The Cherished Wife

"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 did you just say?

"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!"

wide with disbelief. No matter what crazy stuff she had pulled before, Mateo had never turned on her like that. She could not wrap

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

it's only a matter of time before he takes over. You think Jace is going

she shot back, clinging to the hope that family ties meant

twice before backing Janet," Mateo said with a frosty edge. "Clarisse, did you honestly think the Bakers would have your back

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

back of Mateo's car until it