Part 67

Still in a sitting position and embracing Claire. Both of them now raised their heads to look at the sky which, although bright, was still starless.

"If only," Claire began to sound off. "My mom rejected you outright. What would you do?" Antony turned to look at Claire but she wasn't looking at him at all.

"To be honest, I don't know what to do myself." Antony answered as he was. The man's words distracted Claire. "To be honest, I'm not that confident, Claire." Antony replied again. "Maybe I'm good at my job. Maybe I'm good at leading employees. But you know that when it comes to family, I'm a big zero." The man smiled sadly.

For some reason, seeing him like that made Claire feel sorry for herself. Claire changed her sitting position to sideways and looked at the man.

"I failed as a father. And as a son, I'm not a son to be proud of because instead of easing my parents' burden, I've given them an additional burden by giving Flavia long-term care.

"As for being a husband? If I were a perfect husband, none of this would have happened." He continued. "Everything about me is a reason for your mother to reject me. Unless she likes rich, handsome and established men, that's me." Antony said arrogantly. He was trying to joke but Claire didn't seem to be.

Claire could only remain silent. Everything Antony said was true. Even if Claire tried to calm the man down with sweet words, she felt it was useless.

Seeing Claire's silence, Antony also tilted his body. His left leg was raised and folded on the garden chair. His body was now completely facing Claire.

"All those reasons will indeed be weapons that your mother can use to reject me. But, Claire." Antony looked at Claire sternly. "I swear, I promise that as long as you will stand by me, I will accept everything your mother does to me.

"Even a strong stone will be defeated by water because water does not get tired of dripping on it. Your mother's heart, no matter how hard, will slowly soften if she knows that I can make her daughter happy.

"And I promise that I will not repeat the same mistake. I don't want to fail a second time." He said solemnly.

Claire shook her head. "No need to promise anything." Claire said softly. She looked at Antony and smiled. Her right hand grabbed the man's left hand and clasped it tightly. "I can't promise forever. But for now, I will fight by your side. And if you really want to change, change for yourself. Don't change for others. Or at least, change for the people you love. For Flavia and your parents. As for me, it's enough that you don't give up, that's proof that you really want me."

Antony smiled too. He released Claire's grip on his left hand. Afterward, he raised that hand which he then used to gently rub Claire's head.

"I like you," he said softly. His left hand moved down and was now on the side of Claire's face. Her thumb rubbed Claire's cheek so gently. "And right now, that feeling is getting bigger and bigger." He said again. His hand came back down, grabbed Claire's right hand and wrapped it around her with both of his large hands. "I don't know the reason why Flavia wants you to be her stepmother so much." He said as he looked down at Claire's small hand in his. "But what I do know is that I don't want anyone else to have you right now." Antony said firmly.

Claire shrugged with a nonchalant gesture. "Claire Hampton does have an incomparable charm." She joked. Making Antony laugh. Antony anxiously pinched Claire's cheeks with both hands. "It hurts." Claire whined with a pouty face. Antony was wide-eyed. He quickly rubbed her cheeks with both thumbs.

"Sorry." He said then. Claire did not respond and was still pouting. "Let me treat it." Antony said again.

Unexpectedly, Antony kissed both her cheeks in quick succession. Claire, who was now wide-eyed, looked at Antony in disbelief.

"Why, not enough?" Challenge the man again.

Then again with a swift movement, the man wrapped his big hands around Claire's face, pulled her close and then kissed her lips briefly.

Again, Claire's reaction was only to widen her eyes. But a second later she glared at Antony.

"Sir!" She exclaimed loudly.

Antony laughed instead. "Think of it as revenge. That's how I felt when you kissed me yesterday without warning." Antony replied without any guilt.

Claire narrowed her eyes sharply. But Antony ignored her. "If you pout even more, I can do more than that." Antony threatened again. "Don't forget that I'm an experienced man." He continued.

Claire was again wide-eyed at the indecent threat. She snorted and then chose to get up from her seat. "Where are you going?" Antony asked confused.

"Stay away!" Claire replied curtly. "The aura here is getting bad. Perhaps a demon has started wandering around and whispering to you to do bad things." She continued.

Antony chuckled, but also got up and walked with the girl. He stood on her left side, helping her push the IV pole. While his right hand wrapped around Claire's waist.

"I thought you wanted to find a quieter place so I could prove my point." He teased again, making Claire look up and give him a sharp look.

Antony again chuckled. His hand slipped out and came up to touch Claire's cheek.

"Your face is red because of what? Because of the fever or because of embarrassment?" He teased again.

Claire reflexively raised her hand and touched her own cheek. Making Antony laugh again.

"Ah, I see. Your cheeks are flushed because you're imagining strange things about..." he teased again.

Claire snorted and hit the man's arm in annoyance.

"Shut up!" She ordered.

But instead of shutting up, Antony laughed even harder. The man nudged Claire's shoulder with his elbow lightly and then whispered.

"I'm a kissing expert, do you want to try it?" He challenged.

"Sir!" Claire shrieked loudly.

Antony laughed again. "It's very different when flirting with a virgin. Just like that, your face is already as red as a tomato. Especially when it comes to the night..."

Before Antony could speak, Claire had already silenced the man's mouth. But Antony was no less powerful. He grabbed Claire's right hand that the girl was using to cover her mouth, turned her hand so that the back of her hand was facing Antony's face then kissed it gently.

"For that matter, there is no need to talk about it." She said softly. "I'll practice later." She continued with a flirtatious smile on her face.

With a jerk, Claire removed her hand from Antony and chose to turn her face away in shame.

They had returned to Claire's room. The room was still as lonely and empty as it was when Antony arrived. Until he finally remembered one thing and asked Claire again.

"Where's Gladwin? Didn't he say he would take care of you?" he asked in a displeased tone.

Claire shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "He went to another hospital."

Antony frowned for a moment, then remembered that Gladwin was a resident. Meanwhile, Claire threw off the covers and climbed onto her bed. Antony helped her find a comfortable lying position before moving the IV into place.

"If he was going to leave eventually, why did he kick me out?" he muttered in displeasure.

“Maybe he thinks that I'm better off here alone.” Claire replied casually. Antony again looked at her with a furrowed brow. Claire shrugged her shoulders. “What I've heard is that you men can judge each other. So I think Gladwin's radar about you was negative from the start. That's why he kicked you out .” Claire replied simply.

"What does that mean?"

Claire looked straight at Antony. "Gladwin said that there are only two kinds of men in this world. One is a fag, two is an asshole. So since he knows you're not a fag, he obviously thinks you're an asshole." Claire replied in a flat tone.

Antony was stunned by this. "Me? Asshole?" He pointed at himself. Claire nodded. "If I'm an asshole then what is he?"

Claire again shrugged. "Same asshole." She replied still flatly. "That's why he forbade you to be here. Because as a fellow bastard, he knows what the other bastards will do."

"Claire, that language of yours is really bad to hear!" Antony reprimanded.

Again, Claire just shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just saying what I heard." She replied casually.

Antony chose to sit on the bed and face Claire. He slowly placed his hands on both sides of Claire's body. His eyes looked at Claire sharply. One eyebrow was raised as well as the corner of his mouth, showing a smile that gave Claire goosebumps.

"And you know, when you say what you know, I want to realize all that." He said in a growling tone.

Afraid? Not at all. Because instead of retreating, Claire showed her sweet smile. Her right index finger lifted up and touched the man's chest. She deliberately made a circular motion. While her eyes looked at Antony without blinking.

"But sorry, sir." She said in a teasing tone. "I'm not interested at all." And with full force she pushed Antony's chest.

Antony chuckled, backed away and chose to get off the bed. In his heart, he really wanted to realize what he had just said. But he still had to restrain himself.

Wait until Claire willingly gives herself up, he said to himself. He looked at Claire with a smile on his face.

"Whereas other girls will invade me without my invitation." The man teased. "But you," he continued as he corrected the position of Claire's blanket that was pulled by him. "You rejected me so blatantly."

Claire shrugged again. "Sorry, I don't want to be a 'used' item." She replied casually.

Antony chuckled and nodded in understanding. He rubbed the head of Claire who was already lying on her pillow. "You're good at it." His praise was sincere. Claire just stared at him silently. "Go to sleep." He commanded softly.

"Where will you sleep, sir?" Asked Claire doubtfully.

Antony pointed at the sofa with his chin. "I think that sofa will still fit me." He said casually. Claire nodded. "Unless you're willing to share and invite me onto that tiny bed." He teased again. Claire narrowed her eyes in annoyance. Antony just chuckled. "You know, my businessman side is struggling right now." Antony said again. Claire raised one eyebrow in confusion. "Taking a chance when the opportunity arises." He pointed at Claire. "You're the one who is sick, weak and can't do anything." He continued in a teasing tone. Claire widened her eyes and reflexively hit the man's arm.

"Don't mess with me, sir!"

Antony laughed. "Not any kind, just one kind." He replied. "Or maybe, later when I'm asleep you'll take the initiative to do things to me?"

Claire spluttered. Choosing to turn her body to face him. Antony laughed again but he returned to adjusting the position of Claire's blanket. His hand rubbed her head again and for a moment, Claire felt his lips on the side of her head before Antony spoke the words. "Good night, don't forget to pray." And walked away.

Inevitably, a smile was etched on Claire's face which disappeared when she had completely drifted off to sleep.