Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 85

The kitchen was bathed in the gentle embrace of early morning sunlight, casting a warm and inviting glow that danced playfully across the room.

Clarissa, surrounded by the delightful energy of her triplets; Daniel, Juliana, and Jennifer found herself amid a lively breakfast preparation.

Laughter and chatter filled the air as they each had their assigned tasks.

Daniel, the oldest of the triplets, confidently flipped pancakes on the gas.

His skillful moves with the spatula created a stack of delicious golden-brown pancakes.

Juliana, full of energy, stood by the counter with a bowl of freshly cut fruits.

With graceful movements, she expertly mixed them, creating a colorful and lively fruit salad to go along with their breakfast.

Jennifer, the youngest among them, took charge of setting the table.

With careful attention, she arranged the plates, utensils, and napkins, creating an organized and visually appealing table setting.

Her precision showed her keen eye for detail, enhancing the overall presentation that complemented the enticing smells drifting from the kitchen.

Clarissa observed her children, filled with a mix of pride and wonder.

She couldn't help but reflect on the missed opportunities for fun and connection due to her work-centered lifestyle.

A chuckle escaped her lips as she realized that her husband had been right all along.

She had been too caught up in work and hadn't truly been present with her children.

But this vacation served as a wake-up call, reminding her of the fleeting nature of childhood and the significance of cherishing these precious moments.

Though she wished Reynold could be there to share in this family moment, their strained relationship had led him to remain in Los Angeles during the holiday.

Despite the absence, Clarissa was determined to make the most of the time with her children and create memories that would last a lifetime.

The sudden buzzing of her phone on the kitchen cabinet startled her, pulling her out of her thoughts.

She reached for the device and glanced at the caller ID display, a smile forming on her face.

With a bright and cheery expression, she looked up at her children.

"Hey, guys, can I take a break? It's your Aunt Sophia calling, and I need to answer," she said, gesturing toward the phone.

They nodded in agreement, returning their attention to their breakfast preparations.

"Thanks, I'll be back soon," Clarissa assured them before stepping out of the kitchen to take the call.

"Hello," she greeted cheerfully into the receiver, but Sophia's tone immediately caught her off guard.

"Where are you?" Sophia's voice was filled with urgency and concern.

Clarissa's cheerful expression faded as she sensed the tension in her sister's voice.

"....on a family vacation in Bora Bora...with the kids... I thought I told you," she responded tentatively, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"No, that's not what I mean. I know you and the kids are in Bora Bora. I was just... You know what? Forget about that."

"Have you been online this morning?" Sophia asked in a rushed manner.

Clarissa's confusion deepened.

"No, I haven't. I've been busy making breakfast with the kids."

"Why? What's wrong?" she asked, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.

Sophia let out an exasperated sigh.

"When was the last time you spoke to Reynold?" she asked abruptly, causing Clarissa to pause, the question hanging in the air.

Her brows furrowed even deeper in concern as she responded, "Yesterday morning."

Her anxiety heightened, and she couldn't help but ask, "Why? Has something happened?"

Sophia's voice carried a sense of urgency as she urged Clarissa, "Check the Hooper blog, Clarissa."

Feeling a knot tighten in her stomach, Clarissa swiftly removed the phone from her ear and anxiously opened the gossip mill celebrity news app.

Her fingers tapped hurriedly on the screen as she navigated to the latest headlines.

As she scrolled through, her eyes widened in disbelief.

There it was, a picture that shattered her world.

Happy looking Reynold smiling in a close cut with a lady dressed in a midnight-blue gown and a caption written in bold letters that screamed the painful truth: A REPLACEMENT FOR SUPERMODEL?

The author of the post went on to write that Renowned Artist Reynold Becknard and a mystery woman were seen on a date in a restaurant with everything pointing to an intimate affair.

Which indicated that there was a problem with the marriage of the renowned artist and his beautiful model wife, Clarissa Becknard.

Her heart sank as she stopped reading to absorb the shocking revelations.

She scrolled further and the article went on digging more into the alleged affair, providing explicit details accompanied with photographs of Reynold and the unidentified woman in intimate moments, their actions bearing the truth that confirmed her worst fears.

It felt like a sucker punch to the gut, a betrayal that sliced through Clarissa's heart with a searing pain she couldn't ignore.

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the screen of her phone as she struggled to grasp the enormity of the situation.

"Clary...are you there?" Sophia's concerned voice broke the tense silence after what felt like an eternity.

Clarissa took a deep breath, raising the phone back to her ear, her voice trembling as she replied, "I'm here, Sophia. I just..."

Her voice trailed off, unable to articulate the whirlwind of emotions consuming her.

Sophia sighed, her tone filled with determination.

"Listen, I've already reached out to some of my blogger friends. I'm doing everything I can to control the damage."

"But I hope Mom hasn't stumbled upon it yet. With Alexander and Camilla's divorce, along with my pending one, adding your situation might be too much for her to bear."

"Please..." Clarissa interjected, her voice cracking.

"...please do everything possible. I don't want Mom to find out about this. She's already dealing with so much because of Red Saint, and I can't bear to burden her with my own troubles."

Sophia's voice softened with empathy. "I understand."

Clarissa let out a shaky breath, grateful for her sister's unwavering support. "Thank you, Sophy. I really don't know what I'd do without you."

"You're my sister, and I'll always be here for you," Sophia reassured her, her words carrying the weight of sibling love.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Clarissa's lips despite the pain gnawing at her insides.

She could hear the sincerity in Sophia's voice, a beacon of solace amid the chaos. "Thank you," she whispered again.

The call ended, and Clarissa took a moment to gather herself.

The weight of the situation pressed down on her, threatening to crush her spirit.

But she knew she couldn't stay immobilized by her pain.

With a deep breath, she wiped away her tears and scrolled down her contact list.

Her finger hovered over the name labeled "My Heartthrob," a mixture of hesitation and longing in her eyes as she slowly clicked on it.

The call connected, and after a few rings, an unfamiliar female voice answered, oozing with seduction.

"Hello..." The voice purred, catching Clarissa off guard.

She frowned, her confusion turning into concern. "Who is this, and why are you with my husband's phone?"

"Oh, darling, it's Megan... It's nice to finally speak with you," the unfamiliar voice replied, a mischievous undertone lacing her words.

Clarissa's brows furrowed deeper as Megan introducing herself triggered a wave of apprehension and disbelief.

She tried to regain her composure. "Give the phone to my husband? I need to speak with him," Clarissa demanded, her voice trembling with anger.

"I'm sorry, but he's not available at the moment... he's in the shower," Megan responded, her tone smug with satisfaction.

Clarissa's mind raced, a torrent of emotions flooding her senses.

Anger and hurt mingled within her, but she managed to maintain a composed tone as she replied, "Oh really?"

But a subtle hint of hurt was detectable in her voice and Megan chuckled softly, relishing in the discomfort she was causing.

"Yeah, we had such a wonderful time together last night," Megan taunted, her voice dripping with malicious delight.

Clarissa clenched her jaw, struggling to contain her emotions.

The desire to strangle Megan intensified, and the knowledge that they were only communicating through the phone and she wouldn't be able to do so amplified her frustration.

Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "Tell him to call me when he's available then."

With that, she hung up without waiting for Megan's response.

Taking a deep breath and summoning every ounce of strength, she composed herself before returning to the kitchen, forcing a smile onto her face, masking the turmoil inside.

"Hello, lovelies... How's breakfast coming along?" she asked with a forced sweetness, attempting to conceal the tumultuous emotions coursing through her veins.

"Breakfast is almost ready, Mom. Just a few more minutes for the pancakes to finish cooking," Daniel replied, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Clarissa nodded in acknowledgment.

A few minutes passed, and Juliana, who had been slicing fresh strawberries, cast a worried glance at Clarissa.

"Mom, are you okay? You look upset," she said, her tone genuine with concern.

Clarissa mustered another smile and nodded

"I'm fine, sweetie. I just received an unexpected call that caught me off guard, but everything's okay."

"Let's focus on finishing up breakfast, shall we?" Her voice wavered slightly, but she tried her best to sound composed.

Juliana nodded, though her skepticism remained, deciding not to press further.

They resumed their breakfast preparations, the kitchen once again filled with the sounds of sizzling pancakes and cheerful banter.

But Clarissa, despite her efforts to push aside her turmoil, couldn't help but feel a heavy weight in her heart.

The image of Reynold being with another woman other than her kept flashing through her mind, and the nagging feeling of being replaced lingered, haunting her thoughts.