Mark drove Matilda back to her place, the journey felt a tad too quiet for his liking. Grasping for something to fill the silence, he sparked up a new conversation, "You know, I thought you'd say 'yes' to him."
Matilda offered a serene smile in response, "Five years ago, I would've jumped at the chance."
As Mark navigated a turn, he probed further, "Ever looked back, thought about Yvan?"
She shook her head.
"But I did," Mark confessed, "He looked pretty lonely."
A sudden pang of hurt flashed through Matilda, yet she remained steadfast, shaking her head again, "I'm powerless, both towards Yvan and myself."
The conversation lapsed into silence, but Matilda picked it up again, "Mr. Walker, I'm aware why you've been coming around these past few days. The family's been hoping to nudge us closer."
Mark stole a surprised glance at Matilda, "Sorry if our closeness made you uncomfortable."
"It's me who should be apologizing."
Matilda locked eyes with Mark, earnest and direct, "Chloe and Godfrey were obviously playing matchmaker. We're not kids; we can see right through it. But I'm sorry, Mr. Walker, for wasting your time."
Mark pressed the accelerator, a wave of emotions threatening his composure, "Wait a minute, Matilda—"
She cut him off, straightforward as ever, "I'm actually quite content being single, sorry to disappoint you and the Walker clan."
It was a polite rejection.
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