Clarissa snapped out of her daze of being caught in Matthew’s good looks and tried as best as she could to face it indifferently.
She raised an eyebrow. She thought he would get down on his knees directly as she confronted him.
Apparently, the man was still taking his time to delay his punishment, or perhaps he was just putting on an act.
Matthew’s lips curled slightly as he stood there for a while. This woman sure is composed. She’s just staring at me in silence.
It was a little awkward for him, but on the veneer, he was able to keep his deep smile.
“Clare, here’s the washboard I asked Mrs. Lawson to buy promptly today. Is it to your satisfaction? I’ve pondered about it, and I think that you like your keyboard very much. So, if I messed up and damaged your keyboard, you’d surely be more pissed. Hence, I resorted to the washboard instead. At least this won’t be easily damaged.”
Clarissa laughed sardonically. “I think the keyboard is a better idea because it’s not that hard. You won’t hurt your knees that way. Why don’t you change to kneeling on the keyboard? I’ve used it for so many years, and I don’t like it that much anymore. I can buy a new one if it’s damaged.”
“No, no, Clare. I think it’s better with the washboard.”
“Really? Isn’t it because you’re scared that you have to type out the letters ‘I’m sorry’ with the keyboard while kneeling?”
“Of course not,” was Matthew’s reply, but the truth was exactly what Clarissa had said.
Matthew had looked it up on the internet, and he was astonished by the results he found. Those bizarre punishments were beyond him, especially kneeling on the keyboard because one had to also type ‘I’m sorry’ with their knees on it apart from just kneeling. And if there was any mistake made, one had to start all over again. Not to mention there were also other even crazier ideas including kneeling on a durian…
In comparison, the one with the washboard seemed to be the best among them all.
This was the first time the mighty Matthew had to do such a thing, and he had no intention to try those bizarre ideas at all. He opted for the more conventional and moderate one—the washboard. After all, it was him who proposed it. Hence, he had to bring himself to it regardless of the circumstances.
Clarissa smiled, but the smile faded from her face immediately. “Get going then!”
That might be the only instance that he got to see such rapid change of expression in his life.
Matthew finally gave her a helpless smile. Fine, looks like idle chatter isn’t effective in changing this woman’s mind.
All right. Let’s not waste more time. A true gentleman must be resilient. If other men can do this to cheer their wives up, why can’t I do the same?
With that thought in mind, he tried to relax both his knees and knelt down on the washboard.
Seeing as such, Clarissa sat up in an upright posture all of a sudden. She didn’t expect that Matthew would be willing to do that in actuality, hence, she was flabbergasted.
Feeling a little perplexed, she mumbled, “I can’t believe you’re actually down for it.”
Matthew chuckled softly. “I walk the talk.”
Clarissa pouted. “Who asked you to bring up the subject about the kneeling on the washboard, anyway?”
“I was only trying to cool you down, Clare. Are you still mad about it?”
Clarissa pursed and snorted. In fact, she wasn’t angry anymore. Seeing that Matthew was willing to go to such lengths, she was no longer pissed.
“It wasn’t because I couldn’t accept your suggestion, It’s just that I have my own preference as well. Besides, I’m a little conservative myself, so I won’t really wear anything that’s too revealing. It’s your overly autocratic attitude that made me unhappy.”
Matthew replied with a gentle tone, “I know, and that’s why I’m apologizing to you.”
Two-way communication and understanding were keys to resolving conflicts. The trick between the two of them was mutual understanding and compromise. Hence, instances of serious dispute were rare. What happened that day was one of the very few times when their conflict dragged on for a relatively extended span.
In the past, Clarissa used to think that it was hard for them to be really mad at each other and quarrel.
“All right, I’m not angry anymore, but you should at least ask for my opinion in the future. You can’t be so domineering…”
“Sure, Clare. I’ll listen to you. Can I get up first? It’s really painful…”
“Pfft…”
Clarissa burst out laughing and reached out to pull her husband up. Matthew got up and looked at the washboard, thinking how ingenious Mrs. Lawson was.
Clarissa seemed to be able to guess what Matthew was thinking, as she, too, was looking at the washboard which was carved out of wood and brand new. The grooves on top were all hard and tapered.
“Hahaha… Did Mrs. Lawson purchase this for you? Why didn’t she just buy those plastic ones? She’s an honest woman, all right. This really hurts, doesn’t it?”
Clarissa felt bad about it, and she led Matthew to sit down on the bed, checking his knees. As soon as she saw the groove marks on them, she relented instantly and was distressed. She couldn’t help rubbing against his knees tenderly and didn’t even dare to exert more strength.
“I’m sorry. Do you feel uncomfortable? I didn’t know it would be so serious. Look at you. You’re usually full of ideas and tricks; why didn’t you think of a way to gloss over it?”
As with Matthew, the irritation on his knees was only momentary, but he certainly savored the moment of being caressed by his precious wife.
Not to mention he had an even greater relish when he saw the distressed expression on her face. Even though he no longer felt the pain, it was necessary for him to show his faithfulness.
“How can I employ tricks or ruse in my apology to you? My affection and love for you are sincere, hence, my actions should be just the same.”
Clarissa pouted as she lowered her head and blew on his knees. Her breath brushed against his knees and over his thighs. In a flash, Matthew’s body went stiff. He had never felt such a sensation before, and his reactions came in no time.
Before Clarissa could react, Matthew had already pinned her down in bed.
“Clare, it hurts…”
Clarissa frowned at that. “Do you want to apply some medication on it? Let me go and get it—”
“It hurts here—” Matthew wriggled suggestively.
For a moment, Clarissa’s countenance changed, and there was a faint dash of scarlet on her face. Looking into Matthew’s eyes with a deep glowing ardent glint, she wanted to resist, but as she thought about the kneeling punishment that the man bore just a little while ago, she caved in.
Nevertheless, she uttered deliberately, “Really? Then why are you still pressing against them if it hurts? Let’s just sleep; it’ll be fine as soon as you fall asleep.”
Matthew went silent. They looked at each other. Clarissa was still unyielding whereas Matthew couldn’t hold it anymore. Without further ado, as he could also notice the frisky glow in her eyes and refused to just watch her foolishly, he set off doing what he felt like to do.
Immediately, his lips brushed against hers. In that instance, the discomfort on his knees could no longer be felt, and he stopped trying to gain pity altogether…
Very soon, his irritation was soothed, and his thirst satisfied…
Clarissa was sitting under the sun, enjoying her basking. In the distance, Damian was running wildly in the yard. The big toy car gifted to him by Jeremy was actually a real car that could be driven. Nevertheless, the little boy wasn’t allowed to drive yet, so he cried woefully. Seeing as such, Clarissa compromised and bought him another simpler ride-on toy car.
It became his favorite toy lately. He always rode in his toy car and pretended to be a grown-up in the yard. He even asked Mrs. Lawson and the others to act as the pedestrians or traffic police. The little boy had a lot of fun role-playing.
Clarissa was scrolling the screen of her phone. Her family of three did attract a lot of public attention the night before. Fortunately, no photos were circulated. Because of that, the netizens urged her to post photos of her family, and there were even invitations that called for her and Matthew to join some parenting reality shows.
Clarissa rejected them one by one. What a surprise!
Nevertheless, these pieces of news concerning her also brought some negative side impacts.
For instance, Hilary contacted her again recently and even made Jonathan the intermediary to invite Clarissa and her small family over for dinner with the Garretts. However, even as Hilary and Jonathan expressed it as having dinner together “as a family,” Clarissa still turned them down mercilessly.
Apart from that, Gloria also called her several times and asked her to save Mimi, but she was disregarded by Clarissa altogether.
It irked her to think about all these troubles, and there seemed to be no end to them.
For that reason, Clarissa planned to take her son to relax at the hot springs for a few days.
She invited Ellie, who responded by saying that she definitely had spare time to join them. As for Matthew, he would never let his wife and son go out on their own anymore. Hence, all three members of the family would go together. Somehow, her plan had been spread, and she had no idea how, but Yarick, Jeremy, together with their dates, and even Henry had brought Yaala along as they took the flight to Jeradus.
Truth be told, when Clarissa mentioned going to the hot springs, what she meant was going on a road trip to the nearest hot springs city, spent a night over there, and returned home the next day. That would save them the trouble of delays in their work, too.
However, she forgot how wealthy her husband was, and how all his friends were also affluent. Hence, owing to her suggestion of relaxing at the hot springs, they ended up flying to their neighboring country, Jeradus. Their lifestyles made her feel as though she could just fly to Epea in the future when she wanted to buy handbags and then just fly back after her shopping spree, or fly to Erihal when she felt like feeding the pigeons. And if she ever felt like having some international cuisine, she could just set off going abroad and return after her meal.
Even though all these were a little too extravagant for her, the few men around her did think and even behave in such a manner.
“Clarissa, since we’ve already come on a trip, why don’t we fly to Archulea after going to the spa? The weather over there is hot, so how about taking a sunbath there before going back to D City?”
Clarissa was rendered speechless. It was just as she had expected.
She stared at Matthew while he looked at her in a very composed manner as he replied, “Just go if you want. Is there any problem with that?”
“No, absolutely not.”
I’d look like a country bumpkin if I answer yes.
“Haha… Well, I just think it’s better to return home after the spa. I’m a homebody.”
“Oh, come on, Matt and Damian are all here. That’s where home is, isn’t it? Jeremy, don’t you think I sound artsy? You know, when I said ‘that’s where home is?’“
Yarick was complacent with his sudden realization while Jeremy chose to ignore him.
Yarick turned and took a look at Henry, who was busy trying to please Yaala who just gave him a poker face in return.
He was bored and seeing as such, his partner immediately showered him with flattery and admiration. Hence, the two of them began flirting intimately with one another.
Clarissa felt helpless. Why are these people coming together with us?
She just wanted a road trip to the hot springs.
“Mommy, what’s wrong?”
Damian looked at his mother and reached out his puny hand to touch her face that didn’t seem to look well.
Clarissa forced a smile and replied, “There’s nothing wrong with me. I just really feel like driving.”
“Driving?”
Yarick had a sharp hearing. He put on an evil grin at that. “Clarissa, when we get off this plane, you can drive in whatever way you like. You can even drive Matt wild… Hahaha…”
Clarissa was utterly at a loss for words.
Can I hurl Yarick off the plane right now?
