While one would probably expect Mimi to cut off all interactions with Clarissa out of spite, things turned out otherwise.
In the days that Clarissa spent at home with her grandmother, Mimi made frequent visits to her house and tried to do all sorts of favors for her. She was surprisingly thick-skinned – she would follow Clarissa on her walks and even stuck around while Clarissa worked from home. At that point, it seemed plausible that she would follow Clarissa to the toilet if Clarissa did not stop her.
“Mimi, don’t you think you’re being really nosy?”
Clarissa was very straightforward with her words. After a few days, she decided to question Mimi, her disdain written all over her face.
To her surprise, Mimi said, “Clare, maybe you’ll come to like me after seeing me around more.”
“I’ll never like someone like you.”
Clarissa was making herself crystal clear. Initially, Mimi’s face turned glum, her true colors showing for a moment, but she instantly covered it up with a smile.
“Clare… Don’t say that. Even if I’m a little greedy and materialistic, I’m still your cousin. There’s no need to hold a grudge this long!”
“So, what do you want from me? Cash? A bag? Or do you want jewelry?” Clarissa was getting impatient.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll have all three?” Mimi’s eyes lit up.
“Get lost!”
Clarissa could swear that she had never seen someone as shameless as Mimi. How can someone like this be my cousin?
On the other hand, Mimi disregarded Clarissa’s annoyance and sat down beside her. “Clare, it’s not like I’m taking your things away forever. I just want to use your bags and accessories for a little. Since you’re well off, you have tons of them, don’t you? I’ll take good care of them, I promise!”
“So, that’s your purpose here?”
Mimi chuckled awkwardly. “Can you please lend them to me? I have a gathering with my classmates. They are all from wealthy families, and I don’t want to be looked down upon by them. I really need to do some networking and make some connections through this gathering. Clare, you might not understand how important connections are since you are always cooped up at home, but those friends I’m making will be critical to my future career!”
That’s why I need to look rich and glamorous. Money is really important in building relationships.
“Gosh, in the end, it’s just your vanity getting the best of you. Mimi, rather than trying to borrow my things, how about you go read some books. Even though you are pretty good at performing, you still won’t make it to the academy without good grades, not to mention becoming a celebrity.” Clarissa sighed.
Mimi laughed it off and sa…”About my grades… My friend’s family has connections with someone from the examination board. I can get my way with it…”
“Hah…” Clarissa laughed coldly.
We truly are from completely different worlds.
“Clare… Please lend your things to me just this once… Please?”
Clarissa sighed. “No, I’m not going to do that. Can’t you get your super capable and rich friends to get them for you?”
“Gosh! Clarissa! You’re so stingy. Even though you have the money to lend me, you’re spending it on a jobless man! Your father would be so angry that he would rise from his grave if he hears of this!” Mimi lashed out.
“Shut it!”
Clarissa could not hold back her rage any longer. “It’s none of your business, whether I burn my cash or I get a sugar baby with my money. You will never get a cent from me, and you need to remember that!”
Mimi had also finally lost her patience after being treated coldly for the past few days.
Stomping her feet, she smirked and left the place. Upon seeing Catherine at the door, her brows furrowed deeper, and she mumbled something along the lines of “why isn’t she dead yet” as she strode off.
As she got back to her crusty home, empty-handed, Mimi felt like she was about to explode from anger.
After wrecking the few pieces of worn-down furniture she owned, she still felt cranky and called her so-called admirers.
For the remainder of the day, Mimi partied really hard at a cheap club. She felt that only the alcohol and the noise could somewhat alleviate her turbulent emotions.
As she left the dance floor, Mr. Bieber came up to her, spanking her butt with a perverted grin.
“Mimi, have you decided? If you become my girlfriend, I’ll give you anything and everything that you want.”
Though Mimi had always played the game of push-and-pull with him in the past, she was in a bad mood that day and agreed without even thinking.
“Okay. Then, I want a Chanel bag and some Bulgari jewelry…”
Mr. Bieber seemed unfazed at her requests and said yes without hesitation.
“No problem. I’ll buy them tomorrow! But before that, how about you spend a night with me at the hotel first…”
“Hey… I’m still a minor,” Mimi quickly said.
“Come on! I celebrated your eighteenth birthday with you, didn’t I?”
Mr. Bieber’s grip on Mimi’s waist tightened. Bending his head to nib at her lips, he growled with a darkened gaze, “Don’t try to play any tricks with me.”
“Oh, Mr. Bieber…”
Mimi was a great actress. In the blink of an eye, her eyes welled up with tears, and she leaned onto Mr. Bieber’s chest with the expression of a helpless puppy. Only then did Mr. Bieber’s face lighten up a little.
“Mr. Bieber, it’s not that I don’t want to go to a hotel with you, it’s just that it’s my first time, so… Can’t you be gentler with me and do it in the right atmosphere. Tomorrow, you can bring along the gifts, and I’ll be more than happy to make love to you. Are you up for that?” Mimi said in a sweet voice.
Mr. Bieber seemed pleased. “Hah… Okay. I’ll go pick you up tomorrow.”
…
Clarissa stayed home for another week. The Lesters seemed to have calmed down for the time being, and she was able to enjoy a few peaceful late-night video calls with Matthew. Other than the steamy video calls filled with dirty talking, Matthew also managed to talk to Catherine that one time he called Clarissa during the daytime.
Apart from asking Catherine how she was doing, he told Clarissa time after time how much he missed her.
And every time that Catherine heard those words, she would insist on chasing Clarissa back to D City.
Clarissa finally hopped on the plane to D City that very Saturday.
However, she did not inform Matthew about it because she wanted to give him a surprise. Instead, she told him that she would only go back on Monday.
As she hurriedly walked out of the arrival hall, she accidentally knocked into someone.
Looking up, she quickly apologized, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”
When she met eyes with the person before her, she froze. It was Sienna.
After a momentary pause, Clarissa said dispassionately, “Sorry about that.”
Sienna seemed relatively unfazed and smiled at her. “It’s nothing. I wasn’t looking.”
With that, Clarissa continued on her way.
However, as Sienna looked at Clarissa walking further away, she suddenly began chasing after her.
“Ms. Quigley! Hold on…”
“What do you want?”
Sienna gawkily smiled at her. “Are you in a hurry? If you aren’t, how about we go have a chat at a cafe or something?”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have anything in common.”
Clarissa declined her offer without thinking and strode off.
Sighing, Sienna stood there with her feet rooted on the ground. But I have something to ask you…
After a few moments of her standing there blankly, another girl’s voice suddenly blared from behind, followed by the sound of her laughter. It was pretty common to hear such noises at the arrival hall where couples and families reunite.
How sweet. Sienna turned around to look but was completely taken by surprise.
She was greeted by the sight of a youthful girl dropping her luggage and running toward a man, pulling him into a passionate embrace. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders, and the man was carrying her intimately with his hands on her thighs.
The flashy couple standing before her was none other than Clarissa from just now and Matthew.
So it’s as I have suspected!
At that moment, the questions in her heart were finally answered.
She had mixed feelings as he watched the man who had always been indifferent toward her and even his family holding a woman with a bright grin on his face and even giving her a deep kiss in a public place.
The sight of the gorgeous couple displaying their affection for each other in public made many passersby do a double-take.
As they finally got their hands off each other, they began making their way to the exit. However, Matthew turned to look behind him with a cold glare out of the blue, as if giving Sienna a warning.
…
“How did you find out that I’m coming back today? Hmph. I wanted to give you a surprise, but…” Clarissa moaned, pouting her lips as she lay in Matthew’s arms.
Gosh, you’re wasting my effort… but I’m so glad to see you…
Matthew chuckled lightly, caressing her jaw tenderly before giving her a loving peck. “But what about the surprise that I’ve given you? Pretty good, huh?”
“Hehe…”
Clarissa had to admit that he had given her quite a pleasant surprise.
Kissing him back somewhat aggressively, she murmured, “Did Grandma tell you about this?”
“Yeah, I gave Catherine a call and her tongue slipped.”
“What? I told her to keep this a secret!” Clarissa’s eyes widened.
“Well, when I heard that you weren’t home and realized that my calls weren’t reaching you, I pretty much figured it all out!”
Clarissa’s eyes were sparkling with joy. “Hehe… You’re just trying to act smart!”
Despite her jokes, deep in her heart, she did feel touched and elated that Matthew had come to pick her up.
It’s really as they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
For the entirety of her car ride, she lay there grinning sheepishly in his arms, kissing him and stroking him at times as she talked about what she had been up to for the past week. Even though she had talked about the same things during their video calls together, she could not help but share those stories with him all over again, looking as excited as ever. Having such conversations with him felt natural, like it had always been a part of her life.
Clarissa was actually unaware of how her habits had changed. Her relationship with Matthew was so intimate and close, as if they had become one with each other on a spiritual level.
“Oh! I just remembered… Sienna was also there at the airport just now… Could she have seen us?” she asked.
Raising an eyebrow, Matthew caressed her face gently and replied, “It doesn’t matter. Are you scared about her seeing us together?”
Clarissa gave him a cheeky wink. “Of course not! Hmph. I have Uncle Matthew here with me, after all!”
