My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

17.

The atmosphere in Joe’s living room had been transformed. Kimmy’s Hello Kitty-themed birthday party was dominated by pink decorations.

Some guests had arrived wearing red attire as per the dress code. They were relatives of Mrs. Linn, Joe’s uncles and aunts, as well as relatives of Mr. Bond.

Their family wasn’t doing well. They envied Joe’s wealth because, among their various business endeavors, Joe was the most successful with his jewelry design company, “Blue Jewelry.”

Joe was sitting with Mrs. Linn and Mr. Bond, greeting the guests. Meanwhile, Kimmy sat next to Joe, looking towards the stairs. The little girl was waiting for Clara to come down.

Shortly after, Clara descended the stairs wearing a red dress. She left her long hair neatly flowing. Clara’s gaze shifted to Kimmy, and she immediately approached the little girl.

“You said Mama would come, where is Mama?” Kimmy asked hopefully.

Clara glanced at her watch. “Just wait a moment, your Mom will come, Kimmy,” Clara reassured her.

“When?” the impatient girl asked again, scanning the door but finding no one.

“Just wait, I’ll call her!” Clara whispered, reaching for her phone and immediately dialing Vivian’s number. However, after three missed calls, there was no answer from Vivian.

“How is it?” Kimmy asked again.

“Just wait a bit more!” Clara reassured her.

Now it was Joe’s turn to inquire with Clara.

“Are you sure Vivian will come? The party is starting in ten minutes, and there’s no sign of her!” Joe said, not too concerned about Vivian’s presence.

“Just wait a bit more, Uncle!”

“It seems like you’re going to lose, Clara! You won’t be able to bring Vivian here!” Joe asserted. Clara was too confident.

“Clara, if Mama doesn’t come, will you accompany me in cutting the cake?” Kimmy asked. She remembered the moment from her cousin’s party.

“Of course,” Clara replied.

As the clock continued ticking, minutes turned into moments. Now it was exactly 1:00 PM. It was time for the birthday party to begin.

“Look, Clara! You lost, Vivian didn’t come because I didn’t want her to come. A woman like her doesn’t deserve to be here!” Joe declared, feeling triumphant. Joe still loved Vivian. However, the divorce petition filed by Vivian hurt his heart and dignity. If he still behaved kindly, it was for Kimmy’s sake.

Clara sighed in frustration as her efforts went in vain. She followed Kimmy, who led her to the party area.

All the guests who had arrived began to sing the birthday song and clap their hands. Joe was on Kimmy’s right side, while Clara was on her left.

Then, it was time to blow out the candles and cut the cake.

“Okay, for the first slice, Kimmy, who do you want to give it to?” Joe asked in his baritone voice.

Kimmy looked at Grandma and Grandpa, then at Joe. Then, her gaze stopped when she looked at Clara.

“I want to give the first slice to Clara,” Kimmy said, handing the slice of cake to Clara.

“Thank you, Kimmy!” Clara accepted it. Everyone looked at Clara with disapproving glances. Yes, Clara was just a parasite who was leeching off. That’s how Joe’s relatives viewed Clara.

The event continued with a meal together. The party ended, and one by one the guests left the large house.

==?==

In the evening at 5:00 PM.

“Where are you going, Clara?” Joe asked. He was accompanying Kimmy in opening her pile of gifts. He looked at Clara from head to toe, focusing on the shoulder bag dangling from Clara’s arm.

“My leg has healed, I have to go back to the dorm because you’ve already paid for my expenses there until the end of the semester!” Clara replied.

“Just stay here! Because Kimmy will feel lonely if you’re not here!” Joe insisted.

“But, Uncle, I didn’t succeed in bringing Aunt Vivian here, and I also can’t stay in this house because you’ve already paid for my dorm expenses until I graduate!” Clara pretended to be sad. In reality, she was jumping for joy inside.

“Kimmy, don’t you want Clara to stay here?” Joe asked his daughter.

“Yes, Dad, I want Clara to stay here!” the little girl replied.

“Do you hear that? Kimmy wants you to stay here. Stay in this house, and tomorrow I’ll send someone to pick up your things from the dorm!” Joe asserted. He glanced at Clara with a convincing look.

“Okay, Uncle, I’ll stay here!” Clara replied with a blank expression, far different from the joy in her heart.

“So starting tomorrow, you’ll go to school from this house! There’s a driver, or you can go with me,” Joe said. Clara’s presence had changed Kimmy. The little girl, who used to be quiet, became more expressive now. Joe was sure it was all because of Clara’s attention and kindness.

“Yes, Uncle!”

“Return your bag and study, tomorrow you have school!” Joe instructed.

“Yes, Uncle!” Clara replied, keeping her face expressionless. Slowly, Clara walked back to her room. She turned the doorknob, then closed it tightly.

“Yes!” Clara shouted with joy.

Knock, knock.

Clara turned around and opened the door. Joe was standing behind it.

“What’s up, Uncle?” Clara asked.

“Could you accompany Kimmy? I have a guest downstairs, her caregiver is in the kitchen making milk,” Joe instructed.

“Sure, Uncle,” Clara replied.

Joe went downstairs while Clara approached Kimmy.

“Kimmy, do you like me staying here?” Clara asked as she sat near the child.

Kimmy looked at Clara and nodded slowly.

“Okay, then I’ll stay here!” Clara replied, smiling as she remembered Nadia’s words from earlier-if she wanted to get closer to Uncle Joe, Clara also had to get closer to Kimmy. That way, she’d be one step closer.

The nanny, a woman named Cici, arrived with a bottle of milk for Kimmy.

“Mrs. Vivian is here!” Cici whispered to Clara.

“Where is she?” Clara asked, taken aback.

“She’s downstairs. Mr. Joe didn’t allow her to meet Kimmy,” Cici explained.

“Oh,” Clara responded, choosing to act indifferent because she was disappointed with Vivian. Very disappointed.

Clara and Cici sat beside Kimmy and started opening gifts.

Knock, knock, knock.

The familiar sound of footsteps approached. Joe was standing next to Clara.

“What’s up, Uncle?” Clara asked, looking up and noticing Joe’s strange expression.

“Somebody wants to talk to you downstairs,” Joe said.

Clara stood up, meeting Joe’s gaze. Aunt Vivian?

Joe nodded reassuringly, indicating that everything would be fine. Clara descended the stairs and found Vivian sitting in the living room.

“Auntie wants to talk to me?” Clara asked as she sat in front of Vivian.

“Yes, Clara,” Vivian replied. “You’re not as innocent as I thought. You may be 17 years old, but your heart and mind are very cunning!” Vivian expressed, ending with a mocking smile.

“What do you mean, Auntie?” Clara asked, trying to contain her emotions and anger.

“Don’t think I don’t know. You’ve liked Joe for a long time, haven’t you? And you deliberately approached Kimmy to get closer to Joe, didn’t you?” Vivian accused. She had received information from one of the servants in Joe’s residence. She was both a right-hand and a spy whom she paid dearly.

“Before Uncle Joe married Aunt Vivian, I was already close to and knew Uncle Joe. It’s natural for us to still be close to this day. And as for Kimmy, I’m just comforting her. What’s wrong with comforting a little girl who misses her mommy, who prioritizes her career over her own daughter?” Clara replied.

Clap, clap, clap. Vivian applauded. She stood up and moved closer to Clara, then sat next to the girl.

“You’re indeed clever at acting and shameless, Clara. I know Joe has rejected you, yet you still try to get close to him! You really have no shame!” Vivian jeered, with a mocking smile. “Look at yourself, Clara!” she added.

Silence. Clara’s throat tightened. There was a bitter taste there.

“Auntie has divorced Joe, right? He’s no longer Aunt Vivian’s husband, so it’s okay for me to get close to Joe. He’s a widower and doesn’t have a relationship status with any woman!” Clara replied. The dislike for Vivian filled her heart again.

“You’re audacious, Clara. I did divorce Joe, but after getting what I want, I’ll reconcile with him! So, don’t you dare get close to Joe!” Vivian threatened. It hadn’t even been a month since their official divorce, and someone was already approaching her ex-husband.

“If Uncle Joe is the priority, why did Aunt Vivian divorce him? Don’t be greedy, Auntie!” Clara trembled, but she tried to stand up to Vivian.

“Shut up!” Vivian shouted with emphasis.

“Even if it’s not me, there will surely be many women who admire Uncle Joe. He’s handsome, kind, rich, and smart. Plus, he once loved Aunt Vivian wholeheartedly!” Clara explained.

“Shut up, you brat!” Vivian was provoked to anger. “Mind your words and don’t try to influence Kimmy with your foolishness!” she added angrily.

Clara looked down, honestly, she didn’t dare to meet Vivian’s gaze. “And one more thing, don’t you dare try to poison Joe’s mind with your nonsense!” she added angrily.

“I promise not to do anything inappropriate with Kimmy because I only want to be her friend. But… I don’t promise not to get closer to Uncle Joe because I loved him even before Aunt Vivian did. Got it!” Clara threatened. She stood up and left Vivian. She was trembling, but she managed to overcome her fear and confront the older woman.

Once she reached the second floor,

“Has she gone?” Joe asked.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied.

“Get ready, I’m taking you out to dinner. There’s something I want to discuss about what you and Vivian just talked about,” Joe instructed. He was honestly curious about what Vivian and Clara discussed.

“Yes, Uncle,” Clara replied, then headed to her room. Before showering and getting ready, Clara grabbed her phone and wrote a message to Vivian.

[Aunty, I’ll soon have a special dinner with Uncle Joe. Don’t try to find out where we’ll be dining. I’m afraid you won’t be able to sleep tonight regretting divorcing Uncle Joe, my handsome CEO.]

Click. Clara sent the message to Vivian’s number.