Clarissa started preparing the food for Matthew’s birthday party a few days in advance.
She did not know how many people would come, or whether Matthew would invite his best buddies. Either way, eight dishes should do it. She had even gotten some wine ready. It was more than enough even if it was just the two of them.
Of course, if it really was just the two of them, she could prepare the candles early on. She had never done a candlelight dinner before, but she was sure it would go really well with her cooking.
Matthew’s birthday was on Friday. He still had to go to work that day.
Usually, Clarissa would sleep in until nine or ten in the morning, but on that day, she had quietly set an alarm. While Matthew was off on his morning run, she got out of bed and went to make pasta.
Every year for Clarissa’s birthday, her grandmother would make her tagliatelle in the morning.
It had become a habit, and Clarissa figured that this was how it should be for birthdays.
When Matthew came back from his run, Clarissa, donned in an apron, was already waiting for him at the kitchen door, a broad grin plastered on her face.
“Happy birthday, dear Uncle Matthew.”
Matthew’s lips curved upwards into a smirk. He moved closer to her, pinched her on the chin, and gently pecked her on the lips.
“Yes. Very happy, indeed.”
With a pretty lady like you by my side every day, how can I not be happy?
Clarissa giggled, hands on Matthew’s chest, coyly rejecting his invitation to a deep kiss. “No, we’re not having that,” she said. “Go take a shower, change your clothes, and then come down for pasta.”
“Pasta?”
Clarissa smiled at him. “Yes, I’m making tagliatelle. Should be almost done.”
She slipped into the kitchen, ready to boil the tagliatelle strips which she had made from pasta dough that morning. Clarissa seldom made her own pasta, so she had no idea how it would turn out.
Matthew chuckled softly and headed upstairs to shower.
Sometime later, when he got downstairs, Clarissa came out with a bowl of pasta in her hands. She seemed quite excited. She walked over to him, held his hand, led him to his seat, and then handed him a fork.
“Go on. Take a big bite.”
Using the fork, he spun the tagliatelle until it resembled a giant ball before popping it into his mouth. Under his lover’s gaze, he chewed with all his might and eventually swallowed everything.
Fortunately, the amount of pasta he had gathered in one mouthful was not too big. Otherwise, he would have made a pig of himself.
“Haha… That’s wonderful, Uncle Matthew. Happy birthday! This is my gift to you.”
Clarissa wished him a happy birthday again. At the same time, from behind her, she revealed the tie which she got for him as a present.
Matthew arched his brows while Clarissa beamed at him. “Shall I put it on for you?” she offered.
“Sure.”
She undid the tie Matthew was wearing and replaced it with the present. Her technique was clumsy, and the end product did not look very nice, but Clarissa was an expert at self-consolation.
She had practiced many times and this was her official trial. It was quite impressive already.
Clarissa lifted her head and stood in front of Matthew, admiring her handiwork with great satisfaction as it complemented Matthew perfectly.
She could not help but smile sweetly as she looked at her lover. Pride and smugness were written all over his face. He looked so cute that she wanted so much to launch herself into his arms and indulge in intimacy.
And that was exactly what Matthew did. He wrapped his arms around the woman’s waist, allowing their bodies to get closer. Clarissa smiled skittishly as she placed her hands on his chest, her body pressing onto his.
“What’s this?”
Matthew smirked. “Are you that happy?”
Clarissa was indeed happy. She felt that the tie around his neck meant that he was currently tied down by her.
She nodded, her hand stroking Matthew’s tie.
“Of course. That’s because…”
Because of what, she did not say immediately.
There was a long, pregnant pause before she giggled. Then, standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered suggestively in his ear.
“That’s because… you’re tied down by me now.”
After that, Clarissa gazed into Matthew’s dark eyes—one twinkling with glee, the other filled with tenderness.
Matthew finally acted on it. Lowering his head, he kissed the woman heavily on the lips. As they were entangled in each other, Matthew wondered what it would be like to devour her whole.
Much later, Clarissa registered some sounds coming from the kitchen. It was only then that she realized Mrs. Lawson was making breakfast there.
Blushing with embarrassment, Clarissa gently shoved Matthew away, whispering shyly, “Mrs. Lawson’s still here. You should sit down for breakfast. I’ll have dinner ready In the evening, so you better leave some room for that and not eat too much at your family home, alright?”
It was a given that Matthew had to celebrate his birthday with his family.
She was aware of that. Matthew had told her. What he failed to mention was that his mother would be in charge of his birthday party.
In other words, he would have to stay at the Tyson residence for some time before coming back to her.
And that was the reason why Clarissa said what she said.
Matthew gave her a peck on the lips again before leaving the house.
After seeing him off, Clarissa got herself busy.
First, she would head out with Mrs. Lawson to personally purchase fresh ingredients she needed, including baking supplies. This was her first time baking a cake, so she would have to experiment first in case it might not go well.
She had lots to do that day.
In the afternoon, Clarissa’s second cake looked good enough. She tried her newly beaten cream and, confident that the third time would be the charm, she started doing it all over again.
Right about the same time, Ellie drove back to the Tyson residence, where she was welcomed by a lively setup. She gaped in confusion at its magnificence.
“Grandma, what’s all this? It’s Uncle Matt’s birthday, not some anniversary! You’re literally putting on a show by making it so grand!”
The housemaids looked like they had their work cut out for them.
Margaret merely laughed it off. “Ellie, this is nothing. It’s just a birthday party. I’ve invited some friends over.”
Ellie’s face turned stone-cold upon hearing that.
She had a pretty good idea what sort of ‘friends’ her grandmother had invited to Uncle Matt’s birthday.
Ellie was not pleased with that, but she suppressed her fury. She looked over to her mother who was helping out elsewhere. She hated all of this.
Throwing courtesy out the window, she talked back at the old woman, “Grandma, you shouldn’t have done this. If Uncle Matt’s willing to go ahead with whatever you have planned, pigs will fly! He’s not going to like this, and when he finds out, that little bit of patience and affection he has left will be completely wiped out, no thanks to you and Mom. I bet you’ll be so happy.”
“My child, what are you saying? How could you talk to your grandmother like that?”
Yuliana, who overheard her daughter, snapped.
Young lady, you’ve been acting so strange lately.
Margaret was cross with her as well. “Ellie, I’m your elder. I’m just planning a birthday party for your Uncle Matt, what’s so wrong with that? Who do you think I’m doing this for? I’m doing it for him, and for this family!”
Margaret felt hurt to have been wronged by her kin. She was doing the best she could so that her son could get married one day. But her son would not listen, and now her granddaughter was being so rude to her!
Ellie furrowed her brows upon receiving her mother’s sharp, warning glare. She turned away from them.
Indeed, they were doing all this for Uncle Matt’s own good, but that was solely based on their own opinions.
They had never thought about it from Uncle Matt’s perspective. They had never considered what he wanted. Most importantly, the family’s obsession with privileges and ‘good matches’ was the reason why the romance between Uncle Matt and Clare could not come to light.
Ellie hated that the most.
“It’s okay, Mom. You don’t have to get angry over Ellie’s childish temper. She’s always been close to her uncle. She probably can’t accept that after Matthew takes a wife, she won’t be the focus of his affection anymore. She’s just jealous.”
Yuliana explained in order to appease Margaret. Ellie wanted to deny all that, but once again she was confronted by her mother’s warning gaze. So, she swallowed her indignation instead.
After some thought, she simply left the scene and went into her room.
She called Clarissa. During the video call, Clarissa seemed to be busy, albeit brimming with excitement. Sweat lined her forehead but her cheeks were a healthy pink.
“What are you doing?”
Clarissa grinned. “What am I going? Preparing dinner, of course. It’s your uncle’s birthday, isn’t it?”
“Dinner? But Uncle Matt’s coming home for dinner tonight!”
“I know. He told me. He’s going back for a while but will save some room for dinner with me. I’m baking him a cake! I’m getting quite proud of myself, actually. If I want something done, I can definitely do it well. If you want, I can bake you a cake for your birthday. No need to thank me!”
Ellie’s chest tightened as she began to panic.
She had just learned that Clare was busy making preparations to celebrate with Uncle Matt. But, on the other hand, her side of the family had arranged for her uncle to meet a whole host of women once he arrived home.
This is outrageous!
Ellie did not look so good, and Clarissa spotted that when she happened to look at her screen. “Ellie, what’s going on? You don’t seem too happy.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was just wondering about when the time would be for you and Uncle Matt to disclose your relationship.”
Clarissa chuckled softly. “What’s the rush? I’m not going anywhere.”
She liked it this way. Sure, they did not make their relationship public, but they were free to do whatever they want this way. They did not have to face pressure from the public or the Tysons.
Anyway, they were currently in their little love bubble, and all she wanted was to have a private relationship with Matthew and enjoy the bliss for as long as possible.
As for the future, she would not want to dwell too much on it.
Elli could not help but ask, “Aren’t you worried… that something might go wrong?”
“Like what?”
“Like, what if other women come into the picture? Aren’t you afraid of that?”
“Of course I am. I even worry there might be other men. Haha…”
Clarissa chuckled. She only meant it as a joke.
Ellie nodded at her statement. “I think so too. You have so many outstanding qualities, Clare. I’m sure there are hordes of men lining up for you. Humph, if my uncle sets his sights on other women, I’ll definitely introduce more young and handsome men to you. We’ll see who wins the race!”
Clarissa laughed at the idea. Ellie also felt a little better.
They talked for a little while more before Ellie hung up and headed downstairs.
In just a short moment, a crowd of visitors had already arrived at the manor.
Among them were Margaret’s friends, but those old women had each brought along with them a young lady. Ellie’s eyes twitched at the sight of all those women. It’s almost like they’re arranging concubines for the emperor to choose from.
