Clarissa’s lips twitched upon hearing what Jeremy said. It was as he was implying something.
She looked at him and gave him an awkward smile. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me. I’m not sure what’s going on between you and Matt, but Matt has been behaving as if the whole world has done him wrong.”
Jeremy did not know what happened between the couple, but he could sense the awkward tension between them.
Admittedly, Clarissa acknowledged that she was partially at fault, but she had not been able to find a chance to talk to Matthew.
She did not expect to meet him at the charity event either.
Upon noticing how quiet Clarissa was, Jeremy said, “It has been three years, Clarissa. I really thought your relationship with him is over,” he continued, “To most men, three years are nothing, but Matt doesn’t think of it that way. He has always lived his life to the fullest, hence, every day counts. Since you have no intention of severing ties with him, then don’t waste time playing hide-and-seek with him anymore.”
“Got it.” It was quite unusual for Jeremy to give this kind of advice, but Clarissa appreciated it.
Instead of lingering on the same topic, Jeremy decided to talk about her manuscript, Joshua, and even Verona.
Jeremy then left after dropping Clarissa off at her hotel.
Clarissa returned to her room and sat down in a daze. She did not even bother to change her dress.
She sat on the couch for quite some time and waited for someone to come knocking on her door but to no avail.
Despite feeling utterly crestfallen, Clarissa stood up and retrieved her phone. She looked at Matthew’s number for a while and wondered if she should give him a call.
The more she stared at the screen, the more anxious and upset she became. All of a sudden, she bounced up from the couch, grabbed her coat, and ran out of her room.
It was a cold night, and she did not have a car. She had no choice but to stamp her feet repeatedly to keep herself warm while standing at the entrance of the hotel. She picked up her phone and tried to call a cab.
The weather in D City that night was freezing. The coat she put on did little to keep her warm, and her whole body was trembling.
To make things worse, it began to snow.
Clarissa looked up and cursed the weather.
Soon, a cab arrived. Clarissa immediately got into the car and told the driver to go to the Zen Highlands.
The driver with a local accent kept trying to strike up a conversation with Clarissa, but so many thoughts were running in her mind that she just nodded in agreement throughout the journey.
Upon noticing how cold Clarissa’s response was, the driver stopped talking and focused on the road.
They soon arrived at the Zen Highlands. A violent gust of chilly wind hit Clarissa the moment she stepped out of the cab.
She wrapped her hands around her body, walked to the gate, and pressed the doorbell.
Unlike in the past, she now no longer had the permission to go in and out of the house as she wished anymore.
Upon hearing Clarissa’s voice, Julia immediately ordered someone to drive her in. It took her another fifteen minutes to reach the villa.
Julia instantly prepared some warm water for her. She looked at Clarissa, and tears welled up in her eyes. “You’re finally home, Miss.”
Clarissa, who was still shivering, held the warm cup with both hands and said in a trembling voice, “Don’t cry, Mrs. Lawson. Is Matthew around?”
Julia was taken aback. “Mr. Tyson seldom comes here anymore. Have you not been in touch with him?”
Clarissa shook her head. If Matthew is not back, where else did he go?
Just when she was still deep in thought, the sound of a car’s engine emerged from the door.
“I think Mr. Tyson is back.” Julia immediately went up to welcome him. Clarissa put down her cup, stood up, and followed right behind.
“You’re back, Sir. Miss is here too…”
Matthew stepped into the house, and he immediately saw the pale-faced young lady, who stood under the living room’s chandelier and kept shivering involuntarily.
A line formed between Matthew’s brows as he took a glance at her attire.
Upon seeing his knitted brows, Clarissa opened her mouth cautiously and said, “I’m sorry for interrupting…”
Before Clarissa could complete her sentence, Matthew went up, carried her in his arms, and walked upstairs. “Fill up the tub with warm water, Mrs. Lawson.”
“Oh, all right!” Julia replied right away. Oh, silly me. Why didn’t I think of this earlier?
In the blink of an eye, Matthew removed Clarissa’s clothes and put her into the tub. Initially, the water was so hot that she nearly wanted to get out, but her body got used to its temperature after a short while. A few minutes later, she finally felt much better, and her pallid cheeks turned rosy once again.
Matthew stood beside her and watched her bathe as he was worried that she might catch a cold.
Suddenly, Clarissa tilted her head and noticed Matthew was looking at her. Awkwardness instantly filled the air the moment their eyes met.
Matthew turned around and stepped out of the bathroom while Clarissa covered her face with her hands to hide her embarrassment.
Clarissa got up from the tub when she noticed her skin had turned wrinkly. She put on a bathrobe, wearing nothing beneath it, and walked out to the room.
Since Matthew was not around, she quickly opened the closet. To her surprise, all her clothes were still there. She froze for a moment and put on a set of fresh clothes.
After stepping out of the room, she took a glance around the house but still did not see Matthew.
She then walked to the study and realized the door was not fully closed. She opened the door, entered the room, and saw Matthew sitting behind his desk.
The man probably heard her coming in but did not look up as he was engrossed in his work.
Clarissa pouted and sat in front of the desk. She stared at him and kept mum.
Matthew continued ignoring her and focused on his work.
How long more is he going to stay mad at me?
Clarissa placed her arms on the desk, rested her chin on her hands, and looked at his gloomy face. “Are you still mad?”
Matthew did not give her any response.
Clarissa pouted. She lifted one of her arms and walked her fingers to the back of his hand.
She gently tapped his hand with her index finger to get his attention. Her fingers then continued to harass him by crawling all over it. “Why are you still mad at me? I always thought you’re a man who doesn’t hold grudges.”
“I know it’s my fault. Can you please don’t be mad at me anymore?” she pleaded, “Uncle Matthew?”
“Hubby?” Despite everything she had done, Matthew still ignored her. She had no choice but started chanting ‘hubby’ repeatedly.
With all the harassment going on around him, Matthew could no longer stay focused.
He looked up and gazed into her beautiful and innocent-looking puppy eyes. In the meantime, her fingers were still dancing on the back of his hand.
Matthew pulled his hand away from her and massaged his forehead.
Clarissa was not ready to give up. She squinted, looked at him, and tried to please him with a smile. She did it exactly like how Damian would do to her when he wanted her to do things his way.
A corner of Matthew’s lips curled up when he thought of Damian, but the smile instantly disappeared when he pulled himself together.
“I know it’s my fault, and I should have more faith in you instead of questioning you. Why don’t you punish me if you’re still mad at me? Feel free to punish me for all my wrongdoings,” Clarissa said in a sincere tone.
She continued to look at him with hopeful eyes.
After a short while, Matthew’s mouth finally twitched. “Okay.”
Clarissa was not exactly sure what his response meant, and she could not tell if he was still angry.
“So… you forgave me?” Clarissa asked sheepishly.
He responded with a grunt.
And?
Clarissa pouted and looked at him desperately. “Are you not going to kiss me or hug me?”
Matthew lifted his head and stared at her for a while.
That stare instantly made Clarissa’s cheeks blush. “I’m tired now, and I want to go to bed. You carry me to my bed.”
If he still refuses to move, then he must still be mad at me!
Matthew looked at her blushed face and stood up right away. He walked around the desk and carried her in his arms. Clarissa’s face beamed with satisfaction, and she giggled and wrapped her hands around his neck. She even pulled herself closer to him so that he could feel her warm breath on his neck.
Matthew brought her to the bedroom and put her on the bed. He then put a blanket over her, sat on the edges of the bed, and stroked her face. “Sleep tight.”
“Are you not going to sleep?” she asked.
“I have to get something urgent done by tonight,” he replied.
After all the efforts I’ve put in to bring him here…
