Chapter 21

Ariella's POV

I had a very long dream.

I dreamed of my mother and father, and my older brother.

Everything was so beautiful that I was immersed in it and couldn't wake up.

Suddenly, a harsh ringtone of a cellphone shattered the peace.

I opened my eyes slightly, muttering to myself as I fumbled for the phone.

"Hello?"

The next second, a gentle and familiar woman's voice came through.

"Matthew? Where are you?"

I instantly snapped awake, looking at the phone in my hand and realizing it was Matthew's. I turned my head and saw that he too had been woken up by the ringtone, already sitting up.

"Sorry..." I muttered, quickly handing the phone back to him.

He was still half-asleep, furrowing his brow as he took the phone, and said, "Hello."

After hearing the woman's voice on the phone, he gave me a slightly uneasy glance and said, "Sorry, I don't have time."

Then, he hung up.

I teased him, "Who was that? Your girlfriend?"

As I spoke, I was about to get up and dress, but suddenly felt a warmth