As Yuliana watched Matthew leave with her widened eyes, her knees buckled just when she was about to return to her car.
If not for her driver having caught her in time, she would have collapsed onto the ground.
The driver too had seen what had unfolded and was no less shocked than anyone else.
Given the forlorn atmosphere at the Tyson residence, he simply felt that it was a shame.
“Mrs. Tyson, are you alright?”
Yuliana shook her head. “I-I’m fine. Let’s go home.”
The driver started the car and drove away from the manor. In truth, Yuliana was sent by Margaret to investigate if the rumors of the child were true.
But despite having seen the child, she didn’t manage to get a word out of Matthew.
However, there was no doubt at all whose child it was.
Looking out the car window, Yuliana was troubled. The thought of explaining what she saw to Margaret gave her a headache. Furthermore, she was unsettled by how much more the matter could potentially escalate.”
Three years ago, when she brought Margaret to confront Clarissa on the latter’s birthday dinner, she didn’t expect both ladies to be so resolute in their respective stance. It was indeed something no one had expected, or else it wouldn’t have descended into such chaos.
Matthew had never returned to the Tyson residence ever since.
George had reprimanded his wife over what she had done. Furthermore, he was also dissatisfied with Yuliana’s involvement which he thought was highly inappropriate.
It was the same for Matthias and Ellie, who blamed Yuliana for what happened.
Since that incident, George no longer concerned himself with their affairs. In fact, he stopped asking whether Matthew came home. Matthias obviously didn’t dare confront his mom. All he could do was blame his wife for not protecting the family. As for Ellie, she would only be home for thanksgiving and disappear for the rest of the year. Hence, the Tyson residence slowly became desolate and no longer resembled a family.
When they finally heard the rumors about Matthew’s son, the Tysons finally had an excuse to contact Matthew again.
However, from Matthew’s response today, it was obvious that he didn’t want to have anything to do with them.
Yuliana had no choice but to call her husband and tell him what happened.
In response, Matthias felt helpless and angry at the same time.
“Didn’t I tell you not to do anything rash? You should have let me contact Matthew. Why didn’t you listen?”
Yuliana felt she was being blamed unfairly when Matthias lost his temper.
“Do you think that I enjoy getting involved? Matthias, it’s not like you don’t know your mom’s temperament. What can I do? She forced me to do it, so what choice do I have? You blamed me for what happened three years ago, and three years later, you’re still doing the same. Matthias, please be fair to me for once, all right?”
When he heard his wife’s sobs, Matthias fell silent for a moment before adding, “Three years ago, you were at fault, and so was I. I, too, bear responsibility for it, and it was my mistake. But now, for once, please don’t get involved. Whatever Mom wants you to do, you don’t have to do it. Or you can just get her to talk to me. Anyway, you should go back to work now. When we’re both home at night, I’ll give Mom a call so that you don’t have to return to the Tyson residence.”
After ending the call, Matthias took over the matter. As for Yuliana, she didn’t know what he told Margaret. But, Margaret never called her nor questioned why she didn’t return to the Tyson residence after that.
Meanwhile, Matthew brought Damian back to Zen Highlands. When he found out that Clarissa wasn’t home, his heart sank.
However, he knew he had to hide his disappointment from his son.
Putting on a cheerful front, he and Damian sat in front of the French windows. Both of them were bathing in the warm sunlight that shone in. However, one was in a gloomy mood while the other looked exceptionally cheerful.
While both of them were stacking blocks for fun, Damian started to share his thoughts.
“Daddy, at the rate you’re going, you won’t be able to pacify Mommy. When I was little, I failed to do so either.”
Matthew couldn’t help but laugh. “When you’re little?”
Oblivious to how strange his words sounded, Damian lifted his head and continued, “Daddy, you should hug Mommy and kiss her. After that, tell her that you love her. That way, she won’t be angry anymore. After that, be good by not eating junk food without her knowledge, not littering, and finish your meals. When you do that, Mommy will be delighted.”
“But Damian, that method doesn’t suit me.”
“So why is Mommy angry?”
“Because I did something wrong and didn’t consider her feelings.”
Tilting his head, Damian knitted his bushy eyebrows to show that he didn’t understand what Matthew meant.
After giving it some thought, Matthew explained, “Just like when you ate sweets without Mommy’s knowledge. By right, you have to get Mommy’s permission before eating them. If you don’t, she would be angry when she finds out.”
“In that case, Daddy, you should eat more sweets.”
Speechless, Matthew knew that his message had failed to get through.
As Damian lowered his head to play with his blocks, Matthew watched on as he pondered upon the best way to apologize.
As for Clarissa, she didn’t go to work nor return to Zen Highlands. Instead, she went over to Yael’s place.
After seeing Yael and updating her on the latest at work, Clarissa received a call from Ellie to meet. Hence, she spent the day lazing away. Luckily, there wasn’t anything important going on at the studio that day.
After meeting Ellie, she raised her hand to stop Ellie’s questioning.
“Stop asking. The matter is as described last night. Actually, I was worried that Grandma was unwilling to accept it. That’s the reason I kept delaying it. However, Matthew and I have already registered our marriage before the birthday dinner. Hence, the question of Damian being born out of wedlock doesn’t arise. Also, Grandma seems to have softened her stance given the fact that she didn’t stop me from returning to D City with Damian. As for the vow I made, it was declared after we had registered our marriage. Furthermore, I have not stepped into the Tyson residence. All I’m doing now is living together with Matthew. Hence, I didn’t break my vow, and that’s all there is to it,” Clarissa explained everything in one breath.
Just when Ellie was about to ask a question, she suddenly realized that she actually had none.
It was just that she had been kept in the dark all this while. But then again, she figured that Clarissa didn’t have a choice either.
As of now, there’s nothing left to complain about. To have found a son and wife at his age, Uncle Matt’s life seems to be complete. And yet, after what happened three years ago, I thought he would end up staying single his whole life, filled with regrets. After all, he was unable to be together with the one he loved.
Thankfully, things didn’t turn out as miserable as I had imagined them to be.
After discarding the forlorn image of Matthew from her mind, Ellie let out a suspicious smile suddenly.
“Clare, why don’t you let Damian stay with me for a couple of days?”
Ellie loved Damian to bits, given how cute and handsome he was. Furthermore, she was so enamored by how he spoke as if he was an adult. Hence, she couldn’t resist the urge to steal him home for herself.
“Sure.”
“Really?”
“I’ll come along with him as you won’t be able to manage by yourself.”
“That’s wonderful! Clare, you really are good to me. Come, let’s go to Zen Highlands at once to pick him up. I don’t have to work for the next few days so I can take him out to play every day. Let’s hurry over now!”
Ellie kept pestering Clarissa to hurry up. On the way there, she was still in high spirits. However, when they were about to arrive at Zen Highlands, she suddenly felt something was amiss.
“Wait, something’s wrong. Clare, you’re coming along—what does that mean?”
Something’s not right. Why does she need to come to my place for Damian’s sake?
Why does it sound fishy?
Unwilling to admit it, Clarissa asked plainly, “What does your question mean? What else can I mean? Don’t you want to spend time with Damian anymore? If not, then forget it.”
“Huh? No, of course not. It was just a casual question.”
Given her response, something must be wrong.
Is she fighting with Uncle Matt?
However, Clarissa hid her feelings so well that Ellie couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
After they arrived at Zen Highlands, Ellie played with Damian while discreetly observing the interaction between Clarissa and Matthew. After what she saw, she was sure that something was wrong.
No wonder she wants to bring her son over to my place.
Her true objective is to run away from home.
Ellie squirmed her lips. After Clarissa had gone upstairs to pack Damian’s things, Ellie asked Matthew softly, “Uncle Matt, are you guys quarreling? Tell me about it so that I can help you persuade her at my place.”
Now that Clarissa was officially her aunt, Ellie felt that it was a duty to help them out.
Matthew shook his head and responded coldly, “No, I’ll deal with it myself. If you really want to help, you shouldn’t bring both of them back with you.”
“Tsk—”
You’re making it sound like I did it on purpose.
After all, she was innocent. All she wanted to do was to spend some time with Damian. However, Clarissa seized upon the opportunity to tag along instead.
She quickly defended herself, “Uncle Matt, you can’t blame me for this. If you could, you should get Aunt Clare to stay at home instead. I’ll bring Damian home myself.”
Matthew snorted coldly. Would I have asked you to do it if I could?
Meanwhile, Damian who had been silent throughout sighed in resignation. He grumbled in his squeaky voice, “I really don’t know what to do with both of you.”
Everyone was speechless.
“Pfft! Damian, you are so adorable!”
When Damian’s mature tone was combined with his chubby yet adorable face, it made for a hilarious sight.
As Ellie hugged him tightly, he was unsettled by her overbearing friendliness. Coincidentally, Clarissa was walking down the steps with his small luggage bag. Hence, he cried out, “Mommy, help! Save me!”
When she saw the look on his face, Clarissa couldn’t help but complain, “Damian, you’re such a drama queen.”
