The Cherished Wife



Mateo gripped Clarisse's wrist tightly. The more he saw her in this state, the angrier and more disgusted he was. "You went to look for Noelle? On what grounds? With what right?"

His gaze, once filled with affection, was now cold and scornful. Any love he might have once held for her had long since dissolved into contempt. "I told you before that you were never to return after leaving. So, why are you back now? What more do you want from the Hoffmans?" "Mateo, I don't understand what you're saying. All I know is that you owe me. If not for you back then-"

"Even if it hadn't been me, Hen would never have married you either," Mateo cut her off sharply, his voice like ice. He dragged her toward the car, shoved her inside, and slammed the door with force.

The driver, startled by Mateo's fury, stammered, "Sir, where are we going?"

"The hospital," Mateo snapped, casting a hard glance at Clarisse. "Clarisse, you know exactly what happened back then. No matter how despicable l may be, I never forced myself on anyone.

"When you say I owe you, wasn't it all a plan devised by you and your brother? Milo drugged me because he knew the Hoffmans' inheritance would fall into my hands. You think I don't know about that?"

"N-No... that's not true," Clarisse stammered. She felt as though her darkest secrets had been laid bare. She tried to deny it in a panic, "Hen and I truly loved each other. Besides "

Mateo sneered, "Besides, my father gave the position of family head to Hen in the end? Do you really believe Hen is the true head of the Hoffmans?" "What do you mean by that?" Clarisse's face went pale.

"I made an agreement with Hen. He would manage the Hoffmans while acting as the family head. But since Hen has no son, the position will eventually pass to Charlie." Mateo's tone was cold and unyielding.

"Your brother never saw that

coming, did Ke? And neither did you. You didn't expect that just two years after giving birth to Charlie, my father would hand over the family headship to Hen. Even less did you anticipate that Hen would marry Nancy and have a daughter.

"So, you and your brother came up with another scheme, which was to try to make me divorce you so that you could marry Hen, right? Clarisse, did you really think you were so captivating that you could marry both brothers?"noveldrama

"N-No..... T-That's not..." Clarisse stammered, her voice faltering.

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"Your father at least had the sense to know Henwould never marry you, which was why he stopped you from going through with the divorce. When that plan failed, you both shifted your sights to Charlie Clarisse, did you really think was so blind that I wouldn't see through all of this?"

"I..."

"Just because I never said anything doesn't mean I didn't know. I'm warning you, Charlie is not me. If you think you can push him to his limits, you're welcome to try."

"And you actually approve of Charlie being with that little tramp, Noelle? Do you even know what you're doing? She looks exactly like that wretched Kelly! She "

"Enough!" Mateo roared, his patience gone. "Don't you dare speak of Kelly or Noelle like that! Either one of them is worth more than you'll ever be. Whoever Charlie chooses to be with t'll never be anyone from the Bakers." Content belongs.

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Clarisse laughed bitterly, her face twisting with disdain. "You think I wanted to come here today? It was Maxwell, that old fox. I know exactly what he's scheming-using me to drive a wedge between Charlie and Noelle.

"You can warn me all you like, but even if I stay out of it, Maxwell will stop at nothing to tear them apart. Just wait and see!"

"That's a matter for the Hoffmans. It's none of your concern," Mateo said coldly.