Chapter 448 - Let Me Protect You This Time, My Darling.

After Matthew whispered his unwavering intentions, he ordered everyone to leave. He then took her on a house tour for her to familiarize herself with the mansion. However, Zoey didn't really care that much as she just followed him helplessly.

Hours had passed, and Zoey didn't even notice it. Currently, she was watching Matthew work in his study as an important document was sent to him. Matthew had to review the papers himself even after Paul reviewed it; just in case there was something shady or a loophole, probably.

'Damn it, Zoey…' As she watched the man work in silence, Zoey cursed herself internally. Her front bore helplessness, wondering how she ended up in a situation like this?

'My husband would never cage me like this… just where did this man come from? It's so hard to believe that my precious husband had a point in his life that only his words mattered to him.' She muttered inwardly, sighing a deep exhale as she couldn't believe that this seemingly tameable man wasn't that easy to tame.

'On the second thought, this is eight years before we met. During this time, I really didn't know what he was doing and his activities. He was labeled as a tyrant… he lived in that moniker for real, huh?' Unlike the silence in the study room, Zoey's mind was loud as she stressed herself over Matthew's unpredictable actions.

Zoey was so certain Matthew didn't have any bad intentions towards her, but she thought wrong. It wasn't that bad per se, but keeping her in this mansion like a bird in a grand and huge cage was unfair.

No matter how big and beautiful the cage was, it was still a cage. A place where her moves were limited. Not just that, but also, he was taking away her right to decide for herself, which brought unpleasant negativity in her heart.

Therefore, Zoey was a little torn. Should she escape? Was there a place where he couldn't find her? Zoey was in a dilemma. It was as if the more she resisted, the more Matthew wanted to tame her.

On the other hand, whenever she often agreed with him, he would take advantage of it. Therefore, Zoey's head was throbbing due to a headache she never thought she would have to worry in this lifetime.

"Are you hungry?" Slowly, Matthew raised his gaze towards the couch not far away from his desk. "Dinner will be served soon, don't worry." He affirmed, as if that was what she wanted to hear.

"Who would want an appetite to eat in this situation?" Under her breath, Zoey murmured as she looked away. She crossed her arms around her chest, pouting as she rolled her eyes.

Unfazed, Matthew slowly put down the pen in his hand. "You can always point a gun at me if you want to change my mind." Cold and low, his tone resounded across each corner of the room. 

Matthew linked his hands together, resting his arms on the edge of the desk. "There are ways I can teach you to change my mind." He added, his gaze never left hers, which showed her that he wasn't kidding.

"Kill me." Without further ado, Matthew gave the solutions to her dilemma. "If you don't do that, no matter where you go, you'll find yourself back in this place." Matthew didn't beat around the bush as he relayed his thoughts without the slightest filter.

"Why?" Aggravated at the answer she received, which was impossible to do, Zoey inquired exasperatedly. 

"Why?" Matthew repeated, a ridiculing chuckle escaped his thin lips. Slowly, Matthew unlinked his hands and pushed himself up to stand. Zoey watched him trudge towards her until he plopped down on the other side of the long couch she was sitting on.

Zoey didn't mind him sitting next to her as the couch had more free space in between them. 

"If you like me that much, shouldn't you give me more privileges? Freedom, for example?" She turned to him, her palms on the cushion seat as she perked her chin up.

"I am giving you special privileges." Matthew answered calmly, staring at her expectant eyes matched with delicate facial features. "You're the only one who keeps rejecting it." He added in a low tone, causing her brows to knit.

'Of course, you're taking away my freedom. Why wouldn't I reject it?' In her mind, Zoey sassed in a tone of disdain as her mind narrowed on the fact that Matthew was caging her.

"It's not that I don't appreciate the thought, okay?" Zoey sighed, attempting to reason out with him. However, she couldn't really understand the reason he was so adamant on letting her stay in a place like this. 

Zoey didn't know. She was clueless. Just yesterday, he wanted to kick her out of the XI Corporation before she found him lying on the floor, unconscious. However, now he wanted her to live in this place. Just why?

Was the reason for dating her for real was his answer? That's it? He was just being possessive and taking her as one of the collections in this house that he fancied? Obviously, this thought didn't please her heart. 

If anything, what she felt was disappointment. Who would want to be treated as some collection they wanted to keep? No one. Even if she loved him, and Matthew's forces were enough for her to ask him for help about Inigo's case, Zoey knew having enough manpower was the answer to her problem.

"Zhou Zoey, what I'm offering you is not a nice house to stay in; it's security." Still calm and collected, Matthew explained as he figured he didn't want to waste time getting misunderstood. 

"You took in that fugitive named Angelo under your wing. If people like him could go to you easily and something unprecedented happened — even if I know you have the skills to protect yourself, I wouldn't forgive myself knowing what could have happened and didn't prevent it from happening." Matthew slowly averted her gaze from her, staring at the paint on the wall.

"I don't know the problems you're secretly dealing with, or whatever shady business you're involved with. However, I want to protect the person for whatever reason I can not understand." After staring at the painting, Matthew returned his pair of russet eyes to her.

Zoey froze, speechless at the inexplicable emotion in flicking across his eyes. Although Zoey was uncertain herself, her heart felt his determination to do the things he had regretted the most. That brief second, Zoey somehow felt the resemblance to the thirty-year-old Matthew and his regrets.

"Let me protect you this time, my darling." His hand raised, reaching for her cheek, which he cupped gently. Those words just left his lips without Matthew realizing it, causing the corner of her eyes to well up as she felt that she was not alone… not anymore.

And in that instant, Zoey didn't argue with him anymore as she nodded her head. "Okay…" 

Her obedience brought a gentle smile on his lips. "Good girl." His thumb caressed her cheek, as he nodded approvingly. "You can't go back now.." Matthew whispered, slowly leaning forward to leave a peck on her lips.