My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

Part 34

Joe stared intently at his phone screen. He was sure Clara hadn’t slept yet. So, he wrote a message to her.

Joe: [I’ll wait for you at the library!]

Clara: [What for, Uncle?]

Joe: [There’s a new book I just bought.]

Clara: [Just say it, you miss me!]

Joe: [Fine, if you don’t want to! I’m going to bed now!]

Clara: [Don’t! Is Uncle still in Kimmy’s room?]

Joe: [I’m in front of your room!]

Clara’s eyes widened. She got up from her seat, then stood up and opened the door. Uncle was already standing there.

“Uncle,” Clara whispered.

“Do I come in, or do you come out?” Joe asked.

“Let’s just go to the library!” Clara suggested. She thought the library was the safest place to talk to Joe. It was at the far end of the building, and most importantly, there were no beds.

The two of them walked side by side to the library. It was the safest room. Unlike Clara’s room, which always made them close because there was no space to move around, or like Joe’s spacious room. The atmosphere was dim and cool.

Joe opened the door. After making sure Clara entered, he closed and locked it tightly.

“Are you jealous?” Joe accused. Clara’s face looked dull, easily readable by him. Joe was very meticulous and detail-oriented, especially when it came to the woman special to him.

Clara didn’t answer; she just stood leaning against the door.

“I beg you, never be jealous of Vivian. She’s just Kimmy’s mother, I no longer love her! Don’t be jealous!” Joe insisted.

“I’m not jealous!” Clara protested, showing a convincing expression.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m not jealous!”

“Just admit it, or…?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Or what?”

“Nothing, I just want you to be able to sleep well tonight, Clara!”

“I can sleep well, Uncle!” Clara chuckled.

“I heard knocking on the door, was that you?” Joe inquired.

“No,” Clara denied again. She didn’t want to admit that she was jealous. Vivian was very different from Celine, who was more worthy of jealousy.

They stared at each other in silence. Long and deep.

“Uncle,” Clara whispered, inviting Joe to sit on the only sofa in the room.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? What’s on your mind?” Joe cupped Clara’s chin and stored as much as possible, the details of Clara’s sweet face. Oh Clara.

“If Kimmy doesn’t agree to me being her stepmother, what will you do?” Clara asked. The question had just occurred to her when she saw the closeness between Vivian and Kimmy.

“Kimmy, my little princess, you’re my woman. I’ll explain it to her, I’ll wait until Kimmy understands that you’re the woman I want!” Joe replied.

“What if Clara still insists on not approving of our relationship?” Clara asked. Honestly, she was already very afraid of losing Joe.

“I’ll convince my daughter, Clara. You’re good, you also care for Kimmy. There’s no reason for her to reject you!” Joe said earnestly.

“What about Aunt Vivian?” the tired girl asked. Yes, jealous, secretly, and thinking about what would happen out there! She wanted to retreat.

“She has no connection with me anymore, Clara. I like you, I choose you, I trust you, I love you, my future is with you, I promise our relationship will succeed, I won’t let you go, whatever happens, I want to face it all with you, Clara!” Joe said. He reached for Clara’s face, then landed a kiss on her forehead. The beautiful girl who had captured his heart.

“Sleep now?” Joe asked.

“I’m not sleepy, Uncle!”

“What are you thinking, my Clara?” Joe gently pinched her cheek.

“My Clara?”

“My phone, my phone! My Clara, Clara is mine!” Joe explained with a smile. “What are you thinking? What are you worried about?” he pressed.

“I’m afraid, Uncle, afraid that Mrs. Vivian won’t approve of our relationship, afraid that Mr. Bond won’t like me, afraid that Aunt Vivian wants to separate us!” Clara lamented, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

“Enough, Clara, don’t cry! I, I’ll fight for our relationship. Do you believe in me?” Joe hugged her. He could feel the immense love in Clara’s heart.

Joe wiped Clara’s tears away and landed a kiss on her lips. It was a mandatory ritual when they were together; Clara and her strawberry lips were very tempting. It became addictive unconsciously. It became longing every night.

“Trust everything to me, Clara! Sleep now! Tomorrow I’ll take you to my office!” Joe suggested.

“What for, Uncle?” Clara was surprised.

“You already know all my family members; I also want you to know what my job is!” Joe showed his seriousness to Clara.

“Uncle is a CEO!” Clara said.

“What’s that?”

“The title of a novel I want to write, of course, it will have a happy ending because Uncle Joe and Clara will live happily ever after!” Clara answered casually.

“Go to sleep! What, do you want me to seduce you?” Joe joked, his smile adorning his lips. Clara always made him happy with her simple jokes.

“Ewww, Uncle Joe, you’re so naughty!” Clara accused, getting up from her seat.

Joe grinned.

“I’m serious!”

“Forgive me, Uncle, good night!”

“Good night, Clara!”

“Sleep well, Uncle!”

“Sleep well, my Clara!”

Clara moved towards her room. Joe could reassure her. Her doubts melted away when talking to him.

Upon arriving in her room, Clara lay down on the bed. She closed her eyes with a smile.

==❤==

At 5:30 AM, Clara’s phone buzzed. The alarm rang along with a message from her beloved.

Joe: [My Clara, good morning,]

Clara: [Good morning, Uncle Joe.]

Joe: [Get ready, we’ll have breakfast together at seven, then we’ll head to the office!]

Clara: [Okay, Uncle!]

Clara’s right hand placed her phone on the nightstand. She stood up and opened her wardrobe. A knee-length black skirt and an orange top with a ribbon modification on the collar.

Then, she walked downstairs humming cheerfully. Joe. One name that was always beautifully engraved in her heart. It became the first name she always remembered when waking up. And later, she hoped it would be the first and last person she saw when closing her eyes at night and opening them in the morning.

Clara entered the bathroom. The cold water flowing over her head brought freshness, added enthusiasm, and made her even more eager.

Fifteen minutes was enough time for her to shower. She deliberately didn’t wet her hair so she could tie it back without drama.

That day when Joe untied her hair because it was wet! Clara didn’t want that to happen.

After showering, Clara put on her chosen outfit. Then, she walked out of the bathroom towards the backyard. There was a large mirror there, a perfect place for prolonged self-reflection.

“So refreshing!” Clara murmured. There was an artificial waterfall on the side of Vivian’s pool. The sound of water splashing was comforting.

“Where are you going?” Vivian asked. She had her hands on her hips, authoritative.

“Um…” Clara mumbled, thinking.

“I want to talk to you for a moment!” she requested.

“Okay, Aunt!” Clara replied, following Vivian’s steps.

Clara stopped when Vivian halted her steps in the hallway connecting the kitchen and the backyard.

“Clara!” she whispered with a different expression. She was no longer restrained by emotions. Her face became friendly and hopeful.

“What’s up, Aunt?” Clara answered.

“I hope you understand the current situation!” she began the conversation.

“What do you mean?” Clara truly didn’t understand what Joe Sebastian’s ex-wife was saying.

“Kimmy wants her parents to be together again; she’s only four years old. Kimmy doesn’t know anything; all she knows is that her mommy and daddy are always together! So, I hope you understand, Clara!” Vivian said plaintively.

“What does Aunt want?” Clara challenged. Vivian was a model and actress. Clara didn’t know when she was acting or when she wasn’t. Natural.

“Please, end your relationship with Joe! This isn’t for me, but for Kimmy’s sake. I don’t want Kimmy to lose the love of her daddy or mommy!” she said again.

Clara fell silent. She didn’t know what to do.

“You’re young and beautiful, you’re also smart, and Joe will surely finance your education to the extent you want. You can grow and become even better; you can find a man better than Joe. Please, Clara, let go of Joe, don’t take him away from Kimmy, I beg you!” Vivian was about to kneel at Clara’s feet. But the girl dodged.

Standing motionless, not even an inch moved.

“Don’t steal Kimmy’s happiness, don’t steal Joe! Please, Clara, understand!” Vivian pleaded, deliberately showing her pitiful expression.

Clara just remained silent. Was she really stealing Kimmy’s happiness?

To be continued.