Clara’s POV Did I look that bad? I thought the two ladies had done a good job."You can't go wearing that." He answered with a straight face."Why? Is it that bad?" I asked, my mind racing.He was now approaching me, taking small steps at a time.I didn't have time to change. I'd have to redo the make-up, too, and I'm sure that by then, the event will be over.He was now only a few inches away from me. His presence became more demanding. His strong scent filled my nostrils. "There is no way you can go there looking this gorgeous." He whispered. His breath brushed against my ear, sending tingles down my spine.I stepped away from him, slapping him gently on the shoulder. "You can't mess with me like this," I answered, my heart rate returning to normal."I'm serious. Isn't there some law in this country that says it's illegal for you to look this good?" he replied convincingly.Thank goodness for makeup. My cheeks would probably be bright red right now."Come here," I heard him say. Be
Clara's POV"I don't know what I did to her," I whispered with a sigh."Don't worry, she is just bitter because her husband has taken on a mistress because she can't have any children." She answered. "You shouldn't let people talk to you like that, you know?" she said."I was about to punch her in the face," I answered."Then maybe we could light her cheap hair extensions on fire," Nicole added.I stood silent, not knowing how to react. It was a bit too violent, but I liked where she was going with this."Maybe that's a bit extreme," she admitted. "I'll just get some popcorn and watch. Punching her implants out of place would also work just fine." She laughed."We could have worked with that," I answered.I turned away, paying attention to Derek delivering a speech."How do people stand to be around him?" I heard Nicole whisper. "He looks like a representation of every hair commercial." She added."You don't like him, do you?" I asked her.She turned around, giving me her full attenti
Clara's POV I have my check ready to go," he said. "I look forward to seeing everyone's faces, giving them a chance to think that they can have it, then taking it away." He laughed."I don't remember you sending that kind of money the last time I hosted an auction," Nicole interjected."I also don't remember your last name being Montenegro." He said bluntly. "Your mother did not want to change your last name as I suggested," he said.I sensed a bit of resentment there."Aren't I lucky not to have your last name?" Nicole answered sarcastically.A waiter walked past us. Nicole took a glass of champagne for herself, which she drank in a few gulps. Who is your friend over here?" His grandfather asked."This is Clara. She is my guest tonight." Derek answered. As if holding a treat behind him, his voice sounded defensive."I brought my guest here tonight, too." He answered with a smug look. He was more relaxed, ignoring Derek's and Nicole's hostile attitudes.So far, he didn't seem too bad
Clara's POV Derek now seemed more annoyed. He looked like he was ready to kick her out himself. This wasn't the time or place to start a fight. In any other situation, I would have been fine with seeing Derek kick her out himself, but this was not the place.I wrapped my arm around Derek's. He relaxed slowly, and his grip on my hand tightened.I bet it's hard enough when your parents get married to someone your age, but even worse if it's your grandparent."What is this pest still doing here?" Nicole asked, pointing at Madison."That's a good question. I'll have security throw her out." Derek answered.Just when I thought my family was dysfunctional.Derek was on his way to the security guard at the entrance when his grandfather stopped him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said. "You know how much influence I have? More than half of these guests are also my business partners. If I leave, they'll go along with me, and we both know your little auction will never see the light of
Clara's POVI closed the first aid kit, returning it to the cupboard where Derek had taken it out earlier.He seemed very tense today. I couldn't help but think it was all because of yesterday. It's not every day that your grandfather announces he is getting married, let alone to someone who tried to ruin your life.I was itching to ask him how he felt, but I didn't know how he'd react. If he was already this upset, he probably didn't want to talk about it either."Do you want to talk about what happened last night?" the words slipped out of my mouth."What about it?" He asked while running through some folders.Was it that traumatic for him that he had erased it from his mind?"You know. About Madison and your grandfather." I elaborated.His reaction surprised me. Instead, he broke into laughter. "Why would I be bothered by that?" he laughed. So he wasn't upset? "If anything, those two deserve each other. The sooner they destroy each other, the better. It only means we get to read hi
Clara's POV "We both have separate bedrooms," I explained.I heard Ivy choke as she gasped to breathe in.I sat up straight in full alert. Was she okay? Did I need to call someone to help her?She continued coughing and gasping, her breathing slowly returning to normal."You said what?" She asked, her voice distorted."We have separate rooms," I repeated hesitantly. I was worried she'd choke again, and this time she wouldn't recover."How else are you supposed to get pregnant?" She nearly yelled.That was her issue? I thought I'd already had this conversation."How will I explain why the baby is born more than five weeks later? I'm not about to dig another grave." I reasoned with her.She sighed. She probably had her face in her palms right now."Ivy!" I heard a deep voice in the background.Ivy fell silent. A few sounds followed in the background before everything fell to silence again."Who was that?" I asked, intrigued."Nothing, it's no one. You must have heard the TV." She answe
Clara's POV I was relieved we had planned our meeting in a more public space. We settled into a lounge just behind the hotel reception area. There were several spaces with brown couches, all surrounding several tables. The brown couches matched the wooden floor and several parts of the ceiling. The place looked amazing. Surprisingly, there wasn't anyone else in the area.We sat around a table. He kept his cold gaze on me as an intimidating tactic. I'm pretty sure I can say that I have been through worse.All it took was a mare snap of his finger, and the waiter came running to our table, a teapot already in his hand. He motioned to the waiter to fill our cups. He waited for the waiter to leave before beginning."I'd like to know your plans regarding my grandson." He spoke.He picked up his cup of tea nonchalantly, pretending he hadn't insulted me.I should have known to prepare myself to be offended.He hadn't given me the chance to respond before moving on to his next statement."Wh
Clara's POVThings couldn't have felt worse after my incident with Derek's grandfather. Derek was livid about everything, and I couldn't have felt more responsible and guilty about everything.We didn't spend much time at the resort after that. The next morning, we were on a flight back home. I slept through the flight back home, so I didn't have to speak to anyone.After everything he has done for me and how he has defended me, I don't know how to tell him the truth. It's going to crush him and hurt him worse than it would hurt me. How did I let things get this far?We were going from the airport, and he decided to drop me off at home first.We hadn't spoken to each other.I was dozing off, staring out of the window with my head leaned on the side."We've arrived now," Derek said, tapping me on the shoulder.I snapped out of my thoughts to see that we had parked in front of my house. I hadn't even realised I'd been so trapped in my thoughts.I sat up straight and then reached to open