SWNOVELS Chapter 10 The Winner of Oscar Best Actress Award
"What did you say?" Antonio's brows furrowed greatly.
He was only able to understand some fragments of Clarissa's complaints, but after taking in the messy room and Adelaide's furious expression, he could guess what was going on.
"Sob... Antonio, I want to go home!" Clarissa was glued to Antonio's huge frame like an octopus and she sounded like she had just experienced something very unfortunate. She was screaming in between her wails.
Antonio shot a sharp gaze at Adelaide. Adelaide was stunned as she still couldn't wrap her head around Clarissa's act at the moment. She stared at Antonio and said helplessly, "I didn't do any of that."
"Clarissa, you can stop crying now. This is your home, where else could you go?" Antonio had to try hard to pluck Clarissa off his body before comforting her calmly.
"Really?" Clarissa raised her head and asked with her big watery eyes in between sobs.
Antonio nodded simply. Clarissa finally stopped crying and began to explain, "Antonio, I was just coming up here to pay Adelaide a visit and tell her about my recent puking episodes that was probably induced by my pregnancy. Besides, according to a show I watched, it's good for a pregnant woman to bask in sunlight, but Adelaide only thought that I was trying to take away this room. She had said that the reason you guys are not getting along was because of me, and she also said..."
"What did she say?"
"She also said that once the child in my belly is gone, you will return to her side."
Adelaide's body shuddered visibly, not expecting that Clarissa would be such a good liar. She shook her head vehemently while Antonio was slowly inching closer towards her. There were no words that could perfectly describe the storm brewing on his face.
"It's not like what she has said." Adelaide couldn't explain herself clearly, and one of her hands was caressing her belly while the other was tugging at Antonio's jacket.
Antonio suddenly flung Adelaide to one side, and she lost her balance and crashed onto the bed. Behind Antonio, she could see that Clarissa was revealing a smirk on her face. Adelaide gnashed her teeth hard, thinking that Antonio would never believe her again no matter what she said!
Clarissa felt like she was done enjoying the scene in front of her. Then, she carefully inched towards Antonio and pretended to be virtuous, "Antonio, Adelaide is right. It's all my fault and your shirt is dirtied by me too. Take it off, I will wash it for you."
Antonio complied with her while his gaze stopped at Clarissa's chest. A platter of numerous colour had hardened and was an obvious stain on her white shirt.
"You, wash her clothes."
Antonio didn't hesitate to pull Adelaide up from the bed while dishing out an order to her.
"No!"
"There's no need for that!"
Adelaide and Clarissa both spoke at the same time.
Antonio was even more furious as he said, "Look at your sister, Adelaide. Why are both of you so different when you both have the same father? If I were him, I would be suspicious about the fact that you are my daughter."
Antonio's words deeply hurt Adelaide. She had never been suspicious about her mother, but she had to admit that his words had hurt her deeply.
Adelaide drooped her head and her eyes were completely wet because of her overflowing tears. She couldn't even see Antonio clearly now but she still nodded, "Alright, I'll wash it."
Her voice was trembling and her brain was in a complete mess. She had tried to persuade herself not to harbour any hopes towards this man, but in the end she still couldn't really do that.
She had to wait until the moment he landed a hard slap on her to reaffirm the fact that he never really loved her.
Adelaide raised her head once again and she also wiped away her tears. She bravely met Antonio's eyes and began, "Clarissa is bearing your child, and I'm bearing your child too, but why you can't believe me? Since you covet this room so much, I will move out for your sake!"
She was lowering her stance in front of Clarissa, and it was also a sign of succumbing to fate. Antonio was her husband, and she was bearing his child too. However, what could that fact help her in this situation?"
"Adelaide, I—I didn't know what mistake I have made. Although getting some sunlight is good for pregnant woman, but you are also pregnant too in hindsight. I never wanted to take away your room in the first place." She drooped her head bitterly and she resembled a pitiful woman who had just been bullied. After sniffing slightly, she continued, "Adelaide, no matter who is your child's father, I am still your younger sister. I never wanted to hurt you, so can you not try to hurt my child?"
Clarissa's words shot straight through Antonio's heart, and before he could fly into a rage, Adelaide suddenly chuckled, "Do you actually believe her? Right, she is right all along. I wanted to hurt her and her child in the first place. You can call the police to get me arrested. Let alone this room, I will give up everything to her. Come on."
At that moment, Antonio's heart was burning like crazy, and his breath was getting more and more ragged. He couldn't understand this sensation at all.
He instinctively lashed out and held Adelaide's hand.
Adelaide looked at him with utter shock in her eyes.
That's right, it had been a long time since he had held her hand. Her hand used to be fleshy in the past, but now it was skeletal at best. He could enclose her tiny and fragile hand completely within his palm. He looked into Adelaide's confused eyes and immediately retracted his hand. After letting out a cough, he said mockingly, "Nobody wants to move into a room you have been staying in previously. This room is in such a mess."
After finishing his sentence, without paying any heed to both of them who were shocked beyond words, he led Clarissa out of the room.
"Clarissa, there are other rooms with better lighting. Let me show you."
Antonio's gentle voice could be heard in the corridor. Adelaide could only feel an immense sourness assaulting her nose. Her tears finally broke free of her eyes.
At that moment, Antonio's phone rang. He took it out and his face immediately became serious, "Where is Damla? Ask her to bring you there."
Clarissa recalled that she had just sent Damla away. She mumbled a response and asked tentatively, "Damla said that she wanted to see her grandchildren, so I have allowed her to go home on my own volition. You wouldn't blame me, would you?"
Antonio recalled that Damla hadn't been home for a long time because of his matters. Since she had been taking care of his life at home for many years, Antonio actually showed an apologetic expression as he replied, "No, you have done a good job." After that, he turned around and disappeared into his study to answer the call.
Clarissa who was still rooted to the spot watched Antonio moved away and cursed secretly, "Adelaide is really a bitch. She didn't forget to mention that thing about the child. Antonio might find out the truth sooner or later."
Earlier on, Adelaide had actually went along with her act and admitted to have intentions of hurting Clarissa, yet Antonio didn't even hit her as punishment. He instead decided to let her keep the room. At the thought of Adelaide, Clarissa's face distorted with anger.
Clarissa was really resentful towards her. In the end, it was still that old hag's fault. If it were not for her, Adelaide would have become her "portable blood bank" now.
She stomped the floor and vowed to herself, "There is still a lot of time left. One day, I will make sure you suffer at my hands."
She then headed to a room next to Adelaide's hesitantly. Although this room wasn't basked in as much sunlight coupled with the absence of a balcony and a arm-chair, it was still a decent room. Clarissa could only compromise with it and stayed there for the time being.