I love Ms. Eric's writing style and she portrays her characters well. I imagine Clarissa was as beautiful as Ms. Eric. I would be truly disappointed if her disposition towards love was as self-centered as Clarissa's.  

Merely gazing into eyes of Ms. Eric, I could imagine the deep seated feelings in that compassionate gentleman wtiter's soul.  Loosing his ideal woman with blinders on, he was blind-sided by her own character flaw, not loving anyone other than herself.  Clarissa and some other man having his baby, engulfed him so, it kept him from the joy of raising his own flesh and blood.  

There would have been no success in a sequel, after all. The essence of Clarissa would have killed her off the pages preventing motherhood of any paper child at all. 