Clarissa stared into Matthew’s unfathomable eyes and marveled at the tricks behind those eyes.
She thought he already knew about everything, but he was lying.
Suppressing a grin, Clarissa said, “Nothing happened. I don’t believe Mr. Payne has said nothing.”
Matthew remained expressionless as he raised an eyebrow at her.
“What is he supposed to tell me?” Matthew asked.
“Nothing. Don’t sound like I’ve done something bad behind your back.”
Clarissa gave him an account of what happened earlier. “Alright. I didn’t know Luke would be there! He was arrogant and rude to me. If it was not for Mr. Payne, I don’t know how he was going to bully me next. You’re acting as if I’ve done something wrong, but I’m the victim!”
When Clarissa finished, she cupped Matthew’s face with her palms and poked the corners of his mouth in an attempt to make him smile.
“Smile, Matthew! Can’t you console me since I was insulted?”
“How do you want me to do it?” Matthew whispered in his low voice and grabbed Clarissa’s hands at the same time.
He started moving his hands toward her waist and pressed her toward himself. As their foreheads touched, they could feel each other’s warm breath.
“What sort of consolation do you want? This?”
Matthew’s action was enough. His way of comforting Clarissa was to kiss her gently.
Clarissa didn’t reject him this time. She even wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Clarissa’s rare obedience and initiative made Matthew’s heart palpitate. Unable to withhold himself anymore, he deepened the kiss and almost wanted to have sex with her right on the spot.
In the end, he managed to control himself and walked away from her after seeing her frightened expression. Then, he smoked a cigarette to calm down.
Clarissa felt sorry as she stared after Matthew’s towering figure.
I’ve heard that it isn’t good for men to hold it back. Will it cause any problems for him?
When Matthew turned around and noticed Clarissa staring at his crotch, his blood almost boiled with passion again.
He rasped, “What are you looking at? Do you want to continue?”
Clarissa looked away hastily and shook her head. “No, no.”
Her eyes flickered as she avoided his gaze.
Not long after, Matthew sat in front of her in an elegant posture and carried on smoking.
“You’re such a seductive devil, Clare.”
Clarissa pouted, unaccustomed to him teasing her with a stern expression.
Disagreeing with him, she retorted, “Are you blaming me? It is because of men like you with the same mindset that we women live miserable lives. I didn’t ask to look seductive to you. You men are the ones who are dirty-minded…”
Fine!
Clarissa was unhappy even though Matthew barely said anything,
Matthew sighed, then he got up and sat beside Clarissa. Just as he placed an arm around her, he forgot that he was still holding a lit cigarette. She accidentally scalded her arm amidst the struggle.
“Ouch!”
Yelling in pain, Clarissa held her arm and almost leaped up from the couch.
Matthew threw away the cigarette instantly and cuddled Clarissa. Pouring cold water onto her arm, he apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Clare. It’s my fault…”
The pain faded away gradually as Matthew apologized continuously. Although it was just a tiny scald, it was so painful that Clarissa yelped out loud and almost cried.
Matthew coaxed her and asked Mrs. Lawson to get a doctor.
“There’s no need. It’s just a small injury, nothing to worry about.”
After Mrs. Lawson retrieved a tube of antiseptic cream, Matthew applied it on Clarissa’s arm carefully. Holding on to her hand tightly, he moved her hand toward his lips and kissed it dearly while comforting her apologetically with his soothing voice.
“It’s all my fault, Clare. Does it still hurt?”
Still furious at Matthew, Clarissa scoffed and wrestled her arm out of his grip.
“Matthew Tyson, I…”
Before Clarissa could say anything, Matthew interrupted, “I know, I know. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Clarissa glared at him. “You didn’t just say something wrong! You are apparently having trust issues with me! Am I really that bad in your opinion…”
Matthew swooped in to shut her up again.
After struggling futilely, Clarissa lost her final strength and slumped into Matthew’s embraced. Her face was flushing fiercely, but deep down she was still indignant.
“You’re wrong anyway.”
“Yes, I’m wrong.”
Matthew wondered if Clarissa was going to hold a grudge toward him after he acknowledged his mistake.
“Hmph!”
Clarissa pulled away from Matthew. He was distracted by her red lips and glinting eyes, but she said seriously, “Since you’ve done something wrong today, you have to be punished for it. We’re sleeping in separate rooms tonight.”
“No way!”
Stumped, Clarissa spat, “I’m going back to my apartment.”
“I won’t allow that.”
“It’s none of your business!”
Matthew dragged Clarissa back by the arm as soon as she stood up to leave. Holding her chin, he asked in desperation, “What do you want?”
“Sleeping in separate bedrooms tonight!”
“How about something else?”
“No excuses.”
It was hard for Clarissa not to give in to her temptations.
She had a feeling that she would fully succumb to his wishes one day, so she must find a way to stop it from happening.
However, Matthew could see through Clarissa’s clever little plan.
After glaring daggers at each other for a moment, Matthew finally gave in.
“Okay.”
“Really?”
Clarissa couldn’t suppress her excitement. I’ve succeeded for the first time, haven’t I?
She didn’t even bother to hide the wide smile on her face when she shoved him away. However, he kissed her hard again.
So what if we’re sleeping in separate rooms tonight? You didn’t mention that I can’t touch you outside the bedrooms.
Clarissa intended to follow Justin outdoors to select filming sites and check on the setups, but Matthew wouldn’t allow her to. At the same time, Justin didn’t think that it was necessary.
Coincidentally, Clarissa’s roommate from university was getting married on the same day. She called Clarissa and invited her to the wedding.
Many people chose to hold their weddings in the autumn season because the weather was just nice. Unable to find a valid reason to reject the invitation, Clarissa agreed and went.
Clarissa and her classmates graduated from a famous university. After graduation, some of them continued staying at D City while some of them went overseas. Clarissa was one of the fewer ones who chose to return to her hometown.
Although she hadn’t contacted them for years, she found it hard to turn her down.
On a Sunday morning, Clarissa went out after changing into casual clothes.
She wore a long dress and a coat around her. Staring at the beautiful face in light makeup, Matthew couldn’t help but feel unhappy even though he knew that Clarissa was only going to a classmate’s wedding.
Amused, Clarissa strode toward Matthew and held his hand playfully. “I’ll be back soon. Stop sulking.”
Matthew raised his eyebrows and closed his laptop. Exerting force with his arms, he carried Clarissa onto his lap.
“Can you bring along a family member?”
Clarissa snickered, “It isn’t mentioned. Even if I’m allowed to bring someone along, I won’t bring you.”
Matthew raised his voice slightly. “What?”
“Look at you. You’re so nice and handsome. What if someone lays eyes on you and snatches you away from me?”
Matthew’s stern face finally broke into a smile. When he moved his palm down her dress, she grabbed his finger quickly and whined, “Stop it. I have to go.”
“You’re wearing this?”
Matthew knew how attractive Clarissa’s figure was.
The length of her dress wasn’t a problem, but her collarbones were exposed. In fact, many of the dresses that Clarissa owned would show her shoulders.
“What’s wrong with it?”
Clarissa thought that it was a gentle and elegant outfit.
However, Matthew suddenly turned around and kissed her hard on the shoulder.
“You…”
A mark appeared on her neck. Glaring at Matthew resentfully, Clarissa demanded, “What are you doing?”
“Don’t ever wear strapless dresses again.” He had already seen her in such dresses a few times.
Her pretty collarbones and shoulders should only be exposed to him only.
Clarissa got furious. “This is the current trend!”
“I don’t care. I won’t allow it.”
Clarissa scoffed, still angry at Matthew’s decision. Alas, she went inside to change into a long-sleeved blouse and skirt that covered her shoulders and collarbones entirely.
Matthew was satisfied with the outfit. Sensing Clarissa’s bad mood, he locked his arms around her and kissed her.
“Which hotel is this?”
“St. Helix Hotel.”
Matthew nodded. “Okay. Come back as soon as possible. I’m generous enough to grant you half a day when I should be having you to myself the whole day.”
Rolling her eyes secretly, Clarissa pushed him away and walked out the house.
After Clarissa arrived at the hotel in Mr. Clark’s car as ordered by Matthew, she went up to the sixth floor. Then, she spotted her classmate’s wedding photo and walked toward it.
After presenting a wedding gift and signing her name, Clarissa entered the hall, much to everyone’s astonishment.
“Is that Clarissa Quigley? Oh my gosh! She’s still so beautiful. Why did Helen invite her? Clarissa’s going to steal her spotlight!”
“What else do you think Helen invited Clarissa? She must have done it to show off to everyone including Clarissa. After all, they were once rivals.”
Clarissa’s lips twitched involuntarily when she overheard somebody discussing the topic.
