Chapter 32 - Chapter 31

@International_Pen

((( CLAIRE )))

"You are! I was in fact, blinded by your dazzling beauty,"

I frowned at his clichéd pickup line. It was so cheesy I wanted to puke again right now to turn him off. I always hated awkward moments like this.  

"Clarita's boyfriend?!"

Ma excitedly spoke when she emerged from her room.  

"Her suitor," Derick answered.  

Ma's eyes widened like golden coins as she smelled our family's chance of getting out of poverty. As expected, she was ready to sell me off.

"You are Governor Brundon's son, right? How affectionate of you to even go the slums just to meet my daughter!"

"I am," Derick smiled.  

"Here's your juice Derick," Nadine interrupted when she came back with a glass of orange drink.

I shrugged at the charade I was seeing and excused myself to change clothing. I had tried to avoid him the moment I noticed he was taking interest in me but it was of no use. He was still here and was being interrogated by my second family. Someone like him doesn't suit someone like me.

We're like oil and water, we don't mix well at all.  

His smile was wide when I returned. He seemed to be answering a question that had just been asked.

"I do. And I will not give up until she becomes mine."

I choked while my family cheered on him.

"Derick," I forced a smile "I think it's dangerous for you to be staying here this late. People know you. I'll escort you out to the highway."

"Thanks but it's better for you to be resting already," he advised. I know right! I'm just being adequately thoughtful. "I'll be going then."

Dexter volunteered to go with him and when they were finally out, Ma and Nadine turned to persuade me.

"Don't be so hard to get, Clarita," Ma enthused.

"It's one heck of a luck for a rich to fall for someone below their status."

I was right about their motive.  

A matchmaking for the benefit of the least.  

(ZHIO)

Somebody knocked at my car window.  

"Sir…" Deo began.

I threw him his car keys and instantly got off the vehicle.  

Somebody else escorted me to the other Limo that waited beside Wenziel's car. The whole ride was silent and tensed. The protective guns that jutted from my men's holsters made me feel uncomfortable.

Their monotone clothing and expressionless faces made me feel like some action movie star whose life was too important to be compromised.

Security officers stood uptight on parallel lines when we got through the gate of the mansion. I passed through in disregard of their presence and went directly to my somber room. I settled on the mahogany settee and exhaled deeply.

Sya quickly checked on me and told me to show up downstairs where the count of guests had gradually increased. I took a quick shower and wore a mourning suit I was expected to wear.  

Everything went like a scripted play; the maids bowed their heads at my presence and the majority of people in black uttered their condolences.

Then repeat.

@International_Pen