“You’ll be visiting Mr. Percy today, Master Charles’s grandfather,” he explained.
“Again? We’re visiting another family today? Why can’t there be one peaceful day?” she thought to herself.
“Are we going this morning?” she asked aloud.
“Yes, ma’am. After breakfast,” he replied.
“Okay,” she said, her shoulders slumping in resignation.
“Would you like to join the master for breakfast?” he asked.
“No. Um, I’d love to have it here,” she answered.
“As you wish, ma’am,” he agreed and turned to the maids. Together, they left to prepare the meal.
Clarisse sighed as soon as they left. “I just want a peaceful day. A day of just eating and sleeping, no emotions, no feelings-just a few minutes of lifelessness,” she muttered to herself as she fell back onto the bed. She turned toward the window and sighed again.
“Did it really rain all night?” she asked, still unsure.
“Any update?”
“He’s planning to meet him this week, but I’m still digging to find out exactly when.”
“You don’t know when? What’s the point of paying you if you’re not going to do your job right?” Kyle yelled into the phone.
Standing in the middle of the living room, dressed in black pants and a blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up, Kyle was clearly frustrated. He groaned and was about to hang up when he heard the spy’s voice over the phone.
“But I have some useful information.”
“What information?” Kyle asked, his interest piqued.
“It’s about his new project and his wife, Clarisse.”
Kyle’s attention sharpened. As he listened to the spy’s details, his intrigue grew. A smirk crept onto his face before he hung up. “Things are about to get more interesting,” he muttered to himself, pleased with the new information. He turned to head toward the bedroom but bumped into a woman who had been standing behind him.
“What are you doing?” he asked, eyeing her as she stood with her arms crossed.
“I came to call you. The food is ready.”
“Is that what you came to call me for? Not eavesdropping?” He frowned, scrutinizing her. “Since when have you been standing there?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping. I just came in,” she responded, though Kyle wasn’t entirely convinced.
He looked at her, suspicious, but his thoughts were momentarily distracted. Isabella stood there, watching him with an intensity that was hard to ignore. He was a handsome man with black spiky hair, and Isabella couldn’t help but be drawn to his warm, brown eyes. She loved staring into them-they were her weakness.
“I’m not eating,” he said abruptly, turning away.
“Why? I woke up early to make your favorite. It’s-“
“I said I’m not eating. Are you deaf?” Kyle yelled, turning back around to face her.
Isabella’s heart sank. “Did I do something wrong? I made your favorite…”
“Why are you being so persistent? Did you add some potion to the food?”
“No, what kind of accusation is that?”
He chuckled and walked briskly toward her, grabbing her firmly by the arm, causing her to wince. He dragged her toward the place where the food was.
“Ouch, it hurts, Kyle, let go!” Her plea fell on deaf ears as he continued to drag her. He hit the plate cover, scooped some spaghetti with his hand, and forcefully shoved it into her mouth.
“Stop! Stop, Kyle!” she struggled, trying to break free from his grip. Finally, she coughed out the food, her eyes welling up with tears.
“What’s wrong with you?” she cried.
“That’s to confirm it’s not poisoned,” he said angrily, before walking away.
She collapsed to the ground, sobbing, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Kyle wasn’t like this when they started dating-he had been a complete gentleman, sweet and caring, and would never have harmed her. But now, he was the complete opposite of the man she had known. Everything had changed when he started competing with Christian. She had tried everything to bring back the Kyle she once knew, but the more she tried, the more he seemed to hate her, and it shattered her heart.
Clarisse didn’t say a word to Christian throughout the drive to the hospital, and Cyrus, left with no choice, had to endure the uncomfortable silence once again.
They finally arrived at the hospital, and Christian led her inside. Clarisse wore a simple yet magnificent white knee-length gown, black heels, and a black handbag. Her outfit was beautiful and expensive, with a fashionista easily able to spot its worth. The guards cleared the way for them as they approached the door to the grandfather’s room.
Percy, tucked into his blanket, looked up and saw his precious grandson. He smiled warmly.
“See who finally decided to come and visit his poor grandfather,” he said, excusing the nurse.
Christian and Clarisse bowed before him.
“Good afternoon, grandfather,” Christian greeted.
“Stand,” Percy replied, but his eyes were fixed on Clarisse, whose gaze was firmly planted on the ground.
“Is there something interesting on the floor, young lady?” Percy asked, clearing his throat.
Clarisse immediately realized he was referring to her. She looked up and bowed, greeting him once again.
“This is Clarisse, my wife,” Christian introduced. “And this is my grandfather, Ari.”
“You don’t have to greet me again,” Percy said, stopping her from bowing a second time.
He looked her over from head to toe, then relaxed back in his chair.
“So, Clarisse, is it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you love my son, Clarisse?” he asked bluntly. Christian opened his mouth to speak, but Percy raised his palm, silencing him.
Clarisse felt a wave of fear at the intensity of the old man’s gaze fixed on her. She didn’t want to look down, knowing he’d comment on whatever was interesting on the floor that she might be looking at. Instead, she focused on his stomach.
“I asked you, Clarisse. Do you love my son?”
She swallowed nervously and answered without hesitation, “No.”
Percy raised an eyebrow. “No? Then why did you marry him? For his money?”
“I’m not interested in his money,” she replied firmly.
“Then what are you interested in?” he pressed.
“Nothing.”
Percy scoffed and raised his brow, clearly unimpressed. “Then why marry him?”
“My family… my family told me to marry him.”
“So, if your family asked you to divorce him, would you?”
Clarisse paused for a moment. She hadn’t really thought through her answers; she wasn’t sure what their intentions were or what they might do if she upset them. But she didn’t want to lie-not when the truth was so obvious.
“What would you do, Clarisse, if your family asked you to divorce him?”
“Right now? Yes.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.