Matthew arched a brow at Clarissa, who was still in a daze.
“Are you going to leave now?”
She gave him a nod.
“Do you know what you’re doing, Clarissa?”
She nodded again.
Something glinted across Matthew’s gaze as he beckoned her over.
Indeed, she went over to him obediently.
A faint smirk played on his lips. What a little fool.
Is she drunk?
“Come here!”
Clarissa rejected him right away. She seemed to have awoken from her drunken stupor.
“No!”
Matthew raised a brow. Is she sober or drunk?
“Come here!” he insisted.
Under his insistence, Clarissa’s expression fell. She pouted and flung her bag reluctantly.
She wasn’t her usual self tonight.
Hence, Matthew concluded she was intoxicated.
“Clare?”
He called her name endearingly.
Clarissa harrumphed in displeasure. “Stop calling my name. I don’t like that. Don’t call me that, Matthew.”
“You don’t like that?”
Matthew let out a low snicker and stood up. He went over to her and pulled her in for a hug.
Clarissa leaned into his arms obediently. She was frowning as her cheeks puffed up adorably.
Matthew felt his heart softened at the alluring sight.
Lowering his head, he pinched her jaw and caressed it tenderly.
“Clare, why are you unhappy?”
“You bullied me.”
“When did I do that? You’re my all-time favorite, remember?” said Matthew.
He even gave her a peck on the lips.
Clarissa touched her lips and declared, “No, don’t kiss me without my consent!”
“But I consented!”
“Oh…”
Clarissa didn’t refute his words and accepted the fact quietly. Suddenly, she shoved him away.
“Don’t hug me. You should hug Shermaine instead.”
Matthew snorted at her reaction.
He studied the woman, his interest piqued. Clarissa was showing her genuine emotions tonight. She wasn’t drunk but relaxed due to the after-effects of having alcohol. Her usual pent-up emotions were vented out tonight. Look, she’s being jealous.
“Are you jealous?”
To his surprise, Clarissa nodded. “Yep. I hate you and Shermaine. I hate the fact that you’re getting married.”
Matthew’s heart skipped a beat at her honesty. He was pleased.
She’s being herself tonight, right?
Beaming, he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Planting a kiss on her forehead, he asked, “Clare, do you like me? Do you like Matthew?”
“Yes, I do. I like him very much!”
Matthew sighed in pleasure. After all, it was a rare sight to see her confessing her feelings to him.
“Then, I won’t marry Shermaine.”
“Really?” Clarissa met his gaze innocently. “That’s good.”
“Are you happy now?”
Clarissa gave a nod, but promptly changed her mind and shook her head. “No, I’m not happy.”
“Why?”
“Cos you’re going to marry someone else.”
“Someone else?”
“Yep. Ms. Cole, Ms. Windsor, Ms. Leeroy…”
It took Matthew a while to realize those ladies didn’t exist in real life. She was referring to the status and background of the upper class.
It occurred to him that Clarissa wasn’t jealous of Shermaine. Instead, she was worried he might need to marry someone of his class.
Well, she’s overthinking.
Picking her up, he brought her to the sofa and placed her in his laps. This was the only time she wouldn’t reject his advances.
He brushed his palm across her waist and brought her closer.
“Clare, who do I need to marry to make you happy?”
Clarissa fell silent at his question.
The corners of his mouth turned up as he reached out to tickle her jaw. At the tickling sensation, Clarissa cowered back and giggled innocently. Her tinkling laughter caused Matthew to tense up, feeling the urge to do something.
Anyhow, she was trapped in his embrace. His gaze darkened with desire.
“Clare,” his voice turned low and seductive.
“Mm?”
Clarissa stopped laughing and tilted her head adorably. Her gaze was fixated on him intently.
“Damn it!”
Matthew could no longer hold himself back and devoured her lips in a deep kiss.
After the kiss, it was difficult for him to stop halfway. Matthew pinned Clarissa on the sofa while she let out a faint mewling sound, which nearly drove him nuts.
It took every ounce of his self-control to step back and turn away from Clarissa, trying hard to suppress his desire.
As he recalled how docile she was underneath him, he took a deep breath and told himself this wasn’t the right time.
She’s barely conscious. I want her to succumb to me willingly.
“Matthew!”
Clarissa suddenly attached herself to Matthew’s back and flung her arms around him.
“My head hurts,” she complained softly.
Matthew shut his eyes, forcing himself to remain calm. He grabbed her arms, lifting her up in the process.
“Time to go to bed.”
“I want to sleep with you!”
Matthew swallowed nervously.
Does she want to torture me?
He pulled her away and reminded her, “Clare, if you sleep with me tonight, you’ll regret it tomorrow morning.”
“No, I won’t. I like sleeping with you.”
“No!”
Clarissa started wailing, “I knew you don’t like me even though you’ve kissed me before! You are a big bully! Liar! I knew you were fooling around with me!”
Speechless, Matthew carried her in his arms and headed upstairs.
Clarissa snuggled into his warm embrace and giggled in joy. “Uncle Matthew, you’re my favorite!”
Matthew’s throat went dry, but he didn’t stop and strode into the bedroom. After throwing her onto the bed, he spun on his heels to leave.
“Sleep. I have something else on.”
“No! Stay with me!”
Clarissa caught his sleeves and cajoled, “Uncle Matthew, stay with me!”
Her hand behind the man twitched restlessly. He was about to lose control.
“I want you to—Ah!”
Before Clarissa could finish, his entire body weight came crashing down on her. She let out a gasp before he covered her mouth in a dizzying kiss.
Matthew was advancing like a ferocious beast.
“Clare, I…”
Suddenly, he heard a snore.
Matthew stopped in his tracks, at a loss for words. In exasperation, he flipped over and rested his head on his palm as he watched her sleep peacefully. An affectionate smile appeared on his lips.
“Girl, look how obedient you are right now.”
During the day, she was stubborn and refused his advances. Right now, he couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked in a drunken stupor.
Matthew adored both sides of her personality.
Look at how quiet she is. I wonder how will she react tomorrow morning?
That will be interesting!
Clarissa felt her head throbbing dully. With her eyes close, she reached out to massage her temples with furrowed brows.
Soon, another pair of hands took over and massaged her temples gently.
The only person who could share a bed with her was Ellie.
It felt good and she exclaimed, “Ellie, you are the best. Thank you!”
“Haha…!”
A man’s low chuckle caused her eyes to snap open in disbelief.
It wasn’t Ellie.
She immediately shrieked, “Ah—Mmph!”
Her yell was cut short by Matthew’s kiss. Retreating in fear, she mumbled, “Mmph, mmph…!”
Matthew towered above her and flashed a cheeky smile. “Clare, surprise!”
Clarissa bristled and gave him a deadly stare.
Sensing her mood, Matthew shook his head.
“Clare, you insist on sharing a bed with me last night. You hugged me and refused to let me leave. It happened. Have you forgotten everything?”
Clarissa was someone who’d black out after drinking.
She couldn’t remember anything about last night’s events. However, Ellie had once told her she’d wear her heart on her sleeves after drinking over her limit. Therefore, it seemed plausible for her to insist on sleeping with him.
Clarissa’s heart sank guiltily. She blinked and was about to deny everything. After all, her memory from the previous night was blank.
Nevertheless, when she met Matthew’s sharp gaze, she stopped herself in time.
As Matthew had released his grip on her, she dashed out of the bedroom like nothing had ever happened.
Matthew didn’t stop her from leaving as she was already in his clutches.
Clarissa munched on her sandwich anxiously, her eyes fixated on the table. She could sense Matthew’s fiery gaze on her during breakfast.
In the end, Clarissa couldn’t take it any longer. She looked up and glowered at Matthew vengefully.
“Are you done? I couldn’t remember anything!” she declared. “Fine. I admit I might’ve done that. You were right! Will you stop staring at me now?”
“Good. You finally admit it.”
Matthew smirked and rested his cheek on his hand lazily.
“Clare, my answer is yes about your request.”
“Huh? What request?”
The man merely laughed.
