As shameless as Hilary was, Clarissa’s sharp gaze still got her to feel guilty.
Hilary averted her gaze before yelling at Clarissa. “I never said that I forbid you from marrying anyone, but am I not allowed to at least share my opinion? I am your mother, and you’re getting married. How can you not tell me anything?”
Clarissa scoffed. Hilary might be shameless, but Clarissa felt embarrassed.
“Are you sure you want to have this conversation here?”
Sensing everybody’s gaze on her, Hilary realized that she didn’t want to fight in public.
Someone rushed over quickly and offered, “Ladies, we have a private lounge you can use.”
Hilary commanded immediately, “Lead the way.”
Ellie stayed by Clarissa’s side even when they went into the private lounge.
Hilary suddenly had a revelation and asked, “Ms. Tyson… as in Matthew Tyson’s niece?”
Ellie murmured an affirmative response, and that got Hilary to talk endlessly. “Good, if you’re a member of the Tysons then it’s good that you’re here,” said Hilary, “I can’t discuss the matter with anyone else, so I’ll talk to you about it. The Tysons are rich and of high social status, and my Clary can’t possibly reach that social status. Your family has been against this wedding from the start, and as a mother, I cannot let my daughter throw her life away. Your family claims that Matthew will marry Clary, but the truth is that you guys have always discriminated against my baby, haven’t you?”
“Hilary, that…”
Ellie wanted to explain the situation, but Clarissa cut her words short. “Ellie, don’t bother wasting your breath explaining anything to her,” interrupted Clarissa.
Hilary frowned and reprimanded, “Clarissa Quigley, what is the meaning of this? I am doing this for you. Why are you siding with the outsider?”
“Hah!”
Siding with the outsider? Wow, you really know how to twist facts and turn things around, huh?
After sneering, Clarissa mercilessly dissed back.
Hilary instantly looked worse because her daughter had never been so rude or dissed her like that. Unfortunately, Clarissa spoke up before Hilary could.
“Stop beating around the bush, Mom. First, you acted like you’re unhappy with Matthew, then you’re deliberately making things difficult for Ellie. After that, your faked how you’re doing this for my happiness and told me to think things through. It’s plain to see that you’re doing all this to drive a wedge between Matthew and me to break us up. Anyone, even an idiot, can see what your true motive is, so stop beating around the bush. Just a few days ago, you were hoping that I would marry into a rich family, and you were so excited when you learned about my relationship with Matthew. My, how quickly you changed your stance. I wonder if this is really out of concern for me? Are you really worried that I won’t be happy in the future? To be honest, I don’t buy a damn word you said,” insulted Clarissa.
“You…”
“In addition to not trusting a word you say, I will also be disobeying you. Who the hell do you think you are? My mom? Oh right, you are my mom by blood, but you abandoned me all those years ago when I needed you the most. You’re not worthy of being a mom from that moment on. I have been putting up with you over the past few days and acting civil due to that pitifully weak bond that stemmed from the blood we share. However, I am completely okay with disowning a mother like you if you keep trying to take advantage of me. You can try pushing my buttons if you don’t believe it. Know this, though. You’re only my mom if I allow it. If not, you are nothing but a selfish, pompous woman who is not worthy of being a mother. I don’t give a sh*t about someone like that at all!” added Clarissa.
“Y-you unfilial daughter!”
Clarissa truly infuriated Hilary at that time. This daughter… She has never said anything that harsh to me before.
How dare she expose me like that and be so disrespectful towards me in front of an outsider?
Hilary’s expression was practically distorted. Her eyes glowed with anger and hatred toward Clarissa.
Ellie saw that from the side. Regardless of how angry a mother is, I never thought I’d see her have any hatred toward her own daughter…
Clarissa wasn’t fazed by that at all. She had already anticipated what Hilary would feel, so she expected that gaze.
“Whether I am filial or not depends on you. I am curious, though. What could Shermaine have possibly offered you to make it so that you are willing to destroy your own flesh and blood’s happiness for her? So, as far as you are concerned, I don’t even amount to an idol? My gosh.”
Hilary turned pale and refuted, “W-what are you talking about? I have no idea.”
“Your sins have already been exposed. Does Shermaine think that she will be with Matthew if he and I break up? Well, then let me be honest with you. It doesn’t matter if I am in the picture or not. She will never be his wife. If you like her so much that you want to destroy your daughter’s engagement for her sake, why don’t you just take her in as your daughter? You can pretend that you’ve never given birth to me, and we are complete strangers. I’m sure this is what you want, right?”
Hilary couldn’t refute at that point. Clarissa had seen through all of her schemes, and it seemed like Hilary was afraid that Clarissa would discover something else.
Clarissa started leaving the private lounge with Ellie.
At that point, the relationship between mother and daughter had practically fallen apart.
Clarissa paused. She turned to Hilary and added, “There really is no need for the two of us to reunite and separate repeatedly. Let’s just put an end to our connection. You have a family of your own, and I never cared about getting a mother back, anyway. Hence, why bother wasting each other’s time?”
Is she disowning me?
Hilary suddenly panicked. She turned around immediately and walked up to Clarissa. By then, the panic on Hilary’s face had been replaced by fury.
“Hold it right there. What was that supposed to mean? Are you disowning me? Clarissa Quigley, how dare you? I am your mother. It doesn’t matter if you want to admit it or not because I am your mother, regardless.”
Clarissa scoffed, “What’s the point?”
“What do you mean? So you are disowning me? If you do, I will expose you for being the heartless daughter you are!”
Hilary had only just learned that her own daughter was a pretty famous writer.
She had always thought that her daughter was useless, so she was surprised to see how much Clarissa had accomplished.
Hilary’s threat got Clarissa to feel even more distant and colder.
No, it would be inaccurate to say that her heart felt cold or hollow. She no longer held out for hope and was pretty much used to it.
Some time ago, the Lesters said that she was heartless for abandoning her family. And now my own mother is saying the same thing. They may be my family, but they keep threatening me and try to ruin my reputation.
Some family these people are!
Clarissa laughed without a care in the world. What was even scarier was that her laughter seemed genuine. She showed no signs of distress after being threatened, and that frightened Hilary.
It took some time before Clarissa finally spoke up.
“Do whatever you want. I’ve always had a poor relationship with my own family anyway, so who cares if I’m being called heartless?”
After saying her piece, Clarissa left immediately. Hilary didn’t even get to stop her.
Hilary stared at Clarissa’s back as Clarissa walked away without even looking back. She’s really determined this time.
The anxiety in Hilary’s heart became worse. This girl… is she really going to disown me?
No, that can’t be, thought Hilary. Clarissa’s determination to cut Hilary off completely terrified Hilary.
The latter quickly chased after the former, but it was too late. Clarissa had already left in a car.
Hilary stood at the same spot. Her gaze instantly became lost.
Ellie snuck a peek at Clarissa a few times in the car.
In the end, Clarissa grinned and said, “You don’t need to keep an eye on me. I didn’t feel hurt at all. I’ve long known what kind of person she is.”
Ellie didn’t comment on the relationship between the mother and the daughter, but she was curious about something.
“How did Shermaine get involved? Isn’t she swamped and drowning in trouble? How is she still getting Hilary to make things difficult for you?”
“I know, right? She is like a poltergeist that could split herself up. She has the Smallwoods running around fixing her issues, is actively finding ways to trouble me, and still has the time to create negative gossips about me online. Tsk. She is going all out against me.”
“Calling her a poltergeist is too nice. I’d say she’s more like a cockroach.”
“You’re right. She is a cockroach, and she will always be one. The celebrity of the past has turned into a cockroach,” said Clarissa, who couldn’t help scoffing aloud, “And that is how she will remain for the rest of her life. She will be annoyed, but she still can’t do anything about me. Matthew and I are destined to be together, and there is nothing she can do about it.”
Ellie smiled and commented, “You’ve really changed.”
Clarissa raised her brows and asked, “How so? Did I become prettier?”
“Yes, you did turn prettier, and you’ve also become more confident. If nothing else, the relationship between you and Uncle Matt has changed a lot for the better.”
“Change? Not at all. We’ve always been so close~”
“You are so shameless,” said Ellie before she rolled her eyes and added, “I dare you to tell the truth. Have you really never doubted Uncle Matt before? And never assumed that the two of you would break up?”
Clarissa shrunk away a little and was quiet.
Ellie continued saying, “I don’t even know when it happened, but your relationship with Uncle Matt suddenly became so stable. Did you change? Or has Uncle Matt finally done enough to earn your trust? What makes it so that you are both certain of each other and that you will never break up?”
Clarissa couldn’t help giggling evilly after Ellie asked that question. The former’s grin exuded a hint of mystery.
Clarissa wrinkled her nose at Ellie and said, “Either way, we will never be apart.”
“Are you keeping a secret from me?”
“Not at all. He gave me a private island. I would have to be a fool to leave him.”
Ellie’s lips twitched before she said sarcastically, “Yeah, right. A private island is all it takes to get you so sure? Looks like money really can buy anything, and the dowry will be crazy.”
Clarissa smiled. She was the only one who knew how happy she was.
Ellie shook her head. Do all women act so silly when they’re in love?
She suddenly had an epiphany and thought, I don’t look that silly, do I?
The two friends didn’t go home immediately after. They went for a meal and a movie. When they left the cinema, they realized that it was raining.
Rain in the winter… The iciness could seep right into a person’s bone, and Clarissa did not enjoy a weather like that.
She couldn’t help trembling from the cold when she got out of the cinema. Turning to Ellie, Clarissa saw that she was sending a signal.
Surprised, Clarissa turned around and saw the tall and handsome man in a black windbreaker. His pleasant aura made him stand out in the crowd, and he was standing by the entrance to pick her up.
Happiness spread in Clarissa’s heart. She took off and ran into Matthew’s arms immediately. A satisfied sigh left her lips when he held her in his embrace.
It was warm to have someone to love in the winter.
