When Love Comes Late

Before he could even answer, she bolted toward him, wrapping her arms around him tightly.

Only when she felt his familiar warmth and smelled his scent did she finally feel alive again.

Stella buried her face in Matthew’s chest, her tears flowing freely.

She held Matthew tightly and told him over and over again how much she had been worried about him these days.

“You’re finally back.

You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.

I was so scared I’d never see you again.

”

She kept talking, pouring out all the worry she’d carried these past days.

But Matthew didn’t respond.

He just stood there, not even returning her embrace.

Stella sensed something was wrong.

She loosened her hold on him and looked up, only to find Matthew’s eyes cold and distant.

Her heart raced, and panic gripped her.

With a trembling voice, she cried, “Matthew, what’s going on? You’re freaking me out.

Why are you looking at me like that? Why are you so cold?”

Without thinking, she reached out, trying to touch his face.

But before she could, Matthew caught her wrist, his grip firm.

Then, without a word, he released her hand and stepped back, creating a gap between them.

“Please, keep your composure,” he said, his tone icy and distant.

Stunned, Stella stood there, tears silently streaming down her face.

Matthew didn’t even glance her way.

He turned and calmly pushed Lindsay’s wheelchair toward Betsey and Waldo.

As usual, Matthew warmly greeted Waldo with a simple, “Grandpa.

”

“Grandpa, we’re back.

Sorry for worrying you,” Lindsay added sweetly.

Waldo hadn’t recovered from his anger toward Betsey yet, and now he was stunned by Matthew and Lindsay’s sudden appearance.

For a moment, he failed to respond to their greetings.

Matthew, noticing Waldo’s silence, looked puzzled and called out, “Grandpa?”

Waldo snapped back to reality but was still bewildered by the situation.

He could clearly feel the closeness between Matthew and Lindsay, but given the circumstances, he refrained from asking too many questions.

He simply nodded and inquired, “When did you get back?”

“We just arrived.

We heard Grandma was in the hospital, so we rushed here,” Matthew replied honestly.

Betsey stopped her antics upon seeing Matthew.

When she turned and noticed Lindsay in a wheelchair, she seized the opportunity.

She approached Lindsay with feigned concern and said, “Lindsay, what happened to you? Why are you in a wheelchair?”

Her tone was that of a concerned mother.

Lindsay appeared distressed.

With teary eyes, she slowly bowed her head.