My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

Part 44.

Joe descended the stairs and walked towards the living room, then continued to the veranda of the house.

A man in a black suit was standing with his back to him. Joe observed him from behind, not recognizing who the man was.

“Ahem…” Joe cleared his throat as he approached his uninvited guest.

The man turned around. They exchanged glances. The man in the black suit was tall, fair-skinned, and appeared to be around 25 to 30 years old.

“Excuse me, who are you?” Joe asked. He really didn’t know who the man in front of him was.

“Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Zio, I came here because I want to confirm something!” he said.

Joe scrutinized the man in front of him.

“Is this indeed the residence of Joe Sebastian?” the man asked.

“Yes, I am Joe himself,” Joe confirmed. “Please, have a seat,” he offered.

Joe sat on the rattan chair in front of his house. The man did the same.

“Nice to meet you, Sir,” he greeted.

Joe shook the man’s extended hand.

“I want to inquire about a married couple who lived in London ten years ago,” Zio began the conversation.

Joe furrowed his brows. He was sure that Zio was referring to Clara’s parents.

“The married couple’s names were Devano Rusadi and Marcella Lim,” he explained, providing two photos showing Clara’s parents in separate frames.

“Yes, I know them, I lived with Devano and Cella for four years,” Joe explained.

“The information I have is that ten years ago they were involved in an accident, leaving behind a little girl, seven years old. Do you know where that child is now?” the man asked, showing his seriousness.

Joe fell silent, thinking for a moment. Could Zio be Clara’s family member? He swallowed hard and decided to find out more before answering.

“The girl lived here for a while, but three days ago she left, I don’t know where to,” Mrs. Linn said. She had been standing at the door listening since earlier.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“Is it true that the girl’s name is Clara Rusadi?” Zio inquired to confirm.

“Yes.”

Joe nodded in agreement with his mother’s statement.

“Where is the girl now?” Zio asked eagerly.

“Clara is on vacation, she’ll be back next week,” Joe replied.

“So, it’s true that the girl is still alive?” Zio asked again, with an incredulous expression.

Joe nodded slowly.

“Where is Miss Clara vacationing? Let me pick her up!” the man suggested enthusiastically.

“I won’t tell you, you could be a scammer and have ill intentions towards Clara!” Joe accused. His eyes looked sharp, ablaze with red, masking the turmoil in his heart. A sense of foreboding, could this be a sign that he and Clara would part ways?

“Miss Clara is the only granddaughter of Mr. Freedy Lim, he has been searching for Clara for a decade, ten years, that’s not a short time!” Zio defended.

“Freedy Lim?” Joe murmured. The name sounded familiar to him. Could Clara’s grandfather be the owner of FirstLim Group? Even Joe’s Blue Jewelry couldn’t compare to that company.

Joe’s phone rang. Dr. Gaston’s name appeared on the screen.

“I’ll take this call for a moment!” he excused himself.

“Sure!” Zio agreed, allowing it.

Joe walked back into his house, answering the call from Gaston.

The call connected.

“Hello,” Joe greeted.

“I’ve arrived at the airport! I’ll bring Clara to your house right away!” Gaston announced.

“Don’t!” Joe objected. “Take Clara to your apartment, I’ll pick her up in the afternoon!”

“Don’t joke, I might change my mind!” Gaston threatened.

“This is serious, please, just this once!” Click. Joe ended the call, as Mrs. Linn suddenly stood beside him.

He glanced at his mother briefly then headed back to the veranda to continue talking to his guest.

Joe sat back down.

“I apologize for the wait, Clara will be back in a week, if Clara is indeed Mr. Freedy Lim’s granddaughter, I hope you will come here with Clara’s grandfather, of course with more convincing evidence than a single photo!” Joe suggested.

“Alright, in a week I will come here with more accurate evidence, and I’ll make sure Mr. Lim will also come here!” he said. “I take my leave!” he nodded respectfully, then turned and walked to his car.

==❤==

4:15 PM WIB

Dr. Gaston’s apartment.

“What would you like to eat, Clara?” he offered.

“I’m not hungry, doctor,” Clara replied. “When will Uncle Joe come to pick me up?” she asked with a melancholy expression.

“Maybe after he finishes work,” the doctor replied.

Clara strengthened her heart to wait.

Ding.

The doorbell rang. Gaston opened the door, and there was no mistaking it, the man was Joe Sebastian.

“Please come in!” Gaston opened the door wide to let Joe into his apartment.

Joe took three steps forward, seeing Clara sitting casually on the sofa.

“Clara, let’s go home now!” Joe invited.

Clara startled, seeing Joe suddenly appearing in front of her.

“Come in, we should talk before you and Clara step out of my place!” Gaston suggested.

He walked towards Clara. “Make two cups of coffee for us! I’ll talk to Joe for a moment!” Dr. Gaston instructed Clara.

“Alright, doc!”

Clara went to the pantry to make drinks. Meanwhile, Joe and Gaston sat on the chairs on the balcony.

“Do you really love Clara?” Gaston asked. To the point.

“Yes, what’s the matter?” Joe replied curtly.

“Don’t be angry, I apologize, I got carried away because Clara is very attractive!” Dr. Gaston confessed honestly.

“What do you want?” Joe asked.

“Not much, I just want you not to hurt Clara and not make her cry again, okay?” He stared at Joe with a mocking expression.

“Believe me, I’m not that kind of guy, it all happened accidentally!” Joe defended.

“But…”

“What else,” his tone flat.

“If you make Clara cry again, I’ll take her away from you, understood?” the doctor threatened.

“I won’t make Clara cry again!”

“I believe you, hopefully after this, you won’t break my trust in you either.”

Joe rubbed his face roughly. Then he looked at Clara. The girl, if it weren’t for Gaston, Joe might have hugged her tightly already.