"Get back together?" Matthew repeated the words with a hint of mockery. 

He let out a cold laugh. "I begged you not to divorce me, Tessa. I pleaded for Lorraine's sake. But you insisted on leaving. I told you then that you'd regret your decision, but you thought I was joking."

Tessa's voice trembled as she shouted, "Matthew, I was out of my mind back then. I wasn't thinking straight. I regret it now. Let's get remarried!"

Matthew shook his head slowly. "You regret it now? There's no magic fix for that."

He then turned and walked toward the villa, thoroughly disappointed in Tessa. His steps were resolute and decisive. 

Tessa felt her world collapse as she watched him walk away.

She burst into tears, wailing, "Matthew, I know you love me! Remember when you first got out of prison? You smiled and walked toward me, wanting to hug me. 

"That proves you love me! I know I was wrong. Matt

Fred continued with a knowing smile, "Make sure your uncles know that, with Matthew supporting you, no one can steal your spot as the company's president." 

Rachel's face was clouded with worry. "How am I supposed to build a real relationship with Matthew when we've only just met?"

Fred laughed. "You're a woman. Can't you win a man over? Figure it out!"

Rachel sighed, still feeling troubled. "I'll give it a shot."

…

The next day, Matthew met up with Rachel, and they headed to Khoitwood.

However, Matthew couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Rachel. She kept brushing up against him with her curvy and alluring figure.

She stayed close to him. Her perfume was faint but noticeable, and her body's warmth was hard to ignore.

As they approached the Carter residence, Rachel suddenly grabbed Matthew's arm and pressed herself against him.

Matthew's arm was pressed against

Worthless?

Rachel stared at Tessa like she was an idiot. "Matthew can save lives, and you think he's worthless? My grandfather begged him for help by offering black card with a billion dollars.

"He can easily make a billion dollars. Do you really think a man like that lacks abilities?"

"A billion dollars?" Tessa was speechless. She knew Matthew's capabilities but had never heard of his medical skills.

"Is that true?" she asked in disbelief. 

"Someone as influential as Mr. Carter Senior can spend billions to find a medical expert. Why would he turn to Matthew?"

Randall's eyes widened in shock. It was a billion dollars! The entire Young family's assets might not even amount to that. The assets he controlled were just a few million dollars.

But now, Matthew could easily earn a billion dollars by treating a patient. Randall envied that!

Rachel said coldly, "Because Matthew's medical skills are worth a billion dollars!"

Tessa was dumbfounded. When did Matthew learn to cure illnesses? How had she not known about this?

Upon seeing Tessa silent, Rachel said, "You said Matthew wasn't good enough for me, but that's not true. Grandpa was the one who took me to the Grant residence to propose to Matthew. 

"At that time, you had only signed the divorce agreement. We had to wait for you to finalize the divorce. 

"And as soon as he walked out of the courthouse, I sent the most luxurious fleet of cars to pick him up for a blind date."

Tessa's jaw dropped in disbelief, and her mind blanked. So, that day, the fleet of luxury cars hadn't been sent by a wedding organizer. Instead, Rachel had arranged it for her blind date with Matthew

How could this be? In her eyes, Matthew was worthless, but to Rachel, he was a hot commodity.

Tessa turned to look at Matthew, who once treated her with the utmost love and respect. Now, he stood quietly with a cold demeanor, seemingly indifferent to her. 

Tessa couldn't accept this outcome. She couldn't understand how Matthew, who had served three years in prison, could possess such medical skills! 

Tessa thought he must have lied and deceived the Carter family. Yes, that had to be it! Matthew couldn't possibly have such abilities!

With that thought in mind, Tessa decided to expose Matthew's lies. "Ms. Carter, as far as I know, Matthew has never studied medicine. Why didn't you seek out a renowned doctor instead of turning to an amateur?"

Randall also felt like something was off. "Mr. Carter Senior is critically ill. I heard that even renowned doctors were unable to help him. How could Matthew possibly provide any help?"

Fred chimed in, "He's the renowned doctor. If not him, should I seek your help instead?"

Tessa's voice grew hysterical. "A renowned doctor? Impossible! I've been married to him for years, and I never knew he had any medical skills. You must have been fooled by him!"

Fred said coldly, "I stopped you two at the door because Dr. Grant was treating me. He cured me. There's no doubt about his medical abilities!"

Tessa was stunned. Matthew had actually cured Fred. How could this be?

Fred's expression was stern. "If you hadn't interfered, Dr. Grant would have remained focused on my treatment. Your commotion could have cost me my life!

"I won't let this slide. From now on, none of the individuals or companies affiliated with my family are allowed to work with you. They will become my enemies if they have any sort of dealings with you."

Tessa paled, and her legs turned weak beneath her.

Fred had effectively blacklisted her from the industry. No one would dare to work with her now.

It was all over. Her company and her career—everything lay in ruins. How would she ever repay her bank loans?

Fred turned his gaze to Randall. "Which company are you from?"

Visibly shaken, Randall started edging backward. "This... has nothing to do with me. I'm just... just a friend of Tessa's. Your matters have nothing to do with me! I swear! 

"I swear I'll never do business with her company in the future. I won't even be associated with this woman. I want nothing to do with her!"

With that, Randall hurried to his car, started the engine, and sped away as fast as possible. He couldn't afford to cross the Carters; otherwise, his family would devour him alive.

Rachel cast a sympathetic glance at Tessa. "Matthew would go to jail for you, and you divorced him. You left a man who stood by you in tough times for one who left you in despair. People as foolish as you are hard to come by."

Tessa was stupefied. Randall had fled, and the Carter family had blacklisted her. She had no place to stand in Lambda City anymore. 

She felt like she was plummeting to the ground from the sky. This trip had been a mistake; she regretted her decision to come there.

Matthew glanced at Tessa, his gaze momentarily wavering before hardening. He then turned and walked toward the villa with Rachel.

"Matthew!" Tessa saw him leaving and, as a last resort, cried out, "Matthew, wait, don't go yet!"

He paused briefly but continued walking.

"Matthew, please," she pleaded desperately, "I need your help."

He stopped again but kept moving away.

Tessa raised her voice. "Matthew! I'm begging you. Don't leave just yet."

Matthew stopped. He turned slightly and asked, "Why should I stay? To watch you cry?"

Tessa forced a bitter smile. "Evergreen Group expanded too quickly. I took out a hefty loan, and without income, the company will collapse soon. If Mr. Carter Senior's words get out, the company will definitely go bankrupt," she said.

Matthew tilted his head back to stare at the white clouds drifting across the sky. 

After a long moment, he brought his gaze back down. "You got what you deserved! The bankruptcy has nothing to do with me!"

Tessa's eyes were filled with desperation as she pleaded with him. "But the company... It's still in your name. You founded it. It's your blood, sweat, and tears."

Matthew nodded. "Yeah, it was my heart and soul. But you took it away from me."

"You can't just abandon it," Tessa begged. 

"Over the past three years, the company has grown rapidly, and I took out a lot of loans. If it collapses, I won't be able to repay them... I might even end up in jail. Please ask Mr. Carter Senior to spare the company."

Matthew's expression hardened despite the conflict in his eyes. "You don't want to go to jail? I have a solution for you."

Tessa's face lit up with hope, thinking Matthew was finally willing to help. "What should I do?"

Matthew said coldly, "You can find another husband to go to jail for you."

Tessa's expression froze. Randall had abandoned her without a second thought when she needed him the most. Besides Matthew, who else would ever be willing to go to jail for her?

A chill ran through Tessa. She felt like she had fallen into an ice cave. The fear was overwhelming. 

Only then did she truly grasp the depth of Matthew's love. She remembered how he had once promised to take the fall for her, smiling all the while.

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out, "I'm sorry. I was wrong. 

"I know you're the one who loves me most in this world. You've always loved me. We shouldn't have divorced. Please, let's get back together!"


"Get back together?" Matthew repeated the words with a hint of mockery. 

He let out a cold laugh. "I begged you not to divorce me, Tessa. I pleaded for Lorraine's sake. But you insisted on leaving. I told you then that you'd regret your decision, but you thought I was joking."

Tessa's voice trembled as she shouted, "Matthew, I was out of my mind back then. I wasn't thinking straight. I regret it now. Let's get remarried!"

Matthew shook his head slowly. "You regret it now? There's no magic fix for that."

He then turned and walked toward the villa, thoroughly disappointed in Tessa. His steps were resolute and decisive. 

Tessa felt her world collapse as she watched him walk away.

She burst into tears, wailing, "Matthew, I know you love me! Remember when you first got out of prison? You smiled and walked toward me, wanting to hug me. 

"That proves you love me! I know I was wrong. Matthew, please don't go,.I beg you..."

Matthew didn't stop despite her pleads. As he disappeared from 

Chapter 16