After hanging up, Clarissa stood up and decided to return to W City.
Instead of stopping her, Matthew followed her and comforted her along the journey.
Two hours later, they arrived at the house in W City.
Pushing the door open, Clarissa rushed into the house to see Catherine and Jenny seated on the sofa.
“Grandma, are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
Catherine was stunned to see them. When she saw Matthew stepping in, she chided, “I’m fine. Why are you all here?”
The caregiver replied, “I was the one who informed Clary.”
“Clare is concerned about you. It has been some time since my last visit, so I tagged along with her.”
Catherine sighed. Matthew found out about our dirty laundry.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’m her mother, so they won’t hurt me.”
Catherine consoled Clarissa and patted her hand. After a while, she sighed guiltily.
“Clare, Mimi stole all your stuff. I didn’t know they’d resort to such despicable means. I didn’t know the things were expensive. Jenny told me your bags and accessories are worth thousands each. When I tried to reason with them, they denied taking it. Clare, I’m sorry. I was—”
Clarissa interrupted her apology. “Grandma, these can be bought with money. I don’t mind as long as you’re safe.”
“But they cost a lot of money. I feel bad.”
Wrapping her arms around Catherine, Clarissa wiped off her tears and comforted her. “Don’t worry. I’ll get them back.”
“But what if they refused to admit it?”“
“It’s fine. I have a plan.”
As Catherine had always trusted her granddaughter, she was relieved.
She gazed at Matthew, feeling embarrassed.
“You should’ve come back alone. Why did you drag Matthew alone? He has to go to work tomorrow!”
Catherine apologized immediately. “Matthew, sorry for making you come all the way here.”
“It’s fine. Clare’s business is my business. I can’t remain in D City alone when you’re in trouble, can I?”
“Sorry for all the trouble.”
“Stop apologizing, Grandma. Go to bed. We shall talk tomorrow.”
After persuading Catherine to go to bed, Clarissa heaved a sigh of relief.
Matthew stretched his arms out and pulled her into his embrace. He pressed a kiss on her forehead.
Gently, he said, “Your grandma is fine. Don’t worry. As long as she’s fine, nothing else matters.”
“Mm, that I know. But I’m upset at how they treated Grandma. I shall demand an explanation tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ll come along with you.”
Clarissa shook her head and looked up, her lips pursed into a pout.
“I don’t want you to come with me.”
“Why not? I can be of help.”
Clarissa shook her head stubbornly. “I’m going to fight. It might damage my reputation, so I don’t want you to see it.”
Matthew chuckled and arched a brow. “Oh? Will it be ugly?”
“Yes. I’m afraid I’ll no longer be your Miss Fairy after you see how ruthless I can be. You don’t have to come. I can handle it myself. Of course, if things spiral out of my control, I’ll ask for your help. But I don’t think that will happen.”
Matthew’s mood elevated as he let out a chuckle. “Miss Fairy? You’re quite confident in yourself, huh? But Clare, I don’t see you as a fairy.”
Clarissa promptly glared at him and raised her voice. “What did you say?”
Unfazed, Matthew repeated, “I said, I don’t see you as a fairy.”
Clarissa’s lips thinned as she gritted her teeth unhappily.
She glowered at Matthew, silently threatening him to change his mind or he shall die a horrible death.
Matthew stood firm to his opinion and added, “You’re not a fairy to me. That’s because you’re a vixen, Clare.”
Clarissa was rendered speechless.
You’re such a seductive vixen! Suddenly, this sentence popped up in her mind.
She smacked her lips at once.
“I’m not a vixen. I’m a fairy!” she insisted. “Matthew, you’re wrong.”
“Uh-huh. Really?”
“Yes!”
As Clarissa was adamant, Matthew grinned and acknowledged silently.
“Alright. Fairy Clare, are you going to become a vixen during the fight tomorrow?”
“Scram!”
Clarissa gave him a forceful push and stood up to head to her room. When Matthew trailed behind her, she realized there was no extra room in the house for him.
Suddenly, she shot him a beguiling smile. “Why don’t you sleep in my room? I can spend the night in the living room.”
Matthew folded his arms and smirked. He said nothing, but his attitude and gaze showed what his intention was.
Clarissa was scowling when the man picked her up and threw her onto the bed. She let out a tiny scream, but he covered her lips deftly and warned, “Clare, be careful. Your grandma might overhear us.”
Frowning darkly, Clarissa declared, “Then stop messing around.”
A corner of his mouth lifted against her lips. His breath puffed into her face.
“I never mess around.”
Kissing my girlfriend isn’t messing around. I’m doing this openly.
As he muffled Clarissa’s grumbles with a kiss, she cursed silently. Isn’t this messing around?
Nevertheless, Matthew stopped after giving her a kiss. Perhaps he was afraid Catherine might overhear them. Besides, he didn’t prepare any protection. After the kiss, they hugged each other and fell asleep.
The next day, Clarissa left Catherine in the hands of Matthew and went to the Lesters’ house.
It was early, so the Lesters were still asleep. She kept pressing on the doorbell and woke Gloria up rudely.
“Who is it? It’s still damn early!”
After opening the door and spotting Clarissa, Gloria cowered guiltily.
Clarissa had only ever acted this way in front of her Aunt Gloria.
Back then, Gloria and her family kicked Catherine and Clarissa out after getting the money left by her late father. After Clarissa earned enough money to live a better life, Gloria and her family shamelessly returned to reconcile their relationship.
On both occasions, Clarissa was expressionless, but her gaze was deadly cold. Gloria suddenly recalled how the young Clarissa looked like she was going to murder someone back then.
Terrified, she called for her husband.
“Honey! Clary is here! Honey…”
It was too late. Clarissa had stepped into their house.
The house wasn’t big, with a few pieces of furniture scattered around. Most importantly, it was filthy.
Clarissa strode past the living room and entered Mimi’s room. The latter was still sleeping soundly.
Immediately, she saw her bags, accessories, clothes, and shoes that the Lesters had stolen from her house strewn everywhere in Mimi’s room. How despicable. They took everything they saw.
Carefully, Clarissa picked up her stuff and placed them into her bag. Jacob and Gloria rushed over and saw her action.
“Clary, what are you doing?” yelled Gloria.
“I’m retrieving my own stuff.”
Gloria’s yell woke Mimi up. The girl’s eyes fluttered open in a daze. The moment she saw Clarissa, she jolted awake at once. At the sight of Clarissa packing up her stuff, Mimi dashed over and grabbed them out of her hand.
“What are you doing?”
Calmly, Clarissa raised her eyebrow. “I’m taking what is mine.”
“Yours?”
Mimi retorted without hesitation. “They are mine. How could they be yours? Do you have evidence to prove they are yours? I bought them myself!”
“You bought them yourself? With your own money?”
Mimi laughed smugly. “That’s none of your business. Anyway, I bought them myself. You entered our house without permission and tried to steal my stuff. Aren’t you afraid of being sent to jail? Ha! Leave while I’m being kind. Otherwise, I’ll call the cops.”
Gloria was trembling in fear. Seeing how calm Clarissa was, she spoke, “Clary, this might be a misunderstanding. Why would we take your stuff? You must’ve gotten it wrong. Recently, there is news about thieves breaking into empty houses nearby. The thieves must’ve stolen your stuff.”
Grinning arrogantly, Mimi put on the necklace and bracelets she had just taken from Clarissa. “Clare, don’t be jealous because I can afford to buy expensive stuff. You can buy them yourself. After all, you’re rich!”
“You’re right.”
Suddenly, Clarissa smirked. “Aunt Gloria, since it was a thief, I’ll call the cops.”
The Lesters’ expression soured at her words. Jacob was about to say something when Clarissa added, “Oh, I forgot that I’ve already called the police before I came here. They should be arriving soon.”
Speaking of the devil, the doorbell rang.
Clarissa grinned, while Gloria and Mimi paled visibly.
“Clary, what is this? Do you think we’re the thieves? I’m your aunt and Mimi’s your cousin! How could you be so cruel?”
“If you’re not the thieves, why would you be afraid? Uncle Jacob, won’t you open the door? If you don’t answer the door, the police might think you’ve robbed and murdered me.”
Jacob glared at Clarissa darkly before he went to answer the door.
“No, honey. Don’t open the door!”
“Dad…”
The police were yelling by now because no one was answering the door.
Left with no choice, Jacob opened the door. Clarissa came out and greeted the police. “Hello, sir. I was the one who made the report. Someone had stolen earlier my stuff totaling to a hundred thousand.”
