Gloria’s surgery went well.
Clarissa accompanied Catherine and they waited for the surgery to be over together. Only after that were they really relieved.
Gloria was still asleep in the ward after the surgery. Catherine seemed to have unwound a lot and wasn’t as anguished as she had been since her eyebrows were no longer knitted together like they used to be in the past few days.
Clarissa felt bad for her grandma but she knew very well that nothing she said would help ease her anxiety.
Now that Gloria’s surgery was a success, what was left to be done was for her to rest and recuperate and everything would become better.
“Grandma, you’ve been keeping her company long enough today. The operation went well. Let’s go back to rest first.”
As Clarissa persuaded her, Catherine nodded in agreement.
However, when they were leaving and Mimi came out to see them off, she couldn’t hold it any longer and made a request.
“Clare, I know I should be embarrassed to say this but I have no other choice either. I’m preparing for examinations recently and it’s a critical period while my dad has to work to earn a living. We don’t have much money left and no one has the time to take care of Mom after her surgery. Clare, I’m asking for your help to find a caretaker to look after my mom for a while. Will you, please?”
Embarrassed?
Does she really feel embarrassed?
Clarissa replied placidly, “Hiring a caretaker costs a great deal. Are you sure about this?”
Mimi’s lips twitched. She was expecting Clarissa to help pay the caretaker’s salary which was the only reason she was asking her to help.
Nevertheless, Clarissa was no longer someone that they could afford to offend. She has already been upset when Mom was shooting her mouth off last time. Thus, Mimi didn’t dare to be too outspoken.
Awkward and embarrassed, she answered, “Forget it, Clare. I’ll spare some time to look after my mom and if she couldn’t manage herself, we can only leave it to the nurse.”
Clarissa had the heart to turn her down but Catherine couldn’t bear to see such a pitiful scene.
Catherine finally started, “Let me take care of your mom. It’s not that I can’t move. Hiring a caretaker is costly and I can come and help for a few days until your mom is able to manage herself.”
“Grandma, how can that be?”
Mimi’s expression was very sincere.
And when she turned to Clarissa, there was a pleading look on her face. Despite that, Clarissa knew all too well what was actually running in her mind.
She knew very well that I would help even though I was reluctant. And she’s taking advantage of that.
Perhaps Mimi might even be complacent about this.
Clarissa smiled and said, “Grandma, there’s no need for you to do that personally. Let’s hire a caretaker if that’s what they want. We’ll go by the old rule—— you have to write me an IOU.”
Catherine nodded. “Okay. Let them give you an IOU.”
Mimi was quick in writing it as she knew that even though an IOU was written, the repayment period was never certain.
Besides, Clarissa and Matthew are together now. They’re rolling in money and wealth is merely a figure to them. When the time comes and I’m required to return such a small amount to them, others will only ridicule Clarissa for bullying her poor relatives if the news spreads.
That was probably what was in Mimi’s mind, which was why she could write the IOU in the blink of an eye without any hesitation.
That very afternoon, the caretaker hired by Clarissa came.
Clarissa let the driver send Catherine to the hospital but she no longer followed around after that. Neither did she pay any attention to it anymore.
It was nothing unusual for Catherine to see her own daughter but Clarissa was in no mood to deal with Gloria after she underwent the surgery and recovered.
Besides, she was rather occupied as well.
Since Shermaine’s reputation was ruined, there had been no updates regarding the release of the drama——The World which had been adapted from her original piece. The producer asked her to help promote it on Twitter and put in a good word for Shermaine.
Nonetheless, she was willing to help with promoting the drama but not putting in a good word for that woman.
It was indeed regrettable that Shermaine had caused trouble to the drama. Also, it was undeniable that Shermaine’s acting was satisfactory. Hence, she posted a tweet to help promote it.
However, the outcome was not ideal.
Her loyal readers in the group chat also lamented the drama fiasco. To them, it was unfortunate that Shermaine had been cast in the drama and they could only wish that the movie filmed by Director Yates would not be affected when it was released. After all, Shermaine did not play a leading role in the movie. Therefore, the impact should be minor.
Sigh…
Clarissa heaved another sigh. She was holding a cup of tea, sitting in Ellie’s studio.
Ellie was dealing with the factory and when she was finally able to take a breather, she saw her Aunt Clare letting out a huge sigh.
Ellie’s eyebrows twitched a little. If Aunt Clare is displeased, I won’t be having a good time either.
In fact, Ellie was facing a strain on her cash flow recently and was planning to seek help from Matthew. And Uncle Matt has given me a task over the call this morning. As long as I’m able to cheer Clarissa up and let her forget about all the miserable issues she was facing these days, I won’t have to worry about the funds anymore.
Thinking about this, Ellie put aside all her work and walked over to Clarissa.
“Aunt Clare.”
Her tone was so ingratiating that it brought goosebumps to Clarissa’s arms and made her shiver.
Clarissa couldn’t help rubbing her arms and side-eyed Ellie.
“What’s your problem? Are you sick?”
Ellie snuggled up. “Aunt Clare, what are you sighing for? Let’s forget about the chaos and be happy. Isn’t it better that way?”
As she was saying that, she held Clarissa’s pretty face in her palms and drew herself closer. Smiling, she said, “Look at this beautiful little face glowing like white porcelain. Why are you sighing when you have such a fine man with you and a good life to live? Carpe diem. Enjoy your life and be happy. Cheer up, pretty! Give me a smile, come on…”
Clarissa was amused. However, as soon as she started laughing, Ellie yelled immediately, “Stop, hold up. Keep that smile. Keep it on your face.”
Clarissa was a little perplexed but it was exactly the moment Ellie was waiting for. Immediately, Ellie snapped a picture of Clarissa with her phone. Even though the smile was not as bright as when she started laughing, she had cracked her mouth into a sunny slit.
After Ellie finished taking the picture, Clarissa asked rather helplessly, “What are you doing?”
With a smile on her face, Ellie sent the photo to Matthew.
“Well, there’s nothing to hide. I had been running short of funds recently so I asked Uncle Matt for help but he gave me a task which is to cheer you up. Hehe, so how’s it? Your heart melted, didn’t it? Uncle Matt is so good to you, Aunt Clare. All this was just to make you happy. Tsk, it’s so romantic. Never would I have imagined a man like Uncle Matt would be doing such a thing.”
“You’re running short of funds? Isn’t your shop doing pretty well?”
Ellie was speechless. “Hey, is this what you’re supposed to focus on? You should be moved right now and not worry about my cash flow problem.”
Clarissa’s face was a little flushed when she was countered by Ellie.
“Hahaha… Are you being shy?”
Clarissa rolled her eyes irritably. “Please don’t talk to me in that tone. Are you flirting with me?”
“Alright. I was just joking. Even though I’ve earned some money, I’m also quite heavily invested in this. Initially, I was only looking for some jobs but now I plan to set up my own factory and provide a one-stop service. As a result, I’ve invested all my money in it, and to be frank, I’m a little strapped for cash.”
“Ellie, you sure are capable. Your business is growing and you’ll soon become a lady boss.”
“Oh please. I’m just tinkering around. Anyway, cheer up! If you’re pleased, I’ll be able to get some funds.”
Clarissa laughed while shaking her head and just as she was about to say something in reply to Ellie, her phone chimed. It was Matthew.
“Oh! Uncle Matt is calling. Quick, put in a good word for me and he’ll channel some funds to me.”
Clarissa shot Ellie a sideway glance. “What? Do you think you’re in a disaster zone? Channeling funds, huh?”
As she said that, she had already picked up the call. Ellie looked like she even wanted to come closer and listen to their conversations, but Clarissa got up right away and strode to a corner. Seeing as such, Ellie did not follow.
Matthew’s deep and husky voice came from the other end of the phone and Clarissa’s heart melted instantly, but it was also because of Ellie’s words moments before.
“Clare, what are you doing?”
Clarissa chuckled softly and replied, “Don’t you already know?”
Matthew laughed as well. “Ellie told you about it? So, are you happy now? Other things aside, I’ll only be happy if you’re happy. You know that, don’t you?”
Clarissa was indeed delighted. Being missed, treasured, and doted on in such a way by a thoughtful man, how could she not be happy?
“I am. I’m joyful every day. So, you’ll be giving her the funds she needs, right? She is brilliant. I really admire her. I’m confident that she’ll excel in what she’s doing. You’ll definitely not lose out if you invest in her.”
“Sure. I’ll let Donnie get it done. There’s one more thing.”
“Huh? What is that?”
Clarissa couldn’t get her head around it.
Matthew was silent and Clarissa was puzzled.
“Uncle Matthew, what else is there? Can you be kind and tell me, please?”
With such a flattering tone, even though Matthew couldn’t see her expression then, he could already picture the look on her little face, especially the clever glint in her pretty big eyes.”
Matthew curled his lips into a smile and spoke over the phone, “Come and I’ll tell you in person.”
“Can I not go?”
“No way!”
Clarissa pouted a little dispiritedly. Actually, no matter what Matthew said, his only purpose was to ask her over to see him.
Likewise, Clarissa was not really reluctant.
“Okay. Then, you’ll have to wait for me.”
With that, Clarissa ended the call and turned around. Before she even parted her lips, Ellie was like she had already expected what Clarissa was going to say.
“You’re leaving for Tyson Corporation now, aren’t you? Hurry up then and don’t forget about my fund…”
Clarissa blushed and nodded shyly, “Don’t worry. I won’t.”
She packed her things up and left Ellie’s studio.
Clarissa arrived at Tyson Corporation in a short while. It seemed to her like she hadn’t been here in a long time.
She had been sneaking to the highest floor secretly in the past. Therefore, habitually, she was about to avoid being seen by anyone but it was at that moment that she hesitated, thought it over, and decided differently. She paced into the building via the front entrance openly and took the elevator. Even as she met someone from the building, she was composed and totally unabashed.
The staff walked in and out of the elevator and Clarissa was actually nervous within but with the thought that she had to buck up and not embarrass Matthew, she appeared unperturbed and gracefully elegant. Despite that, even Clarissa herself had no idea how she feigned it superficially.
The elevator continued to go up and eventually, the last group of staff walked out of it. Before the door closed, Clarissa could hear someone speaking.
“Ms. Lady Boss is so pretty!”
Because of this compliment, the vanity of Ms. Lady Boss, Clarissa was gratified.
