Clara's POV
"Oh, I don't mean any offense, but honestly, I was surprised to see you here in that ridiculous outfit. By the way, what are you doing? Do you work as their sales girl?" Zoe chuckled softly.
I noticed the sarcasm reflected in her gaze.
"Whatever I do is none of your business, Miss Sinclair. Excuse me, I have to go back." I cut her off; I didn't want to have any conversation with her.
But Zoe stopped me just as I was ready to leave her. She raised her left hand in front of my face, and the breathtaking diamond ring that was on her finger immediately drew my attention.
"Call me Mrs. Morgan." She said with delight, "Isn't this beautiful? This is not our official wedding ring, but James insisted I purchase it. He said it would look very beautiful on my finger."
The ring was indeed gorgeous, with a large diamond that sparkled brilliantly. The cost must have been very high. I held my clothes tightly, the weight of my wedding ring still resting on my finger.
And It was just a couple of days left until I would remove it forever.
"He's right. That's beautiful, Zoe. Excuse me I have to go back to work."
"Hold on, Clara. Honestly, what's wrong with you? Why are you so desperate to avoid me? You haven't even answered me whether you work for them or not."
She insisted, "Oh, but am I even asking you? I should've known. James might have put a hold on your card, doesn't he? You can't spend his money anymore and now you have to end up with a low job like this! I even wonder where James met a woman like you and even made you his contract wife."
I clenched my fists tightly. Afraid if I'm not, it would fly to Zoe's face.
"Watch your mouth, Zoe. Even though we are married, it had never crossed my mind to use his money to splurge."
I knew there was no point talking to this woman, so I decided to hurry. I heard Zoe's voice again calling out.
"I suggest you go home. What if one of the reporters recognizes you? With your status now, you will only embarrass James."
My heart ached to hear that. Yet there was nothing I could say to deny it because everything Zoe said was true.
When I returned, the cluster of reporters had scattered, and James, along with his entourage, had departed as well.
I let out a breath of relief, grateful that I wouldn't have to face him again, as it would only intensify the ache in my heart.
"Is everything alright?" Emma asked, and she handed me a water bottle.
I accepted it and drank the water greedily.
"Clara, was the woman with your husband earlier... was she his ex you're referring to?" Emma asked her hand on my shoulder.
"Yes," I nodded. Emma's expression immediately changed when she heard me. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just heard that a woman is very rude and arrogant. A friend of mine who is a reporter mentioned that her on-camera demeanor contrasts sharply with her off-screen personality. Doesn't James at least think twice before divorcing you and choosing her instead?"
I could only give a thin smile. No matter what Zoe's personality is, she is the woman he loves and always will.
"Come on, let’s not think about it, Emma." I soothed her.
I knew Emma noticed the remnants of tears in my eyes no matter how I tried to hide it.
"Let's get back to our work," I said, and Emma nodded.
We wrapped up just as the sun dipped below the horizon, and our stand began to settle into a calm hush.
After hours of standing in heels, my muscles and joints felt achy. That's when our manager said that another important customer would be arriving to tour the place in fifteen minutes.
"Who is he?"
"A billionaire. We can't miss his visit; perhaps there's a car that catches his interest."
Emma and I exchanged a weary sigh upon hearing that. She and the others went back to the front to welcome the important customer, while I was asked to prepare a drink for him.
As I was about to serve the drink, an unexpected wave of anxiety washed over me.
I assured myself that James and Zoe had left, so it seemed unlikely that I would cross paths with them again.
"Clara, please serve it to Mr. Morgan." Bill, our boss, said.
I was walking when I suddenly halted at the mention of the name Bill spoke. Stuck in the moment, my gaze was locked on the customer.
Just like me, he rose from his chair and fixed his gaze on me.
Our customer is a very handsome and young man. He donned a sleek black suit that complemented his tall, athletic body perfectly.
"Clara?" His blue eyes widened.
I was at a loss for words because the man before me was none other than Keith Morgan, James' younger brother.
Clara's POVKeith and I were both shocked to see each other here. From what I know, he was in charge of a international branch of Morgan's business group. He lives with James' grandfather.When did he get back? "Oh, hey Keith." I greet hesitantly, placing the drink on the table, "When did you come back?" "Yesterday." Keith offered a comforting smile that instantly eased the tension in the room. “Great to see you again, Clara. How are you? Are you with James now?"I know Keith noticed my uniform, yet he chose not to ask about it. I understand he wants to avoid further awkwardness and I genuinely respect him for that. "I'm doing well." I turned to Bill. "Now may I excuse myself? Some things need to be tidied up in the back." And as soon as he nodded, I quickly made my way back.Once the exhibition concluded and we wrapped up the cleaning, I was ready to head home with Emma when I noticed a sleek black Mercedes Benz parked in the lot. I squinted and spotted Keith gesturing at me.Af
Clara's POV"I'm talking to you, Clara; answer me. Have you gone mute?" James' tone was intense.When I dare to meet his gaze, all softness has vanished. His gaze was filled with nothing but disdain and revulsion as he looked at me."I-" I wanted to tell him that he had no power to stop me from leaving, especially since he had already made it clear that he chose Zoe.Did he forget what happened between us at the restaurant? But I felt like my lips were sealed tight."Hold on, I invited Clara because I thought you'd appreciate this, James; it's supposed to be a surprise. What happened between you two?"Keith glances back and forth between me and James, a look of confusion on his face.James didn't spare him a glance; his gaze remained fixed on me while I felt lost where to start.My pregnancy, Zoe's presence, our divorce..."Take it easy, love," Zoe put her hand on James' arm; she tried to soothe his anger. It did work. His expression softened instantly."I'm sure we can solve this pro
Clara's POV"Oh James, my head is spinning, and it hurts," Zoe complained, pressing her temple where it had collided with the table. "I'm sorry, Zoe. I didn't see you at all," James calmed her down while trying to check on Zoe's condition.The moment James's demeanor shifted completely when he talked to Zoe, it felt as if I had been hit by a bolt of lightning, leaving me utterly speechless.The only thing that brought me back to awareness was this ache in my stomach. A wave of anxiety washed over me as I remembered the condition of my baby at that moment.'Stupid me! I have endangered my baby again!'"Are you alright?" I felt Keith's hand on my shoulder as he helped me stand up. Keith asked as he noticed my hand that was gripping my stomach tightly. "Where does it hurt?""My belly... I think it hit the table a little hard.." I responded with a stutter, trying to suppress the intensifying pain.Not long after, the waiters and a man who seemed to be the manager of this restaurant hurrie
Clara’s POV"I will, Clara. I promise this secret is safe with me." Keith finally said though I know his heart weighed down"Promise?" I extended my pinky. We sealed it with a pinky promise. We chuckled, realizing how we had transformed into little kids."I love seeing you laugh." Keith said. "Clara, may I touch your belly?"I nodded at his seemingly innocent demeanor. Keith placed his hand on my belly as if he could sense the baby moving inside."You can't feel it yet, Keith; at this moment, the baby is just about the size of a strawberry." I smiled, yet there was a heaviness in my heart, knowing that this moment belonged to James, not his brother."When will I be able to feel it move?""That's a few more months to go."Keith responded, "I'll be here when that day arrives, Clara."A few days later.I was relieved Keith at least kept his promise to keep my pregnancy a secret. This morning, after enjoying breakfast and preparing for my job interview at a famous bakery, I heard Emma hav
Clara's POVZoe finally noticed me in the doorway, her expression silent, yet she shot me, 'Are you surprised to see me here?' look.How could I have possibly missed the fact that I would likely see her again if I returned to this house?"Oh, you're finally here. Thank you, Eda, for bringing her to me, even though I had to wait for quite a while. Now you can leave us." Zoe saidEda seemed unsure, but in the end, she left with a look of regret. I fixed my eyes on Zoe; what new plan was she concocting this time?"So this is your new assistant that you hired, Zoe? Are you sure you still want to hire her? She's already late on her first day. Imagine how awful her performance moving forward."Even though Zoe's friend spoke in a low tone, every word was distinctly audible to me."And are you sure you want to hire such a young and beautiful housemaid? I don't mean to fan the flames, Zoe, but you know cases of bosses having affairs with their maids are quite common."I clenched my fists tightl
Clara's POVZoe's arms wrapped around his neck while his hands settled at her waist, pulling them closer together. The squelch of lips meeting filled the air, and in that instant, I wished I was deaf. My cheeks burned at the sight before me, but the most disturbing feeling was the tightness in my chest.'I don't love him anymore' I told myself.As they pulled away from each other, and James finally noticed my presence, I acted as if I hadn't seen a thing."James, check it out, look who's here," Zoe said, pointing in my direction."Don't forget, you were the one who invited me to come and discuss something."I said my intention before he assumed I wanted anything beyond the return of my apartment rights."Of course, I remember." He said nonchalantly."Wait, you two have something to talk about? What is that? Why do I know nothing about this?" Zoe glanced between James and me, her expression filled with intrigue about what we were up to.Seriously, why is this woman so invested in ever
Clara's POVZoe's expression changed immediately upon hearing that; it was obvious she didn't want to sit at the same table as me. I’d rather skip dinner entirely than eat with them."James? Are you serious?" She asks.James took her hand and held it tightly "Of course, honey. What seems to be the issue?""Nothing, it’s just that this should be a moment for the two of us, right? Why must Clara join us as well?""Aren't we usually invite Eda to eat together as well? Does that disrupt our moment? Of course not, so what's the difference if we invite Clara too."James' answer confirmed my position in their eyes and that Zoe shouldn't worry at all. His words eased Zoe, evident in the smile that graced her lips."Ah, you're right. What are you waiting for, Clara? Have a seat and serve yourself, I know you're hungry too." Zoe remarked before redirecting her attention to her meal.I took my place in the seat opposite them but left the meal I had made untouched. No matter how hungry I was earli
Clara's POV"What do you want?" I asked. Surprised to see him here at this hour.He nudged me back into the room, leaving me slightly puzzled about his intentions this time."I'm here to discuss things between us." He spoke and shut the door, leaving just the two of us in this space.I stepped back, it was just that being in the room with him felt different now. There was a tension I could not explain in the air, particularly since James was behaving as if we were still sharing our space."Sure," I glanced at the clock. "But it's already too late.""And I don't have time if I have to wait until tomorrow," James said.Oh, of course. How could I forget? he would be so occupied with his work and wouldn't have time for a problem that was trivial to him."Okay. Let's begin then. I want my apartment back, to be honest. I need it for a place to live." I said to him.With that apartment, I could at least help Emma get out of her toxic mom. If James just took it from me, where do I and Emma sh
Clara's POVI scanned the other customers in the restaurant and then spotted him sitting at one of the tables. It's not hard to spot him at all. A tall figure and a strikingly handsome face reminiscent of a Greek statue, and how he carried himself made him always stand out among the crowd.Calming my heartbeat, I made my way to James' table. My steps are steady and assured. I know that I need to have a conversation with him, but I just can't get Diana's words out of my head since I chose to meet him here today. And how she cautioned me to be always cautious.“Are you sure he doesn’t have any other motives, ma'am? You know receiving help from someone like him seems a bit too good to be true. And what would make him want to help his ex-wife?" Diana asked just before I headed out to this restaurant.I was the one who asked for this meeting with James. To my surprise, he actually agreed with where I wanted to go. "I'll find out if I go see him and ask him straight up. How else would I kn
James' POV"Why does my mother want us to have lunch together?" I asked Zoe who was now assisting me in cutting the food before me.It's a gesture she hasn't made since we tied the knot, and now, out of the blue, she's done it. She sliced the appetizer and was just about to bring the spoon to my mouth when I stopped her. We were at a restaurant, and I didn't want to get any kind of intimate gesture from her.She seemed let down but chose not to argue. Zoe just set the spoon back down on the plate. She smiled as she replied, "We're a married couple, is that really strange?""Did you tell her what happened and that we're getting a divorce soon?" I inquired.She mentioned that she would take it upon herself to explain things to my mother, as I had already tried to share what happened, but my mother just didn't believe me. However, the way she continues to encourage Zoe and me to reconnect suggests that she might not be fully aware of everything, and Zoe hasn't shared the whole story wit
Clara's POVI wiped the sweat that had trickled down my temple and took a sip from my water bottle. My throat was incredibly dry. My entire body is sore, and it hit me how infrequently I really engage in physical activity. This is so embarrassing. I’m still in my twenties, but I feel like I’m already carrying the weight of an old lady doing a tough job.But as I looked around my restaurant kitchen and took in the progress we've made in transforming this chaos, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness. It wasn't instant, but little by little, we managed to fix it and even make it look much better."Excuse me, ma'am, what are your thoughts on the stove's current position? Should we move it or keep it as it was?" Diana approached me and pointed to the spot where the builders would be setting up a new cooking spot for the renovation.Even though the last place was nice and I used to enjoy it, I still feel a bit sense of trauma. My priority now is to make sure that the incident do
James' POVI shut my laptop right after the meeting wrapped up. I still had more work ahead of me, but I just couldn't concentrate on it. My mind was so scattered that I didn't even know what to do next. I suppose I need to reach out to Victor again to check on the results of the investigation he conducted regarding Clara.Yeah, I suppose I should. So I pulled out my phone and called him right away.Victor has been with me and my company for a decade, and I have complete trust in his skills. He said that he would share the results with me as soon as he finished his tasks. But this curiosity is driving me crazy, and I don't think I can keep it to myself any longer if I don't reach out to him now."Mr. Morgan, Good morning," He greeted me politely."Where's the result? Send it to me immediately, Victor. I need it right now!" I came off as really impatient, almost like a kid having a tantrum.What happened to me? You need to calm the fuck down, James."Oh, sure. I’ve wrapped up the inves
Selena's POVI held back an eye roll as soon as I spotted Clara's name on Keith's phone. It's not just one missed call; it's three of them! She asked him three times to come to her for the sake of her daughter. Who did she think Keith was? Her daughter's nanny? Gosh!“No, Selena. I’m the one at fault here. I told Layla I’d be there to see her performance, but I couldn’t make it because I got caught up in a last-minute meeting with a client. I also didn’t manage to pick her up. Layla would feel upset and let down by me. I need to head over there immediately."I racked my brain instantly. I just couldn't let Keith go off anywhere! Especially to Clara's house.No one else understands the length of time I've been waiting a moment like this. We're having an amazing time, just the two of us.After a wonderful night sharing the same bed with him, I definitely noticed his hungry gaze as he took in my sexy body this morning.I'm not foolish. I know that Keith wants me to. If only he could forg
Keith's POVI opened my eyes, and a jolt of pain surged through my head right away. The sort of pain that usually strikes you the morning after a night of heavy drinking. But I haven't been drunk in four months, so where is this pain coming from?I woke up and noticed my shirt resting on the windowsill. I quickly grabbed it and tossed it on. I'm just in my boxers and I don't know where my trousers are right now. Did I take it off? I can't recall if I changed just before I went to sleep. I honestly can't recall anything from last night.What time is it now?The sunlight pouring in through the window showed that it was bright noon outside. It's Sunday, so I'm taking the day off from the office. I stepped out of my bedroom to get a glass of water because my throat felt so parched. As I approached my kitchen I heard some noise coming from there. I walked in and saw a woman figure with her back to me."Selena?"Upon hearing me, she turned around and gave me a bright smile.She's got on my
Clara's POVI didn't even have a moment to respond to Miss Olivia because the next second, I rushed out of my apartment, headed downstairs, and jumped into my car to drive off. It was already nighttime. It was already dark outside. Of course, what else could you expect? It was nearly nighttime.My daughter still wasn't back home. My heart raced with panic and fear. I pushed through the pain as my burning hand clutched the steering wheel firmly. The streets buzzed with workers returning home after a long day at the office.As soon as the green light lit up, I hit the gas without hesitation. I nearly hit someone who was about to cross the street and I noticed her spit on my car. Right away, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I nearly put her in a dangerous situation.This urgency made me speed up as much as I could. I realized I needed to make it there right away. When I got to school, I parked the car haphazardly and hopped out. I sprinted toward the building, heading straight for
Clara's POVAs soon as I got to my restaurant, it was crowded with people. I noticed some of the last customers rushing out; I think Diana has informed them that we’re temporarily not accepting dine-in. As soon as I reached my car, my eyes caught a glimpse of black smoke rising into the blue sky, and my heart sank instantly.Without a second thought, I rushed straight to the source of the chaos: my kitchen. I pushed through the back door, even though I could see the firefighters working to extinguish the flames, and it was obvious they weren't allowing anyone else in at the moment. But my mind was so clouded with panic that I couldn't think clearly.I burst through in a panic, and a thick cloud of smoke hit me, stinging my eyes and searing my lungs. Suddenly, a hand pulled me out without warning."Ma'am please stay right here! They need to extinguish the flame first until everything is safe for us!"I knew it was Diana's voice. She was right, but I was too overwhelmed and anxious to r
James' POVI think Clara really took her daughter out of there after our encounter earlier. Because I haven't seen them anywhere though I've been searching for them for a while. Maybe if I had gone after her right away I wouldn't lose her track like this. I set my time to come to this place just to see her, but now she's gone.Why is that? The question keeps echoing in my mind. What makes her so anxious about me being close to her daughter? She treated me like I had a past of kidnapping and selling children, now viewing me as a danger to her kid.Her final words, when I brought up the father of her daughter who wasn't able to attend this event, lingered in my mind.Why is she bringing up our past relationship? About the way I treated her back then? Yeah, I used to be awful to her, and I regret it now. But why does it have to do with the absence of her daughter's father?I tried to figure out how old her daughter was and the year Clara pretended to die just to get away from me. If I'