Part 78

Claire woke up, but she felt reluctant to open her eyes. The warmth surrounding her made her want to fall back into sleep. But then, realization filled her brain and made her widen her eyes.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was a firm brownish chest with fine hairs tickling her cheeks.

My God, what had she done with Antony last night? She muttered to herself. And even then, she forgot to put her clothes back on. What if the kids woke up and saw her?

With a quick movement, Claire got up and searched for her clothes that Antony had taken off last night. Without putting her bra back on, Claire quickly put on her camisole and undershirt. "Honey, why?" Antony asked with sleepy eyes.

"Quickly put on your clothes, what if the kids wake up and see you like this?" Asked Claire in confusion.

But Antony instead casually sat down with his elbows propped up. The man seemed to take Claire's panic in stride.

"Antony!" reprimanded Claire again which made Antony chuckle.

"There, don't panic." He said as he moved to the end of the bed and sat with both feet on the floor. Claire was about to leave the room but Antony grabbed her hand and pulled her close.

"You're not angry, are you? About last night?" The man whispered in front of Claire's face. Claire looked at him and shook her head. "Good then. Later, after we get married, I promise to give you more than that every night, as long as you want it." He teased with a seductive smile.

Claire, who felt embarrassed, chose to punch the man on the shoulder to get rid of her nervousness.

"It's morning, I don't want the kids to see us in this mess." Claire tried to back away, but Antony wrapped his arms around her waist.

"One kiss." She asked as she looked up.

Claire instantly covered her mouth with both hands. "Honey... I smell..." she refused reluctantly.

Antony shook his head. The man pulled Claire's waist to move closer. He opened his legs and flanked Claire's legs so that she could not move. Then both of his hands grabbed Claire's hands and placed them on his shoulders, before raising his hands again and cupping the girl's small face.

"I don't care." He said softly before pulling Claire's face close and kissing her deeply.

Claire broke off their kiss with a gasp. Antony was equally out of breath. But a smile was printed on his face.

"I love you." He said in Italian and gave Claire another peck on the lips. Claire who did not understand could only look at Antony silently. "I love you, Claire." Antony repeated which again made Claire's face red.

Claire could only bite her lower lip. But before breaking away, the girl returned Antony's expression with a light peck on the man's lips.

"I'm going to take a shower." She said as she completely left Antony behind.

Instead of getting up, Antony lay back down on the bed holding his chest where his heart was beating so fast it seemed to want to come out.

Is this what it feels like to fall in love again? She asked herself.

After the girls woke up, Antony took them to buy breakfast. Claire walked flanked by the two teenagers on her left and right who looked like bodyguards guarding their employers rather than nieces and future stepchildren. While Antony could only walk behind while stuffing his hands into his pants pockets without wanting to interrupt the trio.

"Aunty, did you move to bed last night?" Flavia asked innocently. Suddenly Claire was surprised by her innocent question. Behind her she could hear Antony coughing softly.

"No, so what?" Claire asked again, though she was afraid that her face was now turning red with embarrassment.

"The problem is that the center of the bed is empty. Then Abigail hugged me, even though I remember that I slept with you in my arms." The teenager continued.

"I-that. Yesterday I did wake up in the middle of the night to get some drinking water. When I came back you guys had already filled the bed so I chose to sleep in the next room." Claire replied nervously.

"So it's true that aunty changed rooms last night." Flavia said innocently.

"Never mind Via, why keep bringing it up. I told you that she moved into my room because you were sleeping rough." Abigail mocked pretentiously.

"It's not me, it's you who sleeps messily. You drool in your mouth when you sleep." Abigail glared at her best friend in annoyance.

They arrived at Claire's favorite restaurant where the owner immediately greeted them. "Now you came with your future husband?" The greeting was friendly.

Claire looked at the owner with a furrowed brow. The middle-aged man then jerked his head towards Claire's back where Antony was standing.

"A few days ago he bought breakfast here, wasn't it for you?" she asked again emphasizing.

Claire could only nod her head even though she was actually embarrassed to see the glances of some of the complex neighbors directed at her and Antony alternately.

After ordering, they looked for a seat. Claire tried not to mind the glances people were giving her and Antony. But inevitably, she still felt uncomfortable about it. Meanwhile, the 'stranger' who was being stared at seemed normal.

Claire was about to speak up, asking the children to eat their breakfast quickly. But then Antony's cell phone rang. And the man picked it up as he walked away.

"Who did your father call?" Abigail raised her voice.

Her curiosity returned even though her mouth was now filled with food. Flavia shrugged in ignorance.

"You're such an indifferent child. You should care about what your father is doing. If he plays with women behind my aunt's back, you will regret it later." The teenager continued to warn.

Claire looked at her niece with wide eyes. Meanwhile, Flavia looked at her best friend with an annoyed frown on her face.

"Abby! Don't just talk. There's no way my dad is having an affair. He already loves Aunty C, doesn't he?" Flavia looked at Claire innocently, which left Claire speechless.

"Look, even my aunt can't answer your question. Perhaps my aunt also doubts your father's feelings. You see in dramas, when a man picks up a phone so far away, it means he has something to hide from the woman. Otherwise, why wouldn't he answer the phone here?" Abigail challenged her friend.

Flavia was now focusing on her father. Claire followed her line of sight. She looked at Antony and was actually curious about who he was talking to that she had to distance herself from them. But she didn't want to show it openly now.

Antony arrived shortly afterward. He looked at Abigail and Flavia with a furrowed brow as the two teenagers looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"What's going on?" he asked confused.

"Abby said that you were having an affair behind Aunty C's back which is why you answered the phone where we couldn't hear." Flavia whispered matter-of-factly.

Antony looked at Abigail with his mouth open. "For God's sake." He said spontaneously. "Where did you get that thought?" Antony asked in surprise. He opened his cell phone and showed Flavia and Claire who had called him last.

"Uncle Gian?" the two asked together to which Antony nodded. "Why did he call you so early?" asked Flavia curiously.

"She told me that your grandfather, grandmother and aunt are coming to visit." Antony explained to Flavia.

"Which grandparents do you mean?" Abigail whispered to Flavia.

"Uncle Gian's parents." Flavia replied briefly.

"But why are they all here at this time? What's the occasion?" Flavia looked back at her father in confusion to which Antony replied with a smile.

"Granny and Grandpa invited them here." Antony said briefly.