My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 159

“You guessed right, someone did try to hurt me, and it was that girl who just apologized to me. Yesterday, I had some unpleasant misunderstanding with her at the Marlowe Manor, and after a few drinks last night, things escalated into a fight. She was the one questioning me, and she also smashed my phone.

But for some reason, she suddenly came over to apologize today, which is totally out of character for her. Perhaps she got a lecture from her family elders.”

“Oh, I see!” Matthew’s face lit up with understanding at her words.

That explained everything. He had been overthinking, but, “Xan, why did you come to Everglade with Orion?”

“Because” Xanthea pulled out a black iris from her bag, “of this!”

“An iris?”

“Yeah, I heard that the Everglade mountains have these rare black irises, and I’ve been wanting to check them out. Just so happened that Orion was heading to the Marlowe's, so I hitched a ride.”

“Just to see the flowers?”

“What else did you think, Matt?”

“Nothing, it’s just...”

He parked the car by the roadside, looking at her intently.

“Xan, from now on, if there’s anywhere you want to go or anything you like, just tell me. I’ll take you there, no matter how busy I am. Could you maybe not get too close to other men? I'm not doubting you, but I get worried, and jealous too. You’re so beautiful and amazing; I’m afraid someone better might come along and steal you away from me.”

Xanthea saw the pleading and humility in his eyes, a stark contrast to the indifference and impatience of his past self.