Love is the Sunshine novel Chapter 45

Carla strode to Sean angrily.

She slapped Sean on the back and yelled at him with rage, "Sean! I have been searching for you everywhere! Why did you leave without a word?! Do you know how worried I was about you?

You almost drove me insane!"

"Ouch, Carla! That really hurts! I am sorry. I am so sorry!"

Sean felt her intense anger so in order to appease her, he just repeatedly nodded his head to express his apology. He gazed at his sister helplessly and murmured, "Carla, while I was waiting for you I got so hungry. That's when Terence found me. He told me that he brought some snacks for me. I did not think that it will make you panic so I decided to follow him.

Terence is our friend, isn't he? I didn't give it much thought. I am really sorry."

Terence stood up and placed Sean behind his back. Then he said gently, "Carla, I am the one at fault here. Don't blame the little kid."

Terence grabbed Carla's hand and dragged her towards the fountain close by.

"Carla, listen. I don't know how my father found you and I know that he must have said something hurtful to you. I know it was hard to listen to him. If I guessed correctly, he has threatened you to leave me.

However, I just want to make it clear to you... My father was right about us. He was wrong to assume that you were the one that seduced me. You are not obsessed with me but I sure as hell am obsessed with you! I don't want to leave you, Carla. I don't care if you tell them that I'm a stalker. I don't even care if you tell them that I'm a pervert. I love you and I want to be with you.

My sole purpose in staying at your place is because I want to get to know you more. I want you to get to know me too. I was hoping that maybe someday, you will realize that you love me and eventually agree to marry me. I know it sounds weird to you and I know that this is not easy. However, my purpose is clear. You are my purpose, Carla.

Like what Shakespeare said, "All for the purpose not to marry out of love is where bullying." That's what I was planning."

Terence poured his heart out for her to see. However, Carla just stared right at his face. She could feel the extreme tenderness and sincerity from both his words and expression. His eyes darkened and his brows furrowed. It seemed to Carla that he was really trying his hardest to convey his feelings to her.

Terence winked at her as if he had thought of something. He then added, "Also, Carla. I want you to know something. My father is not the one who is in charge of our family. You know who is? My grandfather. He is in charge. Keep that in mind." Terence looked at her motionless face then gently caressed her on the cheek. Tenderly, he whispered, "You and my grandfather were both in a hurry when you and him met last time. I will arrange another meeting and formally introduce you to him as my girlfriend.

As long as he accepts you, not a word from my father or other people will count. Believe me. You are in good hands."

Although Terence's words sent a huge wave of relief into her heart, she could not bear to be in a family that had that level of complication. However, there was a little voice in her heart that whispers, 'Don't you like him?' Of course she liked him! Her feelings toward Terence had grown drastically after their days of living together. Nevertheless, she didn't want to live her life full of worries. His father just threatened her to leave. What would be next? She sighed and shook her head. She suddenly grew tired so she sat on the stairs of the fountain.

After a little bit of thinking, she stared at Terence and said calmly, "Terence, I don't want to be rude. I understand and appreciate what you have just confessed. However, you also need to know. Neither did I plan to nor even think of being a part of your family. You are barking up the wrong tree so don't waste your time."

After she spoke her mind, she lowered her head and looked at the ground. Deep inside, she knew that Cinderella meeting Prince Charming did not just happen in real life. The huge difference between their identities had made their future with each other complicated. Plus, she was just a simple person. Complications did not suit her.

All she wished for was to raise Sean up with her efforts and live a peaceful life with him.

"Carla, I know you don't want to get into trouble because of my family. I am confident that all your worries won't come true. If you want us to stay out of the whole family, I will manage. But, please keep this in mind. I will do whatever it takes to convince you that my feelings for you is true. You don't want to get in trouble? I will hide you from it. You have my word," Terence smiled warmly. He was not discouraged by Carla's strong words for he knew that she was not being honest with her heart. He then stepped forward and sat next to her, gently circling his arms around her.

He smiled and whispered in her ear, "Carla, my Carla. I will make sure that you see that no matter how much you reject me or avoid me right now, you will eventually choose to trust me and rely on me."

'When that time comes, please marry me, ' Terence added in his heart.

Soon after he finished his words, Terence pulled her close and stood up. They slowly walked toward Sean then Terence said, "We will continue this talk when we get home tonight. Now just relax and chill. Let's go get some food. Sean is waiting for us."

Carla followed him and sat down right next to Sean. She was still angry at her brother's "hide-and-seek" episode so she shot him a warning glare as she gulped down a mouthful of water.

After a while, she relaxed slightly and the conversation between her and Terence started to flash back. She knew that Terence meant every word he said but she still couldn't picture the two of them being in a serious relationship.

She decided to put everything behind and take one step a time

since she had very little power compared to them in this city.

More importantly, she was a helpless woman with a little kid attached to her. What could she do to them anyways? She sighed and said to herself, 'Fine, let's see what happens next.' Carla persuaded herself to stop thinking about it for the time being and picked up a sandwich.

The sun was beginning to set when they decided to start packing up and leave.

Sean got tired since he was out for a whole day. He followed Terence back to the car and then they began to drive back.

On their way home, Carla insisted multiple times that a hotel room would be fine for them to stay for the rest of their trip in the city. However, Terence wouldn't let them go. He pretended that he was concentrating on driving so that him ignoring her could be justified.

Carla grew tired from being angry the whole day so she gave up and decided to stay with him just for a while. After a few moments later, they arrived at the sea view villa.

When Carla and Sean got out of the car, Megan--Terence's "childhood sweetheart"-- also arrived after them.

"Hey! Carla! You came to the city!"

Megan slowly approached them when she saw that Carla and Sean were together. "Why didn't you call when you arrived in the city?! I told you last time. Call me anytime if you want. Did you forget?" Megan grinned to them and uttered.

Megan then walked straight towards Terence and slipped her arm under his and continued, "Terence. How can you not tell me that Carla is in town? Don't you know that girls should stick together?"

Terence took his arm back and curled his thin lips very slightly. He replied, "Oh Megan, don't blame this on me. You are always busy. I don't want to disturb you; so does Carla.

Also, Carla and Sean came to the city to visit me. So I need to show my appreciation and take care of them during their stay. You know what? There was nothing for you to worry about. You don't have to get involved."

Megan never expected to hear those words from Terence. She looked surprised and gave Carla a quick glance.

Carla knew the situation would only get weirder so she gave a little cough to disguise her embarrassment. She then said to them, "Hey Megan, It's very nice to see you today. My brother has had a very long day. Would you excuse us for a moment? I need to put him to bed now."

"Hey Carla, wait!"

Megan shouted all of a sudden.

Carla sighed and turned around to look at Megan. She had a bad feeling about what was going to happen next so she looked at Rainer and told Sean, "Hey, Sean. Why don't you go inside with Rainer and get some rest? I will come for you very soon."

"Okay, Carla," Sean nodded his head. He took a quick glance at Terence and Megan then followed Rainer inside the villa.

As soon as Sean had left, Megan gave Terence a piercing look and murmured, "Terence. How careless of you. It's not a good thing for her to stay in your place because she is a girl. People would gossip around if they find out that she is staying here. I am afraid that they might get the wrong idea and say something nasty about Carla."

Carla heard her. She stared at Terence and looked away as she thought to herself, 'That's exactly what you wanted to happen, right? Terence? You make me stay here simply because you want people to believe I'm yours. And once they do, it will leave me no choice but to be with you.'

"Megan, can you just please stay out of this? Why are you here anyways? Do you need anything?" Terence didn't even look at Megan when he spoke. Carla's dodging eyes had told him everything that was going on in her head. Terence furrowed his brows slightly because he was sure that Megan came here because of his father.

"Fine. I am here because I have heard that Carla was in town. Terence, I am here to help you out of your troubles. You have no idea what the rest of your family would think about Carla staying at your place, don't you?

So, I believe that the best option for you two right now is to invite me to stay here with you. Me staying here with Carla is the only way to shut their mouth. Don't you think so, Terence?"

Megan smiled at him as she said those words. She couldn't wait to throw herself inside the villa.

"Megan, listen. If you really know me, you would know that I don't give a damn about any gossip. Rather, let me put it this way, I think it is better for them to spread the word so that I don't have to do the work myself. I also think it's time for you to go now."

Terence informed her after a brief silence.

Then he hastily grabbed Carla's hand and walked passed Megan without even looking at her.

As they were walking toward the entrance, Megan lost herself and yelled at his back, "I won't stay out of this, Terence! I am doing all of these because I care about you. You and your father have been fighting in silence for so long and I really want to help with your relationship! How could you do this to me?! How could you not see my heart?!"

She acted all crazy behind them with her eyes filled with anger and resentment. But they didn't look back at her.

"I don't care, Megan. Just go home!"

Terence didn't want Carla to hear more of Megan's words. He knew that what she was going to say next would probably hurt Clara. He promised her that he would protect her from his family. Until they entered the main gate, Carla's hand were still held into his tightly. She gently pulled her hand from his and smiled at him, "Hey, I will go check on Sean, okay?" She walked to her room in haste, leaving Terence in the living room.

Dinner time arrived.

Megan stayed even though she was unwelcome. She messed up all of Terence's plans. According to his original plan, he had asked the maids to prepare a romantic dinner with a well-decorated dinner table and a fine-dining menu from a Michelin restaurant in the city. A violinist was also invited to play songs while they were enjoying the food. With Megan in the house, he was forced to change his plan into a normal dinner.

"Carla, where do you plan to go tomorrow? If you don't mind, I will recommend myself as your tour guide for the rest of your trip! I know a place that every girl on the planet would wish to go. I think you will like it!"

Megan grinned at Carla as if nothing had happened outside of the house.

Carla was not impressed with her offer. She stopped cutting the sirloin on her plate and replied after she scanned through Terence's emotionless face, "I appreciate your invitation but I have to decline your offer. I think I will stay in the house and take a rest from all the 'sightseeing'." Carla recalled her two-day stay and sighed deeply.

"Come on Carla. I assume you don't get to travel a lot. Since you are already here, why don't you go out and have some fun! Go out as much as you can so you won't regret coming to JA City later! Don't you think so?" Megan insisted as she glanced at Terence.

On the other side of the table, Terence shut himself out from Megan and concentrated on cutting his steak. Suddenly, Megan reached her fork into Terence's plate and took the small piece away. She then put the steak into her mouth and acted as if taking the food out of his plate was a completely normal thing between the two of them. Megan continued her conversation with Carla as if nothing happened, "Oh Carla, how many days are you planning to stay?"

Terence was annoyed with the insensible woman. He put down his utensils and stared at Megan.

"I asked a week off from work. I don't really know for sure. I might leave any day now. My boss Karen is a very nice woman. I think she won't mind if I stay a day longer or shorter."

Carla behaved normally even after seeing them taking food off each other's plates and "flirting". Since she didn't hear a word of complain from Terence, she assumed that Megan and him had a pretty good relationship.

"What did you say? Carla, why are you still working? I remember the Ans have given you several business shops. The rent of those shops should be more than enough to support you and Sean even if you decide to stop working. Why don't you quit your job and start enjoying your life?"

As she was asking Carla, she pouted at Terence and acted cutely as she waved her empty wine glass at him and clinked his wine glass with hers. Carla noticed that her cup was almost empty but Terence hadn't drink any of his wine.

Clearly, Megan was signaling to him that they should exchange their wine glass.

Unfortunately, Carla caught everything with her eyes. She went speechless because of Megan's weird actions.

'Even a blind person can see that she was sending a declaration. She wants me to know that Terence is hers.' Although Carla understood the meaning behind her obvious actions, she stayed silent and kept working on the sirloin on her plate.