Chapter 4 Calling his lover

Anthony continued to think about why Lerisa wasn't happy, as he didn't have any siblings and had grown up seeing her as a sister.

He sighed and focused his gaze on the road while driving home. Soon, he arrived and drove into the garage before getting out of his car and walking up to their duplex mansion.

"Good evening, Mom and Dad," Anthony greeted his parents as he stepped into the living room and saw them sitting in the dining room.

His mother, Mrs. Beatrice smiled and replied first, "Welcome home, Anthony. How was work today?"

"Fine, Mother," Anthony said as he walked toward the living room stairs to retire to his bedroom. However, his mother called out to him, "Wait, Anthony! Won't you join us for dinner before you go to your room?"

Anthony paused, glanced back at his mother, and replied, "Okay, Mom. How's the birthday preparation going? We will celebrate here tomorrow in the event hall."

Anthony walked to the dining room to join his parents. He pulled out a seat and sat down across from his father. His mother replied, "Fine."

Just then, Anthony's phone rang, and he took it out of his trouser pocket. He saw that Clara was calling.

"Excuse me, Mom and Dad; I have to take this call. Hello, babe, I will call you back later," Anthony said to Clara. He immediately ended the call and smiled back at his parents while dragging his chair closer to the dining table.

Mrs. Beatrice smiled at Anthony, knowing her son was in a relationship. She didn't want to disturb him by asking who the "babe" was, as she eagerly awaited Anthony to settle down with Lerisa Jonah, whom she loved and wanted as her daughter-in-law.

"How about Lerisa? Did she come to the company today?" Anthony's father, Mr. Joshua finally asked before they resumed eating.

Anthony frowned slightly, remembering the sad look on Lerisa's face before she left the company. His mother noticed and asked, "What's wrong, Anthony?"

"Nothing, Mom. Lerisa is fine. She came to work today," Anthony answered, and then he asked, "Where's the meal?"

"Anthony, I know you only see Lerisa as a friend, but her father is a good friend of mine, not just my assistant in the past. Mr. Fred supported me and encouraged me in building the company that you're now running. So, I want you to know that the Jonah family matters a lot to me, which is why I'm asking about Lerisa," Mr. Joshua explained.

"I understand, Father. Where's Sandra, Mom?" Anthony asked. Just then, Sandra stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of their meals in her hands and approached the dining table to serve dinner, as she was their maid.

"I'm sorry for the delay," Sandra apologized. Mrs. Beatrice sighed and replied, "It's okay, Sandra. Be quick."

Anthony and his parents then resumed eating their dinner in silence. When Anthony finished, he stood up from the table and said to his parents, "Thanks, Mom and Dad. I'm going back upstairs to my bedroom to rest. Good night."

"Yes, good night, Anthony," replied Mrs. Beatrice. She watched as Anthony walked away and climbed the stairs to his bedroom.

Once inside his bedroom, Anthony sighed as he decided to call Clara to find out why she had called him earlier. He couldn't answer her call because he was with his parents. He missed Clara and connected the call.

"Hello, babe," Anthony said, stripping off his coat. He heard Clara respond, "Hi, sweetheart. How was your day at the office?"

Clara was in the clubhouse, and Anthony could hear the sound of club music playing in the background. He asked her, "Where are you, babe?"

"I'm in the club. My girlfriend, Sandra is having a birthday party tonight, so she invited me. You know I can't turn down her invitation," Clara said.

"Hmm..." Anthony glanced at his wristwatch and saw it was already after 9 PM. He said, "But it's getting late, babe. Start heading home now; I'm not comfortable with you being there."

"Hahaha. I know, babe, relax. I didn't come here to sleep with any man, and it's a midnight party. I'll be fine," Clara assured him. However, Anthony frowned, and as he was about to complain, Clara said, "I have to end the call now, babe. Good night, and see you tomorrow at your parents' house. But you know I'm not happy with you choosing to celebrate your birthday at your parents' home instead of a hotel like an adult."

"Hmm," Anthony frowned and replied, "It's how my parents want it, Clara, and I cannot go against them."

"How your parents want it? But not how I want it, Anthony. Anyway, it's fine. Good night," Clara said, and Anthony heard the call disconnect, which deepened his frown.

Anthony loved Clara but sighed as he took off his long white shirt. He was about to strip off his trousers when he felt the red ring box he had kept in his pocket.

He pulled it out and stared at it again, intending to propose to Clara the following day.

Anthony sighed and walked over to his bedside drawer to place the red ring box inside.

He then went to his bathroom to bathe, and after finishing, he put on his usual white robe and walked over to his bed, sitting down to use his laptop.

Anthony thought about calling Lerisa to find out if she was okay and had gotten home safely. He picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and called Lerisa directly.

____

Lerisa had just finished bathing and was wearing an ash-colored nightgown. She sat at the dining room table with her parents, having dinner. She wasn't with her phone, so Anthony's call didn't connect while she was eating.

After a while, Anthony finally dropped his phone into the bedside drawer and continued with his online research on his laptop.

After browsing for a while, he turned off his laptop and plugged it in to charge.