Forsaking the Years of Longing
Forsaking Billionaire 90

Chapter 14

Jonathan sat on the beach, lost in thought.

Daphne suddenly tugged on his hand and turned to look at an ice cream cart further down the sand.

"Brother, I want some ice cream," she said softly.

Jonathan glanced at the cart, which wasn't far, and decided it was safe to leave Daphne within his sight. He affectionately patted her head.

"Alright, I'll get it for you. Stay here and don't wander off, okay?

Just wait for me."

Daphne nodded with a bright smile, and Jonathan walked toward the ice cream cart.

As she waited, the shells scattered along the shoreline caught Daphne's attention. She couldn't resist following the trail, gradually straying from where Jonathan could see her.

When she bent down to pick up a shell, she accidentally kicked an empty bottle. Looking up, she noticed a figure sitting not far away.

"Excuse me, is this your bottle?"

Daphne approached the man slumped on the beach, seemingly lost in a drunken stupor, holding out the bottle.

The man slowly took it, raising his head to look at her. His entire body froze.

"Daphne!"

Matthew's voice was filled with disbelief and elation, as if he couldn't trust his own eyes, suspecting the alcohol was playing tricks on him. "Do you know me?" Daphne asked, her gaze curious yet distant as she toyed with the shell in her hand.

Hearing those words, Matthew felt a sharp pain pierce his heart.

The clarity in her eyes, coupled with her unfamiliarity, was unbearable.

"Daphne, come home with me. Please, it's all my fault..."

Matthew's voice cracked as he reached out, his eyes rimmed with red.

Startled by the strange man's approach, Daphne recoiled, flailing her arms.

"Don't come near me! I don't know you!" she shouted.

Matthew, undeterred, tried to step closer, but Jonathan appeared just in time, stepping between them and glaring at Matthew with fury.

"Matthew, I warned you don't ever come near Daphne again!

Can't you understand?"

Matthew, despite knowing he shouldn't, pleaded with Jonathan.

"Please, let her come home. I-"

Jonathan's anger erupted at those words.

"If it weren't for you texting her, demanding she hand over the keys and her authority to that mistress of yours, she wouldn't have been so desperate to get the procedure done. And now you dare talk about bringing her home?" Matthew froze, stunned. "Text? When did I...?"

A flicker of realization crossed Matthew's face, his mind suddenly clear as the alcohol's fog lifted. His voice caught in his throat, unable to speak further.

Seeing Matthew's silence, Jonathan grabbed Daphne's hand and began to leave. He stopped briefly to deliver a final warning.

"Matthew, for everything you've done to my sister, the Walker family will not let this go!"

With that, he left with Daphne, who looked up at him, confused by the heated exchange.

"Brother, who was that? Is he a bad person?"

"Yes, Daphne," Jonathan replied, his anger still simmering. "If you ever see him again, run and hide. Understand?"

"Okay," Daphne said with a nod, her innocence shining through.

The two figures gradually disappeared down the beach, leaving Matthew behind, staring after them.

Jonathan's words echoed in his mind, and Matthew immediately called his driver to take him back home.

When he arrived, Charlotte was lounging comfortably on the sofa, watching TV.

But her leisure was short-lived. The moment Matthew stormed into the room, radiating fury, the calm atmosphere shattered.

Slap!

The sharp sound of a slap rang out, and Charlotte, caught completely off guard, jumped up, clutching her face.

"Are you crazy?!" she screamed, glaring at Matthew in shock.

"Did you use my phone to send a text to Daphne, telling her to hand over the keys to you?" Matthew's voice was low and dangerous, seething with barely contained rage. Realizing what he was referring to, Charlotte recovered her composure. Standing tall, she smirked wickedly.

"Yes, I sent it. So what?"

Charlotte's cold laugh filled the room as she wrapped her arms around Matthew's neck, unafraid of his glare, her gaze triumphant.

"I heard that little bitch Daphne lost her memory. Finally, I don't have to exhaust myself coming up with ways to stay by your side anymore."