Clarissa had no idea if it was merely a coincidence or if she had been tailed since the moment she departed.
A few days ago, she encountered Jeremy. Yarick showed up in front of her out of the blue and said it was merely a coincidence. Perhaps she might run into another man in the near future.
Clarissa had no intention to waste her time with him either.
“I’m not really a tea-enthusiast, and I don’t think I have much to offer, Mr. Payne. I believe it’s best to keep your precious tea to yourself. Ryler, let’s go.”
When she was about to leave, Yarick got anxious. He couldn’t allow her to leave just yet.
Since he happened to meet her by chance, he had to give his best to keep her grounded for as long as possible.
“No, Clarissa! Ryler can leave whenever he wants, but not you!”
Ryler arched his brows and got in front of Clarissa because he thought Yarick was up to no good. After all, as one of the heirs of the wealthy families, they had a lot of odd kinks.
“Mr. Payne, if Clarissa has accidentally offended you, please do me a favor and forgive her for once. She’s but a foolish and innocent woman. I don’t think—”
Yarick couldn’t stand it anymore. He started yelling at the top of his lungs, “This has nothing to do with you! Get out of my way, Ryler! I need to talk to Clarissa! Also, stop misperceiving my intent with that filthy thought of yours. I don’t have the guts to try anything silly, even if I have the desire to. I believe that’s enough! It’s time for you to leave!”
The defensive Ryler refused to believe Yarick. In the end, Yarick turned to Clarissa and said, “I think it’s not necessary for me to justify the reason I’m here, right? I believe you know what I’m up to. Can we please talk about it?”
Ryler was baffled because the arrogant Yarick made it sound like a humble request to get Clarissa to spare him some time.
Nonetheless, Clarissa dead-panned her reply with a poker face and rebuked, “Mr. Payne, I don’t think there’s anything for us to talk about. Please stop putting me in a tight spot, okay? Haven’t you and your kind always been pretty half-hearted? Don’t you think you’re embarrassing yourself by getting in my way?”
Excuse me? Are you sure you’re not the cold-hearted one?
“Ryler, I believe it’s time for us to leave.”
Seconds after she announced their departure, she dragged Ryler out of the private lounge.
Yarick went after the duo immediately, but he brought himself to a halt after he stepped out of the lounge.
He saw Matthew in the dark, with gloomy expressions looming over his handsome face. Therefore, Yarick knew it was time for Matthew to be in charge.
“Matt, you know what? Just abduct her and bring her back to your place. Teach her a lesson in bed! I’m sure she’ll learn to behave herself!” Yarick turned around and suggested.
Matthew remained silent, but Yarick got increasingly worked up and anxious on his friend’s behalf.
“As long as you sort out the misunderstanding with her and tell her the reason behind your decisions, she’ll definitely return to you!”
Casting a wrathful gaze at the departing figures, Matthew didn’t even flinch and remained a straight face.
Yarick ran out of methods to deal with Matthew and headed over to Jeremy’s place to talk about the incident right after Matthew’s departure.
“Jeremy, there’s nothing else I can do about it! You know what? I asked Matt to rush over to my store because Clarissa was there! However, when he reached my store, he refused to strike up a conversation with her…”
Yarick started complaining about the things he had been keeping to himself all this while. The session lasted for about thirty minutes before he decided to stop.
“No! Jeremy! We can’t allow Matt to continue sulking at his predicament! If this goes on, Clarissa will run away with another man! You need to think of something to bring them back together!”
Jeremy gave it a thought for a short while. A few seconds later, he announced, “I have just the perfect plan for that.”
On the other hand, after Ryler brought Clarissa back to her place, she didn’t get out of the car.
She was certain he would inquire about the things that had happened. Therefore, she decided to tell him the truth.
“It’s about my ex-boyfriend. However, I have moved on from the past, so you don’t have to worry about me.”
Ryler frowned and related her words to Yarick’s statements. He thought of something and asked, “Did the man bully you?”
“No? Do I look like such a weak woman? I won’t allow others to get the better of me, okay?” Clarrisa rebutted with a confident smile, but Ryler refused to believe her.
“You’re not completely wrong, but it’s merely a piece of cake for the man, who’s able to intimidate Yarick, to pick on you, isn’t it? Clare, why don’t you tell me the truth? Judging by Yarick’s reply, it sounds like the man is trying to get you to return to him. If that’s the case, are you sure you’re able to hold your ground? Why have you guys broken up in the first place?”
Clarissa had no intention to talk about the past. Therefore, she brushed it off and said, “What happened in the past doesn’t really matter anymore. I have moved on and will never allow others to get the better of me. Why don’t you go home? Your phone has been ringing for some time. I’m totally fine, okay?”
Ryler couldn’t suppress the urge to give her one last heads-up after she alighted from the car. “Clare, no matter what, I’ll always be here for you, okay? Since you consider me a brother from a different mother, tell me if you need me. I’ll teach those who try to pick on you a lesson.”
She had just alighted from the car, but she turned around and cradled him in her arms to express her gratitude.
“Alright, Mr. Cooper!”
She finally returned to her home after the man departed and disappeared into the bustling streets.
After she returned home, Clarissa was overwhelmed by the built-up fatigue. She felt disheartened whenever she was alone.
When she approached the window, she took cover behind the curtain, staring at the car downstairs.
Ever since she made her way back to D City, she knew the car had been following her everywhere she went. Whenever she returned to her place, the car would pull over downstairs for some time.
Clarissa decided to play dumb and behaved as though she wasn’t aware he was there because his actions were meaningless. She had made up her mind to move on from the past.
…
In the evening, Clarissa put on a simple yet elegant dress and dolled herself up, highlighting her ethereal-looking facial features and slender figure.
It would be perfect if she could stop shivering.
“It’s so freaking cold…”
It was early winter. After she alighted from the cab, she couldn’t stop shivering due to the cold.
In the first place, it wouldn’t make any sense for her to put on such an exposing evening gown in wintertime.
She trotted across the streets and scurried into the hotel. Once she walked into the lobby well-equipped with heaters, she felt as though she had been brought back to life.
Clarissa boarded the elevator and brought herself up to the second floor, but when she tried to enter the banquet, a handsome man got in her way and stopped her.
“Miss, I beg your pardon, but I’m afraid you have to show me your invitation card.”
Clarissa’s jaw dropped open when she heard the man’s words. She stuttered, “E-Er… I don’t have once because a friend of mine has invited me…”
“Where’s your friend? Why don’t you get your friend over to bring you into the hall?”
“Oh! Sure! Please give me a moment! I’ll have to make a call!”
Holding on to her phone while making the call, Clarissa exchanged glances with the man and responded with an awkward smile because no one picked up the call.
The man returned the favor and smiled courteously.
“I’m so sorry, but my friend isn’t picking up her phone.”
“It’s fine, Miss. Why don’t you wait for her over here?”
Clarissa had no choice but to stand at the entrance. Staring at her phone, she sent numerous text messages and made countless calls to reach her friend.
Countless invited guests strode into the banquet hall. She had no choice but to lower her head in embarrassment.
All of a sudden, she detected a pair of black leather shoes. A tall man showed up in front of her. When she raised her head, she caught a glimpse of the man’s handsome face and an abysmal pair of eyes.
Clarissa was startled because he wouldn’t stop staring at her. Immediately, she looked elsewhere to avoid his gaze and stepped aside to get out of his way.
Fortunately, the call got through after she picked up her phone and made another call.
“Ms. Zaha? I have reached the entrance of the banquet hall, but I’m not allowed to enter the hall because I don’t have an invitation card with me.”
A woman’s voice could be heard from the other end of the call. “Oh! I’m so sorry, Clarissa! Please hold on for a short while. I’ll send someone to show you the way in at once!”
“It’s fine. I’ll be waiting at the entrance.”
After Clarissa hung up the call, she walked past the man in front of her and returned to the man at the entrance. “Sir, someone will be here for me soon.”
The man at the entrance was intimidated by the tall man behind Clarissa because of his stern gaze. He stuttered in return, “O-Okay…”
“Hi! Are you Ms. Quigley?”
“Yes.”
“Please follow me, Ms. Qui — M-Mr. Tyson?” The person who had shown up to lead Clarissa into the hall noticed Matthew was right behind her.
He turned around and rushed over to welcome Matthew with a flattering look. “Hello, Mr. Tyson! It’s an honor to have you here with us today! Why didn’t Yaala mention anything about your presence? Allow me to express my utmost apologies for not welcoming you as the host of the banquet. Please come with me, Mr. Tyson! I’ll get Yaala over to keep you entertained.”
Clarissa was speechless because the man, who had shown up to lead her into the hall, started showing Matthew the way in instead.
Oddly, Matthew ignored Clarissa and made his way into the banquet hall.
Clarissa snorted to express her frustration. She asked the man that was at the entrance, “Am I allowed to enter the hall yet?”
He replied with a courteous smile, “Please, Miss.”
Clarissa’s eyes widened in disbelief as soon as she stepped into the lavishly decorated and well-illuminated banquet hall.
As one of showbiz’s bigshots, a lot of renowned figures from the industry had been invited to celebrate Yaala’s birthday. Upon a simple glance, top-notch celebrities, who always made it to the headlines, were present. Clarissa could barely name every one of them, but she was overwhelmed by those good-looking guests’ presence. She felt a strong urge to approach the celebrities for a photo because most of her favorite celebrities were there.
Fascinated by the surrounding things, Clarissa behaved like a timid little girl who had barged into her father’s office. She was easily intimidated by the guests who tried to greet her. Therefore, she responded with a simple nod and smile.
However, since she was there alone, she had to keep herself entertained with a glass of wine. She tried to approach Yaala, but when she found her, she noticed Yaala was right by the side of the man who irked her the most.
Most of the bigshots from the upper echelon were around the host of the banquet. It wouldn’t be much of a challenge to figure out they were in the middle of a flattering session.
A few minutes later, Jeremy showed up and approached the party with a few ladies by his side.
Meanwhile, Clarissa didn’t even have the chance to deliver her wish and give Yaala the gift she had prepared beforehand.
In hope of delivering the wish and gift she had prepared, Clarissa wouldn’t stop looking in Yaala’s direction. However, the latter was engaged in a conversation with different guests.
All of a sudden, Yaala beckoned Clarissa over when she recalled a certain something. “Clarissa, come over here…”
Clarissa strode her way over without further ado. She decided to pretend she wasn’t acquainted with the people by Yaala’s side.
“Ms. Zaha, happy birthday! Here’s a gift for you! I hope you’ll like it!”
“Thanks, Clarissa! The things you have in store for me never disappoint me.”
Yaala hugged Clarissa and said, “Come here! I’ll introduce you to—”
Looking at Clarissa in the eyes, Jeremy got ahead of Yaala and stated, “You don’t have to introduce us to one another, Yaala. Clarissa is a close acquaintance of ours.”
Clarissa replied indifferently, “Hello, Mr. Smallwood.”
“Well, I guess I’m Mr. Smallwood, huh? If that’s the case, so be it. What about this man over here?” Jeremy asked, looking at Matthew.
