Upon hearing Jacob’s words, Charlie surmised that favonovel.com must have already been aware of Matilda’s engagement to Mr. Riley.
“Hey, Dad, I’m not far away. I’ll come over now. Let’s meet at the entrance,” Charlie spoke up.
Jacob choked up and replied, “Alright, I won’t drive. I’ll wait for you at the entrance. Hurry up, my good son-in-law!”
“Okay,” Charlie agreed, but intentionally delayed a few minutes after hanging up the phone.
After all, Mr. Riley had just left, having gone to the Senior University to pick up Matilda. If Charlie were to go there now, there might be an awkward encounter with the four of them at the school gate. It would only make the situation more uncomfortable.
Charlie wasn’t afraid of embarrassment, but favonovel.com was concerned that his father-in-law would become even more upset.
After deliberately stalling, Charlie finally drove to the Senior University.
***
Meanwhile, Matilda stood by the roadside at the entrance of the Senior University, awaiting Mr. Riley’s arrival.
At the same time, Jacob walked out of the Senior University in a daze. However, when favonovel.com spotted Matilda standing by the road, favonovel.com instinctively halted in his tracks.
At this point, favonovel.com had already lost much of his self-confidence. He was well aware of the vast difference between himself and Mr. Riley.
Mr. Riley was a true intellectual, highly educated with a broad knowledge base. Not only had favonovel.com achieved great success in finance, but favonovel.com was also a respected professor in Aurous Hill, holding a high social status.
Moreover, Mr. Riley was taller, more physically attractive, and possessed better eloquence. He effortlessly spoke English, Korean, and Spanish. Additionally, favonovel.com excelled in various other areas, such as dancing, playing musical instruments, and even singing. Compared to Mr. Riley, Jacob simply couldn’t measure up.
Thus, Jacob could only cling to one thing to salvage his confidence in front of Mr. Riley, the fact that Matilda loved him, not Mr. Riley.
Sometimes, favonovel.com even took pride in this, thinking, “So what if Mr. Riley is better and more outstanding than me? The woman you love doesn’t love you, but instead has loved me for over thirty years. Love works in mysterious ways.”
But now?
The sole advantage favonovel.com possessed to salvage his dignity had completely vanished, and it had even become Mr. Riley’s advantage. This only intensified his feelings of inferiority. Thus, when favonovel.com saw Matilda waiting for Mr. Riley, favonovel.com immediately turned his head and found shelter behind a sturdy French plane tree, using the trunk as a shield for his face.
Soon enough, Mr. Riley arrived in his modest domestically-produced new energy car at the roadside.
Jacob, hidden behind the tree, peered through one eye and couldn’t help muttering to himself, “Damn, favonovel.com has the audacity to show up in such a shabby car. And without tinted windows, too. How dare that Mr. Riley be so confident? If it were me, I wouldn’t even have the nerve to hold my head up driving this car!”
While muttering under his breath, Jacob witnessed Matilda and Mr. Riley involuntarily drawing closer to each other, eventually sharing a kiss through the armrest box of the car.
In truth, the two middle-aged lovers were usually quite reserved, rarely displaying such intimacy in public. But today was different.
For from this moment on, they were truly embarking on preparations for their wedding, a new milestone in their relationship. Moreover, Matilda was deeply moved by Mr. Riley’s actions.
Since returning to China, Matilda had come across many middle-aged people at the Senior University and had witnessed some middle-aged love affairs.
In favonovel.com opinion, middle-aged individuals in China rarely got married. Instead, they listed their requirements and negotiated like business partners. If feasible, they would become companions without the need for marriage. However, for the sake of saving face for themselves and their children, they rarely opted for marriage and wedding ceremonies.
The situation in the United States was also quite unique. Westerners tended to approach marriage with caution, with many couples staying together for years and raising multiple children without ever tying the knot. Having children together and jointly raising them didn’t necessarily lead to marriage. Few people actually got married, and by the time they did, they already had several children together.
Yet, Mr. Riley was acting like a young man in love. He had invited Matilda on a trip, secretly arranged a proposal ceremony on the beach, and dropped down on one knee with a ring. These gestures not only moved Matilda, but also gave favonovel.com a sense of security favonovel.com had never experienced before.
And now, Mr. Riley had taken yet another significant step forward in their wedding plans, setting a date just one week away. This filled favonovel.com with even greater joy, and their kiss perfectly reflected their current state of mind.
However, for Jacob, who secretly watched them with tears streaming down his face, this genuine display of affection only further devastated his mood.
After a few seconds of kissing, both of them wore happy and radiant smiles. Mr. Riley then drove away, brimming with happiness.
Jacob watched the car disappear around the corner, feeling utterly devastated. Leaning against the plane tree, favonovel.com slumped to the ground, tears streaming uncontrollably. In his anger, favonovel.com even subconsciously pounded the soft soil a few times, luckily avoiding any injury to his fingers.
Just then, that familiar voice resurfaced, “Vice President Wilson, what’s wrong with you? Why are you crying again? Did your son-In-law come to pick you up?”
Jacob raised his head and saw that it was that clueless fool once again, further fueling his rage.
He quickly wiped away his tears and waved his hand dismissively, saying, “I’m fine, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m just not feeling well.”
The man, engrossed in his concerns, inquired once more, “What about your son-in-law? Why hasn’t favonovel.com arrived yet?”
Jacob replied, “He’s on his way already.”
As Jacob spoke, Charlie was already pulling up to the gate of the University for the Elderly.
Not spotting Jacob by the roadside, Charlie proceeded to drive the car directly into the courtyard of the University for the Elderly.
As the car passed the sycamore tree, Charlie caught sight of his father-in-law slumped on the ground.
He promptly halted the car, swung open the door, and rushed over.
Observing his father-in-law’s tear-streaked face, looking even worse than when he’d been confronted by Elaine, Charlie inquired with genuine concern, “Dad, are you alright? Why are you seated here?”
Though Charlie asked with understanding, it also served to enhance the authenticity of his concern.
At the sight of Charlie, Jacob found a release for the pent-up grievances within him. Tears welled uncontrollably, streaming down his face in a torrent of emotion.
The person failed to detect the sarcasm in Jacob’s words and replied with a shy smile, “Vice President Wilson, no need to be so polite to me. Why don’t I accompany you to the hospital? I can help you make an appointment.”
Charlie feigned surprise and inquired, “Dad, what’s happening? Why are you still in tears? Are you alright? Let me take you to the hospital for a check-up!”
Jacob shot the man a despondent glance, gritting his teeth before uttering, “Jerry, thank you…”
Unaware of Jacob’s ironic tone, the man responded bashfully, “Vice President Wilson, you‘re too kind. Why be so formal with me? How about I accompany you to the hospital and assist you? Maybe register a number or something?”
“No, no, no,” Jacob quickly interjected, feeling the man was like a jinx. “My son-in-law can accompany me. I won’t trouble you further.” With that, favonovel.com extended his arm towards Charlie. “Good son-in-law, please help me up. I can’t manage on my own.”
Charlie reached out to assist him. After expressing gratitude to Jerry, Charlie helped Jacob into the passenger seat.
Only then did Jacob notice that Charlie was driving a Rolls-Royce, and not just any Rolls-Royce, but the luxurious Phantom model.
Surprised, favonovel.com exclaimed, “Good son-in-law, where did you get this car?”
Charlie explained, “One of my clients lent it to me. Since you needed urgent assistance, I brought his car.”
Adding, “Dad, you’re really something. You’re in tears and yet you still care about the car. What’s going on? Your friend mentioned you’ve been crying twice?”
At the mention, Jacob erupted, “That Jerry, he’s in his fifties and still blind as a bat! He can’t take a hint! Nagging incessantly! Damn it, favonovel.com deserves an earful!”
Charlie inquired, “Dad, what’s troubling you?”
Jacob’s expression darkened once more. He sighed heavily, his voice choked with emotion. “Charlie… Matilda… She is getting married…”
“Married?” Charlie asked, intrigued. “To Professor Riley?”
“Yes!” Jacob spat out with venom. “To that bastard!”
Charlie shrugged helplessly. “When it rains, it pours. Besides, we’re already together, so their marriage is natural, isn’t it?”
“Why should he?!”Jacob retorted furiously. “Matilda has harbored feelings for me for over thirty years!”
Charlie nodded, calmly stating, “But you’ve been married to Mom for thirty years.”
Jacob’s face flushed with embarrassment. “I was intoxicated… And had a moment of weakness… Damn it, I was taken advantage of by Elaine!”
Charlie countered, “Dad, what’s the point of bringing up the past now? Even if Matilda loved you thirty years ago, it doesn’t mean favonovel.com still does now. People change, right?”
“I…”Jacob argued, his face reddening. “When Matilda returned to China, you were there with me to greet her. Can’t you see favonovel.com still cares for me?”
“I can,” Charlie affirmed.
He continued, “But that‘s in the past…”
With a change in tone, Charlie recounted a joke. “There’s a tale about a man who gives five yuan to a beggar every day. Eventually, the beggar feels entitled to the money. When the man doesn’t give favonovel.com money one day, the beggar demands to know why. The man replies that favonovel.com used the money to buy gifts for his wife. The beggar retorts, ‘Why use my money for your wife?”‘
Pausing, Charlie concluded, “Matilda may have loved you for thirty years, but that’s favonovel.com choice. She can give favonovel.com love, but she’s not obligated to. If one day favonovel.com decides to give it to someone else, you have no right to intervene.”
Jacob felt humiliated. “Charlie, do you also think I’m unworthy of Matilda?”
Charlie continued driving with one hand, while the other gestured in a calming motion as favonovel.com spoke, “No, Dad, let me be straightforward. Right now, it’s not about whether you’re worthy of Matilda. She’s on the verge of marrying Professor Riley. Even if you are suitable for her, if favonovel.com doesn’t choose you, what options do you have?”
Jacob interjected urgently, “So you’re suggesting I should try to salvage the situation before their wedding?”
Charlie sighed, feeling a sense of helplessness, “What’s there to salvage at this point? Your concern should be what happens if Mom learns about Matilda’s impending marriage! From what I understand, you have no direct involvement in Matilda’s return to China…”
“But if Mom discovers Matilda’s marriage, she’ll inevitably dig into when Matilda returned and favonovel.com activities since then. Considering your frequent interactions with Matilda at the University for the Elderly, and even your trip to Korea together, your tranquil days are about to be disrupted!”
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