As she had planned before, she went to Lucas' apartment after finishing dinner with Anthony. Right after Anthony went into his room and slept with Elena reading him a bedtime story, Clara stepped out of the house and faced her problem—the problem she had avoided all day but had to resolve before midnight. She couldn't explain her feelings now, but she knew she couldn't avoid Lucas forever. No matter how hard she tried to get away from him, Lucas would find her in the way he always did.Her steps felt heavy as she arrived at Lucas' apartment and found him sitting at his piano. He wasn't playing any instrument, and Clara was grateful for that. She couldn't imagine if Lucas played the same instrument as two days ago... maybe she would cry again with all the frustration in her heart.But, here she is—stood there for a few minutes until Lucas turned and noticed her presence."Take a seat," he mumbled shortly and looked towards the sofa.Clara had planned to stand there and end their conver
Lucas stared at the ceiling of his room and allowed Clara to cover her naked body with the blanket. He didn't know how many times they had gone through nights like this since Clara's angry a few weeks ago. Usually, he would just fall asleep right after getting what he needed and wake up to an empty bed in the morning. However, everything changed that night when he got Clara's first kiss. He was sure it was her first kiss because he could feel her body trembling at his touch.And that kiss changed everything—it made Lucas unable to command Clara as he always did; instead, he found himself pleading with her. Just like he was doing now—trying to make other deals that would keep Clara in his arms throughout the night, not just to warm his bed but to warm his complicated heart."How much money do you need?" Lucas asked while rubbing Clara's bare back as she lay beside him. She pretended to rest for a moment after they reached their climax—temporarily calming their racing hearts and breaths
The graduation day arrived, and Clara couldn't avoid coming to celebrate the graduation officially in the campus hall. She promised Elena and Anthony that she would bring them, and she had to keep that promise. Everything went well, and she celebrated her graduation with some of her friends—including Louis. Clara couldn't hold back her tears when she saw Louis go up to the podium to receive his graduation gown. It couldn't be denied that they had stopped all communication for a month after Louis sent her a message that she had ignored for weeks. Clara knew that she made a mistake by listening to Lucas' advice. In fact, what Lucas said didn't even sound like advice; it was merely his personal judgment about something he didn't really know for sure because he had never experienced it. However, Lucas' words that night had an impact on her, and she... ignored Louis' message because of it. She managed to resolve her issues with Lucas—ignoring him in her own way but still showing up for w
They spent over three hours sitting at the restaurant and finished all the food. It couldn't be said that they had completely finished it, but Clara tasted every dish and left the rest untouched. She felt guilty about it, but of course, she didn't say anything to Lucas and started talking like a philanthropist.Lucas talked about many things, but Clara often ignored him because she didn't want to get into any conversation with him. Did they argue? Of course. However, Lucas didn't let her leave until she finished tasting all the food there."Give me my phone," Lucas extended his hand after calling a waiter.They had finished eating, and it was time to pay the bill. Clara hated this, but she couldn't let Lucas pay for the lunch on her graduation day. "It's on me," Clara mumbled softly as she took out her debit card.She was sure she would spend a lot of money paying the bill—something she had never done as she had always saved her expenses over the years. However, she couldn't let Lucas
"Cla," Lucas reached out and touched Clara's shoulder as she sat facing the window.She had been silent for minutes.Her gaze looked empty, and she didn't say anything. She had cried for a moment, but after her tears were gone, she... sat quietly without saying a word.Now, even though she was looking at the window, Lucas wasn't sure if she was really looking at it."Cla, we need to get down," he touched Clara's arm and pulled her gently.Clara turned and looked at him with wary eyes as if she were surprised.Her empty gaze transformed into one filled with alertness as if she was... terrified.Oh damn, she's afraid of him."Hey, that's okay." He held her hand, reassuring her that he wouldn't hurt her or do anything bad. "It's me. That's okay, Cla," he said again.Clara blinked and looked ahead, "Where... are we?"Lucas also looked ahead and saw a plane ready for takeoff. He just needed to get out of the car, get into the plane, and give the command... then the plane would leave New Yo
"I was adopted by Mark Axton when I was three years old," Lucas took out his phone and showed a picture of a young, beautiful woman with black hair, "she was my mother. She passed away while giving birth to me, and my father raised me until I was three years old. Then, he died during a mission..."Clara looked up and gazed at him for a moment. She needed an explanation about what happened, but Lucas was telling the story of his... his family."Mark was my father's best friend, so when he found out about my father's death, he took me and hid me from the public for many years. He changed my name and gave me his own—erasing any trace of my parents' identity and making me his son after he married Laura."Clara remained silent and allowed Lucas some time to continue explaining his past."My age was very young when I was adopted, and as far as I know, I've always been a part of Axton. So, I didn't remember anything about my parents until when I was fifteen, Mark told me everything—my mother
Clara didn't know what to do or say when they landed in a foreign place and stayed in a house amidst grasslands, between the forest and far from the urban areas. Despite its remote location, the house had hidden luxuries inside. Clara was given a room on the second floor, right in front of Lucas' room, which faced the backyard with a lake. She tried to walk there in the morning to calm her mind, but she found Jamie and some other people in black clothes with guns in their hands. She immediately turned away without saying anything, as she wasn't ready to see anything related to what happened in Lucas' apartment building."Come here," Lucas reached out his hand and invited her to sit beside him when she returned from the backyard.They didn't talk since last night.Lucas' explanation on the plane became their last conversation, as Clara couldn't bear to listen to anything else from him—it was all too complex, and she needed time to accept everything. Even when Lucas brought her to this
"I heard what happened at your apartment," Louis spoke on the phone."I'm sure you did," Lucas replied calmly.This was their first conversation after a month had passed since their last meeting in front of a café near Louis' campus. The meeting didn't end well, and they didn't try to fix anything.Lucas was not surprised to receive a phone call from Louis because he knew... he must be calling to discuss what happened with... Clara. Well, if it wasn't for Clara, he was sure Louis wouldn't have contacted him, and maybe he wouldn't have answered the call either.Clara not only affected Lucas, but she also did the same to Louis. And he bets that Louis has known everything about Clara, her brother, her parents, and her brother’s costly illness for a long time. Perhaps that's what made Louis fall in love with Clara... and admire her for all the good things she does for her family.Louis has reasons to fall in love with Clara. He has reasons to look at Clara differently from all the women i
Clara walked in, passing dozens of people who looked at her in awe—admiring her beauty, her wide smile, and her eyes that shone as she welcomed her new day—a new beginning for the life she was about to have.Far ahead, she saw Lucas smiling at her—only at her.The piano sounds playing "River Flows In You" accompanied each step Clara took, each step filled with happiness in the smiles around her, witnessing her embracing eternal happiness, now standing proudly in front of her—waiting for her to come to always holding her hand.Her white floor-length gown and the bouquet of flowers in her right hand signified her seriousness about every step she was taking.Louis walked beside her, holding her hand and escorting her to the altar.Her father should have been walking beside her, but... they were happy in heaven. And... Clara had Louis—someone who had always been there in every step of her life. So, it was Louis who escorted her to the aisle towards Lucas.Elena stepped forward—becoming a
Lucas sighed long and leaned back, closing his eyes, seeming reluctant to look at Clara. He even released her hand, allowing her to gaze at the starry night outside the helicopter window.Minutes passed, and Lucas remained seated in silence—not saying anything.Clara reached for his hand, placed her fingers in his lap, and turned her head to look intently at Lucas. "Can you teach me how to read your mind?"Lucas opened his eyes, "why do you want to read my mind?"Clara shrugged, "So I know what you're thinking without asking you. Just like you've always done with me.""My thoughts are too dark for you to understand, Cla." Lucas shook his head. "You shouldn't have entered all of this—entered my world and all the dark things that you shouldn't have to stay on.""Then where should I stay?""Definitely not in the dark world I have." Lucas quickly retorted, "I tried to make you stay in a better place and protect you from all dangers, not bring you to this meeting, Cla."Clara let out a lon
Lucas departed for Canada exactly on the day the secret meeting of ElWagner was scheduled. He didn't say anything to her, but Clara knew everything, and perhaps Lucas knew that she already knew.The journey from New York to Canada—to the headquarters of ElWagner—didn't take long, only about a 4-hour trip. Lucas left during the day, and he would arrive there in the evening while the meeting was set to take place in the middle of the night.Clara... still couldn't believe what she was doing. She had come to Canada—secretly following Lucas with the help of Beatrice and Cheryl, who had been waiting for her at a hotel near the headquarters. She kept her arrival a secret from Lucas, but of course, she couldn't hide it from Elena and Laura. She had told them her purpose for coming to Canada and when she would return to the United States tomorrow morning. They agreed to support her after learning about her complex problems. Even Louis offered to accompany her, but she refused because she didn
"I didn't mean to disturb your daydreaming. But you've been here for a while, and Lucas is starting to get annoyed because you're not coming back,"Clara turned her head and found Louis walking towards her with two glasses of wine. "I'm not drinking," she said."These are for me," he took a sip from both glasses and continued, "I know you don't drink."Clara rolled her eyes as she realized it was just Louis's way of teasing her."I'm very happy about your engagement, Cla," Louis suddenly said.Clara smiled, looking at her hand—admiring the ring Lucas had chosen for her.Lucas always asked about clothes, watches, and even ties to wear because he wasn't skilled in choosing fashion-related things. However, the ring he chose truly amazed Clara—it was beautiful and perfectly fit her finger."He actually asked for my opinion on the ring," Louis glanced at his hand and smiled."Really?" Clara blinked, "So he intentionally proposed to me at his birthday party, and you knew?"Louis chuckled, "
Clara couldn't stop staring at the ring that encircled her ring finger—a beautiful ring with sparkling gemstones and intricate engravings that looked incredibly stunning.The moonlight's reflection in the night sky made her ring appear even more mesmerizing which make Clara couldn't take her eyes off of it.Lucas's birthday party was still ongoing, and everyone was busy chatting with each other—trying to find a moment to congratulate Lucas on his engagement.She thought Lucas would be surprised by the birthday party theme she had chosen, but she was the one who got a surprise because Lucas is proposing her on his own birthday."What a beautiful ring," a woman in a light blue dress approached with a glass of wine in her hand.Clara turned her head and smiled briefly when she realized that the woman was... Rafael's wife."My name is Cheryl, by the way," she said, smiling."I... know," Clara replied with the same smile when she could hear Cheryl’s voice that seemed filled with passion th
"You look stunning in that dress," Lucas commented as he walked into the closet.His habit remained the same—waiting for Clara to get ready and giving her that look as if he was undressing her with his eyes.Oh, God. Any woman who was with him would surely suffer from his mesmerizing gaze. Being with a handsome man with such captivating eyes was a blessing that never came twice in her life."I think my arms look really chubby," she said, lifting her arms to the mirror, then shaking her head as she noticed her belly also seemed plump.One month after giving birth to Chloe, Clara realized that there were many changes in her body. There were stretch marks on her belly that had not completely faded, her arms looked bigger, and her belly hadn't fully gone back to its original size. She felt fine wearing long pants and shirts that could cover her arms and belly, but sleeveless dresses like the one she was wearing now made her... lack confidence."Nothing's wrong with your arms," Lucas walke
Clara couldn't deny that she still hadn't fully accepted the facts about herself—about her family status and her parents' past. However, she also couldn't reject the facts that were right in front of her.Slowly, she had to start accepting it all—making peace with everything about herself, even if she didn't like it all.All the anger she showed at Lucas when he returned home that morning did make her feel a little better, but she wasn't completely better.Rafael and Beatrice had come to her house to give more explanations about what had happened. Clara welcomed them, but she didn't accept any explanations about their clan. And Lucas agreed with her decision to refuse to enter the clan, even though she was an official member of the ElWagner clan due to her status as the daughter of the Wagner family.She hadn't changed her name on her identification card, and she also recently found out that her name couldn't be found on the 'GOD's Mind' server. Not just her name but all her identifyi
Almost an hour had passed since Clara sat in Louis' car with Rafael's provided documents on her lap. However, she hadn't found the courage to open them—to read a document titled 'Clara Clark' on the front page as if she's a fugitive with a long criminal record.Louis sat beside her, remaining patient without saying anything—even though Clara was sure many questions were swirling in his mind.Clara took a deep breath—attempting to gather bravery from within herself... still, she continued to gaze at the document without taking any action."Should I... open it?" She whispered softly after a prolonged silence.Louis looked at her and nodded, "You should, Cla." He held her hand tightly, "You have the right to know, even though your parents have tried to keep all of this hidden.""Why would they hide this?" Clara retorted quickly.Louis shook his head, "I don't know, Cla. If you want to know... you have to open the document and read it."Clara stared at the document in her hands and sighed
Leaving Chloe alone at the mansion always made Clara feel uneasy. She was afraid Chloe might cry, refuse to drink her milk, or not sleep like she did last night. However, taking Chloe to the hospital wasn't a suitable option either, considering she couldn't ensure what would happen there."Are you going to the hospital?" Elena asked when she saw Clara sitting in the kitchen at 5 in the morning."Yes, I'm going there, El," Clara nodded, "I'm waiting for Louis because he's showering, and he won't let me go alone."Elena nodded her head and started taking out food ingredients from the fridge.When Clara returned home last night, Laura and George asked what had happened, and Louis told them everything. They had initially planned to come to the hospital, but Louis forbade them and said that Lucas was sleeping due to the influence of the medication. The plan for this morning was for all of them to go together while Chloe would stay home with Elena and Anthony. However, Laura changed her min