Helping Alice!CLARAWork?I guess she was more ambitious than I thought, stronger even. A smile automatically played on my lips as I spared Mike a quick glance that he responded to with a curt nod. I diverted my attention back to Alice. "Alice, what kind of work are you interested in?" I asked, trying to sound as encouraging as possible.I'd recommend she spent a few more days getting back to her feet but the determination in her eyes was enough reason to hold back.Her eyes darted around the room as she thought about it, tapping her finger against her chin. "Office work, maybe? A clerk or something?" she replied, her eyes cast downward.That was fair. Seeing as she was well spoken, she definitely had the qualities, which brought me to my next, touchy question. "Do you have any qualifications?" I asked.Alice hesitated before speaking, unending fiddling her fingers. "I studied law. I have a degree in it."Wow!Mike and I exchanged a shocked glance. "Wow, that's impressive!" I excl
Mrs. Perfection.CLARA"Here we are!" I exclaimed as I pulled up in front of my apartment. "I can't thank you and your husband enough for everything you've done for me," Alice expressed, her hands gently touching mine. She thought Mike was my husband? Sweet.A warm smile spread across my face as I found myself lost in her captivating hazel eyes. Alice was not only intelligent, but she possessed remarkable beauty and a wonderful personality. "Is everything alright, ma'am?" Her voice snapped me out of my trance. Gathering my thoughts, I replied, "I'm okay. Plus, you don't have to thank me at all. I was helping because I know the hurt of being mistreated, and I just can't stand the thought of someone else going through what I went through." As I said this, the past experiences with Mike and Lucy came flooding back to me. "I'm glad you've overcome it, ma'am. I want to be like you when I grow up," Alice complimented, causing both of us to burst into laughter. Stepping out of the
,Please!CLARA.The constant worry of being watched consumed my thoughts, making it difficult to focus on calling Mike . Was it Lucy ? What was she up to this time?I was plagued with that sense of unease and it refused to leave. It wouldn't go away no matter what I tried, and Alice was there, too, deep in my subconscious and I had to register that she was no threat to me.It didn't matter if he'd known her for longer, or if she was great at everything. Deep down, I knew that if Mike truly loved me, he would reject any unwanted attention. To clear my mind, I put on my headphones and played my favorite playlist, allowing the music to transport me into a peaceful slumber.***The sun's rays filtered through the curtains, my eyes gradually opened and it followed with a slight knock on the door."Come in," I called out, and Agatha entered, carrying a tray of steaming coffee."Good morning, ma'am. I brought you this," she said, placing the tray beside the drawer on my bed. "It's a beauti
Doubts.CLARAI couldn't say no but yes was pretty far from the tip of my tongue. Why should I allow her to see him? No, what did I mean by allow? Mike wasn't a piece of tool I could dictate whether or not she got to see. Why was I being so unreasonable about this? Not to mention, she'd seen him at the suite and could see him whenever she wanted to. It was better if we could see him at the same time. That would definitely lessen whatever stress I was feeling.My lips tugged into a smile. It didn't reach my eyes. "Definitely. I'll-""I'll inform him!" She chimed, already fishing for her phone in her purse. I didn't even know she had a phone, yet. It looked new. The last one I remembered was cracked and damaged and I'd planned to give her one today.It was in the backseat and I intended to give her as a congratulatory gift for getting the job. Alice caught me staring and she beamed at me, waving it in my face."Mr Lightwood was nice enough to get me this. I think it's the latest mode
Building Conflicts.MIKE "Four days?" Clara echoed, raising an eyebrow, and I felt her stiffened in my arms a little, "Why?" She asked, facing me, and judging by the tone of her voice and the look on her face I could sense that she wasn't in love with the idea.The second I opened my mouth to speak, to answer her question, and explain why I had to stay here for that long, the chance was quickly stolen from me."We should do something tonight," Alice interrupted, excitedly, and we turned to her."What?" I quizzed.Alice was grinning as she pointed to the bar, "We should get a drink and celebrate tonight," she suggested, still wearing that huge grin. I could tell she was really excited about her new job, and I was happy for her.I wasn't sure I was comfortable with not giving Clara a response to her question yet but there was always later, and anyways it wasn't like it was anything serious. I just had to stay here to take care of business, there was nothing more to it so it wasn't real
Questions.CLARA"Hello," I held the phone to my ear, leaning on my side in bed. I wanted to hear his voice, and talk to him a little before going to bed. I also thought he could finally have the chance to tell me why he's staying at the suite for that long.Mike answered the phone, and I could hear the deafening music and the rowdiness echoing in the background. Weird. I cocked an eyebrow, sitting up in bed.Where was he? And why was it so noisy there? It made me uncomfortable and curious."Mike , why is it so noisy-" "Is that Clara?" I heard a voice question in the background, and not just any voice. I recognized her voice. I couldn't miss it.The voice was definitely Alice but that didn't make any sense. Alice couldn't be with Mike this late. She shouldn't but I know what I heard, and it was definitely her.I immediately felt sick to my stomach, dreading the answer as the words left my mouth, "Is that Alice?" I asked and tried as much as possible to sound as casual as I could bu
Feelings.ClaraBeverly's eyes fixed on me, waiting for me to answer. Sitting before her I felt a little transparent like she could see through me. My fingers clutched the cup of coffee tightly as the question echoed in my mind. Did Alice's presence bother me? Of course it did. Much more than I wanted it to, and I hated that.Answering the question wasn't the problem, it was easy but confessing how insecure Alice had made me feel out loud was a whole different thing. It felt like a sort of defeat or like I was admitting that I thought she was better than me.Was she?I gripped the cup tightly. No, she wasn't.I just hated how she was always everywhere, enforcing herself into everything like teaching Velma how to dance and now she was sticking by Mike . It was annoying, and I hated it, but I also couldn't say that to Beverly or rather I didn't want to. I didn't want to sound like a bitter ex-girlfriend or a possessive one.The cup tilted in my hand a little and I felt a slight sting as
Weird.MIKE Clara slammed the door shut in my face, and I had to admit it physically hurt. My chest tightened. I couldn't understand. Why was she doing this? I banged on the door as hard as I could, calling out her name but there was no answer.I know she could hear me. She was just ignoring me again like she had been doing all day, and it was annoying, especially when I didn't know why she was doing this. I couldn't understand what I had done so wrong for her to act this way. It didn't make any sense.We had been together just yesterday and it had all gone fine, we had even spoken later in the night. What had happened between then and this morning? Why didn't she take any of my calls, and why was she treating me this way? I couldn't understand any of it. What was going on with her? And why wouldn't she tell me if I had done something wrong?I banged on the door one last time, and finally gave up. It didn't feel like she was ever going to answer, and the waiting was killing me. I had
Chapter 122 :A New BeginningMike pov It’s strange how life changes in an instant. One moment, you’re proposing to the love of your life with sweaty palms and a missing ring, and the next, you’re staring at a pregnancy test that says “positive.” Clara’s still asleep next to me, her hair a mess of golden waves sprawled over the pillow, and I’m lying here trying to figure out how my life got so... perfect. Except, it’s also terrifying. “Dad, I’m hungry,” Velma’s voice cut through my thoughts. I blinked at the ceiling before turning to see her standing by my side of the bed, clutching a stuffed bunny with one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other. She looked up at me with that sleepy little pout that made me realize she wasn’t a baby anymore. She wasn’t even my “little girl” anymore. And soon, there was going to be another little one in the house. “I’ll make you something in a sec, kiddo,” I whispered, ruffling her hair. Velma narrowed her eyes at me, all suspicious-like.
Crossing T's And Dotting I's. CLARA The ride was quiet, tense even, and my head was glued in one position, staring outside the vehicle as the houses blurred by. It seemed like Mike had been an undeniable part of my life for too long. I thought when I got home, I would be able to get him out of my air, but here I was now, in his car. I didn't know what I was supposed to say. I had been judgy and undeniably mean to him, especially about Lucy . No, about everything, and I knew why I continuously did that. I just wanted to push him away, irk him, and show him all of the ugliest parts of me so he could get sick of it and go away! That didn't seem to be happening anytime soon, and the guilt I felt was only amplified. However does one get over this? Jeez. I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes; he even looked good from the side, focused on the road. The silence was so thick that I felt it in my chest. Felt it deep inside my heart like an ice-formed dagger and it was slowly pre
: Viva La Vida.THREE MONTHS LATER.MIKE "Ughh! This dude doesn't know how to give up, does he?" I rolled my eyes as I fell on the couch next to Clara and wrapped my arms around her. She was looking at her phone again, for the second time today. He just wouldn't stop sending her those pictures, would he? Clara snuggled closer, "I should just block him, right?" She joked. "Love really had made him mad. I mean, look at that smile!"I shrugged. "I mean, did you see what it did to me?" A giggle ripped out of her throat and I snatched the phone from her playfully. "Is it just me or does he look fatter here?""Claire must be doing such a wonderful job!" Clara beamed, sighing. "I'm just glad he's okay! He looks so happy!""He does." I pecked her. "But I look happier, look at me alone." Rodney had been on vacation with Claire for the past two months, so we get blessed with pictures like this every second.It was tons of Claire's pictures, literally every part of her had been sent to Clara a
Hope.CLARAMike didn't respond, and more tears trickled down his cheeks as he stared into my eyes. His eyes were red, and swollen, evidence that he had been crying for a longer time than right now. My eyes prickled at the sight of him crying, and tears began to roll down my cheeks as well.Why was he crying? And why was I crying too. I didn't know why but my heart felt heavy in my chest, and it ached terribly. His silence stung me all over like a thousand bees. Why was he answering? What had happened to our baby?"C-Mike ?" I stammered, arching a brow, "What happened to Velma?" The question barely left my lips, but again he was quiet. Almost like he couldn't speak, and I couldn't take it anymore.The silence was killing me, just as much as not knowing what had happened to my baby. Could she-No. I shook my head frantically at the thought of that. No way. I didn't even want to think about that. I couldn't bear the thought of it, and it felt like a part me died at that brief thought.
Where Is She?CLARAI knew it was stupid and I shouldn't be here alone but what else could I do?! Lucy had threatened to harm her if I told anyone. I'd rather get hurt in her place as long as nothing happens to my daughter!I parked the car and looked up ahead at the building. No one lived there and the whole thing looked like it would fall apart at any moment.My heart thumped in my chest when fear gripped me and the possibility of all the bad things that could happen flashed before my mind. I closed the car door immediately I stepped out, my hands balled into fists.I'd rather die than have anything happen to Velma! Oh, god! Oh god! Agatha, too! I desperately clung to the hope that she had nothing to do with this, and that she was safe, just as Velma was.The video replayed in my head in an unending loop and I almost burst into tears.My baby. My little girl was fucking tied to a chair. I was going to kill Lucy ! I was going to rip her to shreds the moment I set my eyes on her. I s
The Foe.CLARAI felt a knot immediately tighten in the pit of my stomach as my eyes scanned the empty room from the doorway. The bed was empty, Velma wasn't here. Velma wasn't here?It was 2 a.m. Why wasn't she in bed by this time? Panic was slowly setting in, and I could feel it claw it way up my stomach. Where was she?My eyes shot to the restroom at the corner of the room, and I felt a bit of calm wash over me. Perhaps she was in there. I swallowed the uneasiness that had crawled its way to my throat, slightly panicking as I dashed across the room to her bathroom. "Velma," I called as I knocked on the door or rather banged it but there was no answer, and I pushed it open, "Velma," I called again.The door swung open, and my heart sank as it turned out empty too. She wasn't in the restroom. My head spun around the room, and my palm was beginning to feel clammy as I released the door and it slammed shut in my face. Where the hell was she? Where could she go?My stomach tightened, a
More Trouble!CLARA I came out of Velma's room after I'd registered that she was asleep and I took Mike into mine.We barely made it past the door. My urges were all over the place and I'd clenched my thighs all through the ride. I needed him so badly.Mike managed to slam the door behind me and pushed me in, crashing his lips into mine! "I'll take care of you," he whispered between kisses. "I'm so sorry, Clara. I'm so sorry I made you doubt me."His breath was hot against my face and he nibbled kisses everywhere. I was dripping wet, unable to contain my hunger.He whispered lovingly as he placed kisses on my naked body. I hastily unbuttoned his trousers, and he pulled it off before tossing it aside."Mike ," his tongue twirled with mine as if I'm trying to taste all his secrets. "I know. And I'm sorry too," I replied, out of breath. "Please. I'm ready. I want this. I want you. I'm done fighting you. Let me feel you, please."I reached down between us and gripped his cock, a little
Misconceptions.ClaraMy eyes locked onto Alice as she stepped inside my home, and I clenched my palm into a fist, feeling the slight tremble of my hands, and body as the rage simmered inside of me. It felt like a fucking earthquake was happening inside of me, and I hated that she made me feel this way-this small.What the hell was she doing here? How dare she even show her face here after what she had done? How dare she? Anger clawed it way up my throat, and I swallowed it back down, struggling to stay in control as my gaze fixed on her.My mind raced with a mix of emotions-Anger, hurt, betrayal, each feeling fighting for dominance, but I kept my expression blank, masking my feelings. I couldn't let her know how much her presence was affecting me or how much she had hurt me. No way. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of a reaction so I feigned calm even if I felt nothing like that.Even if I felt like I was caught in the middle of a freaking storm or hurricane. My emotions we
Loss!MIKE *THREE HOURS EARLIER*I didn't touch Alice! I didn't do anything with her so who captured these incriminating photos? My eyes burned when I looked down at the envelope once more. The weight had multiplied in my hand, like I carried the problems of the world inside that piece of paper.Fuck! Who the hell took this?Why?I was...just a step away from having my entire life together and this happens? I felt like a car running on fumes. Why was I stupid enough to think things would continue to go smoothly like they had these past few days?My heart had ripped from my chest and my hands wouldn't stop shaking no matter how I tried. I gulped hard as I tottered towards my car from Clara's building.She'd shut down and those entrances were slammed in my face. The ones I'd worked so hard to reopen. It felt like a knife was being carved into my chest and I swear, I couldn't breathe!I couldn't breathe. Who sent those photos? What did I do? If only she'd let me explain! Nothing happene