Blair took several deep breaths after Clarissa left.
"I shouldn't have said that."
"I shouldn't have said anything to her."
"Why would I say such a thing to her?"
Blair took another deep breath.
On the other hand, Axel was in the parking lot. He sat in his car, smiling to himself. He had just bought a bouquet of flowers to give Blair at home.
Axel's phone rang. Clarissa contacted him.
"Why does she keep bothering me?" grunted Axel.
Axel tried to ignore the call, but Clarissa sent him a message.
At first, Axel was reluctant. But finally, he checked the message and skimmed it. Axel became furious and could no longer ignore this woman.
Blair is still daydreaming at home and regretting every action. She regretted talking to Clarissa.
The house phone rang, and Blair answered immediately.
"Axel?" Blair was so excited when she heard Axel's voice on the phone. "Where are you?"
"Blair, I'm at the bar and need a little something. I can't go home early tonight. Can you have dinner alone without me?"
"You… were at the bar? Are you drunk?" Blair sounded worried.
"No, Blair. I don't drink. I'm going to meet Clarissa. We have something to talk about."
Blair was disappointed to hear that.
"Blair, are you all right in the house alone? I can send Marco or Carlos to look after you."
"No need. I'm fine," Blair replied coldly.
Axel had already hung up on the call, but Blair didn't return the receiver. It was as if Blair was still talking to Axel, but really she was talking to herself.
"Go home, Axel. Don't meet Clarissa!"
Blair's face looked sad and somber.
"I'm home alone. I'm waiting for you to come home and have dinner together. Please don't meet Clarissa."
Blair wanted Axel to hear all that while they were on the phone. But, unfortunately, Blair doesn't have the guts and doesn't have the right to say and forbid Axel to meet anyone. Blair realized that her position was only as a contract wife.
***
"What did you want to talk to me about, Clarissa? Let's get going because I don't have much time."
"Please relax a bit, Axel. Don't get so tense. I invited you here as an old friend. I do not intend to interfere with your married life or your private life."
Axel took a deep breath.
"Then what is the meaning of the message you sent me?"
"Alpha," Clarissa said firmly.
Clarissa really seriously wanted to talk about it with Axel.
"I know you have rejected me as the destinated mate by the Moon Goddess for you. We have been destined to be together since we were children, and even our parents have approved our wedding plans."
"Clarissa, it's over," Axel said.
"I know, Axel. I know. But there's something I need to know from you. So that I can immediately turn away from you without leaving any burden and feelings. Can you understand that?"
"Okay. What do you want to know so you can let me go and end all of this? Yes, we are meant to be together by the Moon Goddess. But that doesn't mean I can't choose who will be my mate. And on the day our engagement ended, it was clear that I had rejected you as my destined mate, Clarissa."
Clarissa held her chest, which was so tight and painful. It was as if she could not get rid of the scars of rejection from her life. The pain is truly excruciating.
"I know you don't really love Blair. Your marriage is just a play. She is not the mate you choose. So, Axel, doesn't that mean I still have a chance to get back at you? Can I come back to you again?"
Axel was surprised to hear that question from Clarissa.
***
Like the previous nights, even though Blair said she would never wait on her lips, she was still waiting for Axel to return home. Blair repeatedly picked up the receiver, trying to call Axel, and she put it back down.
Carrying a light blanket over her shoulder, Blair left the house and sat on the porch. She kept her eyes on the path that led to their beach house. Blair expected to see Axel's car drive there and back to the house.
Blair was exhausted from waiting too long. She sat on the swing on the porch and fell asleep.
Even when Axel returned home, Blair did not hear the sound of his car.
Axel knelt before the swing and watched Blair, who was sleeping while covering her body with a light blanket.
Axel reached out to carry Blair inside, but he didn't. Axel was afraid to surprise Blair.
"Blair? What are you doing here?"
Blair awakens. She rubbed her eyes and saw Axel, then widened a smile.
"Oh, Axel? You're home already?"
"I told you not to wait for me and just sleep. Did you sleepwalk and move here?" Axel tried to act rudely in front of Blair.
Blair said nothing. She couldn't give any reason.
Axel cleared his throat and still showed his arrogant attitude. But secretly, Axel handed Blair a bouquet of red roses from behind his back.
"Here, take it!"
Blair needed clarification to see the bouquet of roses. She accepted it even though she was hesitant.
"Present for you!" Axel said nonchalantly. Then he turned his face away to hide his embarrassment.
Blair smiled broadly and kissed the roses, and hugged her tightly.
That night, they sat on the verandah enjoying hot chocolate. They both talked about many things.
"Axel, do you know?"
"Say whatever it is. Why do you have to ask first when you usually tell me anything without being asked," said Axel while sipping his chocolate.
"The last time I saw Louis and had lunch with him, he said something to me. I don't know why he suddenly said that he knew our marriage was not based on love."
Axel almost choked when he heard that. He had just listened to the same confession from Clarissa.
"What do you mean people know our marriage is just a contract? Where did they find out? You mean Louis knows that our marriage was just a sham?"
Blair became nervous. She didn't know how Clarissa and Louis suddenly realized that her marriage to Axel was just a contract.
Blair shook her head. "Of course not me! How could I violate our contract agreement and even open my own disgrace? If the contract is spread out, I will lose big, and my debts will never be paid off."
"Are you sure no one else accidentally found out about the contract? You don't suspect anyone?" asked Axel.
Blair wakes up and thinks of someone, but she's afraid to admit it in front of Axel.
Blair shook her head. "It's just that Louis told me he asked me to be given a chance. If my marriage to you is just a contract, Louis wants me to end it immediately and…."
"What do you mean, Blair?" Axel hissed and looked so angry. "You want to terminate the contract and turn to Louis?"