Valerie's car broke down, leaving her distraught. Matthew's timely arrival and transport to Vomez eased her anxieties. She felt safer with him than with anyone except her older brother. She reflected, "Even if I don't think of myself, I must think of others, especially the baby. I can't let anything happen to the baby because of me!"

Suddenly hungry, Valerie remembered their missed dinner. The trip to and from Vomez had been exhausting. After returning Katherine home, Valerie finally relaxed, sighing with relief. Remembering leftover frozen spaghetti, she headed to the kitchen. Though raised in a seafood-loving northern state, she preferred spaghetti.

She retrieved the frozen spaghetti, boiled water, and added the pasta to the pot. It quickly surfaced, but required additional cold water and simmering to cook through, especially being frozen. Separately, she prepared the sauce. Having made plenty of bolognese sauce the previous day, she added spinach, seasoning, and celery to a spoonful, creating a fragrant mixture. She poured this over the cooked spaghetti.

After cooking two servings, Valerie fried two sunny-side-up eggs. Always generous, she prepared a plate for Matthew. He leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching her work swiftly and meticulously. Soon, two plates of spaghetti were on the table. They ate together, the warmth of the meal chasing away the evening chill.

Valerie, extremely hungry, ate heartily. She felt relieved, grateful that her pregnancy had been free of morning sickness so far. She mused that not being able to eat would diminish life's joys.

Observing Matthew, she noticed his deliberate eating habits: he put down his spoon when using his fork, chewing and swallowing slowly with grace, yet without affectation. This reminded her of his upbringing. She thought, "His parents, who died young, must have been exceptionally refined, raising him so well. And my unseen in-laws were likely stunning, explaining Mr. Grant's handsome appearance. He truly is good-looking."

While she'd seen attractive people before, Matthew's poise was unique, even during a simple meal. The thought, "a feast for the eyes," crossed her mind, causing her to smile subtly.

Matthew noticed her expression. "What are you smiling about?" he asked.

Hesitant to be direct, Valerie considered Matthew's seriousness. She knew revealing her thoughts might freeze him. She had other pressing matters, so she broached them instead. "Mr. Grant, Dylan mistreated Katherine. Katherine wants to avoid escalation. I hit Dylan with a vase, so it's mostly settled, but I worry about Dylan's revenge"

"You want to deal with Dylan?" Matthew asked.

Valerie nodded. "Yes. He and Isabel have a shady relationship, exploiting his position for her benefit. Uncovering evidence could cost him his jobMr. Grant, am I overstepping?"

Matthew responded gravely, "Dylan has malicious intent. Letting this slide risks another victim. You saved Katherine, but you may not save others."

Valerie, initially hesitant, felt enlightened. "Alright. I'll ask Mr. Watson for permission tomorrow and gather evidence for the higher-ups." She felt renewed energy.

Matthew, wanting to simplify things, thought, 'Dylan's a bad guy; I'll handle him. My uncle's retirement removes the delay. I'll instruct the operations manager to fire Dylan tomorrow, saving her the trouble. Consider ita thank-you gift for this spaghetti!'