Flora waited until they were away from their daughter's room to give Matthew a playful tug on the ear: "What's this about the wedding? You told me it was in two weeks, how did it suddenly become three days?" It was now that she finally began to question him.
Earlier, when Matthew didn't see her react, he thought he had managed to escape unscathed.
Little did he expect that she had noted down his wrongdoings, only to bring it up when they were away from their daughter's room.
"I was wrong! I was wrong! Oh, my dear wife, please forgive me!" He cried out: "But it's really for you!"
"What? How is it for me?" Flora's voice was filled with shock.
Why would he move the wedding closer because of her, without her even knowing anything?
Matthew rubbed his ear that was still tingling, explaining: "When I was massaging you, you said that two weeks was too long, that you wanted to get married sooner. I thought that since we were almost prepared anyway, it wouldn't matter if we did it a bit sooner. So, I discussed it with the elders, and everyone agreed that the most auspicious day was in three days."
"Are you lying to me?" Flora's eyes were filled with suspicion.
How could she have said such words: "Did I really say that?"
"Of course." Matthew nodded: "Why else would I abruptly change our wedding date?
Perhaps you were so deeply asleep that you forgot our conversation?" His words bore an air of reason.
Still, Flora found her mind in turmoil; she remembered nothing at all.
All she remembered was that Matthew had been incessantly mumbling, his voice steady and calm. So overcome with fatigue, she had treated his words like a lullaby and drifted off to sleep.
Upon awakening, she was struck by the thunderbolt of news that their wedding was just three days away.
She sighed: "Alright, let's leave it at that.
After all, we already have a few kids, getting married a few days earlier or later doesn't really make a difference." But then..: "What about your previous marriage to Selena?"
"That was not legally recognized.
In actuality, Selena and I never officially registered our marriage.
You can check it at any time if you wish."
His assured statement left Flora slightly surprised.
Back then... Selena had triumphantly appeared before her, pregnant belly and all, and she had assumed that they were legally married.
She didn't expect it wasn't the case.
Matthew wrapped his arm around Flora's waist, his hand suddenly encountering something hard beneath the fabric.
He frowned: "What are you wearing around your waist?"
Flora started, backing away a few steps: "I... I'm just wearing a protective belt.
I've been working out recently, so I wear it to..." She didn't finish her sentence, seeing clearly that Matthew didn't believe her.
"Don't lie to me." he sighed: "Perhaps you don't know this, but when you lie, it's quite apparent, I can easily tell..."
"It's because of our last child... The doctor advised me to wear this, said it would be good for me." Flora chose to tell him half the truth.
Matthew sighed again, stretching out his arm to hold her once more: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you about this... It's my inadequacy that caused you to suffer, and our child to..." He didn't dare to finish his sentence, choosing to let it go: "I've dreamed about our child so many times, I always have this feeling that it's a girl, very similar to Paul, absolutely adorable..."
"Can we not talk about this anymore?" Cold sweat broke out on Flora's forehead as she turned to Matthew, her gaze urgent.
He immediately nodded, taking her hand as they walked towards their room: "Alright, we won't talk about it, let's go rest." To shift the tense atmosphere, he brought up another topic: "I've looked over the guest list, have you checked if we've missed anyone? Hmm, there's Patrick, there's Emma, there's... and my father too."
"Your father?" Flora was taken aback, hearing this unfamiliar form of address from Matthew's mouth: "You mean..."
"Yes.
He'll be coming as well.
Haven't you always wanted my father and I to mend our relationship? Despite his past treatment of me, I hold no resentment anymore after he donated his marrow to save Paul." All he felt now was gratitude.
Flora nodded: "Finally, you've let go of the grudge in your heart."
It was clearly a personal matter between Matthew and his biological father, but Flora worried and cared about it more than he did.
She smiled, looking up at him: "I don't want you to regret how you've treated him in the future.
As long as you can live without guilt, that's all that matters. I'll always be here to support you."
"You truly are my beloved wife.
You know me too well!" Matthew also smiled, his gaze filled with affection: "The saying that 'a husband and wife should act in accord' is indeed true."
Flora chuckled, pretending to punch him in the back: "Stop talking nonsense!"
Over the next two days, the small island was livelier than ever.
Planes from all over the world kept arriving, carrying people of various skin colors, speaking different languages; all of them were close friends and brothers-in-arms of Matthew and Flora, family members from both sides.
It's been a long time since the island has seen such vibrancy.
The islanders, inherently hospitable, were overjoyed to welcome these distant guests.
"I've never seen so many planes before!"
"Me neither!"
This became a familiar conversation among the islanders.
Meanwhile, at Matthew and Flora's mansion, everyone was bustling around, preparing for the wedding.
Even the little ones, like Charlie and Anna, rolled up their sleeves, eager to lend a hand.
The phrase that Mrs. Smith, Flora's mother, repeated the most during these days was: "Thank goodness I only have one daughter! This is already so hectic, if I had a few more girls, I'd surely go mad!"
Flora herself was caught up in the whirlwind of wedding preparations.
She was busy running here, checking there, looking at wedding rings, trying on wedding dresses... until after being trailed around by little Anna for nearly an hour, she finally turned to her and asked: "Sweetheart, what's the matter? Why are you following me? Don't you want to play with Charlie anymore?"
Anna shook her head, whimpering: "It's not that I don't want to play with Charlie.
But... I don't want to be sent away..." Apparently, the child had overheard some rumors and sought Flora to share her worries.
"Sent away? Why would you be sent away?" Flora was confused.
The child was living happily with her other children, so why would she suddenly need to leave?
Anna brushed her tears away: "Uncle said he will take me away."
"He also said..." Her voice trailed off into a sob: "Uncle said you and Matthew won't love me anymore, that you want to cast me away?"
"Uncle?" Flora had never known that this little girl had an uncle out there in the world.
She'd been too caught up in her tasks these past days.
But noticing Anna stealthily glancing at a man, Flora deduced he must be the uncle mentioned by the child.
He was speaking to Matthew: "I've caused you all a lot of inconvenience.
I had no idea until recently... My sister had a lot of troubles, and little Anna got lost.
Thanks to your care, I've arranged to take her back home."
"But I don't want to go anywhere!" Anna shook her head vigorously, taking refuge behind Flora, seeking comfort and safety.
Flora knelt down, looking eye-to-eye with Anna, and asked the little girl: "Is he really your uncle?" In these times, deceivers that prey on children were not uncommon.
She needed to be absolutely certain before handing over the child to a man completely unknown to her.
The little girl gnawed on her nails, head drooping, reluctantly answered: "Yes."
The truth was clear.
Being a close relative who had come in person to fetch her, there was no refusing him.
Despite the sting in Flora's heart, much like Anna's, she couldn't bear the separation.
Anna's uncle continued: "My living conditions are not poor, I can at least ensure Anna has a proper upbringing, not lacking in any way.
It's always better for family to take care of their own."
Flora sighed, attempting to persuade him to leave Anna behind: "How about this... she's gotten used to staying with us, you can go back, and come to visit whenever you miss her." She knew her plea would likely be fruitless, but she couldn't resist trying.
"Of course that's not possible." The man shook his head: "She's been living with her grandmother since she was little, and her granny is now quite anxious. I have to take her back, only then will my mother feel reassured.
Do you understand? Please empathize.
Even if you offer me any sum of money, I have to take my niece back."
"This matter..." Flora was at a loss.
She glanced at the little girl huddled behind her, then at the girl's uncle, and finally turned her gaze to Matthew.
"Anna, your grandma is in the hospital." Her uncle bowed his head, sighing deeply: "You won't let your grandma lie in the hospital wishing to see you but can't, right? Come back with me."
Anna looked up at him: "Granny... is sick?"
"Yes." He nodded: "Granny misses you a lot."
The pressure seemed to weigh heavily on the little girl's petite frame.
She nodded: "Then, uncle, take me back." If granny was ill, she had to be a good girl and go back to her.
Even though she knew she would miss everyone on this little island very much.
Just then, Charlie rushed out, noticing a strange man bending down to lift Anna, preparing to depart.
Anna, clinging onto her uncle's neck, failed to spot the boy, her voice tinged with sadness: "Uncle, remember to bring me back here to visit Charlie in the future.
I will miss Charlie and Paul a lot."
"Yes, whenever you wish to return, I will bring you back." Her uncle nodded, then turned to Flora and Matthew, bowing slightly: "Thank you all for taking care of Anna."
Having spent some time together, anyone would find it hard to part.
Flora stood frozen, watching the little girl and her uncle disappear behind the tall trees.
Charlie also stood silently, watching his rare childhood friend depart from his world.
It seemed the boy knew, this departure would make a reunion very hard.