Clarissa was still waiting for an explanation from Matthew. Or alternatively, an official breakup notice. Anything was better than just plain waiting.
As the woman was still staring out in a daze, another Tyson showed up from the corner of her eyes– it was Ellie.
“Ellie?” Clarissa was so startled to see Ellie’s presence in the studio and was lost for words for a few seconds.
“What are you gaping at? Am I not welcome here?”
Ellie feigned arrogance. She looked very different from the last time Clarissa saw her; her hair was longer now, the ashley-gray hair was now natural black. Her refreshing look resembled a cute college girl.
Despite that, the tone of her voice was not so pleasant.
But that did not concern Clarissa as she ran toward Ellie and whined like a child, “Ellie! Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. You have no idea how much I miss you…” She was now hugging Ellie tightly.
Ellie tried faintly to pry open Clarissa’s arms that were now wrapped around her like a boa constrictor. Failing which, she just pouted her lips a little in protest.
Clarissa knew in her heart that Ellie’s mere presence here was a good indicator that she had forgiven her.
Clarissa took leave from Justin and the two left the studio.
After returning to the hotel, the two friends were seated across from each other quietly before Ellie finally broke the silence. “I told you to break things off with him before but you refused. Now, look at you. Dare I say I told you so?”
Seeing her good friend keeping her head down, Ellie felt a pang of guilt surged in her chest. She chastised herself for choosing her words poorly for that was not her real intention.
“Actually…” Clarissa slowly replied with a bitter smile on her face. She was unexpectedly calm and composed. There was no crying hysterically, no complaints or similar emotional display one would expect from someone in her situation.
Ellie’s heart ached when she looked at the woman before her trying so hard to hold it together.
“Ellie, I have no regrets for falling for Matthew. There’s never any guarantee that two persons who are in love will last forever. It’s just that, with all the news about them getting married, I still haven’t received a call from Matthew. So, I think he probably has already broken up with me in his heart.”
“Son of a b*tch!” Ellie cursed angrily.
“You shouldn’t have started things with him. You’ll still have gotten something in return if you did that for money. But you didn’t! And look at what he’s doing to you now——”
More curses flowed out of Ellie’s mouth as though it was not her most respected uncle she was badmouthing about.
When she finally stopped to catch her breath, she saw a smile on Clarissa’s face and threw a pillow in her direction. “What are you laughing at, you moron? Why didn’t I find you to be so generous before?”
Clarissa caught the pillow and replied with a grin on her face, “I’m just happy that you still care so much about me. I take it that you’ve forgiven me?”
“That’s not true. I’m still mad at you, Clarissa Quigley.”
Clarissa walked toward her friend and sat down next to her. She then wrapped her arms around her and leaned her head on Ellie’s shoulder as she spoke, “Thank you, Ellie.”
“For what? For introducing you to Uncle Matt?” Ellie replied sarcastically.
That night, Clarissa finally received a call from Matthew.
They used to video call each other every night before they went to bed. But because of the row they had a few days before, no one was willing to break the ice since.
She thought that Matthew was still sulking like a child, while she was too proud to swallow her pride. So they had not exchanged a word for the last few days.
However, Clarissa would not have guessed that the reason Matthew did not call was because he was busy engaging with another woman.
When Matthew finally called, she carried her phone and came to the hotel courtyard. The air was frosty on the line as Clarissa answered the call but did not utter a word. She was waiting for Matthew to say something.
Matthew fell silent for a moment before he finally spoke, “Is there anything that you want to say to me?”
The man’s voice was still the familiar dulcet and pleasant tone to Clarissa’s ear. But now, she no longer allowed herself to be immersed in that voice.
Her voice was cold and emotionless when she replied, “Shouldn’t it be you who has something to say to me?”
The line went momentarily quiet again before Matthew said, “Clare, please try to believe me.”
Matthew’s succinct reply had instantly warmed up the frozen heart of hers. She had hardened her heart to prepare for the worst, but upon hearing his sincere plea, her heart slowly softened.
Despite her repeated reassurance to others that she was doing fine, her heart had been in wrenching pain.
It was more so after Shermaine’s admission to the engagement rumors. But a small part of her still harbored a faint hope that Matthew would refute those news.
And now, she needed to build up her confidence in him once more.
With that thought, Clarissa’s voice turned softer when she replied, “Okay, I believe you. But can you tell me what’s going on? Shermaine admitted to me that you and her are already engaged. I’m all ears now.”
Matthew massaged his temple, thinking where to start.
It involved many complicating factors that included parental coercion, the close ties between the two families, business, and political decisions. Things could play out very differently depending on every move Matthew made now.
The fact that Matthias was in a fluid position right now made the matter trickier for him to handle.
It was difficult to explain to an outsider about all the interconnecting factors affecting his decisions.
Matthew had devised his own plan, but he was not sure if Clarissa would understand.
“Clare…”
“What is it?”
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