Percy laughed inwardly, amused by her bluntness. He thought to himself, Interesting.
“Why right now?” he asked.
“Because right now, I don’t love him.”
“But what if it’s later? What if you love him then?”
“Then there will be something to fight for, a reason to fight,” she said, believing there was no way she would fall in love-maybe not in this lifetime.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Percy’s outburst of laughter. He clapped his hands, and this was when Clarisse finally looked at him. He looked old, yet still handsome for someone lying in a sickbed.
“I love this,” he said with a laugh. “Do you think you can fall in love with my son faster than you think?”
“Huh? I… don’t…”
“Okay then,” Percy interrupted, turning to Christian. “I’m throwing you a challenge,” he said, his voice filled with excitement. “I want you to make her fall head over heels for you.”
Christian laughed, while Clarisse remained confused. She couldn’t understand why Percy wasn’t upset that she didn’t love his son or why he wasn’t throwing her out.
Percy turned to her, looking very pleased with himself. “He’s going to make you fall in love. But here’s the deal: If you don’t fall in love, I promise you sixty million dollars and will grant you anything you wish.”
“What?!” Christian gasped. “What kind of challenge is that?” he asked, but Percy ignored him.
‘Is this man trying to make everything worse instead of helping?’ Christian thought, feeling like giving Percy a sleeping pill.
“And if you fall in love…” Percy continued.
“I can’t,” Clarisse replied honestly, but the old man only giggled.
“There’s no such thing as ‘can’t,’” he said. “It only becomes ‘can’t’ when the air stops coming in and out of you. Only when you’re dead does it become ‘can’t.’ There’s nothing you can’t do, and no power you can’t get.” He laughed again. “So if you end up falling in love with him, and he happens to love you back, you’ll divorce.”
“What?!” Christian exclaimed loudly. “Now I know this man is a total devil. I thought he liked me, but the first time having a wrong judgment…”
“You want us to divorce if we fall in love? Who the heck does that?” Christian continued, his disbelief growing.
“Percy,” the old man replied, smiling as his eyes met Clarisse’s blank gaze.
“You’ll grant me anything I wish for?”
“I am a man of my word,” Percy said with a grin. “Also-“
“There’s no ‘also,’” Christian cut him short. “Did I do something wrong?”
“Jeez! Bringing Clarisse here is the worst mistake of my life.”
Just as Christian and Clarisse arrived at the hospital, Patricia received a message from her spy. The message triggered every malicious thought within her, causing her to smirk before calling her daughter to join her in carrying out their wicked plan.
Christian smiled to himself, sensing that his grandfather liked Clarisse. Percy was the type of man who valued honesty above all else, and he had a knack for knowing when someone was lying. Honesty was his heart, and challenges were his hobby. He enjoyed throwing challenges to those he found interesting, but his challenges were always traps. Christian couldn’t help but wonder why his grandfather always made things so difficult. He had once made a wish, only for Percy to challenge him, and it had taken eleven years for him to realize the challenge was a trick. Now, he was left wondering what this tricky old man was up to.
The nurse soon returned and bowed before them.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but it’s time for him to rest.”
“Sure,” Christian said, turning to Percy. “We’ll take our leave now, old man.”
“Thanks for visiting,” Percy said. Then he turned to Clarisse. “Two months… is the challenge on?”
“Yes, sir,” Clarisse replied.
“Deal. I swear on my sickbed to keep my word,” Percy chuckled, clearly able to read her expression, which told him she had trust issues.
Christian rolled his eyes, bowed slightly to Percy, and, with Clarisse, left the ward so the nurse could attend to him and let him nap.
Once outside the ward, Christian asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, thanks,” she replied, not looking at him.
“My grandfather likes you. He wouldn’t challenge anyone he doesn’t find interesting,” Christian added.
“Interesting? Me?” Clarisse replied, still processing.
“Yes,” Christian smiled, “but you don’t have to take his challenge if you don’t want to.”
“Thanks, but I think I will,” she answered, her mind already racing. Just two months. There’s no way I’ll fall in love, not to mention within two months. By then, I’ll ask him for freedom. A place far away from here, somewhere no one knows me, where I can be by myself-no fear, no worries, no panic, just peace.
She suddenly bumped into someone, yanking her out of her thoughts. The impact caused her to slip to her knees, and she almost fell, but Christian’s quick reflexes were fast enough to catch her. He pulled her closer, steadying her by her waist.
“Oh,” she breathed in relief, but then realized just how close they were standing. Their eyes locked, and she found herself drawn to the intensity of his gaze. Her lips parted, and his eyes fell on her pink, tempting lips. His arms were still around her waist.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said quickly, moving back when she heard someone clear their throat. It was the person she had bumped into.
She turned to apologize, bowing, but then heard the most annoying voice she hated to hear.
“Oh my goodness! Look who’s here!” the woman exclaimed excitedly. Clarisse looked up to confirm that her ears weren’t playing tricks on her. Indeed, it was Patricia.
“Oh, my princess!” Patricia grinned, pulling Clarisse into a tight hug.
“Mrs. Ferdinand?” Christian called, looking surprised.
“Oh my God! What are you two doing here? Are you sick?” Patricia asked, turning Clarisse around to check if she was okay.
“We came to visit someone,” Christian said, eyeing Patricia suspiciously.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re not sick or anything,” Patricia replied with a sweet smile at Clarisse.
Clarisse’s body stiffened with discomfort and fear. Just when she needed it, Christian pulled her out of Patricia’s grasp, and she was grateful for it.
“You must be here for something, so let’s not delay you,” Christian said. “We’ll be on our way now.” But Patricia pulled Clarisse back.
“I just brought her sister here for a medical checkup,” Patricia said with a fake laugh. “We do it every month,” she continued, turning to Clarisse. “I missed my daughter so much. I haven’t been able to be with her for some time. I kept staring at her room every night…”
“I don’t even have a room,” Clarisse thought to herself, as Patricia continued talking in her fake, pitiful voice. It sounded like she truly missed Clarisse and cared deeply for her. “Sometimes, I cried when everything and everywhere smelled of her. Her perfume alone makes me sorrowful…”
“I don’t even have perfume,” Clarisse thought again, growing more uncomfortable.
“Why are you talking like she’s dead?” Christian asked, his voice laced with disgust at Patricia’s act.
The fact that she’s in the hospital at that time made Christian suspicious. He didn’t believe in coincidences.
“Huh?”
“If you miss her that much, you can simply call or video call her,” Christian said.
‘I don’t even have a phone,’ Clarisse thought to herself.
She laughed awkwardly. “I thought she was on her honeymoon, and I didn’t want to disturb her. That’s why I couldn’t call. I only get to see her during dinner,” she said, her voice growing sadder. “But the dinner didn’t end the way I wanted, so I want to make it up to her. We have a lot to catch up on. So, if you’ll allow it, which I’d really appreciate, I’d love to have some time with her.”
No, no, no, no, Clarisse shouted in her mind, desperately hoping Christian would say no.
“Please… it won’t take long. I really miss my daughter,” Patricia said, her voice breaking into sobs. Clarisse looked at her, surprised. How can she act so well? What a liar!
Since Clarisse wasn’t saying anything, Christian didn’t want to seem over-possessive. He expected some action from her in case she wasn’t comfortable, but when she didn’t move, he relented.
“Okay, I’ll wait in the lobby.”
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.