Clarissa stopped Yael from continuing.
The corners of Yael’s mouth twitched. “There’s actually no need for me to tell you because you can search the internet for a rough idea about all this, or maybe you can browse Tyson Corporation’s website. You’ll find many of their accomplishments there.”
Clarissa didn’t know what expression she was wearing, but it was definitely not a pleasant one.
She finally understood why she had always felt that something was off about this whole matter.
Come to think of it, wouldn’t Tyson Corporation be able to suppress the media from reporting about such a huge crisis, if there was even one, to begin with?
Of course, news and public opinion isn’t all that important.
But ever since I came to D City worried sick, Ellie had always been very vague, saying that the family was in a mess and that the company was even worse off. Nonetheless, that’s only what she said. I’ve never seen her actually doing anything about it. Instead, she’s been busy at the studio every day.
Meanwhile, Jeremy, Yarick, and Justin are all Matthew’s close buddies. When I contacted them, they also said that the company was in a perilous state and that they didn’t know where Matthew was or how he was faring. If it was really as serious as they made it sound, wouldn’t they have been more worried about him? Wouldn’t they have given him a helping hand or something? And if I remember correctly, Jeremy has some business dealings with Matthew. If Tyson Corporation was really facing a crisis, shouldn’t Jeremy be affected too?
At that time, Clarissa had been too busy worrying about wounding Matthew’s dignity and whatnot. Hence, she did not dare to ask too much and chose to care for him in other ways.
Right then, she realized that everyone had only verbally expressed their concern, but did not take any real action.
True friends would never stand by and do nothing in times of need.
These new discoveries made Clarissa realize that she knew too little about Tyson Corporation.
Then and there, she took out her phone and searched for various information about Tyson Corporation, becoming fully immersed. During the whole time, Yael quietly sipped on her coffee and occasionally processed her emails.
After a long time, Clarissa heaved a sigh, prompting Yael to look up at her.
“Mm… I’m guessing this was Mr. Tyson’s ploy to gain pity points?”
Clarissa grimaced in embarrassment. Knowing that Matthew did it on purpose, it was inevitable that she would lose her cool.
Yael did not pass any more remarks. After she finished discussing work with Clarissa, they parted ways.
When Matthew returned to Zen Highlands that night, Clarissa wasn’t there to welcome him like usual.
The lack of her gentle care startled him slightly, but when he saw her busying herself in the kitchen, his heart instantly eased. Warmth oozed in his chest and he shrugged off his coat before slowly walking into the kitchen to hug her from behind.
Clarissa paused for a split second but otherwise did not behave unusually.
She bowed her head to continued chopping vegetables to cook. Although her movements were slightly restricted by his arms around her, it wasn’t that big of an issue.
Only, she hadn’t uttered a word since he came back.
Matthew dipped his chin to rub it against her cheek affectionately, peppering her with kisses before asking in a low drawl, “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you unhappy?”
Clarissa wanted to be happy, but she couldn’t quell the simmering anger in her.
She smiled half-heartedly. “I’m busy cooking. Stay out of my way first, or do you not want dinner? Quickly go get changed…”
Matthew chuckled unsuspectingly and patted her head before leaving the kitchen.
By the time he came down in a beige V-neck thin sweater paired with grey trousers, Clarissa had finished cooking and placed the food on the table with Julia’s help.
At the dining table, Clarissa even offered Matthew a gentle smile.
“You’ve been working so hard these past few days. Is everything going well? Don’t tire yourself out. Worse comes to worst, just ditch the company and follow me back to W City. I’ll support you, how’s that sound?”
Matthew grinned. “Sure.”
Clarissa looked down at her food to suppress the anger in her heart.
She was able to rein in her temper throughout the meal, leaving Matthew completely oblivious to the brewing storm in her.
Both of them sat on the sofa after dinner. Matthew touched Clarissa from time to time, kissing her and doing all sorts of intimate gestures. Then, Clarissa started probing him while cocooned in his arms.
“Has the problem at the company been resolved?”
Matthew paused and rested his chin on her shoulder, rubbing against her and answering in a deep voice, “I’m still working on it.”
“Will you go bankrupt? I never expected that there would be a problem you can’t tackle, seeing as you’re so competent.”
“Haha… Well, I’m still human. Just like you said, life isn’t always smooth-sailing and there will always be setbacks.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said. So, you really can’t solve it? Will you really go bankrupt?”
“Mm… It’s possible.”
Matthew even sounded troubled when he said this.
Clarissa’s mouth curled upward a little and the flames in her eyes burned brighter.
He’s still pretending?
Clarissa abruptly stood up from his arms and pinned him with a hostile stare. “Since you’re going bankrupt soon, I don’t want to be with you anymore. Did you really expect me to support you once you’ve become a pauper? Don’t you feel ashamed? Even I feel ashamed for you. So, forget about it because the one I want is the rich and all-powerful Matthew Tyson.”
With that, she swiftly turned on her heels and went upstairs to pack her stuff.
Everything happened so fast that Matthew was left dumbstruck.
Half a minute later, his expression changed subtly.
Soon, Clarissa came down with her backpack, looking like she was really going to leave.
Matthew drummed his fingers on the armrest. It wasn’t until she passed by the living room that he quickly got up and held her back.
Clarissa had a unpleasant look on her face, scanning him from head to toe with apparent disdain in her eyes.
“Let go of me, Matthew. You’re on the brink of going broke. Why are you still grabbing onto me? Let me go…”
Matthew broke into a doting smile and pulled her backpack off her before placing it down. Then, he forcefully enveloped her in his arms, clasping her waist with one hand while holding her arms in place with the other.
“How can you bear to leave me when I’m broke? Are you really so cold-hearted, Clare?”
“Ha! You? Broke? You’re a b*stard, Matthew Tyson. You’re still lying now?”
Matthew went silent for a moment.
I knew it. This woman wouldn’t say all of this for no reason.
Ah, it seems like my ruse has been unraveled.
Despite that, Matthew remained unbothered, lowering his head to find Clarissa’s lips, but she dodged it with a displeased grunt.
“Let go of me, you penniless pauper! Go live on the streets on your own. I’m not that stupid…”
“Of course, my dear Clare is anything but stupid. Look, you saw through my ruse, didn’t you?”
“What ruse are you talking about exactly?”
With her head raised, Clarissa clenched her teeth and glowered at him, waiting for him to admit to his mistake.
She looked like she was a second away from biting him to death if he still did not admit.
Matthew sighed in his heart. “The one where I would supposedly go broke and become a pauper?”
“Matthew Tyson!” Clarissa roared at him, finally releasing her bottled-up anger.
“Yes, that’s me. Don’t be mad, Clare…”
Matthew stroked her back comfortingly, not knowing what else to do.
Or maybe I should shut her up with a kiss?
As soon as the idea popped in his mind, Clarissa reached out to clamp a hand over his mouth, having seen through his thoughts.
“Don’t even think about it! Hah! Joke’s on me for being stupid…”
Clarissa laughed with self-mockery. “I admit that I was ignorant. I mean, Tyson Corporation going bankrupt? Haha… You and those friends of yours were probably laughing at me, right? Laughing at what an idiot I am. If I’d told someone that Tyson Corporation was on the verge of bankruptcy, what a massive joke it would be, huh? No, I’m the one who’s the joke here. The news that wasn’t immediately sealed off was part of the plan, wasn’t it? You wanted me to see it and you were oh-so certain that I’d come to find you? I really am an IDIOT! I can’t believe I fell for your lies. You’re a b*stard, an a**hole, a d*ckhead…”
In the end, Clarissa didn’t even know what she was saying anymore. The words that came out of her mouth were incomprehensible, but her gaze on Matthew remained fierce.
After she had used up almost every cuss word in the dictionary, Matthew picked her up and placed her on the sofa. Then, he handed her a glass of water.
“Thirsty? Drink some water first, then continue…”
Clarissa glared at him, but she couldn’t deny that she was rather thirsty.
After gulping down the whole glass of water, she parted her lips to speak, but words failed her as she looked into the smiling eyes of the handsome man crouched before her.
Exasperated, she reached out to violently tousle his hair, then pinched his cheeks, distorting his usually cold face into funny shapes. Only then did the frustration in her heart ease a little.
She even had to purse her lips to hold back a smile because his face indeed looked hilarious just now.
Crouched in the same position, Matthew placed his hands on her knees and inched closer toward her face.
Then, he puckered his lips and kissed the edge of her mouth first.
He chuckled lightly when her lips turned downward in displeasure again.
“You’re right, when the company ran into a problem, I didn’t get someone to seal off the news and even deliberately blew it out of proportion. This was to mislead my opponent, so the more exaggerated, the better. And the crisis at the company was also for someone else to see.”
As for who that person was, Matthew did not say, nor did he elaborate on his plan.
Clarissa came to understand that she wasn’t his main target.
I knew it. Matthew would never fool around when it comes to his company, not for me.
I was obviously being delusional.
Disappointment and embarrassment crept into her heart.
As if reading her thoughts, Matthew continued speaking, “Clare, you were my main goal in this plan.”
Clarissa’s mouth twitched, obviously skeptical. “You expect me to believe that? I only stumbled into your ploy by accident and you simply played along.”
Matthew laughed. I wasn’t playing along – I was killing two birds with one stone.
