“Not a total success,” Stella replied in a whisper.
“Why? What happened?”
“He was angry when I mentioned Clarisse. I’m sure by now, just the thought of her will disgust him. Even hearing her name will probably irritate him,” she said.
“That’s good news,” Patricia grinned. “Why aren’t you happy?”
“He was so harsh with me, so rude, and angry,” Alice complained.
“Come on, that’s probably because of what he heard about his wife. He’s probably already falling for her, and with what you said, of course he’s going to be harsh and angry.”
“You think so?” Alice asked, uncertain.
“I know so. So don’t worry, Christian is yours,” Patricia reassured her with a smile, managing to cheer her up.
Meanwhile, Christian asked the driver if he had seen Clarisse, but he hadn’t. They began searching for her, braving the rain until they reached the side of the hospital. There, Christian saw a woman squatting in a corner, wrapped up in herself and shivering.
He recognized her immediately-it was Clarisse, and the sight of her broke his heart. He rushed to her side, covering her with his body, letting the rain beat on him instead of her. He gently squatted down beside her.
She wasn’t aware of anything, consumed by her trauma. Trembling like a leaf and whimpering, she only felt warmth when it suddenly surrounded her. The rain stopped beating down on her, and she could feel a firm, broad body pulling her closer. The warmth was so irresistible and comforting, and she didn’t care who it was or what it was. She felt a sense of protection, one she desperately needed at that moment. She leaned into the embrace, not thinking, just allowing herself to be wrapped in the warmth that curled around her, hiding her away from the world.
They stayed like that until she calmed down, realizing she felt more relaxed, despite the rain still falling around them. She was in the arms of an unknown man who was being drenched by the rain while protecting her. Curiosity piqued, she wondered who could be crazy enough to do that for a woman. Was there really someone like that?
She gently lifted her head to see who it was, and her jaw dropped when she saw the last person she expected. He was soaked, his hair wet and clinging to his face, making him look so attractive that she gulped. But as the events of the last few minutes rushed back to her, anger surged within her, leaving her confused and speechless.
“What are you doing?” The words escaped her lips, her voice shaky.
“Hey, princess,” he said with a smile. “Hiding away, huh?”
“What are you doing?” she asked again, her voice a little firmer. He just smiled in response.
“Are you okay, Ari?” he asked, his concern evident in his voice.
She gently raised her head to look at who it was, and her jaw dropped when she saw the last person she expected. He was drenched from the rain, his wet hair clinging to his face, making him look so attractive that she swallowed hard. But as the events of the past few minutes replayed in her mind, anger surged within her. Still, what he was doing left her confused and speechless.
“What are you doing?” The words managed to escape her lips.
“Hey, princess,” he called, smiling. “Hiding away, huh?”
“What are you doing?” she asked again, but he just smiled in response.
“Are you okay, Ari?” he asked, his concern evident in his voice.
Blue gently placed the cup of hot tea on the table in front of her, bowing slightly as she did.
“Here’s your tea, ma’am.”
“Thank you so much,” she replied, walking toward it. She picked it up carefully and blew air into it, but her troubled mind wouldn’t let her drink just yet.
She hated Christian. She thought of him as manipulative and, above all, crazy. But she couldn’t shake the two events that had left her so confused. She saw him holding Alice’s hand, but at the same time, he was out in the rain with her. The way her body and mind had relaxed in his warmth, how safe she felt, confused her.
She hated to admit it, but that was the only word for it-safe. And that feeling made her uncertain. She shouldn’t feel that way. She couldn’t trust him, not when his intentions were so unclear.
As these thoughts circled in her mind, her worry returned. She noticed his breath was uneven in the car, his face flushed. After being caught in the rain like that, there was no way he wouldn’t catch a cold.
“I’m not caring,” she muttered to herself, trying to convince herself. “I’m not worried. I should thank him for coming and for… staying in the rain. But should I thank him for staying in the rain? Isn’t he the one who’s crazy? Why would he? Anyway… let’s just thank him and go back.”
She placed the cup of tea gently on the table and turned to Blue, who was smiling as she watched her talk to herself.
“Um… please… where’s Mr. Christian’s room?” she asked, trying to sound polite.
“Mr. Christian? Aren’t they married?” Blue thought to herself.
Clarisse could see the frown on Blue’s face and quickly corrected herself, “I mean… my husband?”
Blue smiled. “Master is in the other room. Please, allow me to show you.”
“Sure. Thanks,” Clarisse replied, following Blue out of the room. They didn’t walk far before Blue pointed to the room next to hers.
“This is the master’s room,” Blue said with a smile and a slight bow before walking away.
Clarisse wanted to stop her and ask her to wait, but Blue was already gone. Her heart raced as she stood outside the door. “Oh, this is a bad idea,” she muttered to herself, turning to leave when the door opened.
“Miss Clarisse?”
She froze at the sound of the old man’s voice calling her name, her hand trembling as she realized she’d been caught. Slowly, she turned around and met his smiling face. Nervously, she said, “I was… I was just…”
Clinton chuckled. “I see. You must have been worried. Come in, please.” He opened the door wider for her to enter.
“You don’t need to-“
“Please, come in.” He gestured for her to enter with a smile. With heavy feet and trembling hands, she stepped inside.
She saw Christian lying on the bed, covered in the duvet. His face looked pale, his eyes closed, and a wet towel rested on his forehead. A feeling of guilt crept through her.
“He must be so sick,” she said softly and guiltily.
Clinton’s eyes widened, his jaw dropping. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Never had he imagined he would see Christian lie or pretend to be sick just for a lady’s attention. Never.
(A few minutes earlier)
“You’re running a fever. You need to take care of yourself,” Clinton said, trying to force the wet towel onto Christian’s forehead.
Christian, sitting on the bed, pushed it away. “Get that away from me. I don’t need it. It’s for weak men.”
“Where was that written? I’ve never come across such an inscription,” Clinton said, raising an eyebrow.
“You haven’t studied enough, then,” Christian replied coldly.
“Does she know? That you’re burning up, looking pale, and catching a cold yet not taking anything?”
“Ugh! You talk too much, old man,” Christian replied, turning away. “I wish she’d know. She might show some care and attention,” he muttered.
Clinton couldn’t see Christian’s expression since his back was turned, but from his tone, it was clear he wasn’t happy. Just then, they heard someone at the door.
“This is the master’s room,” a voice called out.
They both looked at each other, wondering who it was. Clinton moved towards the door and opened it, surprised to see who it was. “Miss Clarisse?”
He was delighted to see her. He was glad that she worried about him and came to check on him. But as soon as he called her name, Christian rushed to his bed, jumped in, covered himself with the blanket, placed the wet towel on his forehead, and pretended to be asleep. Clinton was shocked to see him tucked in bed with the wet towel he had just called “disgusting.”
“Did he use any medication?” Clarisse asked Clinton, her tone full of concern.
“Huh?” Clinton snapped out of his thoughts. “Uh, no, no.”
“Why?”
“Huh? Um… he doesn’t like it, so… I used the wet towel.”
“Oh.” Clarisse turned back to Christian. “He’s sleeping. I shouldn’t disturb him.” Her face fell, and she turned to leave.
Christian opened one eye and gave Clinton a look, signaling him to stop her. The confused man hesitated, thinking anxiously, while Clarisse was almost at the door.
“Oh yeah, yeah!” Clinton rushed to her and grabbed her hand but quickly let go. “I’m sorry.”
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.