Clara stomped her feet in exasperation as she walked out of the restaurant. She just left Lucas without caring about the angry look he gave her. She tapped her cellphone screen impatiently while waiting for the arrival of the online taxi she had ordered five minutes ago. Luckily, not long after, a car stopped at the restaurant door, and that car was the taxi she had ordered.Her cell phone rang as soon as she got into the taxi. She immediately closed the car door and fastened her seat belt before receiving a call from Louis."Yes, Lou? What is it?""Where are you? Why did you suddenly disappear? Don't we still have additional classes after the seminar?"Clara massaged her head. If only Louis knew what she had just experienced…But, no. Do not let Louis know what just happened."I'm on my way to work,"“Oh? Are you working today? I thought you had Friday off."Clara blinked. She usually got off on Fridays, but she had to see Rachel this time because of her meeting with Lucas. She felt
"Where's Anthony?" Clara looked around the room kinda panicked when she couldn't find Anthony there. Over by the end of the sofa next to Anthony's bed, Elena was sitting calmly reading a book. But Anthony wasn't there. "Don't worry. He's outside with—" "Are you happy, little boy?" Elena's words got cut off as someone opened the door and walked in, pushing a wheelchair. Clara took a deep breath when she saw Anthony sitting in the wheelchair with Louis walking behind him. "Clara!" Anthony and Louis cheered at the same time when they saw Claire standing there. "Hey," Clara helped Anthony as he tried to stand up to hug her. "Easy, Anthony," Louis held the infusion bottle that Anthony accidentally nudged, "you'll get your Clara. I won't take her away." He teased Anthony and stuck out his tongue. "Yeah, you can't take her 'cause she's my sister. Go to your brother's house, Louis!" Anthony exclaimed with a playful laugh. "I'll tell on you to my brother because you're teasing me," Lou
Clara walked into a luxurious villa, far away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The sound of her high-heeled shoes and graceful steps turned heads as she ascended the stairs toward the main entrance. Oh gosh, Clara didn't like all this attention. She didn't want to be the center of focus.She wished she could come unnoticed, like a silent observer, and then leave without anyone noticing her. But it was too late now. Once she decided to attend Louis's party, she knew the consequences that would follow her.She hoped nothing bad would happen - the kind of things she always feared when being in the midst of a crowd. Hopefully, everyone would recognize her as Clara, not as Flo, the lady of the night."Oh my goodness! I almost didn't recognize you, Clara!" some of her college friends exclaimed as they spotted Clara approaching.Her silver sleeveless floor-length gown was considered one of the more modest outfits at the party, considering some other women wore dresses that exposed al
Clara was aware of every risk she took in her life. Right after her parents passed away, and she lost almost all of her parents' savings for Anthony's medical treatment, she made a life-changing decision that altered her way of thinking and transformed every dream and hope she had.The risks were tremendous—besides the devastation in her life, the dirty job she took plunged her into a dark abyss, drowning her without being able to ask for help. Her self-esteem had vanished since the moment she realized that Anthony only had her, and she only had Anthony.However, Clara ignored every risk and decided to continue with her work for Anthony's sake. The only thing she hoped for amidst the destruction was a chance to have a normal life alongside her repulsive job. She wanted to stay with Anthony, to be the sister who would always be there for him whenever he needed her. She also wanted to complete her studies, fulfilling her parents' second dream, with the hope that she could escape the dar
"It's nice to play with you," Lucas said beside her as Clara walked away from the party crowd. Their game had ended a few minutes ago, and Clara managed to slip away after people started playing cards in the spot where she had played with Lucas earlier. They seemed to have found a new place and gathered there to witness the high-stakes and humor-filled gamble. "You lost, so I don't have a responsibility to talk to you," Clara replied. "But you still respond to me," Lucas glanced briefly at her. Clara turned her head and waited for a waiter she had asked to pack Louis's bread. She only took about a quarter of it, leaving the rest on the table even though she knew no adults there would be interested in such a birthday cake. She also knew that Anthony didn't really want the cake; he was only influenced by Louis to make him attend the party. "Where did you learn to play cards, Cla?" Lucas asked calmly, "I think we both know that your skills don't come from miracles so you can beat me.
Lucas walked calmly toward the end of the balcony of his room, enjoying the gentle breeze there. Louis's party was still ongoing, and he had no intention of leaving after receiving a surprising phone call from the woman ruin his mind for the past week. He had never felt so obsessed with a whore who had rejected his advances.The problem was that she was the only woman who ever turned him down, while others would willingly throw themselves at him. He had almost lost track of her until fate brought her right in front of him, staring at him with those round, mesmerizing blue eyes.Clara. Finally, he found her.And as if his luck had not run out, he discovered that Louis knew her—seemed familiar with her as if they had been friends for a long time.Lucas found her and would do anything to possess that insane woman—arrogant enough to think she was too valuable to sleep with him and even dared to kick him as if he wasn't powerful enough to intimidate her.His manipulative instincts heighten
Clara didn't know how long she had been sitting outside the operating room, waiting for Anthony, or at least for Benjamin to come out and give her information about Anthony's condition. However, hours passed, and the only people who came out were a few nurses rushing in and out quickly without explaining anything to her.Her tears had dried up hours ago. Her eyes were sore because she couldn’t stop crying. Elena offered to get her some spare clothes from Anthony's room, but Clara refused, not wanting to leave Anthony, even just to briefly go to the restroom and change her clothes.She took off her high heels and chose to go barefoot while waiting for Anthony. Her hope was fading when she couldn't find a way to pay for Anthony's surgery, but she found one last option, and finally, the surgery could be done.Clara didn't think about the consequences of her decision. She didn't think about anything other than Anthony's healthy. Vaguely, she remembered her conversation with Lucas a few da
At first, Clara still didn't believe what Lucas had said, but when she realized that Rachel hadn't been answering her calls, even though she always picked up, even in the middle of the night or early morning, Clara began to realize that Lucas wasn't kidding, especially when she remembered her last conversation with Rachel when she was still at the hospital."What are you doing?" Lucas walked closer and snatched her phone."Give it back!" Clara realized what he was doing and jumped to reach it. However, her height didn't match Lucas, making her look ridiculous as she leaped in front of him."You don't believe me, so you called Rachel?" Lucas glanced at her phone and ended the call, erasing Rachel's number right in front of her."What the hell are you doing? You're a fucking asshole!" Clara angrily hit his arm."Calm down, Cla." Lucas returned her phone, but there was nothing she could do with it since he had already deleted everything—the phone number, call logs, and the last message s
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