Chapter 322: The Old Arrangement

Clyde watched Edie’s eyes darken to the color of burnt sugar, her face stiffening with shock. "If you’re my fiancé, why have we never met before?" She stared at him, fiercely.

He laughed. "Well....he stopped without finishing his sentence. "It’s a long story...." Clyde hesitated. "Something happened many years ago."

Edie sat practically at the edge of her seat and waited for Clyde to speak. "Tell me what happened?" she said.

"Lara’s and my family, the Jackson’s have been friends for many generations. Our grandparents and parents made an arrangement before our birth even took place. If there was to ever be a boy and a girl on opposite sides of the family, the two would get married. Bingo turns out it’s us," Clyde explained. "Your mother had an affair with Stanley and ran away. Losing all contact with her family. Therefore, Lara’s never even knew of your existence."

"Why wouldn’t my mother have told me. It doesn’t make any sense." Edie said, shaking her head.

"It was easy to find out what happened between your mother and Stanley, but what I don’t understand is why your mother didn’t give you to the Greg as a last name. She left your name as Lara, which made it even easier for me to find you. I’m certain she had your best interest at heart." Clyde didn’t take his eyes off Edie as he spoke. In a few brief sentences, he explained the sequence of events.

Edie eyed him suspiciously, tilting her head, and studied his expression. ’It seemed like he was sincere,’ she thought. She sat there for a minute, weighing his words. "Thank you for being so direct and open with me." Edie couldn’t bring herself to look at him. She turned and looked out the window. "I’m trying to accept the truth of our birth and what is expected of us. This should never have been kept a secret from me." She tried desperately to keep the accusation out of her voice. Clyde spun around to face her, an expression of disgusted understanding blazing across her face.

"Mr. Jackson...." Edie was hesitant when she spoke.

"You’ve always called me Clyde. Stop calling me, Mr. Jackson," he replied.

"I don’t know what to say. I need time to think," Edie said.

"I wanted to wait before I told you anything about the necklace. I’m sorry to lay this on you so quickly, but you insisted," Clyde said apologetically. "Take all the time you need. I’ll be here whenever you want to talk," he said, lowering his voice.

Edie was speechless now, her breath quite taken away. "If you didn’t tell me today. When were you going to tell me?"

"I was waiting for the right time. I was going to ease you into it. You know when we started to get to know one another better," Clyde chuckled.

"This is not a joke. I don’t know what you’re laughing about. I have no idea if this is true or not. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if it is. The fact is, I’m a married woman. I love my husband, and I won’t divorce him," she said, sounding frustrated.

Clyde’s expression changed. He leans over and whispers in Edie’s ear. "Who knows what the future holds," he said with a particularly winsome and meaningful smile.

"What did you say?" Edie asked, clearly confused.

"It doesn’t matter. I have to go to the MV shoot for my new album. I’ll be gone for a few days, so Malloy has delayed the shoot for five days. That’s all kinds of time for you to recover and think about what I’ve told you," Clyde said.

With a confused look on her face, Edie wondered what he meant. ’Did Clyde intentionally ask for this time off for me? Clyde has always shown me genuine concern, but.....’

Seeing Edie in deep concentration, Clyde says, "You said you needed time! I’m giving you time. If it’s not enough, give me a call and let me know."

Edie nodded with uncertainty, and Clyde left the room. Manley was waiting by the car for Clyde. "How did it go? Is she all right?" he asked eagerly.

"She’s fine, it wasn’t serious," Clyde replied.

"Thank God," Manley said, sounding relieved.

"Oh! I also told her that I’m her fiancé. So don’t breathe a word to anyone," Clyde added.

"Ha! Ha! That’s too funny. One minute you like her and the next, she’s your fiancé. That’s a good joke," Manley said, laughing. He turned and looked at Clyde.

"Look at my face. Does it look like I’m joking?" Clyde said loud and clearly.

Manley’s eyes widened, his jaw dropped. He looked at Clyde incredulously. "Are you crazy? Edie Lara is an intelligent woman, not like those other Bimbos you’re used to dating. What do you think she’ll do to you when she finds out the truth."

"Don’t look at me like that! Besides, we have all kinds of time to talk," Clyde said while pointing to Manley to keep his eyes on the road. He grinned while he watched the hospital disappear in the mirror.

Edie rested for a while in her room at the hospital and returned to the hotel. The first thing she did was talk to Malloy to confirm what Clyde told her. "Yes, we’re putting the film on hold. Until Clyde is able to come back," Malloy said.

Edie called Stuart and told him she would be coming home for a few days. Since it was late, Edie decided to spend the night in the hotel. Stuart agreed and said he would send someone for her first thing in the morning.

The car pulled up to the hotel, and Edie got in. A look of surprise appeared on her face. "Mr. Bates, I wasn’t expecting to see you," she said. Mr. Bates was an important part of the Yates family. He had been with the family since Stuart was young and even though Stuart would never admit it. He respected Mr. Bates. "There are several drivers. How come you’re picking me up?" Edie asked.

Edie was waiting for Mr. Bates to answer her question, and he quickly changed the topic. "Mrs. Yates. The twentieth of the month will be here soon. It’s Mr. Yates’s birthday. Do you have any plans."

"Stuart’s birthday," Edie said loudly. "Why am I only finding out about it now?"

Mr. Bates sighed slightly. "I hope you don’t mind! I shouldn’t be saying anything to you about it, and please don’t tell Mr. Yates that I told you?" he lowered his voice as if there was someone listening.

"Mind? Of course not! I’m happy you told me." Edie paused. "Mr. Bates, tell me about Stuart and his mother," Her voice became solemn as she uttered these words.

"Mrs. Yates, when Stuart was a little boy, his mother and him never really got along. They didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. His birthday was just another day, and he hasn’t celebrated in years. Since Mr. Yates met you, he’s changed a lot. I would like to have a party for him, and I’m hoping it may somewhat help with Stuart and his mother’s relationship."

Confusion spread all over Edie’s face. "Their relationship? What happened between them?" Edie asked.