A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

Chase was adamant about having a heart–to–heart with Matilda, and despite her reluctance, she agreed. He took her to a diner, which was their usual hangout spot.

As they entered, a man seated at the counter chuckled and said, “Damn, Chase, leave with one girl and come back with another. You trying to wear yourself out?”

“Watch it, Mason Farrell, or I’ll have to schedule you an eye exam,” Chase replied with an eye roll. “Do you know this lady?”

Mason squinted at Matilda, drawing out his words, “She looks kinda familiar…”

Chase pulled Matilda to a booth and got straight to the point, “Yvan’s ex–wife.”

“Damn.” Mason Farrell almost spit out his coffee, choked it down, and then turned to Matilda, “Ms. Thompson?”

“Yes, that’s me,” Matilda responded coolly, her voice indifferent yet commanding respect.

“You alright?”

The shocking turn of events five years ago had taken all their friends by surprise when Matilda was sent to prison as a murderer, courtesy of Yvan, without a chance for redemption.

But now, looking at Matilda sitting across from him, Mason squinted slightly. She seemed different yet the same. The unchanged aspect was her cool, noble demeanor; even after five years behind bars, she was still the dazzling heiress of the Thompson family. But her eyes had changed. They were lifeless and desolate as if she had no hope left for the world.

Mason could understand – wounded so deeply, how could she still love the world?

After a moment of silence, he tried to break the ice. “So… Chase, what’s the deal with bringing her here?”

Chase glanced at Matilda, treading carefully, “I… did some digging on you. Is Dawn your stage name. Matilda?”

“Dawn?” Mason’s voice pitched up. “The eccentric designer Dawn? Matilda, is that you?”

Matilda gave them a guarded look, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. “Sorry, no.”

“I…” Chase’s eyes widened in disbelief. “But my research showed it was you…”

“Must’ve been a mistake,” Matilda tilted her head down slightly, revealing a glimpse of her delicate skin. “I’m not Dawn. Are you looking for her?”

Mason bit his lip and didn’t speak for a while before slowly responding. “Our firm’s got a project we wanted her to design…”

Matilda said flatly, “I can give you her contact details.”

“For real?” Chase was still skeptical, but if Matilda was offering contact information, it meant

+

12:06

she wasn’t Dawn.

Was the information wrong? Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Mason reluctantly continued, “That’d be great, thanks. You can reach me at the number on my business card.”

After saying that, he pulled out a card and handed it to Matilda, who accepted it gracefully. Then, she stood up, “Nothing else, right?”

“No, that’s it. Need a ride?”

“No, thank you.”

Matilda lowered her gaze, hands in the pockets or

with long, elegant strides.

trench coat, and walked out of the diner

“Damn…” Chase murmured as he watched her leave. “Still so icy, even after time in the can.”

Mason took a thoughtful sip of his coffee, eyes narrowing slightly as he mused, “Rachel’s nothing compared to her.”