A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 338

But the sting was quickly followed by an indescribable sense of desolation. Yvan chuckled bitterly to himself, knowing Matilda was never short of admirers. Without him, countless suitors would line up at her door. She would be well taken care of, and that was a good thing.

A good thing, indeed...

But if it was so good, why did his heart feel like it was soaked in vinegar?

Unbeknownst to him, Yvan's fingers curled into a tight fist, a gesture so telling that even Carl, an outsider, could sense his turmoil.

He wanted to reach out to Matilda again, yet he had lost the courage to face her.

If given another chance, would he let their relationship end up in this state again?

Continuing was painful; letting Matilda go was even more so.

Matilda had, unknowingly, taken root in his heart. The mere thought of her name sent a ripple through his entire being, forcing him to wrestle with his thoughts to keep from thinking about her.

But some feelings are beyond the control of the mind.

Yvan's expression morphed through a gamut of emotions, looking as though he had been through a maelstrom. Finally, he spoke in a voice cold and detached, as if laced with the metallic taste of blood, "Find out which bodyguard was involved..."

He had to get that person from Declan.

Carl nodded and turned to leave, but Yvan called him back, as if he had something more to say but couldn't find the words.

...

These days, Asuka had been coaxing Matilda to go out for a meal, mentioning that a fashion magazine's editor-in-chief was keen to meet her. The editor had seen an unpublished shot of Matilda's work that Asuka had sneakily shown him and was impressed. After several refusals, Matilda couldn't say no to Asuka's persistent invitations and agreed to meet, taking Logan along with her.

Dressed casually in a hoodie and sweatpants, Matilda and her son attracted attention as they walked down the street, looking every bit the part of celebrities with their youthful glow and seamless bond.

Upon arriving at the café, Matilda saw Asuka waiting at a window seat, slim with delicate fingers, beaming at her. The sunlight made Asuka's tear mole glisten, and her slight dimples and playful smirk added to her charm.

Even after having been around handsome men like Yvan and Adrian, Matilda was momentarily dazzled by Asuka's appearance.

Shaking off the initial surprise, Matilda reminded herself firmly, "She's a woman... a woman... one with the allure that rivals any man's..."