The Cherished Wife



"What did you just say?

"Clarisse, the only reason I didn't divorce you back then was to save your reputation. Don't push me to make a move I'll regret!" Mateo could not help but see Clarisse as hideous, a far cry from the sweet girl he once knew.

"What are you implying, Mateo? I always knew you were sneaking around with that homewrecker Susie, and you're still denying it. You're blaming me for all this? I didn't force you to cheat! It's pretty obvious you're the one who wanted to stray, Mateo..."

"Clarisse, you must have a heart of stone to say such things. Then again, why am I even talking about hearts with you? You don't have one. You're so wrapped up in yourself, how could I ever expect you to care about me? Susie was the one who got hurt, and we're both to blame. Can't you see that yet?"

Mateo had never regretted anything in his life, except for the pain he caused an innocent woman and her child. "You got Susie fired and made her a pariah. Then, you turned Liliana into a child without a family name, forever barred from the Hoffmans. We did this together."

"Ha, are you scared now, Mateo? She's innocent? When she was the other woman, did she ever consider my feelings?"

"You're the one who caused all this." Mateo realized arguing with Clarisse was pointless. "I'm done talking. Get out of the car and go to the hospital on your own!"

"Mateo, you can't be serious!" Clarisse gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. No matter what crazy stuff she had pulled before, Mateo had never turned on her like that. She could not wrap her head around it, but Mateo's actions spoke louder than her denial.

The car screeched to a halt. Mateo flung the door open and shoved Clarisse out onto the curb.

His eyes were like ice as he stared at her down. "If you don't believe me, just wait and see if the Bakers will have your back this time." He smirked. "Milo's not getting any younger. The Bakers will need a new head honcho soon. You really think Sir Baker will let just anyone take over?"

Clarisse's heart raced. "Milo's only got Jace, and it's only a matter of time before he takes over. You think Jace is going to side with you?" "I'm his aunt," she shot back, clinging to the hope that family ties meant something.

"But when it came down to Jace or

J, you didn't think twice before backing J," Mateo said with a frosty edge. "Clarisse, did you honestly think the Bakers would have your back forever?"

With that, Mateo slammed the door shut. His icy gaze cut through her like the winter wind, and for the first time, Clarisse felt a shiver of real fear.

"Let's go!" Mateo commanded, and as the car pulled away, leaving Clarisse in its dust, she was at a loss for words.

Her gaze burned into the back of Mateo's car until it disappeared from view.

Days rolled by, and ever since Clarisse's last dramatic visit, things had settled back into their usual rhythm.

Post-New Year's, Brookville buzzed back to life. Companies big and small kicked back into gear, and the Colossus Group was no different.

A slew of projects that had been

paused before the holidays were in

full swing, and Noelle was

etnoveldrama

swamped. Shaking off the holiday sluggishness was tougher than she had expected, and the workload was intense.

As Noelle sorted through a

mountain of papers on her desk et

Brian strolled up. "I'm heading to the construction site tomorrow, and you're coming with me!"