Clara's POV I sighed as I jumped off my bed. "Fine," I answered. "But I'm not staying there for longer than ten minutes." I would have to deal with this situation sooner or later, so it might as well be now. I couldn't keep doing stupid things. I might have been fired, but I was still getting paid."Are you seriously leaving the room like that?" she asked."He is just going to get used to seeing all of this." I pointed to my messy hair in a bun and to the oversized t-shirt and grey sweatpants I was wearing.I pulled my door open and made my way downstairs.Katy followed right behind me. I followed the voices to our small dining area. The table had already been set, and Derek and Mom were busy dishing their plates."Nice of you to join us," Derek's face lit up as I entered the room.Mom smiled, too.I ignored their looks and walked around the table to take my seat.As expected, Katy quickly filled her plate and began digging into her food.I glared at Derek across the table, clearly
Clara's POV "That wasn't the worst part. She got a call right in front of me. Someone told her you had had a heart attack. The doctor even confirmed it. I guess she got her friend to do that for her." Derek continued. He was letting it all out. "I even believed her. You would have believed her too if you saw how much she cried." He continued. Derek looked at me with a satisfied smirk. Was this his way of being petty?Mom looked at me, more seriously trying to imagine what might have happened. Everyone knows no one lies about their mother having a heart attack unless they have done something serious.The fact that he knew all of this made him even more dangerous. How many more things did he know?"Don't worry, though; we spoke about the whole thing, and it was nothing but a prank," Derek said with a laugh. He was trying to dismiss the worried expression now on my mom's face. "Right, Clara?" He added."You love pranks, don't you?" I answered sarcastically. I took a sip of my water."Ye
Clara's POVI frantically turned behind me, my mind going into panic mode. Derek was just a few steps down the hall, his attention fixed on his phone as he continued walking. I could feel my heart beat faster with every step that Derek took. Any more of this, and I'd collapse from a heart attack.I couldn't risk the two of them ever meeting.I've done way too many things for it to end like this. If Derek were going to find out, I'd rather be the one to tell him.I did the only thing my brain could think of under so much pressure.I quickly turned around and slammed the door into Waylen's face. This left him puzzled and his nose in pain. He took a step back, and for a second, he yelled out in pain.I pressed my back against the door. Derek now stood a few steps in front of me as he looked up.He stopped in front of me, his eyes staring at me suspiciously. His eyes then moved toward the door with a questioning look. It took him a few seconds to decide that I wasn't a flight risk and ha
Clara's POV Even I was bearing the consequences of it if only I'd known better."I don't know how often he will come here to get information, but my advice is to stay away from here and from me as far as possible." I continued."If you think you can replace me with that guy, you better think again." He answered. He paused for a moment as he weighed through all his options. "This won't be the last you see of me," He threatened.He shot a dagger at me as I tried to remain confident.What had I ever seen in him?I opened the door and stepped back into the house.I slammed the door again. This time, Waylen stepped back to prevent the door from slamming into his face.I peeked through our keyhole as I watched him disappear. It was a relief to know that this would be the last time I would see him, hopefully. He was too big a coward ever to return. My threat had worked.I sighed as I made my way back into the house. Facing Waylen made me a bit tougher and more courageous. With everything th
Clara's POV "We should find a way forward. I'm sure that we both might have said things that we didn't mean." I continued."I meant every word." He answered. He wasn't in the mood for peace talks.Maybe I should get to the point. Sweet talking was working, so we might as well get to the crux of this.“I shouldn't have gotten drunk, but you can't fire Ivy because of that." I breathed out.He raised his brow and paused for a second as if deciding whether I was serious or not."Do I need to start counting the number of things you both did?" He asked. "You both lied about your mother being sick so that you could get out of our doctor's visit. Do you have any idea how sick that sounds?" He asked.He had a point.My mind slipped into a panic. He was getting closer to the truth than I could have ever imagined. Right now, my goal was to save Ivy."I'm scared of doctors," I yelled. I took a moment to breathe as he formed a blank expression. "Ivy only offered me a way out, and I took it. I had
Clara's POV "You fired me and then had security throw me out like a common criminal," I fired at him."It was for your good." He smiled. "Besides, I have more good news. Since your mother dearest is leaving for a while and I obviously can't leave you alone here, you will have to come with me. We are going on a short trip to Greece," he announced.My jaw nearly dropped.Katy stared at the two of us, her eyes filled with amusement."You can't do that. I'm not going anywhere with you," I answered. "I'll report you for kidnapping me," I threatened."You can try. Besides, we've already been through this. I can't trust you enough to leave you alone." He answered."So now you are threatening me to leave with you? My mother is going to file a restraining order against you when she finds out. You are just trying to take advantage of the fact that she will be gone for a while," I said."I'm pretty sure she would agree with me when she finds out that you are trying to poison our child." "Fine,
Clara's POV She would not agree with what I did, but she would understand. Perhaps she would help me and know how to explain this to Derek better.I was getting into trouble because I kept inventing more lies and hiding things. Right now, only the truth could save me."Mommy," I whispered, nearly choking on my tears.She smiled back at me, wiping away the last tears streaming down my cheeks."I did something stupid," I confessed.She paused, her eyes now holding a more concerned look."What is it?" she whispered.I took a deep breath to gather my words.Right then, the doorbell rang.Mom kept her strong gaze on me, staring directly into my eyes as a range of emotions flashed across her face. The tears on my cheeks weren't helping her worry any less. Without question, she looked like she was expecting the worst.The look on her face told me, "How bad is it?".I knew I had to tell her the truth. Maybe then I could gather the courage to tell Derek and face whatever consequences that fol
Clara's POV This child was looking for a way to end up in the hospital."What do you think you are doing?" Katy asked in a whisper.Experience tells me she was probably listening in. I knew the sound upstairs was no coincidence."I can't keep hiding this forever, and it will only blow up in my face." I reasoned with her."Mom has never stolen a candy bar in her life. She will murder you and everyone else involved. You can't do this." Katy whispered.Katy and I froze as we heard footsteps and laughter coming down the hall. Katy tried to look as natural as possible to avoid all suspicion."I see you are ready for your trip." I heard Derek's voice from down the hall.Not him, either. I couldn't help but curse softly. My bad luck couldn't be a coincidence. This was all a conspiracy.Maybe it was just my bad decision.It would be much easier to tell the two of them while they are together. That way, I only had to see their disappointed faces once, but Derek had already threatened me, and I