CHAPTER 149. CLAIRE

CHAPTER 149. CLAIRE
“I’ll make you your favorite green tea.”
“No need,” Anthonio said coldly.
“I want to talk to you, Claire.”
I nodded and sat down on one of the single sofas. I did so deliberately because I didn't want to be near him when he was angry.
"Why are you still in contact with him, Claire?"
"Why? He's Aiden's father. He has the right to see Aiden."
"But he doesn't have the right to be near you anymore because you're my fiancée."
"Why can't he be near me? I never forbade you from being near any woman. Besides, Raviel has never done anything indecent. I can't possibly avoid him like he's the plague."
"Don't compare Raviel to the women I work with at the office. They're not the same thing. He was once your boyfriend. And don't forget the fact that you slept with him until you had Aiden."
My brow furrowed at his words.
"That hurts me. Did you just accuse me of sleeping with Raviel while you were in Washington?"
"Who knows," he sneered sarcastically.
“I’ve never even touched you more than kissed your lips. He’s done more than kiss your lips. He’s slept with you. Don’t tell me my words hurt you when what you did hurt me far more.”
“You’re irrational. Everything you mention is in the past. Nothing can change the past, even if I desperately wanted to.”
“Really? Are you sure you’d want to change your past if you were given the chance? I doubt it. You’ve loved your stepfather for years. I was foolish to think I could replace him in your heart. No matter how much I try, I won’t be able to replace him in your heart.”
“You just got back from Washington, and you must be tired. You’re making things up to me. You’re deliberately bringing up my past and Raviel’s just because you want to get angry at me to vent your anger.”
I jumped to my feet and intended to go to my room. There was no point in talking, as we were both exhausted, but Anthonio caught up to me and grabbed my wrist.
“I’m not done with you yet.”
“You should go home. We’re too tired to talk right now.”
Anthonio chuckled humorlessly.
“You kicked me out? You kicked your own fiancé out of your apartment?”
“What are you saying? You make everything I say sound mean.”
“Because it is mean. You even opened your door wide for him. And don’t think I didn’t hear what you said outside. You invited him to dinner at your place tomorrow. How stupid of me to think you were having dinner with your work friends. You’ve been having dinner with Raviel all this time, haven’t you?”
I remained silent. Guilt and regret hit me.
“Answer me, Claire. You lied to me and told me you were having dinner with your friends. Why didn’t you tell me the truth about having dinner with Raviel?”
He sneered sarcastically. “Are you afraid your affair will be discovered, huh?”
“No. That’s not true. I’ve never cheated on you.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me you were having dinner with Raviel?” Anthonio shouted loudly in my face.
"Because you'll misunderstand me like you do now. I know you're insecure about Raviel. I don't want to make that worse."
"In fact, you've only made me distrust you even more. You lied to me as easily as turning over your hand. Who knows what you've been doing behind my back?"
I narrowed my eyes sharply. Anthonio was getting more and more outrageous with his words.
I jerked free of his grip on my wrist.
“I told you the truth. It’s up to you whether you believe it or not. I’m tired, and I want to sleep.”
Before I walked into my room, Anthonio said sharply.
"Do you really love me, Claire? I've never heard you say you love me, and I say it almost all the time. Is this just a one-sided love?"
I clenched my jaw, fed up with everything Anthonio had said.
“I’m yours. The ring on my finger is proof. If I didn’t love you, why would I be willing to be your fiancée?”
“Because you just feel sorry for me. You probably feel indebted to me, and you don’t truly love me.”
“That’s not true at all. I wouldn’t commit to a man just because I feel sorry for him. I love you, Anthonio. I love your mother very much, too. You two are the ones who saved me from my doom.”
“Then prove that you love me.”
I stared at him, exhausted and frustrated. I didn't know what else to say to make him believe me.
"Marry me next week. If you really love me as much as you say, Claire."
My tongue was numb. All I could think about was the night I'd spent at Raviel's apartment having dinner with him. I'd had a great time over the past week. We'd exchanged stories and shared things we'd never shared before. I turned it all over my head. I wondered if the memories I'd shared with Raviel for just one week were more meaningful than all the moments I'd had with Anthonio over the past year.
Anthonio had been there for me when I was down. He'd made me smile again when I was almost certain I wouldn't be able to smile again after everything that had happened to me. I'd promised him I'd love him. I'd agreed to be his girlfriend because I wanted to move on from Raviel. I shouldn't have hesitated to marry him. He'd proven to me that he wasn't just playing around with me. He wants to marry me, to make me his forever.
The creaking sound of the door interrupted my thoughts.
Anthonio was halfway out of my apartment. His face was filled with anger and defeat.
I ran after him and hugged him tightly.
I rested my head against his back and inhaled deeply the scent of his perfume.
“I’ll marry you. I’ll prove to you that I’m as serious about this relationship as you are.”
“We’ll get married at the registry office next week and have a reception afterward. Are you willing to have a simple wedding with me?”
“I don’t care about that, as long as our marriage is legal.”
“Okay. We’ll discuss the details tomorrow.”
He unwrapped my arm around his chest and walked away without saying goodnight to me.
I understood his actions. He was still angry with me. There was nothing I could expect from him except for him to agree to talk to me tomorrow. He needed to cool off, and I needed to cool off.
I closed the door to my apartment and let out a soft sigh.
Finally, I was going to marry a man instead of living alone for the rest of my life.