The Cherished Wife



Clarisse's expression darkened as she set her teacup down forcefully. "Mateo, I don't want to discuss these things with you. I don't know what your mindset is in saying all this. I came to you today for just one thing."

"Go ahead," Mateo said, his lips twitching. He knew she must have had a reason to approach him so voluntarily. "What do you need from me?"

"Regarding Charlie and J's marriage, it's been delayed for so many years now. When do you think we should arrange their wedding?" Clarisse asked politely, suppressing her usual haughty demeanor.

Mateo's brows furrowed upon hearing this. He looked at Clarisse, his eyes filled with complexity. "You know Charlie won't agree to this. Why are you so persistent? J could have anyone. Why does it have to be Charlie?"

Clarisse grew impatient. "Mateo, just give me a straight answer. Do you agree or not? What's wrong with J? I think she's far better than that Kelly!"

Mateo felt helpless. "This has nothing to do with Kelly. We're talking about J. You know very well that Charlie has no romantic feelings for J. Why are you insisting on this?

"You've seen how he is in these past few years. We couldn't control him before, and now, his abilities are evident to everyone. Who can influence his decisions now?"

"I don't care. Charlie's the one who did those things to J back then, so he needs to take responsibility. Are all Hoffman family men so cold and unfaithful? J is from the Baker family. How can we let her suffer such injustice?"

Mateo interrupted sharply, "Clary, must you do this? The Hoffman men, the Bakers... Isn't Charlie your son too? I have nothing to say if you don't acknowledge our relationship, but what about Charlie? He's your own flesh and blood.

"You're forcing your own son for the

sake of an outsider like J. Clary, I don't know what you're trying to achieve, but let me give you some advice Charlie is no longer the child he once was. We can't control his thoughts anymore."

to ́

"I don't care, Mateo. You owe me this. Back then, you insisted on Kelly marrying Charlie, but how did that turn out? Was that woman any good? She caused our Charlie so much pain!"Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

Clarisse fumed at the mention of Kelly. In the past, when Mateo favored Kelly, she had brought J in for comparison.

Initially thinking she had lost,

Clarisse was surprised when that

incident occurred and Kelly left in è

shame. She thought Charles would then accept J, but he neither pursued Kelly nor married J.

BUMS

For years, Clarisse had been quietly competing with Mateo, which explained her insistence on Charles marrying J.

After all, J was her brother's

adopted daughter, a child of the Baker family. If Charles married

J, both the Baker and Hoffman

families would then be unde

Charles' control?

Clarisse had even planned Charles' future, putting her heart and soul into paving his way. Yet, this son of hers insisted on opposing her.

"Mateo, you owe me from back then. Now, it's time to repay that debt."

Mateo frowned. "Clary, I'll give you one last piece of advice. If you keep going down this path, you'll lose more than just Charlie."

He closed his eyes briefly. "Fine, tell me what you want me to do."