The Cherished Wife



Clarisse had bought into the story once upon a time too. However, after keeping a close eye on Charles lately, something in her gut told her that someone else must have been the real villain who hurt J back then.

"He's your son, so of course you're on his side. But don't you forget, you're part of the Baker family too. Have you forgotten how the Hoffmans treated you? It was the Bakers who took you in when you hit rock bottom while they didn't help you at all. That's just the truth!"

"I get it, okay? You don't have to keep telling me!" Clarisse was on the verge of tears as she cut off Milo. "Milo, I don't need you to keep bringing up the past and reopening old wounds like this!"

Clarisse was tangled up in a mess with Mateo and Henry, and it hurt in ways she could not put into words. She could not look back at the past anymore. "Look, if you want the Hoffmans and the Bakers to maintain a good relationship, forget about J and Charles tying the knot. I know Charles is my son, but if you don't drop it, Charles might do something wild that nobody will be able to predict."

"Aunt, what are you talking about?" The door to Clarisse's room flew open, and J glided in like a ghost, her eyes shooting daggers at Clarisse. "Aunt, what did you just say? What's that supposed to mean?"Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

"I..."

Clarisse was so shocked by J's surprise entrance that she dropped her phone. "J, hear me out. There's a ton of great guys out there. Why settle? I'll hook you up with someone else..."

"That's it!" J shoved Clarisse, her face crumbling with distress. "All that stuff you said before about looking out for me and helping me get with Charles was just a lie."

"J, listen. You heard Charles himself. He's not gonna marry you. If you don't stop this, Charles might end up coming after the Bakers. J..." "Come on, we can take them. The Bakers aren't scared of the Hoffmans!" J's voice was edged with hysteria. "Charles is mine, only mine!" "J..."

et

"You won't help? Fine, I'll do it myself!" J, was a storm of fury, not hearing a word Clarisse said. She shoved Clarisse aside and bolted into her room, slamming the door behind her. Her head thudded against the wall as she chanted under her breath. After a while, her body started shaking uncontrollably, her eyes losing focus.

Clarisse, who was knocked to the floor by J's outburst, struggled to her feet. Concern for J made her ignore the pain as she hobbled out of the room. Seeing J's door shut tight, she pounded on it desperately. "J, open up! Please, listen to me, J..."

The extended Hoffman family had gathered in a big group for the feast, and although no one had ventured upstairs, Clarisse's pleas echoed down to them.

Mateo and Henry locked eyes. "I'll check on her. Henry, keep our guests company," Mateo said, heading upstairs. He was taken aback to find Clarisse, who was usually so composed, yelling outside J's door. "What's happening here?"

"Quick! We need to get J's door open. She might be in trouble!" Clarisse was beyond worried. When she saw Mateo approaching, she

grabbed his hand in despo

e

"J's been all over the place lately, and what Charles did really shook her up. I'm scared she's hurt herself. Hurry up, and open the door!"