CHAPTER 7

Although Diana wanted something to happen between them, he rejected her. He didn't want to be with any other woman because he had promised to himself that from this day on he will  be faithful to Clarisa.

He decided to invite her for coffee to avoid Diana's advances, but unfortunately, Clarisa and her friends were there as well. He felt guilty even though he hadn't done anything wrong.

And who the hell is that Patrick? Is he courting Clarisa? Why is he so sweet with her? He even put his arms around her when they left? It seemed like Clarisa is enoying it too! Bastard!

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It was six o'clock when Clarisa got home. They had gone shopping. She treated her friends and bought the bags and shoes they wanted... her friends were overjoyed. They were like siblings, especially since she didn’t have any. Even though she was in New York, their communication hadn’t faded. They had their own group chat and would sometimes do video calls.

After they went shopping, they went home because her friends still had work the next day. She's the only one among her friends who has no work because she is on vacation. 

"Sweetheart, come downstairs. Sir Reed is here!" her mother called out from the outside of her room. she was about to sleep!

"Huh, what is he doing here?" she asked herself. She got out of bed with a huff, came out of her room wearing just a thin, holey T-shirt. It was her favorate shirt since its very comfortable. She went to where Reed and her mother were.

"Oh my God, what are you wearing? Why aren’t you wearing any underwear?" Her mother exclaimed, noticing that she wasn't wearing a bra. She wasn’t used to wearing a bra at home. "Go change your clothes. It’s embarrassing for Sir Reed."

Her face turned red as she ran back to her room, panting heavily. She felt extremely embarrassed and wanted to avoid coming out again!

"Clarisa! Why are you taking so long? Sir Reed is waiting for you!" her mother exlaimed. She had no choice, so she changed into a proper outfit, put on a bra, and came out again. Her mother had already left them alone.

"Why are you here?" she asked Reed, trying to cover up her earlier embarrassment.

"Grandpa wants you to come with me. We’re going back to the mansion."

"I don’t want to!"

"Then go tell that to Grandpa!"

She gave him a stern look, feels like he was blackmailing her again! But she doesn't want Don Miguel to sulk... she had to go with Reed to the mansion. 

Clarisa packed a few things and then go with Reed. They were quiet in the car.

“S-sorry about earlier, Diana isn’t my girlfriend,” Reed said, trying to break the silence.

Clarisa raised an eyebrow and looked at him. “I don’t care, so you don’t have to explain.”

“You’re going to be my wife, so I need to explain.”

“NO! I don’t want a guy like you. If Don Miguel finds out you have a girlfriend... we can’t get married.”

Reed suddenly stopped the car and faced her. Reed’s frustration was palpable. He leaned closer, his voice low and intense.

"This is what you want, Clarisa? Using this as an excuse to get away from me? I told you Diana isn’t my girlfriend! Since the moment I met you, I promised myself I wouldn’t be with anyone else. My heart and body are yours... so stop running. You can’t escape me anyway!... I’ll chase you no matter what."

Clarisa’s face flushed with anger.

"You should be thankful that I'm the one chasing after you. If it were other women, they'd be the ones chasing after me." He said with a smirk.

"Then go to your other women! As if I want this? I told you, I’m not marrying you!" she shouted.

"Too bad, Clarisa.... The moment I saw you at the bar that night, you never left my mind. And now, you’re going to be my wife. There’s no escaping me, sweetheart."

"What are you talking about? what bar tha night?" She asked in surprise but Reed di not answer her question. 

"Give me a chance to show you my intentions. We’re moving to the mansion. I’ll treat you like a princess." Reed said in a calm voice.

"I don’t want that! I want to stay in my house." she again shouted in frustration.

Reed let out a sigh. "Okay if that's what you want, but I’ll be staying there too. What if we have sex and your parents hear us? You can be quite noisy in bed." He said with a smirk.

"You’re so annoying!!!" She punched him repeatedly in the chest. Reed held her hand to stop her from hitting him. He suddenly kissed Clarisa, passionately and urgently.

Clarisa froze. She went limp from Reed’s expert kiss. She had no experience with kissing, especially with a man. Reed was the only man she had ever been with. She didn’t know what to do and she wasn’t skilled at kissing.

She didn’t realize how her hand ended up around Reed's neck. So this is how it feels? Are you losing your grip on reality?

Reed sensed Clarisa’s hesitation at first. But as time went on, she started moving her lips, mimicking his kissing technique.

"Good girl... fast learner." 

They were suddenly jolted when someone honked loudly behind them. They had caused a traffic jam. Clarisa sat up straight, embarrassed by what she had done!

Reed cleared his throat and continued driving back to the mansion. Neither of them spoke.

"Darling, it's good to see you here! How's my beautiful grandaughter?"

"I'm okay, Grandpa," she hugged the old man and kissed him on the cheek.

"How are you feeling? Does your chest still hurt? We should go see a doctor tomorrow, and I'll accompany you." Clarisa asked worriedly.

"No need, Clarisa. Now that you're here, you can be my private nurse." te old guy said with a grin on his face.

"But you still need to see a doctor!" Clarisa insisted

"No need. My chest no longer hurts. I just want you here so that if something happens, you will take care of me." The old man was making excuses.

Don Miguel didn't want to see a doctor because he didn't actually have any pain. He was worried that if the young woman found out, she might refuse to stay with them, ruining his plan to marry her off to Reed.

"Okay, Grandpa, I'll keep an eye on you. Just tell me if you feel anything, okay?" She hugged the old man again.