The cost

Five minutes later, the enticing aroma of the food made Mia’s mouth water. She resisted the urge to eat and glanced at the table from the corner of her eye. When she saw the dishes on the table, her eyes widened. Stir–fried lentils and black beans in such an upscale restaurant? It was like finding a hamburger at a lavish banquet – shockingly out of place.

However, she found most of the dishes on the table were meant to boost blood levels. Mia could easily guess that this was Matthew’s special request. She thought inwardly. Is this his way of making up for the past?

Seeing Mia hesitate, Matthew asked softly. “What’s wrong! Don’t you?

like the food!”

“What’s gotten into him? Why is he so nice to me! Mia wondered. Suppressing her bewilderment, she reminded herself that she needed to take care of herself. She had nearly fainted earlier. If she didn’t eat anything, she might really collapse right in front of him.

and the black beans were perfectly seasoned. Before she

“No, it’s fine,” Mia replied politely and began eating hit by hit. The lentils were flavorful, and knew it, she had cleared several dishes

Matthew, on the other hand, ate in a graceful manner and only had a few bites of his black pepper steak. Watching Mia enjoy her meal, he couldn’t help forming a slight smile on his lips.

He hadn’t been a good husband before. For the past five years, his focus had been any gifts or even a wedding ring

n solely on wo

on work and Elizabeth. He hadn’t cared for Mia, given her Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

However, Mia had cooked for him every day, waited for him to come home, prepared holiday gifts, and welcomed him with the warmest smiles, She had given him everything he would need

Thinking back to those days, Matthew felt a heavy weight on his chest.

Finishing the last piece of mushroom, Mia elegantly dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Mr. Blackwood, enjoy your meall I have important matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. Having eaten her fill, she turned and left without a backward glance

Matthew squinted his eyes and kept staring at Mia’s retreating figure. His once numb heart had begun to feel, but was it too late for everything?

In the lobby of Felicia Restaurant, Mia waved to the manager and said. “Charge the Blackwood Group’s bill to my account” She had no desire to ove Matthew anything.

1, Ms. Reed.” The manager observed Mia’s expression and said, “By the way, Ms. Reed, Mr. Evan Newell wants to see you.”

Evan? A handsome man in a white shirt and gold–rimmed glasses slowly surfaced in Mia’s mind. Evan was an old friend of her father’s. The last time she had seen him was six years ago.

Is Evan in Pratu City“” Mia felt a twinge of excitement inside.

The manager shook his head and said, “Mr. Newell travels abroad every month. He should be back in a few days. He suspected that Evan might be looking to hand over Jeffery’s private assers to Mia for her to manage.

“Great! Here’s my number. Mis left her phone muumber with the manager. Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang- it was Eliot calling. “Mu Reed. Mr. Ethan Carter is waiting for you at the office. He says there’s something important he needs to discuss with you?

Mia wondered, ‘Ethan What important thing could he possibly have? She then recalled the uproar in the boardroom when she had first returned to the Eldoria Group. It was precisely Ethan who had been the loudest. She was curious to see what that sly manipulator was up to. Without hesitation, Mia drove straight to the Eldoris Group

Meanwhile, back at Felicia Restaurant, the atmosphere in the private room was tense.

John reported nervously, “Mr. Blackwood, the manager just returned all the payments. This restaurant is owned by the Reed family. Ms. Reed said to charge all expenses to her account.”

Hearing that, Matthew remained silent.

Vinson had told him this restaurant, with its views of clouds, neon lights, and the sea, was the most romantic spot for dating in Pratu City, No woman could resist such extreme romance. Yet Matthew had encountered an unexpected twist

John stood there, too scared to speak. A man invited a woman to dinner, but the woman ended up paying and leaving. There was only one explanation for this, which was she had no interest in the man and wanted no further connection.

Matthew had finally opened his heart, only to be refused so decisively by Mia. John had witnessed what Matthew had done to Mia over the past five years and he didn’t know whether to pity Matthew or regard all of this as his retribution.

Matthew sat in his chair and gazed out at the changing scenery, Watching the sunset lighting up the sky, he tried to piece together the nemories

from five years ago, but there were many puzzling aspects he couldn’t understand

Before their marriage, he and Mia had had no connection. At that time, Elizabeth had been critically ill and urgently needed surgery, but Pratu Hospital didn’t have compatible blood in stock. In desperation. Matthew had offered a 200 thousand dollar reward for blood donations.

The news had spread through all the hospitals in Pratu City within half an hour, and a large crowd had gathered at the blood bank soon, with Mia among them.

It was Mia’s compatible blood that had saved Elizabeth Matthew remembered placing a 200 thousand check in front of Mia, and she had looked up at him with bright eyes, declaring, “I don’t want money, I just want to marry you Mia’s gare had been intense at that time, like a blinding light.