“Go away!”
Her fair and small-looking face looked frosty as she uttered that.
Matthew rubbed the tip of his nose against her face and neck. He fully embraced the beautiful scent that was lingering around her.
A moment later, he lifted his head and curled his lips at Clarissa.
“I sense that someone’s on edge.”
“That’s because I’m sweating…”
Having uttered that, Clarissa felt embarrassed and started blushing.
Matthew couldn’t help but chuckle after seeing her adorable reaction.
“Haha…”
“Stop laughing!”
Clarissa was a little annoyed and her cheeks puffed up in anger.
However, it only made her even more adorable looking like that.
Matthew couldn’t help but pinch her cheeks with his slender fingers. It was only after he received another angry glare from her that he decided to straighten himself up and let go of Clarissa.
With a lazy smile, he uttered, “Go on now. Otherwise, they would think that you’re holding me back in the kitchen to do something unspeakable.”
After saying that, Matthew left the kitchen.
As for Clarissa, she couldn’t even utter a word due to the anger she felt after hearing his words.
What did he mean by me holding him back?
He was the one that’s forcing me! That man’s such a rascal. He’s simply, simply… A complete and utter bastard!
Clarissa was infuriated. She then looked at the final dish she had prepared when a sinister thought popped up in her mind. She sprinkled a lot of chilies on it and stirred it well before taking the dish out with a cold smile.
Mrs. Lawson had mentioned before that Matthew never eats spicy food and Clarissa had never cooked anything spicy either. Hmph! Just you wait, Matthew! As for the two uninvited guests… You can suffer along with him!
Clarissa was fuming from within. After she brought the dish out from the kitchen, she deliberately placed the dish in front of Matthew. Upon seeing that, Jeremy couldn’t help but tease him jokingly.
“Ah, Mrs. Tyson is so caring toward Matt!”
During the entire time, Yarick was focusing on his food. He did not dare utter another word to avoid offending others even more.
Matthew raised his brows and glanced at Clarissa. To his surprise, she did not turn away but gave him a coy smile instead.
Then he shifted his gaze onto the delicious-looking dish.
Clarissa sat down again and started eating quietly.
There was a heavy silence for a moment before Matthew pushed the dish toward her abruptly and said, “Clarissa, you’ve worked hard tonight. Do eat more.”
The corners of Clarissa’s mouth twitched instantly. Unbeknownst to her, Matthew had caught on to her plan and his eyes darkened while a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“No, I’m fine. So just go ahead and eat.”
Clarissa pushed the dish toward Matthew awkwardly.
Matthew stared deeply at Clarissa. Under his intense gaze, she could feel guilt surging within her. She kept her head lowered the entire time she ate.
“Yarick, Jeremy, eat up.”
Jeremy was taken aback. His eyes darted back and forth between Matthew and Clarissa. He knew then and there that something was up as Matt was never the generous nor understanding type of man.
“Haha… Matt, you’re too kind. I don’t like to eat this, let fatty have it.”
On the other hand, Yarick suddenly felt like crying after receiving such overwhelming kindness. Before that, he was feeling sorry for himself because he had said the wrong things and ended up offending others.
“Thank you Matt, thank you Mrs. Tyson…”
Without saying another word, he picked up his spoon and took a big mouthful.
“Uh…”
Just when Clarissa was about to say something, she held back her words instead.
The three of them stared at Yarick chewing the food.
Moments later, he started coughing violently. “Water, water…”
Clarissa quickly handed him a glass of water while Yarick coughed up all the food that was in his mouth. It was a rather disgusting sight to watch.
Fortunately, everyone managed to dodge away from getting sprayed by the food.
Yarick’s chubby face turned red instantaneously. Then, he stared at Jeremy, Matthew, and Clarissa accusatory.
Both the men were calm and not feeling the slightest guilt even though they had victimized him.
Meanwhile, Clarissa couldn’t hold it in any longer and started apologizing with her face flushed bright red. “I’m sorry. I must have added too much chili in the dish, I’m really sorry.”
“Clarissa, are you sure you didn’t do it on purpose?”
Even Yarick who wasn’t as bright could tell what was going on. It was obvious that she had done that deliberately, but that dish was for Matthew, not him.
Clarissa was feeling uncomfortable under the men’s stares. She quickly stood up and said, “I… I’m done eating. Please enjoy the food.”
Time for me to escape!
After she left, the three men who remained in their seats had completely lost their appetite.
Matthew stood up and walked toward the living room. After lighting up a cigarette, he sat down.
Jeremy took a seat and glanced around the living room. He saw a laptop that was covered with stickers next to the French window and next to it, there was a shawl and a woman’s satchel on the sofa.
Even though it was just a few items laying around, the room was covered with traces of a woman.
Yarick, being the tactless and careless man that he was wouldn’t have picked up on these details. However, with Clarissa being around, it became clearer to him.
At that moment, Yarick suddenly recalled that he had talked bad about Clarissa quite a while ago, and for that reason, he suffered a kick from Matt.
It was no doubt that Jeremy had already figured it out then.
Upon having that thought, Yarick gave Jeremy a hostile glare. That insufferable brat! He knew and didn’t tell me! I had to suffer a kick from Matt for no reason.
Jeremy raised his eyebrows and asked, “What are you glaring at me for?”
“Hmph, you already knew Matt and Ms. Quigley had something going on from the start… Ah! No,” Yarick corrected himself instantly after seeing Matthew’s icy stare. “What I meant was you knew Matt and Mrs. Tyson were together from the start, right?”
Jeremy let out a laugh as he usually would and uttered, “I wasn’t aware of this. Why don’t we ask Matt instead?”
Then, he threw that question to Matthew. “Matt, it seems that things are progressing well with Clarissa! Hasn’t Old Mrs. Tyson been rushing you? When are you going to make it official to the public?”
Yarick was curious about that too. But he asked a more practical question, “Matt, don’t mind me saying this but doesn’t Old Mrs. Tyson like Shermaine more? If you were to make it public with Clarissa, will your elders accept that?”
“It’s me who is going to get married, not them.”
“That’s true. You’ve always made your own decisions and not following what others tell you to do. That’s good then.”
Yarick’s chubby face saddened slightly upon thinking about something, then he quickly smiled after Jeremy gave him a kick. “I do have to say, Clarissa have great cooking skills. Your elders would definitely approve of her after she prepares a meal for them.”
“Fatty, do you think everyone’s a glutton like you? I reckon it’s best for you to marry a chef then.”
“Jeremy, would it kill you to not go against me for one day? Why is it suddenly about me marrying a chef? I’m just saying that she’s skillful in the kitchen and that would earn her some brownie points. You don’t know anything.”
“If I don’t know anything, does that make you know everything? You know nothing.”
“You…”
“Enough!”
Upon hearing Matthew’s loud voice, both of them shut their mouths.
Yarick still wasn’t able to contain his curiosity. His chubby body squirmed for a while before he uttered again, “Matt, could it be that you’ve broken up with Shermaine? Is she not of marriage material?”
Jeremy was utterly stunned at that moment as he wasn’t sure if he should admire the fatty’s bravery, or mourn for his tactlessness.
Matthew shot Yarick an icy stare and he immediately froze.
“Get out!” Matthew brazenly chased them away as he was really angry at that point.
Stricken with fear, Yarick, who was usually fumbling around, quickly jumped to his feet and jogged out the house clumsily.
Upon seeing the tragedy unfold, Jeremy snickered from within. He wasn’t terrified even though Matthew glared at him as well. Instead, he said smilingly, “Well, Matt, I shall not disturb you any further. I’ll buy you and Clarissa a meal next time.”
Finally, Matthew was able to get some quiet time. He continued smoking the cigarette in his hand, enveloping the entire living room with smoke. When Clarissa entered, he was still sitting on the sofa.
Sensing the dreary atmosphere, she did not utter a single word and went to grab her laptop. Just when she was about to leave quietly, the man uttered, “Clare, come over here!”.
“What’s the matter?” Clarissa hugged her laptop while standing by the French window. Her hair hung loosely around her shoulders and she looked even more beautiful with her eyes glistening from the dim lights.
Matthew felt better instantaneously after seeing her.
He put out the cigarette that was in his hand and gestured her to come over by curling his index finger.
That movement reminded Clarissa of the second time they met when she obediently walked toward him the moment he curled his finger.
Back then, she thought that he was definitely a good person, that he was someone who would sacrifice themselves to save others and that was why she didn’t resist at all.
But now, in her eyes, he was the complete opposite of what she had thought.
She stood rooted to her spot and had no intention to budge an inch.
“Just say what you want to say!”
Seeing that she wasn’t willing to go over, Matthew’s lips curled and he stood up. Slowly, he walked toward Clarissa and that had her feeling overwhelmed.
Clarissa took a few steps back until her back was leaning against the French window.
Not again!
She immediately ducked before slipping right under Matthew’s arms and managed to escape successfully.
Clarissa let out a triumphant smile and stuck her tongue out at Matthew.
“Don’t use that method anymore. Just talk if you have anything to say.”
Matthew wasn’t expecting her to react that way, so he turned around and looked at her. With both his hands tucked inside the pockets of his pants, he leaned against the window lazily instead of going after her.
“Clare…” Clarissa couldn’t help but exclaimed, “Stop calling me, what is it that you want to say? Otherwise, I’m going back to the room. I’m busy.”
“People are already addressing you as my missus, so when are we going to make it official?”
Clarissa scoffed at Matthew, and like a cat that had raised its hackles, she spat, “In your dreams.”
“Really? However, I think that it’ll be a reality very soon.”
Clarissa remained silent and ran back to her room. He wasn’t sure if she was silently agreeing or because she was at a loss for words.
Nonetheless, the corners of Matthew’s lip curled up and he smiled.
This is what you call a dream?
If so, what I have in mind is even more beautiful than a dream then.
He knew that if he were to tell her about how he feels, he might frightened her to death.
No, it wouldn’t be wise to scare her that much. As long as it’s enough to make her blush or squirm adorably, that would be sufficiently rewarding.
