Chapter 2%
Third Person’s POV
Clarissa’s hands froze on the wheels of her chair, stuck in the entryway, unable to go any further.”
But Norris’s voice still reached her ears.”
“Gabrielle,” he said firmly, “I don’t want to hear you say things like that again, especially not when Clarissa is around.“%
Gabrielle’s smile stiffened for a moment. She brushed her hair behind her ear and murmured, “Alright. But one day you will tell her the truth that your divorce is not a fake one but a real one.”
Clarissa stood frozen by the door. Her heart thudded in her chest as she turned to leave, desperate to get out, but in her panic, she bumped hard into the shoe cabinet.
Silence filled the room, and then came hurried footsteps.”
Moments later, Norris appeared in front of her, holding a child in his arms.}
Clarissa looked up and, unexpectedly, found herself agreeing with what Gabrielle had said earlier. The child really did look like him.
When Norris saw the redness in her eyes, his heart skipped a beat. He quickly set the child down and knelt in front of her, taking her hand in his.
“Clarissa, what happened? My car broke down last night, so I asked the driver to pick you up. Where did you go? Why did he take so long getting you home? If he can’t even do his job right, I’ll just find someone else.“}
His concern sounded caring, but every word pierced her like a thorn. She gave a bitter laugh. He hadn’t even bothered to coordinate his lies with the driver.
She had thought she’d grown numb to all of this, that she wouldn’t feel the pain anymore.
But her heart still ached.
Turning away, she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and forced a smile. “It’s nothing worth fussing over. I was with a friend.“}
Norris visibly relaxed. “As long as you were with someone you trust. When did you get home? I didn’t hear a thing.“}
And just like that, Clarissa understood.
All that faux concern was just a setup for this question.
He wanted to know if she’d overheard anything she wasn’t supposed to.
The warmth inside her turned cold. She pulled her hand back and replied calmly, “I just got in. I didn’t hear a thing.”
Norris’s smile faltered, and his hand hung awkwardly in the air. Even so, he didn’t press the issue.
Clarissa looked past him and noticed the woman still standing behind.”
Norris quickly stood and explained, “Clarissa, Gabrielle just got back here and doesn’t have a place to stay. Coincidentally, she’s also become my mom’s new doctor, so I let her stay here for now. Don’t get it wrong.”}
The way he tried to defend Gabrielle was so natural and instinctive, extinguishing the last flicker of hope in Clarissa’s chest.
She looked away and clenched her fists, trying to maintain a shred of dignity. “I understand. I’m tired. I’d like to rest now.“}
Norris was caught off guard by her composure. A strange feeling tugged at him, but he didn’t dwell on it. Assuming she just needed sleep, he moved to wheel her into the master bedroom.
But she stopped him, saying, “I want to go to my own room.”
In that instant, he froze.
Clarissa didn’t understand why he’d suddenly halted until Gabrielle stepped forward, child in tow, and pointed toward a door.
“You mean that room?” she asked, her tone light, but her words sharp. “That used to be my room when I lived here. I’m used to it, so Norris said I could have it again.“}
She called him with such familiarity that it made Clarissa’s stomach turn. More than that, she heard the deliberate challenge in Gabrielle’s voice.
Clarissa turned her head slowly, searching Norris’s expression, hoping for a word of support.>>
But he offered none.”
“It’s just a room,” he said with a shrug. “If Gabrielle wants it, then let’s just let her be. I’ll just get the guest room cleaned up for you.“>> Clarissa shut her eyes for a moment, fighting back the tide of hurt swelling in her chest.
That room was the one he had carefully decorated for her right after they married. He’d given it to her because he knew her parents had died young, and she had no family to go back to.
He told her that the room would be her sanctuary. If she was ever angry with him and didn’t want to talk, she could go there, and he’d know to come make things right.”
But now, he’d given it away like it meant nothing.”
Like it was just a room.
Clarissa pressed her hand to her chest, trying to ease the tight, suffocating ache.
Then, firmly insisted, “No. I want that room.”
Third Person’s POV
As soon as the words left her mouth, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy.!
8:54 PM
Norris’s brows furrowed. He couldn’t understand why Clarissa was making such a fuss over a room. Before he could say anything. Matthew came running over N
He charged straight at Clarissa, waving his arms and hitting her legs and face with tiny but surprisingly sharp blows
“You’re a bad person! A bad lady! Don’t bully my mom! That’s my mom’s room!”
Though small, the boy’s strikes had force behind them Clarissa’s legs throbbed from the impact. Just as she reached out to push him away, he yanked her hair instead. Pain shot through her scalp, and she instinctively grabbed his wrist to stop him
But before she could say a word, Matthew screamed.
“Mommy! My hand hurts! She’s hurting me! She’s bullying me! Waaah!”
His wails echoed through the massive villa.N
Clarissa winced as her scalp throbbed, tears springing to her eyes from the sting. Her first instinct was to look at Norris. But he wasn’t looking at her, his worried gaze was fixed on Matthew N
She followed his line of sight, and her heart dropped Matthew’s wrist was bleeding.
Shocked, she sat frozen as Gabrielle scooped the child into her arms, tears streaming down her face as she cradled him.4
Clarissa’s mind was still blank when Norris’s voice exploded in fury M
“Clarissa! Matthew is just a kid. What are you doing, picking a fight with him? I already told you Gabrielle is just staying here temporarily. Do you really have to keep holding on to the past? It’s just a room. Do you have to be so petty and pick a fight with her over it?”
His blatant favoritism hit Clarissa like a slap to the face, but she forced herself to stay calm.
“Norris-” she began, her voice low.N
But he cut her off sharply. “Enough! This is still my house, and it’s not your place to decide who stays where, I gave her that room. Even if you’re upset, why did you take it out on a child? I’m really disappointed in you. Think about your actions “W
With that, he stormed out the door, carrying Matthew in his arms like a devoted father. Gabrielle followed close behind.
As she passed Clarissa, Gabrielle threw her a quick smile–small, smug, and unmistakably triumphant.
Only then did she understand everything.
With the red marks from Matthew’s hits still fresh on her face, she watched the three of them together like one happy family. At that moment, she realized she was the outsider,
The tears came uncontrollably then. Her breathing grew ragged, and her chest ached like she couldn’t pull in enough air. She had no idea how long she had cried. At some point, she must have cried herself to sleep.
She was just jolted awake by the ringing of her phone.
She picked it up and heard her aunt’s familiar, gentle voice on the other end.
“Clarissa, the immigration paperwork will be finalized within a week. Are you serious this time? You’re not backing out again, are you? It’s been so long. I miss you.”
Clarissa gave a bitter smile. “I’m serious. I might be bothering you for the rest of my life.“W
There was a short pause before her aunt spoke again.
“What about Norris? Are you two… divorced?”
Clarissa let out a quiet, “Mm. Divorced, it’s a real divorce.” Clarissa repeated painfully, remembering what Norris said.
Her aunt’s heart ached for her, but she knew comforting words wouldn’t help. So instead, she offered warmth.
“Then start packing. I’ll come to pick you up in a week. Don’t worry about bringing anything. We’ve got everything you need here in the Netherlands.”
“Daryll is still worried about you. He is the Daryll who pursued you when they were little.”
Aunt bit of kindness finally eased the weight in Clarissa’s chest.
After they hung up, she looked around the house. There really wasn’t anything she needed to take with her.
If Gabrielle wanted the room so badly, let her have it.
She could have Norris, too,”
That night, Clarissa picked a clean guest room at random, curled up on the bed, and quickly drifted off.
She didn’t know how long she’d slept before a sharp sound of glass shattering startled her awake.
She shot upright and followed the noise, which had come from the master bedroom.
Confused, she wondered what kind of glass item would even be in there. But as she got closer to the door, a sudden chill ran through her. Her instincts screamed that something wasn’t right.
She rushed to the door, pushed it open, and her eyes went wide.
“What the hell are you doing?!“%
