“You…”
Clarissa took a step backward. But she did not expect to step on an obstacle, so she fell in terror.
Luke stood there watching her fell but he was disappointed by the outcome.
Clarissa ended up falling into a firm embrace. As a reflex, she lifted her head in shock.
At that, Luke’s face turned pale and he took a few steps back.
Matthew walked out of the shadows to catch Clarissa from falling. His palms were supporting her waist. She could see his grim expression and darkened gaze up close.
“Luke, how do you plan to get my woman?”
Dissatisfaction flashed across Luke’s eyes. He was acting all and mighty as if he was not afraid of anyone earlier.
But when Matthew stood before him, he had to admit that he was terrified of the former.
“You’re hearing things, Mr. Tyson. I was just joking.”
“Is that so?” Matthew said in a deep voice and cocked his brows. Every word he uttered was a warning.
“Luke, I had met your father yesterday. The person beside him, Morris, is an excellent man. I like him.”
Clarissa did not understand his words. But Luke gritted his teeth after hearing that.
Morris was the illegitimate son of his father, and he favored him. The company was still in the hand of his old man. By right, Luke was supposed to be the heir. But Morris helped to manage the company at the moment. With his outstanding performance, he won the support of many.
Matthew was putting pressure on Luke and attacked him in his weak spot. As a result, he could only gnash his teeth without expressing his pain.
Luke grimaced in anger. “Mr. Tyson, I’m sorry.”
Clarissa had a strong urge to slap his face.
Apologizing now, are we? Spineless man!
Matthew contemplated and uttered, “Luke, don’t make me warn you for the third time.”
This was the second time he forced Clarissa against her will, including the previous one.
“Yes, Mr. Tyson. I got it.”
Following that, Luke fled from the scene miserably. Clarissa sighed regretfully that made his escape like a humble servant. But she had forgotten that she was in Matthew’s arms.
By the time she regained her senses, Matthew had pushed her into his car.
“You…” she stammered as she was at a loss for words.
It seems like I can’t say anything other than express my gratitude.
Matthew had a cold and gloomy look—true to Luke’s description.
Clarissa was feeling a little uneasy as she sat beside him. She was undecided about giving him a proper explanation.
If I don’t explain, won’t he think that I was the one calling for the date? But what will he think about me meeting up with Luke? But, I don’t want him to have any misunderstanding.
She did not probe into the reason behind having thoughts like that in her mind. Perhaps she dared not admit the little secret she buried deep inside her heart.
Eventually, she explained, “The company of my mother’s husband is planning to collaborate with the Harrisons. Luke used that to ask me out for a dinner date. I only agreed because my mother begged me to. We just had a meal. That’s all there is to it.”
Matthew remained motionless and expressionless.
Clarissa heaved a sigh quietly and felt a bit frustrated.
The ominous silence in the car caused her to feel suffocated.
Right after they arrived at Zen Highlands. Matthew got out of the car speedily. Then, he clutched her wrist and dragged her into the house.
“Ouch…” Clarissa endured the pain.
After entering the house, Matthew threw her to the sofa.
She plonked on it while rubbing her wrist. Her brows knitted together in displeasure.
With a stern expression, he tugged his collar and loomed over her. There was no warmth in his eyes.
Clarissa raised her head in an instant, then lowered it again.
“Clarissa Quigley!”
Hearing him addressed her in full name, Clarissa could tell that he was enraged through his tone.
At that, she covered her head with her arms and retracted her neck. She dared not face the infuriated Matthew and also afraid of getting hit by him.
After a long while, she did not hear him say a word.
So, she raised her eyes carefully and was met with his dark gaze. Then, she immediately retracted them.
“You…”
Matthew’s anger dissipated after seeing what she did.
He pursed his lips, snorted and sat on the sofa.
“You fool!”
Alright. I can still accept a scolding like this. At least he did not unleash his fury.
Matthew took a cigarette and lit it up in irritation, trying to calm the burning rage.
After taking a puff, he blew out a circle of smoke and narrowed his eyes.
“What are you posing in this silly position for?”
Clarissa bit her lips and put her arms down slowly. An awkward smile was played on her face.
She started rubbing her wrist and Matthew noticed that.
Without warning, he pulled her hand over to look at the finger marks on her wrist. After that, he messaged that area with his fingertips.
As expected, he did not apologize to her.
“It’s okay. I’m fine now. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Clarissa wanted to retract her hand but was unable to do so. Hence, she allowed him to message her wrist as he pleased.
Right then, she began to justify herself after being called a fool.
“Actually, I did not meet him unprepared. I actually brought a Taser with me. If he dares to paw on me, I will not hesitate to assault him. Besides, I think he was just trying to scare me. After all, he knows that Ellie is my best friend and she warned him not to do anything stupid before. His words were just empty threats. I suppose he won’t actually try anything funny—Ouch…”
Clarissa’s wrist felt hurt from his grasp.
She frowned and looked at Matthew, who had a gloomy expression. Then, he said in a cold tone, “He won’t try anything funny? Are you kidding me? Clarissa, what do you take men for?”
Instantly, he threw the cigarette butt away. Following that, he gripped her wrists and pulled them over her head while leaning forward against her body, trapping her on the sofa. She could not move an inch as all her limbs were restrained.
She could see how angry he was through the expression on his face.
“You suppose? Did you know how dumb it sounded like? Just like this…”
“I’m—Mm…”
Her mouth was covered and could not let a word out of it. Her body felt feeble after struggling to break free from his grip.
Matthew had the intention to punish her. His actions were rough, aggressive, and merciless.
She was completely at his mercy.
Her body felt chilly after her clothes were ripped apart. Matthew’s movements became increasingly unrestrained, as though he was about to eat her up.
Clarissa’s body trembled in dread. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she was resisting him.
Suddenly, Matthew halted his movements and lifted his head to stare to the weeping woman.
“Are you scared now?”
“Boohoo…”
Matthew pulled her up to sit on the sofa, then wiped the tears off the corners of her eyes. His expression remained calm as usual. However, his heart was full of warmth and helplessness.
“Do you think Luke will stop like I did just because you cry? Do you think every man has self-control like me?”
Clarissa just sobbed without answering his question.
A gleam flashed across Matthew’s eyes, and he pulled her into his arms while patting her on the back awkwardly.
“Remember, stay away from men.”
At his words, Clarissa pushed him away with all her might. Her eyes were still watery as she stared at him and said, “You are a man too.”
Matthew did not know what to say.
He pursed his lips and smiled.
“Oh. Turning your back on me now, huh?”
Clarissa wiped the tears off with the back of her hand and retorted, “Isn’t it true? What you did to me just now was not something kind.”
“Hah! You are only remembering this? What about the times when I rescued you?”
“Thank you,” she uttered in an insincere tone.
Matthew had expected that she would be ungrateful toward him.
“You’d better—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Clarissa’s phone rang.
After rummaging through her bag, she took out her cellphone and answered the call.
“Clary, are you having dinner with Mr. Harrison? You won’t be going back tonight, right?”
“Why? Do you not want me to go back?” Clarissa answered in an icy tone.
Hilary hurriedly toned down the excitement in her voice and explained, “No. I thought that you have a good relationship with Mr. Harrison. It’s just a casual question.”
“Do I even have a good relationship with him? My goodness! We went on our separate ways after dinner. I’m at a friend’s place currently. I’ve fulfilled my promise to you. Whether Luke plans to give you the project has nothing to do with me anymore. Even if Zach is incapable, I can only help him once. But do I have to save his ass every time? If so, he might as well declare bankruptcy now. If he is a resourceful man, he won’t need my intervention.”
“No, Clary. Putting this aside, I actually thought that Mr. Harrison is a nice guy. Besides, he is interested in you. Why don’t you date him?”
Clarissa clenched her fingers on her cellphone as if she was holding her back from losing her cool.
Matthew frowned slightly as he was displeased to see her feeling upset.
“Mom. Don’t tell me you don’t know anything about Luke Harrison’s reputation after staying in D City for so long. I don’t buy that. Now, you are asking me to date him? You are basically sending your biological daughter off to please a scum and let him do as he wishes. Sometimes you make me doubt if you’re my birth mother. Or maybe you just don’t care about me?”
Hilary’s heart sank at her words. “No, Clary. It’s all a misunderstanding. I’m just—”
“You know better than me if it is indeed a misunderstanding. I’m not sure if you love me or not. But, please at least have basic virtue as a mother.”
With that, she ended the call with her back against Matthew while standing on that spot.
Matthew hugged her behind out of the blue. With a gentle voice, he whispered into her ear, “Clare.”
Clarissa removed his arms, turned around, and said nonchalantly, “Stay away from me, you are a man!”
Matthew was bereft of speech.
Within seconds, Clarissa took her handbag, tidied her disheveled clothes emotionlessly, and prepared to leave.
However, Matthew pulled her back into his embrace. He wrapped his arms across her body, lowered his head and let out a smirk.
“Correction. Stay away from men. But it does not include your man, who is me.”
