You'll Fall For Me, Today or tomorrow

Clarissa started preparing the food for Matthew’s birthday party a few days in advance.

She did not know how many people would come, or whether Matthew would invite his best buddies. Either way, eight dishes should do it. She had even gotten some wine ready. It was more than enough even if it was just the two of them.

Of course, if it really was just the two of them, she could prepare the candles early on. She had never done a candlelight dinner before, but she was sure it would go really well with her cooking.

Matthew’s birthday was on Friday. He still had to go to work that day.

Usually, Clarissa would sleep in until nine or ten in the morning, but on that day, she had quietly set an alarm. While Matthew was off on his morning run, she got out of bed and went to make pasta.

Every year for Clarissa’s birthday, her grandmother would make her tagliatelle in the morning.

It had become a habit, and Clarissa figured that this was how it should be for birthdays.

When Matthew came back from his run, Clarissa, donned in an apron, was already waiting for him at the kitchen door, a broad grin plastered on her face.

“Happy birthday, dear Uncle Matthew.”

Matthew’s lips curved upwards into a smirk. He moved closer to her, pinched her on the chin, and gently pecked her on the lips.

“Yes. Very happy, indeed.”

With a pretty lady like you by my side every day, how can I not be happy?

Clarissa giggled, hands on Matthew’s chest, coyly rejecting his invitation to a deep kiss. “No, we’re not having that,” she said. “Go take a shower, change your clothes, and then come down for pasta.”

“Pasta?”

Clarissa smiled at him. “Yes, I’m making tagliatelle. Should be almost done.”

She slipped into the kitchen, ready to boil the tagliatelle strips which she had made from pasta dough that morning. Clarissa seldom made her own pasta, so she had no idea how it would turn out.

Matthew chuckled softly and headed upstairs to shower.

Sometime later, when he got downstairs, Clarissa came out with a bowl of pasta in her hands. She seemed quite excited. She walked over to him, held his hand, led him to his seat, and then handed him a fork.

“Go on. Take a big bite.”

Using the fork, he spun the tagliatelle until it resembled a giant ball before popping it into his mouth. Under his lover’s gaze, he chewed with all his might and eventually swallowed everything.

Fortunately, the amount of pasta he had gathered in one mouthful was not too big. Otherwise, he would have made a pig of himself.

“Haha… That’s wonderful, Uncle Matthew. Happy birthday! This is my gift to you.”

Clarissa wished him a happy birthday again. At the same time, from behind her, she revealed the tie which she got for him as a present.

Matthew arched his brows while Clarissa beamed at him. “Shall I put it on for you?” she offered.

“Sure.”

technique was clumsy, and the

times and this was her official

her head and stood in front of Matthew, admiring her handiwork with great satisfaction as it

were written all over his face. He looked so cute that she wanted so

their bodies to get

“What’s this?”

“Are you

felt that the tie around his neck meant that he was currently

nodded, her hand stroking

“Of course. That’s because…”

what, she did not say

giggled. Then, standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered suggestively in

you’re tied down

Clarissa gazed into Matthew’s dark eyes—one twinkling with glee, the

he kissed the woman heavily on the lips. As they were entangled in each other, Matthew wondered what it would be

the kitchen. It was only then that she realized Mrs. Lawson was making

Clarissa gently shoved Matthew away, whispering shyly, “Mrs. Lawson’s still here. You should sit down for breakfast. I’ll have dinner ready

given that Matthew had to celebrate his birthday with his

had told her. What he failed to mention was that his mother would be in charge

he would have to stay at the Tyson residence

the reason why Clarissa said

on the lips again before

seeing him off,

was

had lots to do

cream and, confident that the third

residence, where she was welcomed by

what’s all this? It’s Uncle Matt’s birthday, not some anniversary! You’re literally putting

housemaids looked like they had

It’s just a birthday party.

turned stone-cold upon hearing

had a pretty good idea what sort of ‘friends’ her grandmother had invited

but she suppressed her fury. She looked over to her mother

window, she talked back at the old woman, “Grandma, you shouldn’t have done this. If Uncle Matt’s willing to go ahead with whatever you have planned, pigs will fly! He’s not going

you saying? How could

overheard

lady, you’ve been

what’s so wrong with that? Who do you think I’m doing this for? I’m doing it

best she could so that her son could get married one day. But

receiving her mother’s

this for Uncle Matt’s own good, but that was solely based on

wanted. Most importantly, the family’s obsession with privileges and ‘good matches’ was the reason why the romance between Uncle Matt and Clare