The moment they left, Kayla cried so hard she could hardly stand. Hugging her, James consoled her as best as he could.
“There, there. Didn’t you always promise not to cry? Crying will only make Shermaine feel sad. Besides, we brought good news today. So, there’s no need to react that way.”
After thirty years of marriage, James was already annoyed by how sensitive Kayla was. Oddly enough, it had been this trait that caused him to fall in love with her back then.
“These are tears of joy, James. I am happy for her too! Do you know how much she has suffered over the last three years?”
“Alright… Let’s not talk about it anymore. Once she’s out, everything will be fine.”
After James drove off with Kayla, Judy and her husband arrived.
“I’m sure I wasn’t mistaken. He’s the man whom Hilary fell in love with back then. Do you now know why Hilary wanted to commit such an unscrupulous deed? Look at the car they’re driving! The lady also looks the same as she was ten years ago. Look at how easily wealthy women maintain their youth. Just as I said, they’re rich!”
“Therefore, our visit isn’t in vain. My hunch is correct! Given how rich they are, why would their daughter give up her identity and acknowledge Hilary as her mother?”
“That’s right. I would have done the same thing in her place. Isn’t Hilary something? Given everything she has done, it seems that she loves her daughter a lot.”
Despite lamenting Hilary’s predicament, Judy and her husband were unable to see Shermaine today.
Meanwhile, Clarissa and her entourage had returned from Snow Village after spending less than a week there.
The group of spoilt rich men and women were unable to bear the cold. Hence, they decided to come back earlier to D City.
The moment they returned to D City, Clarissa was flooded with worry. She prayed that the paparazzi hadn’t managed to get some good shots. To her relief, she soon found out that their trip had been overshadowed by a scandal involving a big star.
Feeling nosy, she read about the juicy details Jeremy and the others had shared in their group chat. After all, they had insider knowledge about what was going on.
Clarissa was shocked to read about what happened. Pfft, that’s what caused the scandal?
I see… That’s how it is…
Yarick and Jeremy had so much insider information to share that it felt as if both of them were actually there telling her the story.
Holding her phone, Clarissa typed: I can’t believe how something like that could have happened given that they were married with kids. What were they even thinking? They are really weird.
Yarick hurriedly replied to her message: Hehe! Clarissa, you shouldn’t be surprised. To be honest, your relationship with Matt is the weird one.
Clarissa responded with a meme that expressed her bewilderment.
What does he mean?
Since when did being loyal in one’s marriage and family make one weird?
Did I hear it wrong or has the world gone crazy?
She was genuinely stunned.
Given how blunt Yarick was, he was just being honest in his reply.
Yarick messaged: Clarissa, in truth, there are few who are faithful in their marriage nowadays. We do not doubt that you and Matt love each other deeply. But as to the few of us? Pfft, marriage is just for profit and politics. It’s highly likely we’ll all be unfaithful in the end. As for the celebrities, all they are looking for is excitement. To them, there’s no point just staying with one person.
Clarissa felt that the man’s words were unbelievably heartfelt.
After giving it some thought, she began to understand his point of view a little. However, since her values were different, she didn’t dwell on them any further. Why do they prefer such excitement over living their days peacefully?
Clarissa shook her head with a sigh.
Suddenly, she was swept off her feet and fell into a warm embrace.
Grabbing Matthew by the collar, she complained coquettishly, “Why did you do that? You gave me a fright.”
Wearing his bathrobe, the man was still wet after coming out of the shower. He looked sexy with his short wet hair strewn across his forehead.
He smiled. “Why are you sighing?”
“We’re just discussing some celebrity scandals.”
“What kind of scandals?”
Matthew had no real interest in them, but he quietly listened as she spoke. He enjoyed the gentle sensation her breath brought as he carried her in his arms.
“That’s right. The celebrity was being unfaithful,” Clarissa explained.
The point was, her values were different from those of Yarick’s.
“That’s what I don’t understand. Yarick and Jeremy may be like that, but it doesn’t mean everyone else is the same, does it? One can only say their circle is more complicated as it involves marriages of convenience. To be unfaithful is a matter of one’s character, not love. If those in love are still unfaithful, the problem lies with them. Therefore, one cannot make such a generalization as it depends on one’s individual character.”
Combing her hair with his hand, Matthew replied casually, “Other than not being in love, the sense of responsibility is also missing.”
“Precisely!”
Clarissa nodded in agreement. The next moment, she smiled at Matthew as she adjusted her position to one that was more comfortable.
Squinting her eyes at him, she remarked, “Matthew, you are a man of excellent character!”
The man smiled slightly, finding her cute. “Is that a compliment?”
“No, it’s not. It’s the truth. Given how handsome and filthy rich you are, you have not embroiled yourself in any messy relationships. Furthermore, you don’t take drugs, and you have a good temperament. If that isn’t a sign of excellent character, then what is? People say rich men involve themselves in all sorts of vices because they are too bored. However, I disagree. I think that they lack principles and are lazy. Just look at how busy you are. You have no time to feel bored! Therefore, they are of questionable character, and not all rich men are like them.”
“It seems you have a very good impression of me.”
Clarissa chuckled. “An excellent one, in fact. You seem to be perfect no matter how I see you. You’re wise, disciplined, responsible, loyal, handsome…”
One by one, she listed out all the qualities he had.
She finally stopped praising him when she had exhausted her vocabulary.
“No matter what, I am the luckiest girl in the world! Haha!”
Matthew laughed together with her as he brushed his fingers across her lips. Leaning in, he gave her a peck without any intention of letting go. Tasting her lips, he let her breath gradually envelop him.
“Mmm-hmm… Me too. I’m a lucky man.”
Giggling while being kissed, Clarissa gently pushed Matthew away. As her eyes sparkled, she looked at him in anticipation.
“I know. But, shouldn’t you describe how lucky you are?”
She wanted Matthew to flatter her in return.
Raising his eyebrows, Matthew beamed. “Let’s see. Beautiful…”
He continued kissing her after that, much to Clarissa’s annoyance. “What else?”
“Erm, beautiful… and err… beautiful…”
Despite being speechless, she patiently waited for Matthew to come up with more. After a while, she grew tired of waiting as her eyes almost became cock-eyed from exhaustion. Hence, she decided to push him away to express her dissatisfaction.
“Other than being beautiful, don’t I have any other qualities? Am I not smart? Or gentle? Or sensitive? Am I not…”
Matthew listened as Clarissa listed out the positive traits she had. Finally, he nodded under her angry gaze.
“Yes, you’re smart, gentle, sensitive…”
When he repeated everything again, Clarissa couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows in resignation.
“Matthew, you’re being extremely annoying.”
Getting to her feet in exasperation, she pushed him away before heading upstairs.
By the time the man entered the room, she was curled up in bed underneath her blanket, looking as if she was hiding from the world.
Matthew smiled affectionately as he walked up to the bed. Lifting the blanket, he crawled underneath with her. However, Clarissa tugged her blanket forcefully to wrap herself in it, unwilling to allow him to join her in her nest.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t strong enough. Not only did she fail, but she was also pulled into his embrace instead.
Just when she was about to lose her temper, Clarissa suddenly realized Matthew wasn’t wearing anything as he hugged her.
It was obvious that he wanted to get right down to business.
With her body heating up, Clarissa didn’t dare move a muscle. In truth, she wouldn’t be able to anyway.
“Matthew! You dirtbag! I’m angry right now. I’m not in the mood to look at you.”
Despite her angry threats, it sounded as if she was playing hard to get.
Matthew wrapped his arms around her and soon slipped them underneath her pajamas. He began to kiss her from the forehead down to her nose and then on her lips.
In the midst of kissing her, he mumbled, “Clare, Darling, it’s not that I don’t want to praise you. You’re simply so perfect that I don’t know where to begin.”
His words hit the spot.
Just a moment ago, the woman was still boiling with rage. But, the word “perfect” melted her heart and caused her to surrender her body.
With blushing cheeks and sparkling eyes, she couldn’t help but smile at Matthew.
“You… Matthew, you shouldn’t have…”
She sounded extremely coquettish.
A minute ago, he was getting on her nerves. But, he quickly switched his tone to “worship” her.
He pretended to be oblivious as he kissed her on her lips. “What did I do?”
Giggling, she pinched him on the arm as she stared at him bashfully.
“You are really a sly old fox!”
“Mmm-hmm. And you are a stunningly beautiful vixen!”
