Chapter 7 - Was He Deaf?

In the dimly lit room, her tears sparkled as light reflected in them. Matthew caught sight of this and his agitation dissipated right away. 

Matthew slid his hand up her head and pressed the side of her face against his chest

Her ear was pressed against his chest enabled her to hear the erratic beating of his heart. She was utterly confused why his heartbeat sounded like music in her ears and liked hearing it. 

It was Sunday the following day, Matthew already left when Kirsten opened her eyes. 

Kirsten wondered about her husband's whereabouts. It's Sunday today, he should be home today. She mused on if she married a workaholic. 

Kirsten took her phone to call Matthew, however, indecision caught her up. After a long time of deliberating with herself if she should or shouldn't call, finally, she decided to call. 

Her heart galloped like a buck as she heard the ringback. But the call was unanswered. She retried and this time the call was rejected. 

Like a deflated balloon, Kirsten plopped to the couch. She deposited her phone on the couch, with a forlorn look. 

'Perhaps he was in a meeting' she had a monologue with herself. 

Kirsten didn't know if she was trying to justify him or just comforting herself. 

For a person who was doing nothing except watch and read, Kirsten found the day to be exceptionally long.

Gemma didn't want her to help with the chores. It was her job to make the penthouse clean and serve Kirsten. She was paid to do it, so she wasn't willing for Kirsten to lift a hand. 

"Gemma, I will just take a walk," Kirsten was already opening the door when she informed Gemma who was busy in the kitchen. And she had no idea that Gemma didn't hear her. 

An hour later, Matthew came back. He went straight to the room when he saw the empty living room. 

His lips twitched ever so slightly when he saw several books scattered on their bed. 

He approached the bathroom at the thought that she was having a shower, leaned his ear on the door. 

The door opened as he leaned and almost toppled down on the floor. Thankfully he was able to regain his balance, avoiding the fall. 

He looked around the bathroom, but Kirsten wasn't in there. 

Matthew frowned. He went to look for her in the kitchen but anxiety made its way to his heart. 

"Where is my wife?" Gemma was startled and jumped as Matthew's magnetic voice rang. 

"K - Kirsten is watching TV in the living room," when Gemma said those words, she frowned as she realized that there were no sounds coming from the TV, meaning, it was switched off already. 

Matthew left the kitchen, strode to the gym, thinking that she was having her work out. His anxiety heightened when he found not a single soul in the gym. 

Matthew went to every room but couldn't find Kirsten. He took his phone and dialed her number. 

His grip on the phone almost crushed it when he heard the ringing of her phone. She left her phone on the couch. 

He called his bodyguards. "Look for my wife, she's missing," he said in a commanding tone. 

He went inside their room, went through her things but none were missing. 

It was getting dark and there was a sudden downpour. 

He put on a trenchcoat and took a big umbrella. His car made several rounds through the neighborhood but Kirsten couldn't be found. 

Furious, he slammed his hands on the steering wheel. "This woman had the balls to run away from me." 

He drove back to the penthouse. As he was parking his car, a car stopped just a stone's throw from the elevator. He recognized the car. It was his assistant's car. 

Steven hurriedly stepped out of the car and went to the front passenger door and opened it. 

The woman he had been searching for hours getting out of the car. Matthew's blood boiled when he saw her wet clothes clinging on her body like a second skin. Her undergarments could be seen. 

His fast pace enabled him to catch up, held the half closed elevator and quickly entered. 

Gasps came out of her mouth when she saw her husband’s terrifying look while he stopped the elevator. 

Without being told, Steven exited the elevator when Matthew entered. His presence was no longer needed as the husband was present already. 

As the elevator closed, Matthew's hands went to the trenchcoat on his body and removed it.  

Scared to look at her angry husband, Kirsten had her hang low but lifted her eyes when she felt something was draped over her shoulders. 

"Thank you," Kirsten whispered, lowering her head again as she couldn't stop smiling. 

She got no reply from the man, not a grunt or hum. The elevator was filled with unbearable silence. Kirsten didn't dare to look at the man beside her.

Simultaneously, Kirsten sighed in relief as the elevator opened. In haste she walked out of the elevator leaving Matthew. 

Her sigh was clearly heard by the man and looked at her retreating back with such intensity that even if Kirsten wasn't looking at him could feel his gaze. 

"Oh, where have you been? You made us worry about you," Gemma blurted out in panic, forgetting that Matthew was there. 

"I'll prepare a hot bath for you," Gemma said. 

"Don't bother, just get on with what you're doing. I'll do it myself," Kirsten stopped her and headed to their bedroom and went straight to the bathroom. 

She had taken off her clothes when Matthew stormed in. 

"Ahh!" In the state of panic her body froze, unable to cover her nakedness. 

Matthew's eyes darkened, seeing her body with no cover. 

Kirsten recovered and picked up her clothes, covering the front but didn't realize that her behind could be seen in the mirror. But Matthew didn't point it out. 

"D -o y- ou w-ant to t-alk?" Her teeth chattering as her body felt cold. "I - ll h - ave a sh - shower f - ir - st." 

Matthew didn't not speak and his eyes were transfixed in the mirror behind her. 

Noticing that his gaze was not on her she followed his line of gaze and looked over her shoulder.

A loud gasp left her mouth seeing the reflection of her bare back in the mirror. 

She knelt down so Matthew could not see her bare back. 

Something flashed in Matthew's eyes as he lowered his head looking at the woman kneeling. 

"Go and take a warm bath so you wouldn't get sick," Matthew uttered the word casually. 

Turning, he lifted his foot to leave her so she could have her bathe. 

Only after Kirsten heard the sound of the door being pulled closed that she stood up and took a hot bath.

As a keen observer she was, by just spending a few days with him, Kirsten knew that her husband doesn't like waiting. 

Thus she didn't bathe for too long afraid that he would barge into the bathroom if he got impatient. 

She chose a decent simple dress from the clothes hanging in the walk-in closet. 

She was amazed that the dress fits her perfectly. She praised the efficiency of the person who chose the clothes in her wardrobe. 

Matthew was already at the dining table waiting for her when she emerged into the dining room. 

"Sorry for making you wait," Kirsten spoke in a soft voice. 

Kirsten was baffled that there was not a slightest reaction from Matthew. 

Didn't he hear me? Was he deaf? 

Kirsten looked up at the man busy filling the bowl with soup. 

She checked if he was wearing a hearing aid but he wasn't.