"Why are you just asking now, Clarice?" asked Joshua in a very low voice.Clarice's breath caught. She knew she was wrong because she had just realized the difference in Terry and Frans' attitudes towards Joshua. And Clarice had only noticed the difference since she had been with Joshua. Because all this time Clarice's world was only with Joel."W–why?" she stammered back."I guess Joel never said anything about me to you. Or maybe he didn't want to tell anyone. Well, at least what my little brother did was good. He looked like he didn’t want anyone to know about our family matters.”The more Joshua said that the less Clarice understood what he meant. She wondered more and more what was going on in his head."I want us to go around and you to tell me," Clarice said, firmly.Joshua smiled wryly. "Woah. Why are you being so bossy all of a sudden, wife?""Please. I am your wife now, and I want to know!"Clarice looked so ambitious without seeming afraid of Joshua. Because she really want
During her time as a billionaire's wife, Clarice often woke up very early. She would always sneak in and make two glasses of milk for her pregnancy and also for Joshua. She tried to serve Joshua the best by replacing his usual coffee with milk. Joshua also never refused whenever Clarice made him milk. Instead, he finished it right in front of Clarice with two sharp eyes staring at her. That's what Joshua did every day. Clarice tried to be ready before Joshua woke up. Last night they had made love, just as Joshua had wanted to take a warm bath with her and make love too. Clarice knew that this morning there would be no morning sex because they had already had it last night. But again Clarice felt nauseous after she finished her shower. She threw up and tried not to make a sound because she didn't want to wake Joshua. This worried him and he took her to the gynecologist to check on her. "Ugh ... this is getting worse," Clarice whimpered when she saw that she had thrown up quite a lot
"Joana, do you have any ideas on how to make a woman happy with the gifts we give them?" Joshua asked Joana when he arrived at the office all of sudden. Joana stopped what she was doing when her boss suddenly came in and asked her such a question. It was not the first time for she to see and hear Joshua's behavior when he needed something from her, like advice. "I think I made a mistake with my wife," Joshua said, finally telling her the real problem. His boss was often reluctant to tell him the truth about what he had done wrong, but would instead phrase it as if he felt he had made a mistake. Joana chuckled at his words and shook her head. "As a friend, please, tell me your opinion," Joshua said, allowing Joana to act like a friend like it wasn't business they were talking about. "What kind of mistake did you make, Joshua?" asked Joana. Joshua recounted what had happened to him and Clarice when they met with Dennise. It all sounded plausible to Joana until when Joshua mentioned
"Thank you," Joshua said, suddenly.At first, he felt really provoked by Clarice's remark, which he didn't like. He didn't like it at all when someone commented on him, which had always been the case. But this time, and perhaps he would apply it in the future as well, he wanted to be able to control the fire within him.Clarice found it strange to hear him speak of thanking her. "For what?" she asked."You want to reveal how I am to you. I mean, the way I talk to you."Clarice didn't think much of Joshua's temperament. Even though at first it bothered her to hear it, she had become accustomed to it. But what was really strange and also big for Clarice was when Joshua said thank you to her. "If you want me to tell you all about your attitude towards me all this time, I'll tell you, Joshua."Joshua didn't answer. Maybe for tonight, he didn't want to hear anything just yet because he wasn't ready. He might be okay tonight, but he couldn't promise that in the future, even if he tried to
"What do you think when I'm not nice enough to you?" asked Joshua.They lay down on the bed with each other. Both were naked and only a blanket covered them. Joshua held Clarice's head in his arms and looked into her eyes as he asked her."I'm just getting used to it," Clarice replied, honestly. That's exactly how she felt. She was used to Joshua's attitude of getting angry out of the blue."Is that all you feel? I think you're wondering in your heart what makes me angry.""You always get angry even without a reason sometimes, Joshua. That's normal for me." Joshua cleared his throat after hearing his wife's answer. He didn't expect Clarice to answer like that. But now that he thought about it, he was indeed a very temperamental man. Meanwhile, Clarice immediately sensed that she had misspoken to Joshua. She regretted that her remark was so improper at this time since Joshua stayed mute in response to her comment."Is there anything you want to ask me, Clarice?" asked Joshua."Ask?"
"Your Dad?" asked Clarice who was quite surprised to hear Joshua's answer.Joshua nodded his head without speaking again. Clarice was eager to ask more questions but if Joshua didn't continue the conversation, then she didn't think there was anything she needed to ask Joshua more clearly.The car stopped at a fairly quiet but classy restaurant. It didn't come as a surprise to Clarice that Joshua was taking her to a fancy, well-known restaurant. Moreover, she also knew that they would be meeting someone older than them.Joshua looked around the car park. He sighed and took Clarice's hand. "Looks like he came earlier than me." They entered the restaurant and Joshua's eyes were already fixed on the old man who was still looking vigorous, sitting at a corner table and waving his hand at Joshua. Clarice was silent as she watched what was happening to them."Son!" said Harry. He stood up, about to extend his hand to shake Joshua's, but Joshua refused. Then Harry looked at Clarice and inte
"No! You're lying! You're the one who cheated on her, Harry!" Joshua stood up from his chair while Clarice tried to hold him back in his seat. "I'm not forcing you to believe me, son. Because I knew you'd believe what you believed all along. And besides, I was only close to Flora at the time, not cheating on your mother. I started getting close to Flora because I knew your mom had cheated on me first. But in the end, she divorced me herself."Joshua pounded on the table. He then left without Clarice. Clarice tried to chase him until he stopped."I want to be alone," Joshua said."Jo–Joshua! Please, don't go!""I know you and my dad have been pretty close for the last few minutes. You can ask him to take you home. Sorry, Clarice."Clarice stayed silent with her body feeling shocked by Joshua's sudden attitude toward her. She didn't even think that Joshua would leave her with someone he hated so much.While Clarice was still petrified in that place, Harry appeared from inside. "Clarice
"Joshua ... you know his name?" "Tell me correctly, who's cheating, Mom? You or him?" Joshua didn’t even reply to her question so he asked another question to her. Terry looked shocked by the question and everything that had happened in the last few minutes with Joshua. Questions and topics like this had never been brought up by her or even Joshua. This was the first time Joshua brought it up out of the blue, which made it difficult for Terry to give a proper answer. "Hard to answer, huh? At least I know who is right. I was wrong to follow you, Mom." Terry held back his hand as Joshua was about to leave her. "Please, listen to me first, Joshua. It's not what you said and—" "Then tell me!" Joshua yelled, flinching, and seemingly not caring if it was his mother. His eyes even widened at her, without feeling sorry for her. "I did have an affair! But it's because your father was close to another woman!" "No! You're the one who started playing with fire until he started getting close
Clarice cried after she heard the judge's decision that Joshua's sentence could not be commuted or even reduced. Because Joshua committed a murder that left two victims dead, Joshua was sentenced to life imprisonment.Clarice immediately left the courtroom and chose to take a deep breath of air outside. Her body shook with unceasing crying. Her chest felt so tight that she couldn't bear to see Joshua in person forever.Then Darren came and touched her shoulder. Clarice immediately turned around and looked at him. "What?" she asked."He's waiting for you. Meet him, I think he wants to have you at a time like this. He needs you, Clarice."Clarice almost refused. Yeah ... she wasn't in the mood to meet her husband for now, but what Darren said was true. She just needed to strengthen her heart more to face her husband.A big part of Clarice also blamed herself because if she hadn't told Joshua that she would be relieved if he confessed at the police station, then the life sentence wouldn't
A month without Joshua in her life still leaves Clarice struggling to cope with new days. She continued to visit the prison and even the phone calls from Joshua came every day. Clarice always considered her visits to the prison as a form of encouragement for her even if it only lasted for a few hours, because she was honestly never satisfied with that limited communication.Her relationship with Darren was also still going on as it should. Clarice continued to think of Darren as her mentor while Darren always secretly monitored Clarice's condition when she was away from him because he thought that was what Joshua wanted from Clarice; to be safe when she was away from him.Clarice finally managed to understand some of Joshua's work after a month of learning from Darren. She was glad that she understood so quickly that she didn't have to keep calling Darren or meeting him because all she wanted to do was get away from Darren.Joana had even started living at the Mansion as well so they
Darren put Clarice on his bed. He took off her high heels and covered her with a blanket. Sighing and massaging the bridge of his nose, he stared at Clarice for a few moments. He felt that this was the first time he would have a special relationship with his best friend's wife. All this time he had been with other women who were different and single of course. Then fate made him have to have business with Clarice. Joshua's offer was tantalizing, any man who saw Clarice would immediately want to agree to the offer. But his little heart said it was difficult."How can you share your wife with me just because you're in jail, Joshua?" he asked as he looked at Clarice who had fallen asleep due to drunkenness. "What if I fall for her, Joshua? Doesn't that make our friendship break?"This time Darren restrained himself. He rolled out the bed cover on his couch and picked up a pillow. He lay down on it and closed his eyes to sleep.The next morning Clarice woke up, opening her eyes slowly. S
Clarice drove her car to the prison where Joshua was. She had the desire to visit Joshua every day when she finished work or when she was free. Unfortunately, she didn't bring Axcel this time as she went straight to the place. She smiled to herself just thinking about seeing Joshua. She even tidied up her appearance and wanted to show off a little to Joshua that she was now a career woman. Even though Clarice was still upset with Joshua about the talk about Darren and her, she was still going to see him.Clarice waited in the meeting room with her body sitting up straight and her heart beating fast."Hey, gorgeous," greeted Joshua who Clarice had been missing for the past day.Clarice stood up and hugged him immediately. She even aggressively kissed him blindly, not caring about some of the other visitors.Joshua then pulled away realizing that Clarice's lust had peaked. "Hey, are you alright, Clarice?" Joshua asked. They ended up sitting together, side by side with Clarice's head on
"Alright, Clarice ... based on the expression on your face, I think Joshua told you about you and Darren things. Is that right? I mean, no offense because I was told by him too so as not to be surprised if something happens between you two," Joana said quickly in one breath.Clarice's eyes widened in shock. "He told you that too?! What the hell is he doing?! I got so upset when he said things like that to me. I mean ... How could he—"Clarice chose not to continue because she was honestly embarrassed and didn't know what to do. Just the thought of her being with her husband's best friend made her shudder with horror because it was tantamount to cheating on her."Look, Clarice ... I've been in the position of not being able to have sex a few times. So sometimes I choose to have one-night stands with other men on different nights. I mean, I just want to say that staying horny is not fun."Clarice sighed as she rolled her eyes. Her hands were clasped around her waist and she seemed to be
Accompanied by Joana and Darren, Clarice entered the police station and began to meet Joshua who was now wearing an orange suit which means he was now a prisoner. Clarice, Joana, and Darren stood tensely as they waited for Joshua to appear. Although there were chairs and tables, they were not interested in sitting down until they saw Joshua in person.Joshua arrived shortly after they had waited. Handcuffed and then released to meet his friends and family, the warden left him behind."Boss … I'm glad you okay," Joana said, sounding sad."Joshua, I'm going to try to get you out of here as soon as possible," Darren said without any reply.There was only Clarice who didn't say anything but remained silent with her body trembling and her eyes filled with tears.Joshua looked at her with a smile that was so strange to Clarice's eyes. Yeah ... they looked at each other but Clarice saw a different smile from him. A sad smile that Joshua had never shown in his life."No hugs for your now con
Her eyes flickered as she sighed looking up at Joshua. And Clarice knew the meaning of that look, that Joshua wanted her to talk about what she was feeling. "So," Joshua said with a sigh, then sat back in his chair, "what haven't you told me about how you feel lately, Baby?"Like she was in a game where she had to choose one or the other, Clarice really couldn't choose. She was so reluctant to even tell him what was bothering her that her tears came, falling.Joshua quickly stood up and his burly hands touched her wet cheeks and wiped them. "Hey, what have I done to make you cry, Baby?"That was the problem. Clarice's lips were almost closed and she couldn't open them. She couldn't say it because she didn't want to hurt his feelings."Look, if something is bothering you lately, you should tell me immediately. And if it's because of me, I'll be prepared to listen.""That's the point, Joshua! I can't! I can't tell you how I feel these past few days!" responded Clarice quickly. "I can't
The year of Axcel's birth was the biggest celebration Clarice has ever had in her life. She didn't even expect that her son's birthday would be celebrated as big as her wedding with Joshua But she's happy that it was the celebration he deserved.Although Clarice initially told Joshua that there was no need for a big celebration, Joshua made their son's birthday celebration a big one with the help of Joana who was always ready whenever Joshua needed her."So, what about all this? Do you like it?" asked Joshua, whispering at her side.Clarice smiled without looking at him but at the festivities of Axcel's birthday."It's too much. But I'm happy. Well, I don't even know if Axcel understood his birthday or not because he's only one year old."Joshua put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently. "It doesn't matter if he understands or not, the important thing is that we try our best for him, Clarice, and we made a picture moment with him.The smile on Clarice's lips was always ther
They returned to the mansion just the two of them. This time they again left Axcel at Harry and Flora's house because Joshua felt that he and Clarice needed to rest without interruption.Actually, Clarice had never minded Axcel's presence at the Mansion even when she was tired. But she knew that she couldn't defy Joshua's orders which sometimes she really couldn't refuse."Would you like a warm bath? I'll prepare it for you, Clarice," Joshua said, looking at his wife with a tired face."Hmm, yeah. I think that's a good idea. I'll rest for a while until you finish preparing the warm water," Clarice said.Joshua watched her until she lay down on the bed and then he went into the bathroom and started preparing the bathtub for them to soak in together.When Joshua came out of the bathroom, he saw Clarice already asleep on the bed, snoring softly. Joshua didn't have the heart to wake her up because Clarice looked so peaceful in her sleep.Joshua then decided to take a shower first to clean