Chapter 4 Matilda didn't bite at his weirdly intense comment . : Her gaze zeroed in on him , steady as a rock . " Put the kid down . Now . " The guy didn't flinch . 96 E55 vouchers Matilda had been kicking butt in boxing since she was a kid , taking down five box champs like it was a walk in the park . Scared ? Not her style . She threw another punch , quick and fierce . The guy flipped a switch , going all smooth and gentlemanly , blocking her with one hand , dodging but never throwing a punch back . Matilda saw her shot and aimed a sharp kick his way . " Lady , that's my dad ! " the little girl yelped , her voice tight with panic . Matilda yanked her leg back mid - kick , stumbling a step or two before finding her footing . In the corner of her eye , she caught sight of a pair of slick , high - end sneakers stepping closer . His voice came soft , almost too calm , like a warm summer breeze . " You good ? " Matilda didn't answer . She flicked her eyes up to the girl . " He's really your dad ? Then why were you screaming for help ? " The girl nodded , cheeks pink with embarrassment . " I wanted to light a candle , but Daddy said no way . " Matilda turned to the man . He looked about her age , but there was something deep about him . Hard to pin down . When he'd blocked her punch , he was all fire and precision . Now , with a faint smirk tugging at his lips , he seemed chill , almost nerdy - like he'd just strolled out of a bookstore with a latte . He adjusted his glasses with a polite nod and said , " Too many people around . Didn't want her getting lost in the crowd ." " I'm not gonna get lost ! " the girl huffed , rolling her eyes big - time . " You're the one who's a total mess , Daddy ." She sidled up to Matilda , dropping her voice like she was spilling some serious gossip . " Miss , my dad seems all cool and tough , right ? " But he's , like , a complete disaster with directions . Can't even handle a GPS without screwing it up . " Matilda's jaw nearly dropped . ' So , what , this guy's a total space cadet ? ' 9:13 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 4 :. The man shot his daughter a playful side - eye , like he wasn't thrilled about being roasted . 96 55 vouchers But when Matilda glanced at him , he just shrugged , owning the " lost puppy " vibe with zero shame . " Alright , fine , I'm lost . Could you help us get outta this creepy cemetery ? " he asked , his voice carrying a hint of defeat but still polite . Matilda didn't say a word . The little girl skipped along in Matilda's shadow , practically bouncing with energy . " Hey , miss , I'm Jolene ! And this is my dad , Allen ! " she chirped . Matilda's mind should've been on the moment , but a random phrase popped into her head : No wants , no needs . She snuck a glance at Allen . His crisp white shirt and dark slacks screamed quiet confidence , like he had it all together . Hands clasped behind his back , he stared at the ground , his blank expression giving off major zen master energy . But it had to be a front . ' No wants , no needs ? ' she thought . ' Yeah , right . Then how'd he end up with a kid ? ' Her stare must've been too obvious , because Allen caught her looking . His tone was easy , like they were old pals grabbing a beer . " You've got some serious skills . Gotta ask - what's with the bruise on your face ? " Matilda kept it straight . " Pretty obvious , right ? Someone clocked me . " " Who ? " She shot him a look . " Okay , now you're getting way too nosy . "" Exit's just up there . Later ." Matilda strode into the darkness without a second glance . Behind her , Allen's soft eyes , hidden behind his glasses , flickered with something dark and unreadable ... ***** At Itera City Airport , Matilda had barely stepped off the plane when her assistant , Cassandra Gallagher , hit her up . " Hey , boss , I emailed you the dirt on Mr. Grimes ' assets and his bank transfers with Shelby over the last six years ," Cassandra said . " Got it . Make sure the PI gets paid , " Matilda said , keeping her voice steady . 9:13 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 4 : She skimmed the files , pushing down the knot in her chest , and dialed Brandon . " Where you at ? " she asked . " Home . Mom and Dad just got back from Friusia , " Brandon replied , his tone flat as he hung up . 96 55 vouchers He looked up to see Shelby tiptoeing around their dad , who was parked at the head of the dining table . " Uncle Daniel , please ," Shelby said softly , " Matilda didn't mean to hurt me or Brandon . She's finally cooled off and coming home - can we just let it go ? " Daniel slammed his teacup down , the sound sharp enough to make everyone flinch . " This is ridiculous ! First , she goes after her sister - in - law , then her own husband . The Grimes family's name is mud because of her ! " He turned his glare on Brandon . " This is on you for letting her run wild . " " Why're you blaming him ? " Kathy snapped , jumping to her son's defense . " It's all Matilda's fault . " That woman's gotten too big for her britches . When she gets here , she's gonna get what's coming ." Lola , eavesdropping on the grown - ups , tugged at Brandon's sleeve . " Daddy , is Mommy coming back ? " Brandon ruffled her hair . " Go play upstairs , kiddo , " he said , nodding to the nanny . Lola trudged off , pouting . ' Why's Mom even coming back ? ' she thought . ' She just makes everyone miserable , always bossing us around .' Brandon wasn't exactly stoked either . Since they got married , he'd steered clear of other women , only looking out for Shelby , who'd had a rough go of it . ' So why is Matilda acting all jealous ? ' he thought . ' Am I not giving her enough ? ' His buddies always bragged about their side chicks - three or four at a time - and laughed at him for being so loyal they called him a freak . They'd warned him : let a woman get too comfortable , and she'll walk all over you . He was starting to think they weren't wrong . ***** Matilda pulled up to Rose Villa , her eyes tracing the gorgeous lines of the mansion . This was where Brandon had dropped to one knee , his words still echoing in her head . " The second I saw you at that job fair , I knew you were the one . I'm gonna love you forever . " That was just six years ago . Then Shelby came back from overseas , and everything went sideways . 9:13 Mon , Oct 13 Chapter 4 : Matilda couldn't shake the thought that maybe Brandon had always loved Shelby deep down . ( 96 ) 55 vouchers She was his " sister " in name only , after all . Maybe when he'd wanted to settle down , Shelby was too young , and Matilda was just the next best thing . Her gaze turned cold as steel . She left her suitcase by the door and stepped into the main hall . Out of nowhere , a cup came flying at her head . She dodged it with a quick lean , but the scalding coffee splashed her arm , leaving angry red blisters in its wake . Brandon's jaw tightened , and he half - stood before sitting back down , like he'd thought better of it . Matilda's forehead glistened with sweat from the pain , her sharp eyes scanning the room . Brandon didn't budge . Daniel sipped his coffee like nothing happened . Shelby's smirk was barely hidden . Kathy let out a cold chuckle . " Matilda , that's what you get , " Kathy sneered . " The Grimes family's not your playground . Lower your head and apologize to Shelby and Brandon- " Before she could finish , Matilda scooped up a jagged piece of the broken cup and chucked it right at Brandon's head . He didn't see it coming . The shard sliced his forehead , blood trickling down . Matilda locked eyes with Kathy . " You hurt me , I make your son pay double . " Her heart wasn't stone - she hated hurting her husband . But he and his family had struck first . She didn't go easy on anyone who crossed her , not even the man she loved . " Enough ! " Daniel roared , slamming his hand on the table as he shot to his feet . But before he could lay into her , a thud cut him off - Kathy crumpled to the floor like a shot bird . The room erupted into chaos . Brandon lunged forward , his hand wrapping around Matilda's throat as he pinned her against the wall , veins popping in his arm . " Matilda ," he growled , his voice low and dangerous , " you've really gone and done it now . "