Clarissa called Mimi when she arrived at Ayrith Villas. The latter said she was already waiting for her in the villa, and she asked Clarissa to meet her at the third villa on Abingdon Road.
Clarissa drove into the neighborhood. The road in front of the villa with doorplate No. 3 was jam-packed with luxury cars.
She saw Mimi coming up to her as soon as she got out of the car. Her anger spiked at the sight of the gown the latter was wearing.
“Clare, you’re here! Come on in.” Mimi tried to take her hand and ushered her in.
Clarissa halted her steps, shoving Mimi’s hands off her. “So, you have your own party dress. Mimi Lester, what are you up to?”
Mimi flashed her an awkward smile. “Clare, actually, I did a little name-dropping, saying that my cousin is a rich and famous writer. If I didn’t do so, nobody would give a damn about me since I’m nothing but a poor student. Don’t worry. I didn’t tell them anything except that you’re an author. Clare, since you’ve come, join us and relax. Besides, you might as well take this as an opportunity to see if there are investors who are willing to invest in adapting your written work.”
“I appreciate your kindness, but there is no need.”
Clarissa turned around to get into her car, yet Mimi refused to let her go. Before Gina could help free her from Mimi’s grip, someone had come up to them.
“Mimi, what’s going on here? Ms. Quigley, since you’re here, come and join us.”
Clarissa remembered the man being the one she saw at the club with Mimi the other day.
She felt uncomfortable at the way the man was looking at her.
“Clare, this is Leo, the deputy director of the Rouge.” Mimi introduced the man to Clarissa. Then, she turned to face him. “Leo, my sister is rather shy. I’m trying to get her to join us.”
Leo flashed Clarissa a smile. “Ms. Quigley, there is no need to feel shy. Come and join us! There are many celebrities inside the house. Oh, do you know the famous Jamison Scott? He’s here as well. I heard you’re an author. Have you ever thought of adapting your work?”
“I’m not interested.”
With that, Clarissa wrenched free from Mimi’s grip and got into the car with Gina. Seeing Leo’s eyes turned icy, feeling intimidated, Mimi stood in the way of Clarissa’s car to prevent them from leaving.
“Clare, I’ve dropped your name to impress the others. Please join the party for a while for my sake. If you don’t get out of the car, I won’t let you leave.” Mimi was simply acting unreasonable and annoying.
Outside the car, Leo was still staring at Clarissa with his nasty gaze.
Gina, who was sitting behind the wheels, wanted to leave the place. Although Mimi blocked the only way out, she cared little about her bluster.
Vroom! Vroom! As for Mimi, she was trembling in fear when Gina revved up the engine as if she was going to ram into her at any second.
Right then, the sound of police car sirens rang out.
Clarissa felt her heart dropped. Before she could even react, the policemen had blockaded the road and arrested Leo, who was prepared to flee the place. The policemen’s arrival caused chaos in the villa.
Meanwhile, one of the policemen approached their car and knocked on her car window.
…
It was not the first time Clarissa was being taken into custody though she never expected she would one day be mistaken as these people’s accomplices.
Sitting at a corner, she cast her eyes over the people around her. Some were giddy while some, having glazed eyes and dilated pupils, were lying lazily.
Although she had never seen how people who had taken drugs looked like, this was what she imagined whenever she heard of the news of celebrities taking drugs.
Now, she was being dragged into the crime of participating in a drug-fueled party.
After the blood test, Clarissa and Gina were subjected to the interrogation process. The policemen were stern, their eyes full of disdain and contempt when they looked at them.
Clarissa sighed internally.
Although they had told the truth during the interrogation, the policemen obviously didn’t believe in their words. It was an unspoken rule in the entertainment industry that many beautiful women, be it celebrities or models, would offer sex in exchange for benefits. Thus, Clarissa’s beauty made it all the more difficult for her to clear her name.
Fortunately, both she and Gina didn’t take any drugs though it was unsure for Mimi.
It was not long before Matthew arrived at the police station.
Since it was because of her stupidity that she was being dragged into trouble by Mimi, Clarissa couldn’t help feeling guilty when she saw Matthew.
She kept her head down, not daring to look at him.
As for Matthew, he was agitated since he received the phone call from the police station. Now that Clarissa was alright, his worries disappeared, replaced by amusement upon seeing the young lady’s guilty reaction.
Oh, Clare, now this should teach you a lesson. You should be more cautious next time!
He took her hand and pulled her into his arms. “Everything is alright now.”
Embarrassed, Clarissa pouted her lips, mumbling, “Am I a little too stupid?”
Hearing that, Matthew let out a chuckle. “Well, it’s not too late to learn your lesson now. Just be more cautious next time.”
Feeling downhearted, Clarissa pursed her lips while she remained silent.
Meanwhile, the lawyer successfully obtained bail for her after some procedure.
“Mr. Tyson, Ms. Quigley is free to go now.”
“Let’s go,” said Matthew, wrapping his arm around Clarissa’s waist.
They paid no heed to others as they made their way out. Yet, Matthew had become the center of attention the moment he entered the police station.
Mimi was staring at him with her eyes wide in disbelief. Initially, she thought Matthew was nothing but a kept man. Now, she suspected him of being someone with high social status since he could easily bail Clarissa out of custody.
Her suspicion was further ascertained when she saw the policemen and lawyer treated him with much respect, reverently calling him Mr. Tyson.
She cast her jealous gaze at Clarissa, the woman had fooled her and her family.
Clarissa has found herself a sugar daddy! She doesn’t want us to know that the man is rich, and that’s why she kept it from us and misled us into thinking that the man is a kept man.
Seeing Clarissa walking out of the police station, Mimi called out, “Clare, you’re leaving just like that? I’m your cousin! Besides, I didn’t do drugs and I’m innocent. You can’t leave me here just like that.” Her voice was loud enough that it reached everyone’s ears.
Clarissa halted her steps, her face full of disgust upon hearing Mimi’s voice.
“Clare, since you’ve cleared your name, you should bail me out as well. Don’t be so selfish! I’m innocent, and these people are the ones who tricked me to the party.” Then, Mimi shifted her gaze to Matthew, “Mr. Tyson, please save me!”
Clarissa frowned when Mimi accused her of being cold if she refused to bail her out.
Before she could say anything, Matthew instructed the lawyer, “Bail her out.”
The lawyer nodded and complied with the order while Matthew led Clarissa out of the police station.
In the car, Clarissa was still unhappy.
Matthew patted her back consolingly and pecked her forehead. “Clare, don’t be angry. We’ll only help her for this once.”
Clarissa snuggled up to him, burying her face in his chest. After some time, she let out a deep sigh.
“I’d rather not have a cousin like her, but I can’t really see her go to jail. After all, she’s Aunt Gloria’s daughter. I still remember how nice Aunt Gloria treated me when I was young. At that time, my father was still around, and she was not married yet. She would buy me a lot of snacks and toys. Matthew, she was very nice to me before she got married. I know Mimi is spoilt, but I can’t see her getting into trouble while doing nothing.”
Eventually, Clarissa went soft.
Matthew continued patting her back comfortingly while saying, “I understand how you feel. I’ll have someone to watch over her and make sure she doesn’t get into trouble again.”
“There is no need. I can’t possibly look after her forever. After all, she’s an adult now. She’s innocent this time, but what if she really commits a crime in the future? We can’t help her every time.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you. But, why did she ask you to the party? Just to impress the others?” Matthew raised his doubts.
Clarissa’s mind was a mess just now, and she didn’t really think about it.
Yet, being as clever as always, Matthew immediately understood Mimi’s ill intention.
He had more than enough reason to tear Mimi down for what she had done, yet he eventually let her off, knowing that Clarissa couldn’t bring herself to see her aunt’s daughter go to jail.
Seeing the confusion on Clarissa’s face, he helped cleared her doubts. “Those inside the villa were all engaged in prostitution and taking drugs. Can’t you see why she asked you to the party?”
Hearing that, a disgusted look appeared on Clarissa’s face.
Her anger spiked, yet she clenched her teeth and suppressed her anger. She could only blame herself for trusting Mimi.
Matthew quickly comforted her, “Alright, don’t be angry. Let’s not talk about her anymore.”
“Hmph! I shouldn’t go easy on her. Ask the lawyer to stop the bail procedure. She should be locked up in jail, and that will teach her a lesson.”
Matthew readily agreed, “I’ll give him an order now.”
However, as he made the call, the lawyer told him that the policeman had granted the bail.
Mimi was even yelling and cursing over the phone, “Clarissa Quigley, you’re a liar! You lied to my family! Why didn’t you tell us that that man is rich? Are you afraid I will snatch him from you? Clarissa, how dare you! You-”
Clarissa ended the call. She was so angry that she almost smashed the phone.
At this moment, she felt herself being an idiot for being so forgiving.
She had helped Mimi many times. Each time, instead of feeling grateful for her help, Mimi would only cast blame on her though she was the one causing trouble.
I shouldn’t have helped her. I should let the policemen lock her up and see her rot in jail!
“Arghh!” Clarissa screamed in an attempt to vent her anger.
Matthew let her scream her head off.
Right then, the car pulled up in front of their house.
The young lady was still pissed, sitting in the car with her arms crossed. Having no choice, Matthew carried her in bridal style all the way into the house.
He placed her on the couch and then stroked her puffed-up cheeks. “I see you’re very mad at her. We should teach her a lesson! Why don’t we cancel the bail and lock her up again? Don’t be angry because of people like her.”
