Chapter 4

Anthony continued to wonder why Lerisa wasn't happy. He didn't have any siblings and had grown up seeing her as a sister.

He sighed and focused on the road as he drove home. Soon, he arrived and drove into the garage, before getting out of his car and walking toward their duplex mansion.

“Good evening, Mom and Dad,” Anthony greeted his parents as he stepped into the living room and saw them sitting in the dining area.

His mother smiled and replied first, “Welcome home, Anthony. How was work today?”

“Fine, Mom,” Anthony replied as he walked toward the living room stairs to retire to his bedroom. However, his mother stopped him.

“Wait, Anthony. Won't you join us for dinner before going to your bedroom?”

Anthony paused, looked back at his mother, and replied, “Okay, Mom. How's the birthday preparation going? We'll celebrate it here tomorrow in the event hall.”

Anthony walked to the dining room to join his parents. He pulled out a chair and sat across from his father.

“Fine,” his mother replied.

Anthony's phone rang, and he pulled it out of his trouser pocket. He saw that Clara was calling.

“Excuse me, Mom and Dad. I have to take this call. Hello, babe. I'll call you back later,” Anthony said to Clara over the phone.

He immediately ended the call and smiled at his parents as he pulled his chair closer to the dining table.

Mrs. Beatrice smiled at Anthony, knowing that her son was in a relationship. She didn't want to disturb him by asking who the woman was, as she was eagerly waiting for Anthony to settle down with Lerisa Jonah, whom she loved and wanted as her daughter-in-law.

“Anthony, how about Lerisa? Did she come to the company today?” Anthony's father asked, before they resumed eating.

Anthony frowned slightly as he remembered the sad look on Lerisa's face, before she left the company.

His mother noticed his expression and asked, “What's wrong, Anthony?”

“Nothing, Mom. Lerisa is fine. She came to work today,” Anthony answered, before asking, “Where's the meal?”

“Anthony, I know you only see Lerisa as a friend. But her father is a good friend of mine, not just my former assistant. Mr. Fred Jonah supported and encouraged me while I was building the company you now control. So, I want you to understand that the Jonah family means a lot to me. That's why I ask you about Lerisa,” Mr. Joshua explained.

“I understand, Father. Where's Sandra, Mom?” Anthony asked.

Just then, Sandra stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of food in her hands. She approached the dining table to serve their dinner, as she was their maid.

“I'm sorry for the delay,” Sandra apologized.

Mrs. Beatrice sighed and replied, “It's okay, Sandra. Be quick.”

Anthony and his parents resumed eating in silence.

When Anthony finished his dinner, he stood up from his chair and said to his parents, “Thanks, Mom and Dad. I'm going upstairs to my bedroom to rest. Good night.”

“Yes, good night, Anthony,” Mrs. Beatrice replied.

She watched as Anthony walked away and climbed the stairs from the living room to his bedroom.

-----

Anthony entered his bedroom and sighed, before deciding to call Clara to find out why she'd called him earlier. He hadn't been able to answer her call because he'd been with his parents.

He missed Clara, so he called her. The call connected.

“Hello, babe,” Anthony said as he took off his black coat.

“Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?” Clara asked. She was at a club, and Anthony could hear club music playing in the background.

“Where are you, babe?” Anthony asked.

“I'm at the club. My best friend is having a birthday party today, so she invited me. You know I can't turn down her invitation,” Clara replied.

“Hmm…” Anthony glanced at his wristwatch and saw that it was past 9 p.m.

“But it's getting late, babe. You should start heading home now. I'm not happy that you're there,” he said.

“Hahaha! I know, babe. Relax. I didn't come here to sleep with anyone, and it's a midnight party. I'll be fine,” Clara assured him.

Anthony frowned, but before he could complain, Clara interrupted him.

“I have to end the call now, babe. Good night, and I'll see you tomorrow at your parents' house. But you know I'm not happy that you've chosen to celebrate your birthday at your parents' home instead of a hotel. You're an adult, after all.”

“Hmm.” Anthony frowned and said, “That's how my parents want it, Clara, and I can't go against them.”

“How your parents want it? But not how I want it, Anthony. Anyway, it's okay. Good night,” Clara replied.

Anthony heard the call disconnect, which made his frown deepen.

Anthony loved Clara, so he sighed and took off his long-sleeved red shirt. He was about to remove his trousers when he felt the red ring box in his pocket.

Anthony took out the ring box and stared at it again, intending to propose to Clara the following day. He sighed and walked toward his bedside drawer to put the red ring box away.

He went into the bathroom to bathe. When he finished, he came out wearing a white robe and walked over to his bed. He sat down and opened his laptop.

Anthony thought about calling Lerisa to find out if she was feeling better and had arrived home safely. He sighed, picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and called her directly.

-----

Lerisa had finished wearing a blue nightgown. She sat at the dining table with her parents, having dinner.

She hadn't brought her phone with her, so she didn't receive Anthony's call while she was eating.

Anthony eventually put his phone in his bedside drawer and continued his online research on his laptop.

After browsing for a while, he shut down his laptop and plugged it in to charge.