A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 286

Matilda abruptly ended the call, leaving Yvan with nothing but a dial tone when he tried to reach her again. He felt like a forlorn soul who had lost his favorite toy, dazed as a child. Stumbling to his feet, he grabbed his coat in a clumsy motion while the waitress hollered from behind, "Sir! Watch your step... Sir!"

Yvan burst out of the diner and into the underground parking lot, where he recklessly started his car. Sure, he was in no condition to drive, probably over the legal limit, but Yvan couldn't care less at that moment. He slammed the gas pedal, racing towards Matilda's neighborhood. He couldn't quite grasp what was compelling him, only that he had to confess to her. "Matilda, can we please stop this endless torment?" he thought. "Matilda, please, no more hurting each other..."

The pain was almost too much to bear!

Meanwhile, just as Matilda hung up, a thud sounded against her window sill, startling her. She yanked the curtains open and there, bathed in moonlight, was Adrian, grinning through the open window like a vampire under a crescent moon. "Hey! Happy New Year!"

As the clock struck twelve, the sky above Imperial Residence erupted in a magnificent display of fireworks. They were grand and beautiful, lighting up the night sky like a celestial show, unlike any Sea City had seen in a long time. After the flowers of fire wilted away, a message slowly dispersed among the stars.

【Matilda, Happy New Year.】

With the fireworks as his backdrop, Adrian stood on the windowsill, his smile outshining the night, like a demon reveling in the mortal world. "Pretty, isn't it?" he said. For a moment, the dark corners of Matilda's soul felt illuminated by the fireworks, but as the splendor faded, the rapid cooling of joy forced her to take a deep breath—pulling her back to the harsh and cold reality.

"Are you insane?" she exclaimed. "You could have killed yourself climbing over from the balcony!"

Adrian replied, with a hint of feigned fear, "Well, now I'm terrified. Can I come in?"

Matilda glanced behind him; he really had no other way to go. Reluctantly, she stepped back to let Adrian in. As he landed gracefully in her room, the fireworks outside had come to an end. Downstairs, a parade of police cars was arriving with their lights flashing, and the property manager was shouting, "Residents of the 14th floor have breached regulations with unauthorized fireworks! Come down and pay the fine!"

Both Matilda and Adrian's faces turned ashen. "Fireworks aren't allowed here?" Adrian asked, incredulous.

"Don't you know Sea City's downtown has banned honking and fireworks?" Matilda snapped. "The fine is on you! Fifteen hundred each!"

"Darn it," Adrian stepped back, "I've been abroad too long... I had no idea."

With the police still lingering below, Adrian and Matilda wrapped themselves in coats and quietly slipped out into the chilly night air. They made their way to the lobby, where the manager laid into them, "Young people today! Reckless and endangering the residents! Not thinking about noise pollution! Pay up and sign the fine with the security guard!"

Shivering, Matilda felt the cold bite through her thin layers of loungewear, and Adrian, even less bundled up, looked paler from the cold. "Can we... use a card?" he asked, hopeful.

The security guard scoffed disdainfully, "A card? You think the world revolves around you?"

Adrian spread his hands, "Then I'm broke."

"No cash? Go withdraw some! You, stay here."