After Clarissa explained, Elian just said, "He probably didn't recognize you."
If Liam had figured it out, he would've definitely said something, at least thrown a question out there. But he stayed quiet.
As they were about to finish eating, Elian casually asked, "Want to pack up the leftovers?"
Clarissa had just been about to call the waiter over, but since he asked, she simply nodded.
She looked up and asked softly, "How'd you know I always like taking leftovers home when I eat out?"
In her memory, she couldn't recall ever eating alone with Elian before. Even when they did bump into each other at meals, it was usually some big group thing with classmates.
He paused mid-reach for his glass, took a sip of water and cleared his throat before replying, "Got used to it abroad."
Taking leftovers was normal overseas?
Was life that tight for him back then?
Clarissa remembered that during high school, Elian had lived quite comfortably. Even when they hit senior year and he wasn't spending as lavishly, he'd still swing by with a bubble tea for her once in a while.
She didn't press him further. To Clarissa, everyone has their own past-no need to dig.
Just before stepping inside home, her phone rang. She glanced down-it was Grandpa.
She turned to Elian. "Grandpa's calling. You go on in first."
She stopped at the front door, turning away slightly and picked up the call.
Elian pushed the door open and went in, leaving it ajar behind him.
"Grandpa."
The voice on the other end sounded worn and tired. Clarissa thought for a second-it'd probably been two months since her last visit.
"Ah, when are you coming home for dinner, sweetheart?"
Clarissa was about to say she'd find some time in the next few days, but then remembered she'd just talked with Mrs. Hamilton. Now, Grandpa was calling right after? Yeah, this wasn't just a casual chat.
"Grandpa, is there something on your mind?"
There was a short pause. Then he sighed and said,
"I heard you and Sebastian are having problems? It's normal for couples your age to argue, you know. As long as-"
"Grandpa!" Clarissa's tone went sharp, cutting him off instantly.
He hadn't expected her to get so worked up.
Clarissa realized she'd snapped. She sighed and softened her voice, "Sorry, Grandpa. But there's no way I'll ever get back with Sebastian. I know you think the world of him and the Hamiltons, that you believe they treat me like one of their own. But Grandpa, it's not like that. You don't know how he really sees me-he can't stand me. Just talking to me makes his skin crawl. How am I supposed to be with someone like that?"
"And now that he's got a girlfriend, if I still hovered around, I'd just be the side chick."
"Besides... I'm already married."
To put an end to Grandpa's hopes, she said it outright. She hadn't planned to spill it so soon, but thinking about the beach, about Sebastian kissing Aria like they had no care in the world, and then calling her afterward pretending he was committed-it just made her sick.
Sebastian was scary two-faced. In public, he was all cold and untouchable. But at her family's place, he always smiled, polite and well-spoken. Grandpa liked him a lot because of that.
He kept thinking Sebastian truly cared about Clarissa.
Throw in his spotless public image and successful career, and Grandpa saw him as the perfect man-ideal boyfriend, ideal husband material.
But Clarissa saw through it. If he didn't like her, then pretending in front of family was just that-an act.On the other end of the line, Grandpa's voice trembled a bit, followed by a string of heavy sighs.
In the end, he just said, "Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. Bring that person back to meet me."
Clarissa knew exactly who "that person" was-Elian.
She answered lightly, "Got it."
*****
After hanging up, she didn't go inside right away. She still hadn't figured out how to bring it up with Elian-asking him to come with her to meet her family just like that felt a little out of the blue.
Still, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Elian would probably agree.
If he ever needed her to meet his family too, she'd totally go with him.
She found herself feeling unexpectedly nervous at the thought. Would his parents like her?
Just as she was about to reach out and unlock the door, she noticed it wasn't closed-left ajar on purpose, it seemed.
That tiny detail warmed her heart a bit.
Elian wasn't in the living room. She headed into the kitchen, made a cup of tea, then walked softly to his study and gave the door a gentle knock.
Only after hearing his response did she open the door.
She placed the cup of tea down beside him. The fresh green leaves unfurled slowly in the steaming water, the rising mist wrapping them in warmth.
Elian eyed the tea, a flicker of emotion passing through him. Still, he asked, "You came just to bring tea?"
Translation: What do you need from me?
Clarissa awkwardly touched the tip of her nose, a guilty look in her eyes.
"Um... would you come with me to the Beckett house this weekend? Grandpa wants to meet you."
There was a hint of hopefulness in her eyes as she looked up at him.
His dark eyes didn't show much, and just as she was wondering if she should try to persuade him harder, he surprised her with a question.
"You told your grandfather about us?"
She nodded slowly, caught off guard. She was expecting a refusal-not that.
And then he smiled.
The sound of his laugh was like wind chimes in summer-light and calming.
"Sure, I'll go with you."
Clarissa's face lit up. "Thank you."
He shook his head and reached out to ruffle her hair gently.
"As your husband, meeting your family is kind of what I signed up for, isn't it?"
His voice was soft and calming, like it brushed right past the heart.
They'd known each other for so long, yet she still didn't fully understand who the real him was.
Her cheeks flushed lightly.
It took her a bit to steady her heartbeat before she spoke again.
"I mean... if you ever need someone to meet your folks too, I'd come with you. No problem."
At that, Elian went quiet for a beat-his gaze shifted slightly and his hand stopped mid-stir.
Then he said, with a soft voice, "My family's overseas. Maybe one day."
Clarissa knew that bit-it was common knowledge that Elian's family was abroad. Back in school, the rumor mill was full of talk that he was the heir of some foreign rich family and had gone abroad for college to take over the family business.
But up to now, she hadn't seen him laying claim to any massive inheritance.
Instead, he was quietly running his own biotech company.
She'd heard bits and pieces about him, but nothing felt entirely true-except the man in front of her.
She stayed in the study a little longer before heading back to her room.
As she closed the door behind her, Elian picked up the cup of tea and took a sip.
It had a faint bitterness, but as it lingered, it turned delicately sweet.
He slid open the top drawer on his left. Inside was an old photo of a woman.
He gently traced her face with his finger, his voice soft and tinged with longing.
"Mom, I'll bring her to meet you someday. I think you'd like her."
