Matthew did know Clarissa’s birthday from her ID card, but not the unconventional name day.
It was Clarissa’s family tradition to celebrate their name days instead of the traditional calendar birthdays.
Matthew would not have known if Catherine had not alerted him.
“I’m sorry, Catherine. I didn’t know your family celebrates name days instead of calendar birthdays.”
Nevertheless, he did have some time to prepare for it.
Catherine chuckled lightly as she said, “That’s alright, Matt. You couldn’t have known. It’s really only a few days away from her calendar birthday and you can treat it just like her birthday. So let’s just prepare more food for the occasion.”
Tilting her head in Matthew’s direction, Clarissa looked at the man wittingly with her brow lifted.
The delighted glint in the woman’s eyes clearly suggested that she did not just expect more party food for her birthday.
Rather, they seemed to indicate that some sort of presents should be in order.
That cheeky look cracked Matthew up as he returned Clarissa’s gaze with a manly chortle.
The way the couple exchanged affectionate looks at each other did not escape Catherine’s eyes as she looked at them with a smile. The elder woman had an early dinner and retreated into her bedroom and left the pair alone.
The content of their conversation afterward, however, was anything but corny and cheesy.
Clarissa’s mind was occupied by something else.
She had been informed by Gina of Shermaine’s encounter with the Lesters in the morning. I must say I admire her tenacity in this matter. But what trick is she going to pull by involving the Lesters? I hope she’s not thinking to use them as bargaining chips to make me leave Matthew. If yes, her plan will be destined to fail as I don’t care for what they do at all. That’s not a wise move on her part.
Clarissa then recounted the incident to Matthew. “What puzzles me is that, so what if she succeeds in breaking us up? With her rock-bottom reputation, there’s no way your mom will take her in as daughter-in-law. In such a way, we’re actually not that different from each other. So, my question is, why is she still doing all these things? Is it just because it’s now become something personal for her and she just wants to see me suffer?”
Stroking her hair, Matthew refuted matter-of-factly, “There’s a big difference between the two of you.”
A smile flashed across Clarissa’s face as she turned around and rested her body on top of Matthew. Her chin rested on the back of her hands, which rested on the man’s chest as she questioned, “Why don’t you tell me how different are we from each other? Aren’t we both on your mother’s reject list?”
Despite what Clarissa nonchalantly said, Matthew saw in the woman’s eyes a gleam of expectation from him to clarify what distinguished her from Shermaine.
An affectionate smile appeared on the man’s face as his fingertips brushed playfully at Clarissa’s long eyelashes, causing the latter to blink her eyes involuntarily.
Clarissa continued to pester, “So, what is it? How are we different?”
Matthew finally replied lazily, “Fine. The biggest difference between you two is that I love you, not her.”
Clarissa was rendered momentarily speechless by the man’s bold profession of love for her. In the next moment, she let out a satisfactory laugh and patted his chest to indicate a job well done. “Not bad, not bad. Your argument is very sound,” Clarissa spoke with an unmistakable triumph look in her eyes.
Matthew held onto Clarissa’s body and lifted her closer to him so that when he lowered his head, his mouth could reach her lips.
Clarissa was happy to cooperate and they kissed playfully for a few moments before Matthew held the woman in his arms and asked smilingly, “So, what do you want for your birthday?”
Clarissa replied the man with a searching look. Did he just ask me straight out what I want for my birthday? Where did all the sweet talks and romantic gestures go? This is such a buzzkill. Isn’t birthday gift supposed to be a surprise?
Clarissa pouted a little as she spoke, “There’s nothing that I want.”
She was not entirely lying when she said there was nothing that she wanted. She just felt so contented with her life now that she did not feel like anything was missing in her life right now.
Matthew pondered on what birthday present he should get for Clarissa.
I bought her an island as an engagement gift last time, I can’t be downgrading her birthday present now. I have to think of something better than an island.
Clarissa leaned onto Matthew’s body once more, completely unaware of what the man was planning in his head. If she had known that he was planning to up his game for her birthday, she would have rejected it outright. She was not one who enjoyed over-indulgence, nor would she like his nice gestures to be negatively publicized by the media again.
Meanwhile, the Lesters, who had agreed to work together with Shermaine, had been having the time of their lives.
Shermaine had paid for their hotel fees, arranged for them to move into a nice house, and even hired maids for them.
The way they were treated by Shermaine confirmed their belief that the woman needed their help badly and would do anything to please them.
Shermaine, on the other hand, was more than happy to cater to their greed. To top things off, Shermaine took Mimi under her wings and introduced her to a few of her associates in the showbiz circle and film academy. Shermaine also helped Mimi expand her network considerably in the entertainment industry. But she had yet to ask of any favors from Mimi and her parents.
Instead, after lying low for a while, Shermaine decided she should become more active.
With regards to her court case, there was still no concrete evidence for a judge to pass a verdict. Thus, despite her dreadful reputation, Shermaine continued to enjoy her freedom by making multiple appearances in public.
Backed up by her cash and some showbiz communities who had not severed ties with her, Shermaine could still be seen attending some public events.
She had now cultivated a completely different image from her prior arrogant and aloof impression; everywhere she went, she was smiling cheerfully into the cameras. Even when the reporters pestered her on questions regarding her court case, Shermaine managed to maintain her cool and did not get worked up at all.
It also did not concern her that all of her recent posts on social media had attracted a large swath of comments from internet users, most of them were there to give her a piece of their mind. To Shermaine, these were all publicity that she welcomed.
All in all, she had become more thick-skinned to whatever attacks that came her way.
Whenever Shermaine appeared in front of cameras, a new figure was always next to her: Mimi Lester.
As with Shermaine, Mimi was impervious to the negative news surrounding Shermaine, as long as she managed to gain media exposure in the process. She even felt grateful for Shermaine’s help in acquainting her to people she deemed helpful in the showbiz business.
After spending all that time with Shermaine, Mimi had come to see her as more of a family member than Clarissa was. After all, Shermaine was the one who was willing to pull the strings for Mimi in advancing her career, whereas all Clarissa did was lecturing her for her life choices.
Shermaine had now successfully wrapped the Lesters around her little finger. They would practically do anything for her.
One evening, Shermaine and Mimi were at yet another gathering with some fringe celebrities. In spite of Shermaine’s awful character, the entertainment business was not full of glorified souls either. She was bound to have a few like-minded friends.
While Shermaine watched with a smile at Mimi flirting with an artist from afar, a woman, whom others called the mother of mistress, approached her and asked, “Ms. Smallwood, who’s this kid? I’ve seen her stick to you like glue lately. What’s the deal?”
“Mimi? She’s my weapon.”
“Weapon? What do you mean by that?”
A grin spread across Shermaine’s face. “A weapon with which I’ll use against whoever that treads on my toes.”
“I still don’t get it,” the woman replied.
Saying no more, Shermaine turned to her friend and clinked glass with her as she spoke, “What’s with you lately? You’re slipping, getting caught like that. Have you at least pocketed the money?”
The woman let out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh well, the odds were not in my favor this round. But who cares, the money was still mine to grab. I don’t care for people’s opinion of me anyway. Worst comes to worst, I’ll just go overseas and turn over a new leaf there. Start afresh, you know?”
Shermaine nodded. “You’re right.”
The women smiled knowingly at each other before Shermaine’s friend asked, “So, are you still planning to stay in this business? Why don’t you come with me overseas? I’m sure you’ll find someone to your liking, since no one will recognize you. Many of my friends do that and they can’t be happier!”
“I may consider going overseas. But now is not the time. I still have some old scores to settle around here.”
“Huh? Do you mean the writer?”
Shermaine responded with a canny smile.
The woman said no more. But she started praying for Shermaine in her heart. I don’t know what got into her. She just won’t give up on this Matthew business. Can’t she see what horrendous situation he has landed her in right now? This man is just not someone I’ll mess around with.
Nevertheless, the woman kept these thoughts to herself. After all, they were no more than just social friends. Their friendship was only as strong as the mutual benefits, lacking which, nothing was more important than serving her own interests.
Shermaine waited until Mimi left with the artist before she stooped up and stretched a little, ready to leave the party too.
This family is about to do some paybacks for all the time and money I invested in them.
