When Clarissa woke up the next morning, she finally saw Matthew who was sleeping next to her.
Facing her with his slightly bent body, one of his long arms was resting on her waist. She scanned his face slowly inch by inch, from his broad forehead, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, masculine nose till his seductive lips and jawlines. My goodness! He’s still breathtakingly good-looking even when his hair is messy!
Clarissa was at a loss for words as she was bewitched by his stunning look.
She heaved a soft sigh and had to admit that the man’s stunning features were really irresistible for her.
“Why are you sighing?”
The man asked abruptly with his charismatic and husky voice as his groggy eyes slowly opened. At that very moment, Clarissa felt her heart skipped a beat.
Look at the charming pair of eyes! I seem to love him more from this moment onward!
Clarissa gaped without realizing, mesmerized by his exceptionally charming side which was totally different from his usual look.
At the sight of Clarissa’s adorable expression, Matthew’s lips lifted into a smile as he chuckled. Holding her delicate chin, he leaned closer and kissed her lips passionately.
Clarissa tried to push him away as she had not yet brushed her teeth.
Anyway, he hasn’t brushed his teeth as well. Why should I worry about having bad breaths? Feeling relieved, she kissed him back affectionately too.
It was already half an hour later when both of them finally woke up from the bed. The simple kiss earlier actually led to a steamy session on the bed, and Clarissa had to fulfill Matthew’s special request.
When they were having breakfast later, Clarissa glared at the culprit who caused her hand to feel sore.
“Clare, how about I feed you?” the man raised her brows and asked her straight as if he was unaware of her displeasure.
Clarissa shook her head at once and yelled, “I don’t want!”
Lowering her head again, she switched to hold the spoon with another hand silently. Matthew smiled meaningfully at her and kept glancing at her with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
Clarissa decided not to waste time arguing with him, as she was going back to the film studio in the afternoon. They were supposed to seize the chance to spend every moment with each other before that. It was really not worth it if they ended up having a conflict!
After breakfast, both of them just stayed at the Zen Highlands. They watched a movie and again had some more steamy moments. Clarissa even shared with him about her moments while on a film shooting session with the crew.
It was a relaxing moment for Matthew as Clarissa leaned idly to him, muttering about her activities there, her friendly colleagues, and some interesting discoveries… Even so, she totally did not mention anything about Shermaine.
Matthew avoided mentioning Shermaine in front of Clarissa as well. However, he knitted his brows, recalling what the Tysons and the Wynters were discussing after Hannah’s birthday party the night before.
It was really obvious that both families intended to match-make Shermaine and him, but none of the families had mentioned anything yet.
Matthew did not clarify anything in front of them as there was really nothing between Shermaine and him. Apart from that, both the Tysons and the Wynters were really close with each other. Matthias and Jacque were having political collaborations with each other. Hence, it was not appropriate for him to take a stand impulsively, fearing that both families would end up in a disastrous dispute.
Shermaine had shared with him on moments related to the crew as well, but hers was apparently a different version from Clarissa’s. Clarissa’s version revolved around the jubilant and harmonious moments with everyone on the crew, yet Shermaine emphasized to him how Justin and the others bullied her. She looked pathetic when talking about how Justin pressurized her on behalf of Clarissa as he had a feeling for her. Does Justin have feelings for Clare?!
“Ouch! Why did you pinch me?”
Clarissa raised her voice and struggled to pull out her hand. Rubbing the painful spot on her wrist, she stared at Matthew with great displeasure.
Matthew only came to his senses when Clarissa raised her voice.
He raised his hand and brushed Clarissa’s wrist gently, then locked his fingers with hers as he gazed intently at her.
“Clare, I really don’t like it when you keep talking about Justin.”
Clarissa could not help chuckling. So he’s actually jealous of Justin?
With her head tilted, she asked deliberately, “You’re worried that both Justin and I will slowly fall for each other, aren’t you?”
Matthew’s eyes darkened as his face fell. He was very serious at the moment and did not intend to joke about this at all.
“Will you?” he asked with profound cold in his voice.
Matthew’s cold tone suddenly sent a chill down her spine. She quickly squeezed a sweet smile in order to cheer him up.
“Do you think I’m a woman who’s easily drawn to any man?”
Clarissa’s eyes widened as Matthew remained silent. She glared at him and asked unhappily, “Hey, Matthew Tyson, you really think that I’ll behave like that? Don’t you trust me?”
There was undoubtedly a sense of rage in her tone. It was as if she was warning him by glaring at him with her pair of bright round eyes. If he dared to nod his head, she would not let him off easily.
Matthew finally softened and embraced Clarissa with his arms. Lowering his head, he tried to please her by kissing her forehead, tip of the nose, and finally her seductive lips.
“Of course I know that my dear Clare is not that type of woman.”
Clarissa pinched his arm purposely as a punishment.
“If you really know, why did you give me that fierce look?”
“It’s because you kept mentioning about Justin.”
“I’m at the crew every day and deal a lot with the director. Of course I will mention his names when talking about the crew. If can, I wish to talk about you all the time. Yet we really have limited time for each other.”
She could hardly see Matthew during daytime as he was always occupied. Even during weekends, he had limited time to accompany her.
Clarissa was not grumbling; she was just telling the truth.
They did not really understand each other well as they had limited time to be together.
“Hmm…” Matthew could not really think of any words to respond.
He started to ponder about Clarissa’s words.
Clarissa actually did not mind much about this. She turned to lean against Matthew’s chest and changed the topic.
“Have you met Ellie recently and have a chat with her? How’s she at the moment?”
Looking into Clarissa’s smiling eyes, he answer placidly, “No.”
“No? Didn’t meet her? Didn’t have a chat with her?”
“Yes.” Matthew replied casually.
“You…”
Clarissa was displeased and bit her lips. “I think I better give a try myself instead of relying on you.”
She took out her phone and called Ellie.
To her delight, Ellie answered the phone this time.
When Matthew leaned closer, Clarissa pushed him away. Upon hearing Ellie’s indifferent tone, she asked tactfully.
“Ellie? Finally, you’re willing to talk to me. Are you still angry? Don’t be angry anymore.”
At the moment, Ellie was speechless with the scene at home. Hannah was having a great time with her grandparents in the living room. Kayla and her husband were also engaged in a pleasant conversation with her own parents. Shermaine was also seated next to her mother, with an attractive smile on her face. The two families were apparently getting closer to each other.
She mocked at Clarissa abruptly, “Clarissa, are you regretting already?”
“Ellie, what do you mean?” Clarissa asked quizzically.
“I want you to break up with Uncle Matt now.”
“Ellie, I’m sorry. I can’t break up with him.”
Upon hearing her answer, Matthew’s eyes lit up and stroked her back lovingly with satisfaction.
Ellie snickered again at Clarissa’s response.
“Humph! Alright, I bet you’ll surely regret later.”
She hung up her phone after that.
Clarissa felt down instantaneously. Her eyes were red-rimmed and she almost burst into tears.
Matthew immediately wrapped his arms around her and comforted her.
“Clare, don’t be sad. You still have me.”
Deep in his heart, Matthew told himself not to let Ellie off easily by teaching her a lesson. How dare she instigated Clare to break up with me!
I’m really disappointed with her. I’m her uncle, yet she chooses to sabotage instead of being supportive of my relationship?
Clare is so upset because of her. I will think of a way to get her to pay and teach her a lesson!
Even so, the most important thing is to console Clare and cheer her up at the moment.
Like a pitiful little girl who was abandoned, Clarissa grabbed hold of Matthew’s shirt and pressed her forehead against his chest. After quite a while, she finally broke the silence and said, “I’m fine. It’s not Ellie’s fault, too. It’s actually our fault. She’s reacting like that just because she’s really concerned about me. Please don’t do anything that will upset her.”
Clarissa thought about this after she managed to calm herself down.
“You’re still speaking up for her? She totally didn’t think of you.”
Ellie had definitely done something very wrong by talking Clare into break up with me!
Clarissa raised her head and looked at Matthew. “I know she’s really mad at both of us being in a relationship. I’m actually still wondering why. Perhaps she feels that I’m not worthy of you?”
It never came across her mind that Ellie would be so agitated and mad at her for such a long time after knowing that she was in a relationship with Matthew.
Ellie might be a materialistic person as well and actually feels that a marriage must be between two people who were compatible in terms of family statuses and background.
Clarissa was becoming more baffled with the whole situation.
If that is the reason, does it mean that Ellie would never approve me of becoming Matthew’s partner? I’m her best friend, yet she can never accept me in becoming a member of her family and Matthew’s spouse?
Clarissa’s heart sank at the thought.
If even Ellie can’t accept me, what more to say other members of the Tysons?
Pinching her delicate chin, Matthew asked with furrowed brows, “What are you thinking about? You look really pale.”
Heaving a silent sigh, Clarissa shook her head and said, “Nothing. I’m just feeling upset and disappointed.”
It was useless for her to be disappointed. She could not change the fact that she was not born to a prestigious family like the Tysons, yet she never felt inferior. She put in a lot of effort all this while and was actually proud of herself for being financially independent. Apart from that, she could even support her own family financially. If the Tysons could not accept her, there was nothing she could do.
Yet Clarissa was really disappointed and depressed for losing such a great friend like Ellie.
“Uncle Matthew,” Clarissa stared into Matthew’s eyes and asked, “If your family can’t accept us being together, what will you do?”
Matthew squinted and instinctively tightened his grip on her chin. “Tell me, what should I do?”
Clarissa furrowed her brows and replied, “This is your problem, not mine. You shouldn’t throw it to me.”
She really disliked the way Matthew asked her back.
What can I do? The right to decision lies in his hands, isn’t it?
Nonetheless, Matthew leaned closer to her and replied in a low voice, “This is not solely my problem. I’ll do as you like. Clare, the decision lies in your hands.”
Clarissa replied sarcastically, “Alright! Since the decision lies in my hands, will you agree if I want you to cut ties with your family? You don’t have to answer me as I foresee that you will not. You just hope that I can make some promises, right? That I won’t give up on us no matter what? I’m sorry, I’m not the type of person who will sacrifice blindly for love. If I have tried my best to work on the relationship but to no avail, then there’s no point for me to hold on to it any longer.”
