Chapter 38: Montgomery Family Home II
Having been so preoccupied with Emmeline Hawthorne’s sudden words, Matteo wasn’t able to react in time before a large hand made contact with his cheek. His head veered to the side due to the force, and Emmeline’s gasp quickly rang through the courtyard.
"Matteo, are you alright?" she cried out, hurriedly worming closer to have a look. But when Matteo side-stepped her to avoid her touch, Emmeline fell against the car, barely supporting herself against the door.
"Emmeline, darling, be careful!" Mrs. Hawthorne came stumbling over, her hand holding her beloved daughter tenderly. On the other hand, she shot a scathing look at Matteo, who did not even spare her a second glance.
Instead, his eyes were squarely on his father.
"You have got quite some nerve!" Matteo’s father, Charles, fumed. His face had turned beetroot red, anger coloring his complexion as he jabbed a finger in Matteo’s direction.
Despite the slap to the face, Matteo calmly smiled. However, there was no warmth in his expression, nor was there any patience left in his tone.
"If this is the welcome party, I’m starting to doubt you actually wanted me home," he calmly said before reaching for the car door. "If that’s the case, I shall take my leave."
"No!" Emmeline immediately cried out. She wriggled out of her mother’s arms and stepped closer to the door, her eyes watery and puppy-like as she stared up at Matteo. "Your father was merely worried about you, Matteo. We’ve only heard of the..." she paused, making a face, "engagement from the media. Perhaps this was all just a misunderstanding?"
"It better be a misunderstanding," Annalise spat with a scowl. She turned to Charles and said, "Emmeline has been looking forward to her wedding with Matteo for years ever since they were engaged! How is there a random hussy coming over claiming herself to be your son’s fiancée?"