Matthew tried to change the subject with mischievous wordplay.
If it were any other time, Clarissa would have just let it slide. But the agenda was extremely important as it was about their son’s future.
Damian had always been Clarissa’s number one priority.
She didn’t laugh at his joke. Instead, her expression darkened while her gaze turned icy cold.
Realizing that it was futile trying to escape his grasp, Clarissa stopped struggling. Instead, she let her fiery gaze express her dissatisfaction.
At the same time, Matthew held her sharp gaze for a long while before letting out a sigh.
Releasing his grip on her, he adjusted her position and placed her on his lap instead.
However, Clarissa’s expression was just as gloomy. Reaching out to stroke her face, Matthew smiled as he spoke with a deep and magnetic voice. “Clare, I admit that I didn’t bother maintaining the secret. The way I see it, there’s no need to do so.”
At that moment, rage began to well up within Clarissa. However, she took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress it. She was worried that she would let her temper flare uncontrollably.
She knew that she shouldn’t act so impulsively. After all, it was only fair for her to allow him the opportunity to explain.
Somehow, Matthew understood what was going through her mind and continued, “The need doesn’t arise because he is both your son and mine. No matter who it is, and I do mean no matter who—”
At that moment, Matthew emphasized his words with fervor. “No matter who it is, I will never allow them to break our family apart nor let them lay a finger on Damian.”
Clarissa could feel Matthew’s confidence. Gritting her teeth, she replied, “Fine. Do you mean that you’re not afraid of exposing Damian and will definitely not let anyone take him away?”
“Yes.”
“But I’m afraid!” Clarissa sounded exasperated. With her steely gaze and icy expression, she explained, “Matthew, Damian isn’t just your son. He is also mine. Putting aside the idea that you can protect him from harm, which I still have my doubts about, what’s the benefit of revealing his existence? He is just an ordinary kid. Do you know that by doing this, you’ll just invite a lot more trouble?”
Clarissa’s tone was grave.
Matthew rebutted, “Clare, Damian is indeed an ordinary kid. But, he is also my son. So what’s wrong with letting the world know about it? What could possibly happen? Since you said so yourself that he’s no different than others, why do we need to hide him?”
As both of them faced off, neither wanted to compromise.
Clarissa wasn’t just angry, but also worried and fearful at the same time.
However, Matthew didn’t understand what she was afraid of.
Given how troubled she looked, Matthew asked, “Who are you really afraid of? I don’t understand your urge to keep Damian hidden at all. Clare—”
Just when he reached out his hand to hold her fingers, she pushed it away. She had gotten up and was standing some distance away from Matthew, staring at him with an icy gaze.
Fine, I’m the one that’s scared. Clarissa wrapped her arms around herself as if she was the only that could protect herself.
She wanted to rebut Matthew and explain why she was afraid. However, she just couldn’t say it as the words were stuck in her throat. Somehow, she was unable to describe the fear and insecurity that was welling up inside her.
At that moment, Matthew quickly noticed that she was visibly out of sorts. Feeling the squeeze in his heart, he quickly pulled her into his embrace to comfort her.
However, Clarissa shook her head incessantly in his arms, unwilling to say a word.
As Matthew gently stroked her back, he apologized at once, “I’m sorry, Clare. Darling, I’m sorry—”
Despite feeling better after hearing his comforting words, she buried her head in his chest and remarked, “This isn’t right. It just isn’t.”
“You’re right. It isn’t. I have made a mistake. It’s my fault.”
While both of them were hugging each other, Matthew gradually felt a warm and moist sensation on his chest.
Is she crying?
Matthew quickly lifted her head and saw her reddened face. Furrowing his eyebrows, he was heartbroken by the sight.
Watching her cry simply intensified the torment he felt.
Gently stroking her cheek with his fingers, he was filled with guilt.
“Clare, don’t cry. I’ll do anything to make it up to you, really. Just say the word and I’ll do it, alright? Stop crying. You’re making me feel terrible about myself. It’s my fault for not discussing with you and not taking your feelings into consideration. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault—”
Clarissa shook her head still. After glancing at Matthew for a fleeting moment, she averted her gaze again.
In truth, she understood deep down why she reacted that way.
Pushing Matthew away, she sounded exhausted as she remarked, “I’m tired and want to rest first. We’ll talk about this some other time.”
With that, she went back to her room.
Frozen where he stood, Matthew’s heart sank as he was at a loss as to what to do.
As for Clarissa, she lay down beside Damian in the room and looked at him affectionately.
Lowering her head, she gave his forehead a peck and continued watching him.
The next morning, Clarissa left the manor early. Damian was obviously left in Matthew’s care.
Clarissa told him that she was going to work and he was free to do whatever he wanted with Damian.
That was all they discussed as if the argument from the night before didn’t occur at all.
However, they were no longer as intimate as before.
When Damian awoke to find that Clarissa was gone, he was filled with disappointment. Meanwhile, Matthew continued to babysit him. After feeding him milk, Matthew tempted him out of bed with delicious food before getting him to wash up and change his clothes.
Once he was dressed, Matthew carried Damian out of the room with one hand while using the other to work on his phone.
Turning his head in all directions, Damian would smile at anyone he saw.
Once Matthew got off his call, Damian looked at him obediently.
“Daddy, where will we be going today?”
Matthew shook his head and replied honestly, “Damian, Mommy is really angry this time. Hence, we have to go home and cheer her up.”
Damian widened his eyes in curiosity before giving Matthew a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
“Daddy, you’re the one that upset her, not me. Mommy has told me that she isn’t angry with me.”
Matthew raised his eyebrow. “Damian, are you mocking me?”
Damian replied with an innocent expression, “Daddy, what does mocking mean?”
Matthew couldn’t help but smile. “Damian, why don’t you help Daddy cheer Mommy up?”
Damian nodded. “Mmm-hmm, I don’t like Mommy being upset either as she looks really scary.”
Matthew’s heart sank in response. He understood why Clarissa didn’t show her anger in front of Damian yesterday but didn’t realize how important it was.
Right then, he finally understood how frightening it was for a child to see their parents quarrel after hearing Damian voice his fears.
He chuckled in response. “All right, it’s my fault. From now on, let’s not get on Mommy’s nerves, alright? We have to make sure that she is happy every single day.”
Damian cried out in joy. Clapping his hands, he burst into laughter.
“Daddy, that’s wonderful!”
Matthew laughed at the same time as he carried Damian out. He asked with a smile, “In that case, shall we come up with a way to cheer Mommy up? Damian, why don’t you think of something?”
Tilting his head and knitting his eyebrows, Damian racked his brains on how to cheer his mommy up.
Just when both of them reached the car, a woman suddenly called out from behind. “Matthew, you really—”
Yuliana was shocked to see Matthew carrying the child that her voice lost its pitch. She then looked at Damian awkwardly.
When Damian noticed the strange look Yuliana was giving him, he tightened his grasp on Matthew. Leaning his head closer, he asked softly, “Daddy, do you know this lady?”
After patting Matthew on his back to reassure him, Matthew looked in Yuliana’s direction.
“Yuliana, I’m busy and have to go.”
He didn’t explain nor did he feel like saying anything. In fact, he had no intention of even introducing Damian to her.
“Matthew!”
Growing anxious, Yuliana hurried over and blocked Matthew from entering the car.
“Matthew, is this child really—”
“Yuliana!”
Furrowing his eyebrows, Matthew leveled a scathing glare at her.
“There’s no reason for me to explain anything to you. My advice to you and the others is not to do anything. This is not a discussion but a warning.”
His warning struck fear into Yuliana as her trembling hands let go of the door. After which, Matthew quickly left in the car.
Frozen where she was, Yuliana was unable to regain her senses after being threatened by Matthew. The manner in which he warned her was shockingly cold. Despite being his sister-in-law whom he was obliged to respect, Yuliana realized then that it was not the case anymore.
