My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

Part 47.

The night grew later. The king of the night continued to reveal its light, providing illumination, piercing through the darkness. Joe lay beside Kimmy. The effects of the medicine seemed to have worn off as his little princess was still awake.

“Papa,” called Kimmy. She changed her sleeping position to face her father.

“Yes, sweetheart, you’re not asleep yet!” Joe pretended not to know.

“Not yet, Papa, Kimmy is sad!” she sighed.

“Why are you sad?” Joe asked.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Grandma said Aunt Clara will return to her family’s home, is that true?” Kimmy moved closer.

“Yes, Clara will return to her family’s home in a week,” Joe answered. His chest felt even tighter. Remembering that Clara would soon leave his house and live with her real family.

“Is Papa sad?” Kimmy asked.

“Yes, Papa is sad!” Joe admitted.

“Kimmy will accompany Papa.” Kimmy hugged her father and kissed his cheek gently.

“Go to sleep, it’s late, or I’ll call Doctor Gaston!” Joe said jokingly.

“Okay Pa, Kimmy will sleep now!” the little girl said. Annoyed because her father always threatened to bring Doctor Gaston.

Eventually, Kimmy fell asleep while Joe remained awake with the turmoil in his heart. Joe reached for his phone on the nightstand. Clara’s photo appeared when he unlocked the screen.

“Soon you’ll be leaving, Clara, huh!” Joe muttered, feeling a tightness in his chest. “How could you stay here for ten years, and I only realized everything two months ago!” he whispered, cursing himself.

Joe got up from his bed and moved out of his daughter’s room, heading towards the living room.

“Mom hasn’t slept yet?” the man asked his mother, who was still sitting there.

“Not yet, Mama can’t sleep yet! Where are you going?” Mrs. Linn asked back.

“I can’t sleep either, Ma!” Joe replied, sitting next to his mother, his face showing frustration.

“Is this about Clara?” Mrs. Linn observed Joe carefully. She could tell her son was restless.

Joe remained silent, bowing his head and hiding his face in his hands.

“Has Vivian truly not found a place in your heart, Joe?” Mrs. Linn tried to ask, seeking to understand what her son truly desired.

“Vivian is in the past, Ma!” Joe replied quickly.

“You’ve only been divorced for three months, have you forgotten her already?!” protested Mrs. Linn.

“It’s not about time, Ma. It’s about self-respect. Four years of marriage, but Vivian rarely obeyed and respected me. Even the last time she filed for divorce, it was just a job contract with Fashion Paris,” Joe explained. “She truly no longer considers me her husband. She never paid attention to Kimmy and me!” he added. Joe’s mood worsened as he remembered his ex-wife.

Sigh.

The tightness spread to the middle-aged woman’s heart. Kimmy, Kimmy, and Kimmy were always her focus. Mrs. Linn realized that all this time, she only cared about Kimmy without listening to Joe’s feelings. The sadness and heartache she felt herself.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think that far, I’m sorry, I only thought about Kimmy, without wanting to know how you feel! Forgive me, Joe!” Mrs. Linn said.

“It’s okay, Ma, everything’s in the past,” Joe replied, turning to his mother and showing a smile.

“Are you sure you’re okay now?”

“Yes, I’m okay now, Ma,” the man asserted, smiling again.

“From now on, Mama won’t interfere anymore. You have the right to determine your own happiness, Joe,” she said. “Go to sleep, you have to work, the product launch is getting closer, you mustn’t get sick!” Mrs. Linn advised.

“Yes, Ma,” Joe replied, exhaling, relieving the tightness in his chest. “I’m going to bed, Ma,” he bid his farewell. Then, he stood up and headed to his room.

Mrs. Linn pondered for a moment. She closed her eyes, realizing how selfish she had been. And never thinking about Joe’s feelings.

Click.

The sound of the door opening was heard. Clara came out, right after Joe entered his room.

“Mrs. Linn, you’re not asleep yet?” Clara asked in surprise. She didn’t expect Mrs. Linn to be in the living room.

“Not yet, and you’re not either, Clara?” the woman asked back.

“I want to get a drink,” Clara replied. “Would you like me to make hot chocolate for you?”

“Make one for me too, Clara,” Mrs. Linn replied.

“Okay.” The girl went downstairs, heading to the kitchen to make two glasses of hot chocolate.

Clara returned from the kitchen with two glasses of hot chocolate on a tray.

“Here’s your drink, Mrs.,” Clara offered, placing the glass in front of the mother of the man she loved.

Then, Clara walked towards her room.

“Clara!” Mrs. Linn called.

“Yes, Mrs.,” Clara replied. Stopping her steps, then turning to look at the source of the voice.

“Sit down for a moment,” she requested.

Overcoming the awkwardness, Clara walked closer. Then, she sat next to Mrs. Linn. The place that was originally occupied by Joe.

“What’s wrong, Mrs., is the chocolate too sweet?” Clara guessed.

Mrs. Linn stared closely at the girl in front of her. Clara was her in the past, loving a man much older.

“Yesterday someone came looking for you, Clara. He claimed to be sent by your family,” Mrs. Linn started the conversation.

“Really?” Clara asked because she didn’t know.

“Joe also said, in a week they will come to pick you up,” Mrs. Linn said.

“I already know about that, Mrs.,” she replied.

“I’m sorry, Clara, forgive me for being harsh on you. Clara, I did all that for Kimmy!” she said.

Silence. Clara didn’t respond. Everything Mrs. Linn said truly hurt her.

“It’s okay if you don’t forgive me, but I just want to advise you, you’re still young, pursue your dreams, you’re beautiful and smart, seize the world and become a person of quality who makes your parents proud,” Mrs. Linn advised.

Clara embraced Mrs. Linn in her arms. She couldn’t bear to see the woman tearing up.

“Don’t cry, Mrs.,” Clara requested.

“It’s okay, Clara. When you return to your family, don’t disappoint them, okay!” she whispered.

Clara nodded. Mrs. Linn was always kind. Except for the incident the other day that made her harsh and hurt Clara’s feelings.

“Once again, I apologize, Clara!” she whispered softly.

Silence. Mrs. Linn and Clara embraced each other for a long time. It had never occurred to them to be in such a position. When Clara would leave home and live with her real family.

“Whoa… Am I seeing things right, the witch and the snow princess hugging!” Joe said behind Clara.

Mrs. Linn and Clara broke the hug, turning to the source of the voice.

“You naughty boy, am I the witch you’re referring to!” Mrs. Linn protested.

“Sorry, Ma, didn’t mean to!” Joe apologized. “Have you made peace?” Joe asked.

Clara remained silent.

Mrs. Linn remained silent.

“Now that Clara is willing to return to her family, Mama feels sad, yesterday you two were fighting!” he said, looking at his mother and Clara alternately.

“Yes, mama knows mama was wrong, mama has apologized to Clara!” she explained.

“Good, does that mean Mama now approves of me and Clara dating?” Joe asked.

“Emm… that’s your personal matter, Mama doesn’t want to interfere!” she said.

“Oh come on, Ma, just say that Mama approves of Clara becoming Mama’s daughter-in-law!” Joe pleaded.

“Don’t get married yet, Clara is still too young, be careful, you!” Mrs. Linn joked, pointing her finger at Joe’s face.

“No,” Joe replied, raising his hands while laughing.

“Mrs., I’ll go to bed now!” Clara asked for permission, her face blushing. There was happiness in her heart.

Clara stood up, glanced at Joe briefly, then walked towards her room.

Joe followed behind, following Clara’s steps.

“Where are you going, Joe!” Mrs. Linn shouted.

“I’m going to sleep with Clara, Ma,” he replied flatly.

“Don’t play around!”

“You said no marriage yet, but sleeping together is okay, right, Ma!” Joe joked.

“No! Go to your respective rooms!” she said firmly, hands on her hips.

“Hehe, okay Ma!” Joe replied, walking towards his room. A burden lifted from his heart, he felt like he could breathe freely.

Clara chuckled and entered her room.

“Dangerous!” Mrs. Linn muttered as she walked towards her room.

To be continued.