Chapter 5 Be My Girlfriend

• "You didn't say anything." James answered indifferently.
• Clara finally breathed a sigh of relief.
• Then, she realized she had stayed here for too long. Thus, she stood up, gave James a respectful nod, and said, "Thank you for letting me stay here. I will be heading back."
• "Take the vanity case with you." James ordered.
• "I don't need it."
• "If you don't take it, I will throw it away. I don't use these things!" James replied coldly.
• His coldness scared Clara, prompting her to take the vanity case and said, "I will reimburse you once I get home. Can you give me your bank account details?"
• "Once you have the money, you can pay me here at the military base." He wrote his phone number on a piece of paper and gave it to Clara. "Call me at this number when you come here."
• "Sure." Clara retrieved the paper from him.
• James glanced at her before calling someone on his phone. "Send Ms. Beacham home."
• …
• Clara had a day off from work, so she went home and changed her clothes before heading to the psychiatric hospital to visit her mother, Celine Beacham.
• Celine had mental illness after her divorce and had to stay in a psychiatric hospital for treatment.
• When Clara arrived, Celine was sitting quietly by the window with a dazed look.
• Clara took a comb and began to comb Celine's hair.
• Celine glanced at her and asked, "When will my daughter visit me?"
• A flash of sadness appeared in Clara's eyes. She finished tying Celine's hair, sat in front of her, and said gently, "Mom, I am your daughter. I'm here to see you."
• Celine was stunned as she looked at Clara. Then, she glanced behind Clara and widened her eyes in panic. "Where is Jon? Why isn't he here? Why didn't he come here to see me?"
• Clara smiled bitterly. Her gaze turned even grimmer.
• When her mother became mentally ill, it was Jon who first appeared to help her. That was why Celine became reliant on him and even forced Clara to marry him.
• All these years, for Celine's sake, Clara forced herself to maintain her failed marriage with Jon.
• "Jon and I are fine. He is good to me." Clara said with a faint smile.
• "Why wouldn't he come here to see me? You have to bring him here tomorrow! He must come here!" Celine demanded and looked at Clara with distrust.
• "He has to work tomorrow." Clara explained.
• Celine slapped Clara's cheek and yelled, "Bring him here when you come to see me again. Otherwise, don't bother coming here. I don't have a daughter like you."
• Clara's cheek burned with pain as she looked into Celine's bloodshot eyes.
• If mom does not have a violent form of mental illness, would she do this to me?
• "Alright, I understand." Clara looked down. Her long lashes concealed the tears in her eyes.
• "Scram! Go away now, or I will kill you." Celine said viciously.
• Clara stood up and said gently, "Mom, please have a good rest. I will see you again some other day."
• "Scram!"
• Clara turned around and left the mental hospital. She stopped and glanced at Celine's room.
• Her mother was still deeply reliant on Jon.
• Thus, Clara had no choice but to look for Jon to prevent her mother's condition from deteriorating.
• She bought a lot of groceries and came to Jon's villa. It was quiet and still. Even the trashcan in the kitchen was empty. Jon clearly did not eat his meals at home.
• Clara opened the fridge and saw that it was full of alcoholic drinks and… condoms.
• Her gaze darkened, and her heart seemed to sink into a bottomless lake, spreading coldness all over her body.
• Didn't I get used to this since a long time ago?
• Furthermore, I came here to ask for Jon's help.
• Clara placed the excess cooking ingredients in the fridge before entering the kitchen.
• She found an apron she previously placed in the kitchen cabinet.
• After putting it on, she began to prep the ingredients and cook.
• She had just finished cooking when the electric door at the entrance opened with a click.
• Clara glanced towards the entrance.
• Jon walked in and looked at her before smirking deviously. "Why are you here? Have you finally thought things through and agree to divorce?"
• Clara's face turned pale.
• Jon had always hated their marriage. She knew about this a long time ago but did not expect him to blatantly make known his desire for divorce.
• Clara took a deep breath and suddenly decided to stop trying to maintain this marriage. "Jon, I'm willing to divorce, but I have a condition."
• Jon glared at Clara and said, "Clara, who do you think you are? How dare you propose a condition with me?"
• Clara looked at Jon coldly. "I can let the world know that you have an illegitimate child. It could damage your future."
• "That child is not mine. I would never let those women get pregnant with my child. You are overthinking." Jon scolded.
• "With the number of mistresses you're sleeping with, it's impossible that none of them got pregnant. Once we divorce, you can sleep with as many women as you wish. All I need is for you to visit my mom with me once a month." Clara negotiated rationally.
• Jon sneered and said, "Dream on!"
• "I've told you my condition. Call me once you are ready to accept it." Clara was not in the mood to argue with him. Thus, she grabbed her bag from the couch and walked out.
• Jon stood watching her leave with a vicious expression.
• After leaving the villa, Clara headed home straightaway.
• Interactions with Jon would always leave her exhausted. She was tired of having to live like this.
• Clara thought about this and headed into the bathroom. Suddenly, she noticed the vanity bag at the side.
• The bag contained toiletries James had given her yesterday, and she had promised to reimburse him. However, she had not done that yet.
• Clara did not like to owe people. Therefore, she searched through her bag and found the note James wrote for her.
• It listed his name and phone number.
• Clara dialed the number, and James soon picked up her call.
• "Hello, I'm Clara Beacham." Clara said awkwardly.
• "I'm listening." James' deep voice sounded from the other end.
• "Can I meet you in around an hour to pay you the money? Will that be okay?" Clara went straight to the point.
• "Sure, you can come here." James hung up right after saying that.
• Clara drove to the entrance of the military base. She saw a Land Rover drove up to her side and came to a stop.
• The black Land Rover's window rolled down.
• James looked at her sternly before glancing back to his car. "Get in."
• His tone was firm and brook no objection.
• Thus, Clara got into his car quickly.
• Neither of them said a word. Awkwardness was hanging between them.
• "About the payment for the toiletries, how would you like me to transfer the money to you?" Clara asked nervously.
• "You can throw the toiletries away if you don't like them." James answered coldly.
• Clara felt something was strange about him and disliked his overbearing behavior. "It doesn't feel right. We are not related, so I can't accept your things for free."
• James looked deep into her eyes and asked, "Does this mean you want to have a relationship with me?"
• Clara was rendered speechless.
• She explained quickly, "I have a husband."
• James snorted, and his expression turned cold.
• "Can you help me with something?" James asked in a deep voice.
• Clara turned to him. "What is it?"
• "I need you to be my girlfriend."