Chapter 14
Tiffany suddenly calmed down. She wiped her tears away and asked, “Where do you get such confidence, Cliff? Do you know how many outrageous things you’ve done to Lilibeth over the years for
for my sake?”
She began counting his transgressions one by one. Once, he had stood Lilibeth up in order to celebrate Tiffany’s birthday with her. He had stopped bringing Lilibeth to his family gatherings because Tiffany told him that she didn’t like him doing that.
More recently, he had merely grounded Tiffany for just one day after she smashed two bottles on Lilibeth’s head.
“She’s not coming back,” Tiffany said in an almost hysterical voice. “She’s really given up on
you.”
Clifford remained calm. “I’ll get some bodyguards to escort you back to the Sinclair residence tomorrow. Go and meet the suitor Dad has arranged for you.”
Tiffany stared at him in disbelief, her eyes wide ‘Can you actually bring yourself to do that?”
Clifford looked at her as he said very softly, “Isn’t this what you wished for? I’ll grant your wish. From now on, everything will return to how it used to be. I’ll be with Lilibeth, while you’ll just be my younger sister–nothing more.
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left without looking back.
into his car and dialed Joel’s number. “Investigate Lilibeth’s whereabouts for me.”
For the first time ever, Joel hesitated. “Mr. Sinclair… Since Ms. Quimby has decided to get a divorce, please just let her have her freedom.”
Clifford’s eyes darkened. “Have you forgotten whose assistant you are?”
Joel took a deep breath. “I may be your assistant, but I like Ms. Quimby!”
Clifford gripped his phone tightly. “What did you say?”
“Most men within your social circle like Ms. Quimby, Mr. Sinclair,” Joel said, suppressing his anger. “There’s no man who won’t feel attracted to her upon meeting her. After all, she’s beautiful, radiant, and friendly, just like a warm fire. Who wouldn’t want to get closer to her?
“But what about you? What have you been taking her for? A substitute? A tool? A pawn to use to suppress your desires?” Joel laughed bitterly. Just fire me.”
Clifford gripped his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He ordered in an ice–cold voice, “Go and look into what I told you to. If you’re not willing to do the job, I’ll just get someone else to do it.”
After ending the call, Clifford spent the entire night smoking in his car.
Amid the smoke curling through the air, his thoughts drifted to Lilibeth again. He recalled how she had looked like a blazing flame in her red dress when he first met her, so dazzling that no one could tear their eyes away from her.
But after that? Once she had married him, her sharp edges had softened. She had only thought of him and had always been waiting for him to spare her a glance.
She had always remembered the tea he liked to drink and would prepare it at just the right temperature. She would iron his coat beforehand on rainy days. In fact, she would even wait silently outside his meditation room until dawn whenever he went into seclusion.
Yet, he had never once appreciated everything she had done.
When he gave her the cold shoulder–which had happened one too many times–she would curl up on the couch and mutter, “When will you finally look at me, Clifford?”
Early the next morning, Joel sent Clifford a message. “Ms. Quimby is in Gindara.”
Clifford stared at the screen with a frown.
Gindara? Had Lilibeth gone to Lorenzo?
Clifford stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray. The instant the sparks went out, he called
Albert.
“Let me choose Tiff’s marriage partner, Dad,” he said immediately.
Albert was a little surprised, but he quickly recovered and smiled. “Perfect timing. I have the information on over a dozen young bachelors from wealthy families here with me. Would you like to come over and take a look?”
Clifford hummed in response. After hanging up, he immediately booked a ticket for the earliest flight to Gindara.
Back at the Sinclair residence, Albert spread a stack of photos on the coffee table with a wide smile on his face. “These are the candidates I’ve picked out through careful consideration. They’re a good match for Tiff, both in terms of family background and appearance.”
Clifford glanced at the photos expressionlessly before picking one out with slender fingers. The youngest son of the Zucker family, Eason Zucker, has a gentle personality. He’ll do right by her if she marries him.”
Albert nodded in satisfaction. “You have pretty good taste. This kid has a good reputation
within our social circle.”
Clifford stood up. “I have something to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”
**Chapter 14
“Wait,” Albert suddenly called out, stopping him in his tracks. “Where’s Beth? I haven’t seen her, and she hasn’t come over for dinner in a long time.”
