Two Times the Charm (Clara and Emmett) novel Chapter 92

Clara gave him a straight look and seriously said, "Elio, you're not getting any younger, you know? It’s time to get yourself a girlfriend. It's not good the way you're always alone, changing your women like you change your socks!"

"I want a girlfriend, but no one's giving me the chance. What can I do? My parents are breathing down my neck about it too, it's got me so worked up that I've got mouth ulcers! Look!" Elio leaned in toward Clara on purpose.

Clara darted away like a startled bird, "Elio! Cut it out. Alex is inside!"

"Alright, alright, I'll stop, okay?" Elio pouted, "I've done so much for you but I can't even win your heart. Fine, I get it. But as your friend, I don't even know who your Mr. Right is. I don't even know who I'm up against."

Clara gave him an annoyed look, "You will never let this topic go, will you?"

As soon as her words dropped, Alex limped out of the game room.

Alex grinned when he saw his mother with Mr. Milburn, "Mum, why don't you and Mr. Milburn make it official? I really like Mr. Milburn; I want him to be my dad!"

Clara looked at him, helplessly squatting down to eye level with her son, "Alex, you can't just say these things! It's not something a child should say, got it?"

"Can I say I want a dad then?"

"Alex..."

Alex made a pouty face, his mood visibly dropping, "What's wrong with wanting a dad? All the other kids have dads, why don't I? Mr. Milburn is so nice to me but you won't let him be my dad, you want him to give me a little brother or sister instead! Mum, do you even love me?"

Clara was taken aback by Alex's words.

It seemed like Elio was really good to him, and he really wanted Elio to be his dad, but she couldn't be selfish.

With that, he burst into tears, something that Alex rarely did.

Even when he was scolded for being naughty, he'd never cried this hard.

Seeing her son like this, Clara's heart ached! She knew she couldn't keep lying to him, because he was starting to need a father's love, something a mother's love couldn't fully replace.

"Clara, you should agree with him!" Elio shot Clara a look, "Look at how sad he is!"

Clara just kept her lips tightly sealed, not saying a word.

"Don't overthink it. I know you’re worried for me but I’m not scared of what others will think! I've never cared about that." Elio took a deep breath, reaching out to grasp Clara's wrist, "Be with me! You can try to accept me first."