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There was no answer from Clarie other than silence with her head down. She looked so sad and hurt because of Joshua. She had been ready to marry and even leave Tristan. Now she was like a bird in a cage, because her master was too protective of her."Do you want to go home now?" asked Joshua, looking at her."No, I don't. I'll be here with them."Clarice heard Joshua breathe in and out as if he wanted to be angry with her, but couldn't. "If you're here, then I'll be here too." Joshua stood up after saying that. He walked out of the room and met Harry and Flora who were sitting in the living room."You don't mind if I stay here, do you? Clarice doesn't want to go home, so I won't either."Harry and Flora looked at each other. Then Harry nodded his head. "This is your home too, Son. You can stay here whenever you want."Joshua said nothing after being given permission. He left the house to go back to his mansion and get some of his clothes to take to Harry's house. But when he opened th
Clarice couldn't sleep easily with Justin by her side. Her mind was always filled with a deep dread. Because last night she had almost confessed her true feelings to Joshua, while it might take a while to tell him the truth.She glanced at the clock on the nightstand which showed 4 in the morning. Clarice got out of bed slowly, not wanting to wake Joshua up and she changed into her training clothes as she was eager to go for her morning walk without anyone accompanying her.After making sure that Joshua wouldn't wake up because of her, she left the room and walked slowly like a thief. "Clarice?"Flora's voice startled Clarice as she pulled a hat from her hoodie. She then turned around, seeing Flora who had just come down the stairs."Oh ... hey, Flora, good morning!" whispered Clarice.Flora frowned and approached her. "Why are you whispering? You're not going to run away, are you?""More like I'm going for a morning run. No—I mean, a morning walk, considering I'm pregnant too.""Are
Clarice walked Joshua to the terrace where Joshua was going to work after they had breakfast together. She felt guilty for making Joshua leave a little late because he had to pick her up. But on the one hand, Joshua was a CEO and billionaire so whenever he came, it wouldn't be a problem for the company as long as there was no important thing.Her arms were crossed with a face that showed no friendliness at all, but she didn't dare to get angry, she just wanted to show Joshua that she was annoyed with him."I wish you would come back to our mansion today, Clarice," Joshua said, looking at her."And I wish you wouldn't do whatever you want to me." Clarice's reply came out of nowhere, taking Joshua a little by surprise, then her gaze became stern at him."If you want to go outside, let me know. I love you."Joshua grabbed her chin, lifted her up, and kissed her gently and lovingly. Clarice kissed back without realizing it, which made Joshua speculate again but he wouldn't tell Clarice if
Too many things often made it possible for him to be casual even when he received a message from Flora about Clarice. He was happy but he didn't respond to the excitement with passionate feelings. In his life, he had lived through so many different kinds of emotional feelings that he had learned to control each of them into the one emotional feeling that he was sure no one liked, which was to respond to them flatly. Joshua smiled as he read the message, he also didn't lie about his heart racing, but after that, he put his phone back in his pants pocket and continued his work that had been delayed.Although he acted normally, his mind could not be ordinary. He was too excited in his own mind. He couldn't wait to meet Clarice. He wanted to hug her and tell her everything but to be able to say everything was too difficult for him, but Joshua didn't want to lose Clarice.He closed his laptop when he finally chose to stop working. He leaned back in his chair and someone walked into his ro
It was already midnight and Joshua had not returned to Harry's house. Clarice, who had been pacing up and down in her room, was worried and suspicious that something had happened to her husband.His cell phone was unreachable, or rather Joshua's cell phone was dead so Clarice didn't know where Joshua was. All she knew was that she and Joshua hadn't had an argument since morning, but they were still acting like they always had. It was just ... Joshua's whereabouts that Clarice didn't know.Clarice had called Joshua's office, but there was no response, which meant everyone in the office must have gone home.Her anxiety drove her to leave Harry's house and search for Joshua's whereabouts. She would start at the Mansion first, perhaps Joshua had gone back to the Mansion without telling her. Although she wasn’t sure that Joshua was there.Clarice was forced to reach for Flora's car keys, but she didn't ask permission first because she knew Flora would stop her and tell her not to go alone.
"I care," Clarice said, responding to Joshua's words. She didn't think it was that difficult to be open about her feelings for him. After all, Joshua was her husband and he had a right to know how she felt about him."Hmm, you do?"Clarice nodded her head. "We're husband and wife! I–I should know everything you do! Just as you want to know my whereabouts!"Joshua smiled happily at the fact that Clarice dared to express her concern for him. It was the kind of moment he had been hoping to hear. "And what?" asked Joshua."Wh–what do you mean?""You must still have something you want to tell me, right?"Clarice fumbled with her dress, a sign that she was nervous. Of course what Joshua said was true, that there was still something she wanted to say to him but it was difficult for her to say it to him.She shook her head in response. She couldn't be in a conversation situation that pressured her to the point of stress. And fortunately this time Joshua was no longer pushing her. He took Clar
Clarice tried not to wake the house while she was cooking to make amends for the night she used Flora's car without asking her permission first.Unfortunately, Flora was awake but Clarice didn't know it. Flora stood near the kitchen table where she watched Clarice cooking some breakfast without knowing she was there.Flora smiled when she saw Clarice. She shook her head and exhaled. "Good morning, Clarice," Flora greeted Clarice, startling her instantly. Clarice turned her body around and her breath caught for a few seconds. "Flora!""What can I do for you? You shouldn't be cooking this much when you're pregnant."Clarice bit her lower lip, feeling nervous and hesitant as she was at a loss as to how to answer Flora's question. She was just afraid that Flora would be angry and disappointed with her, and even more so she was afraid that Flora would act just like Terry.Her body trembled as she thought of Terry. She was afraid that something like that would happen to her again, and she
Joshua looked at Clarice in the mirror as he was putting on his shirt, with Clarice standing nearby. She looked like she was about to say something to him but was waiting for the right time, which annoyed Joshua because he was curious about what Clarice would say to him."I need help," Joshua said, looking at her in the mirror. Clarice lifted her head and moved closer to him. She buttoned Joshua's shirt which for her, Joshua could have buttoned his own shirt, but Clarice couldn't resist as their relationship had been quite tense lately."The day after tomorrow, we have to go to the gynecologist, right? I'll take you to different doctors so that every check-up, we don't just stick to one doctor," Joshua said, starting the conversation."Okay. It's up to you as long as you inform me.""Good. So now, what do you want to tell me, Baby?" Joshua looked down, where Clarice had stopped buttoning his shirt in shock at Joshua's question. Then her hands continued buttoning Joshua's shirt."I b
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