Clara's POV "Why don't you go and find someone else to bother?" I interjected. "Besides, I'm sure you don't really understand the concept of people being busy."In some ways I was relieved I didn't have to see him even though it hurts thinking about it at times. It meant I could stay another day without having a guilty conscience. It was much better for him if he moved on."Sounds like you are making excuses for him, and that's just sad. Does it hurt your feelings that he has been ghosting you?" She asked."Could you leave? I was busy before you walked in here." I tried to hold back my annoyance."Doing what? Looking for a job? You do realise that Mom is probably not going to let you work, at least not for a very long time. They still haven't found the creep who tried to kill you. Besides, I think you are only in a rush to get a job so you don't have to think about that emptiness. I know you feel deep down inside." She continued."If I wanted a therapist, I would have paid for one. B
Clara's POV It's been hard watching everyone else's reaction around me but it has been the best lie-free three weeks I've had in a long time besides being bedridden. Maybe one day once the wounds have healed, I can just casually say,'Hey Mom, remember when I lost that baby? It turns out I was never pregnant at all.'"I'm going to give you some time to rest," she said.She smiled and stood up from my bed. She walked towards me, approaching me in an effort to tuck me in. I quickly blocked her away.She finally gave up and left my room.Apparently getting a job wasn't enough for her to consider me an adult.I was getting tired of being locked up here. I had to prove I'd be well enough to work. I needed to leave my room first.The first step was to push myself out of bed. I used my crutches at my bedside to support my weight. Even after more than a week, I still couldn't get used to them.I managed to leave my bedroom. Getting downstairs was even harder but I managed to do so without mak
Clara's POVI froze as I struggled to comprehend everything that was happening. I couldn't have heard right. He was my father.Sure, I noticed some resemblance between us, but on any other day, I would have just walked past him and not thought anything of it.I had met him before. But no, It couldn't be him. I pushed the thought away. I must have been mistaken. I was probably just confused and was now making up crazy ideas to make sense of everything. What were the odds of it being him?Mom looked equally shaken by this as I was. I noticed how her hands trembled.I couldn't shake off what I had just heard. I was his daughter.I wonder what her excuse will be this time. Was she going to pretend I heard incorrectly to get out of this? But not this time. I was going to get to the bottom of this.“Clara," Mom whispered. Her voice nearly broke. "This was not the way I wanted you to find out." She breathed.So, it was true.How many other secrets was she hiding from me? At first, we found
Clara's POV Every Father's Day, I'd pretend it didn't exist so I wouldn't think about it. I wish you had told me something." I paused.I painted my mother as the villain who never wanted me to know my father. I would have preferred she had told me. So she wouldn't have to share all that hurt alone.I still had one final question, the one I'd chosen to ignore and perhaps the most important one. I took a deep breath as I gathered my thoughts. Was I ready for the answer? I've seen you before; where was it?" I asked.Suddenly, he had a hesitant look. "We met briefly that day at the hotel. With my daughter." He finally answered.He didn't need to say anything else. I knew it.Madison's father was also my dad!Of all things, I was hoping that I would be wrong this time."This is too much for me right now. I need to breathe." I said, getting up from my seat."Are you sure? We can talk about it." Mom asked."I need to process everything," I answered.I left the room and struggled up the stai
Clara's POV"Derek is going to propose?" I asked. The tears suddenly stopped flowing as my mouth became dry.I must have heard wrong. No way that would happen."Yes," Layla answered with a sigh. "I probably shouldn't have said anything. But anyway, we need to get you prepared for the day. We still have to decide on the dress and everything else," she replied.I couldn't hold it in anymore. I tried to contain it, but laughter abruptly erupted from my stomach.I was beating the ground and holding my stomach to contain myself.I had forgotten I was crying a minute ago.She must have been joking.Layla stared at me like I was some lunatic. I'm pretty sure right now she was thinking about having me committed instead of marrying me off to her son.How did she even make this one up?I knew she was crazy, but her madness had gone too far for her to make up something like this."You've-just-made-my-day," I said as I continued laughing. My stomach was starting to hurt.Laughing at this moment w
Clara's POV “Clara," Mom called out, stopping me in my tracks. "I have to leave now. I just got called in for a job. Make sure to lock up all the doors and not let strangers into the house. And oh..." She paused. "I didn't have time to make breakfast this morning, but you are old enough to care for yourself." She said as she patted me on the arm.She picked up her handbag before leaving the house.I was reminded I was alone as I heard the door close.Did everyone forget it was my birthday? I was starting to think I had the wrong date.Nonetheless, I was starving. I don't usually wake up hungry, but last night, I deliberately left some space in my stomach, hoping that I would wake up to a feast. But I guess I was finally getting the 'welcome to adulthood' introduction.I sighed, walking to the kitchen.Our fridge and cupboards were empty. There wasn't much I could eat except to make myself a peanut butter sandwich.With my sandwich, I settled on the couch and switched on the TV. I gue
Clara's POV Derek looked up as he saw me approaching. I noticed a look in his eyes that I hadn't seen before. I couldn't pinpoint what it was. He quickly masked it as a smile formed on his face.He met me halfway, walking over to approach me."You look gorgeous," he said, stopping me in my tracks. He went on to place a gentle kiss on my arm."Not too bad yourself," I giggled.He hooked his arm into mine and walked me to the car."Where are you taking me?" I asked curiously."Don't worry, it's a surprise," he answered. He opened the car door as he gestured for me to step in.I stepped into the car and buckled my seatbelt.The rest of the car ride was silent as we listened to some music. I looked out the window, trying to figure out where we were heading. I didn't recognize any of the buildings. I was just going to have to wait; the anxiety was killing me.It must have been over an hour when the car finally slowed down.It looked like an isolated ranch with a big open field and hills b
Clara's POVI was reminded of what I had promised myself. I told myself I wanted to tell him the truth. The time wasn't the most convenient, but there he was. Maybe this was my only chance with him to sit down and tell him everything. That would be the gift I'd give myself to free him from all this.I took a final deep breath before approaching him. Layla was not going to be happy about this.I cleared my throat, grabbing his attention. "Could I please speak to you for a second?" I asked. A worried look swept across his face.It wouldn't be easy doing this, but it needed to be done."How about we take some pictures instead?" He asked. His face was back to normal as if he hadn't heard anything.He gestured at a photographer a foot away. Before I could respond, a camera flashed in my face as Derek wrapped his arm around my waist. It must have lasted for at least a minute."Excuse me, I'll be back in a second." Derek excused himself. He took his cell phone out of his blazer as he stepped