. Still, despite that fact, her love for him didn't change. Instead, she felt like getting to know him, the man who built the man she fell in love with.

"So, you know how to apologize, huh?" Zoey uttered, attempting to lighten up the mood with her not so unwise words. After all, earlier today, Matthew refused to apologize as he remained adamant that Scarlet should be the person apologizing not him.

Matthew just glanced at her, a deep breath escaped from his mouth. "I just…" Once again, a sigh slipped past his lips as he hung his head low while his fingers massaged his forehead.

"I'm sorry. I won't auction the building for now. You can go." Slowly, he returned her hand to her before waving his hands lightly. 

"Ah?" Upon hearing his remarks, Zoey furrowed her brows as she tilted her head to the side. "I should go?" She repeated in a questioning note.

"Mhmm…" Without casting her a glance, Matthew hummed a tune. 

"Why? It's our date." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey argued as her way to refuse to leave him alone. After all, Zoey was unsure how unstable he was at this time. She had accepted the fact that her husband was not the same person during his younger years. Thus, she was blindly exploring him in the dark.

Matthew didn't answer again, but he slowly stood up. He trudged towards his desk. Without further ado, he pressed on the transceiver connected to his assistant. "Escort Miss Zhou out." He ordered shortly before turning to face her.

"Let assistant Qian escort you out… you already came in your own car, right?" His pair of russet eyes flickered with an unwavering resolve to send her away. 

Zoey, who was seeing this, frowned. Well, although she didn't plan on meeting him ever, Zoey still wanted to stay for a very obvious reason. "You're really sending me away?" She asked, her voice sounded gloomy as she stared at him.

Without a second hesitation, Matthew replied. "Please." He nodded his head lightly.

For a moment, Zoey and Matthew just stared at each other. Both didn't break the silence until they heard a knock coming from outside the office. "Come in." Shortly after the knock, Matthew broke his eye contact with her as he shifted his gaze towards Paul who entered the office.

As usual, Paul performed his usual polite greeting before he heard his boss's order. "Take my lift going down." 

"Yes, young master." Paul bowed his head and then turned to Zoey. "This way, Miss Zhou." He said, gesturing her the way.

Meanwhile, Zoey pouted as she glanced at Matthew for a second. "Whatever." She muttered as her nose flared, pushing herself up to her feet.

"Fine." Zoey harrumphed, rolling her eyes as she followed Paul's tracks towards the very familiar elevator. 

As they departed the office, Matthew leaned his bottom against the edge of the desk, both his palms on his rear acting as his support. He turned his head to the two departing figures, sighing heavily in regret. 'It's for your own good, Darling.' He whispered internally, seeing Zoey glancing at him upon entering the lift.

As the lift slowly shut close, Matthew and Zoey stared at each other until it fully closed. "Ughh…" The second the elevator closed in, Matthew grunted as his fingers ran through his neatly brushed hair, ruffling it in distress.

"These voices in my head…" He muttered through his gritted teeth, closing his eyes as he hung his head low. "It's driving me insane…!" He added, frustrated at himself and the memories he had been hearing and seeing suddenly.

Once again, Matthew ran his fingers through his now unruly hair that he ruffled earlier. "These memories…!" Just as he was about to let out his frustrations, his head throbbed that caused him to freeze in his position.

At the painful beat in his heart reached his ear, an image of a woman -- albeit blurred -- hovered before his eyes. "What? What? Where does it hurt?" The woman asked, her tone sounded worried sick.

The voices inside his head turned muffled but his vision slowly recovered. Just then, Matthew had a glimpse of a woman's side profile, talking to someone else. The woman looked familiar. Although she appeared in a mature form of the woman who just left with his assistant just now, she still looked the same.

"Zoey…" He whispered before his vision turned black and his body collapsed directly on the floor.