Chapter 5 Just Go

Sonya had never truly liked her, and Clara had known it for as long as she could remember. When she was younger, Declan had always shielded her, so Sonya never dared to show her disapproval outright.

That protection had vanished now, and Sonya no longer held back, knowing Declan would not step in anymore. In fact, Clara felt as though he wanted her to marry as soon as possible, just to be rid of her presence.

A sharp ache twisted inside as Clara pressed her lips together. After a moment, she forced herself to nod and said quietly, "Alright, I'll go tomorrow. Please let me know the time and place once you've arranged everything, Mrs. Curtis."

Sonya's face finally broke into a satisfied smile.

It always bothered Sonya to see Clara lingering around her son. In her mind, a girl with no family and a troubled past could never deserve someone as important as Declan.

Clara kept her voice steady as she excused herself. "If there's nothing else, I'll go up to rest." She left those words behind, making a quick escape without glancing back at either Sonya or Declan.

Staying any longer might have brought her to tears right there in front of Declan.

His coldness weighed on her, making it hard to breathe.

The following morning, Clara picked up the cake she had ordered ahead of time and got in a taxi headed for Serenity Cemetery.

The doctor had warned her that her days were numbered. That thought brought a strange comfort. She did not want to linger in such a lonely world.

For a long time, Declan had been her reason to hold on. Now, even he wanted her to move on, urging her to meet other men.

This was her birthday. It should have been a day for happiness and celebration.

Instead, she was reminded that her parents died in a car accident on this very date years ago, and two years back, Declan had walked out of her life because of her feelings for him.

Birthdays never brought her joy-just memories of heartbreak.

Thinking of her parents' gentle faces, Clara let herself cry, feeling all the hurt and loneliness rise up.

"Mom, Dad, I miss you so much," she whispered, opening the cake and lighting the candles with trembling hands. Her tears kept falling as she spoke. "It's alright. After today, I'll be with you soon."

While Clara sat in her grief, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned around slowly, and the sadness in her eyes turned to sudden hope.

Standing before her was Declan.

A wave of happiness swept over her, and for a moment she could not move. She wiped her tears quickly, hope shining in her gaze as she looked at him.

He had not forgotten. He remembered her birthday, remembered how much she dreaded facing it alone ever since her parents were gone.

That must have been why he came-to stay by her side.

"Declan!" Clara stood up, her voice trembling with hope, but she stopped when she saw the look on his face.

Declan was here, but there was nothing warm about his expression. His eyes were cold and frightening.

He fixed her with a stern stare, and his words cut through the silence. "Why did you agree to a blind date if you were not going to show up?"

The happiness Clara felt drained away in an instant. The smile that had yet to form on her lips froze.

So he was here just to drag her to a date with another man.

Clara tried to speak, her voice heavy with pain. "Did you really forget what day today is?"

"That doesn't matter!" Declan's reply was sharp, his frown deepening. "You made a promise and you should have kept it!"

It did not matter to him what day it was. Keeping her word about the blind date was more important.

Did he really want her gone that badly?

Clara pressed her lips together and murmured, "I'm sorry, I-"

He cut her off, his voice colder than the graveyard wind. "Don't apologize to me. You owe Lorraine an apology! I should have known better than to trust you to keep your word!"

Clara stared at him, stunned and confused. She could not understand why Declan had come all the way here just to scold her. What mistake had she made?

What did Lorraine have to do with any of this?

"Enough with the act, Clara!" Declan strode forward, his hand clamping around her wrist with sudden force. His glare was relentless as he said, "Don't think you've fooled me. You went to my grandpa and blurted everything about me and Lorraine, didn't you? If anything happens to her, you'll answer for it."

"I didn't!" Clara tried to pull away, but Declan's hold was like iron, leaving her helpless.

Her wrist throbbed beneath his grip, yet nothing compared to the sharp sting of his accusations. Every word left a mark that cut even deeper.

"You really believe you can wreck things for me and Lorraine by telling my grandpa?" Declan's eyes narrowed, his voice cold enough to freeze the air. "It wouldn't matter if I ended things with her. I would never choose you. That thought alone makes me sick. Don't even think about it. Your feelings mean nothing to me."

Clara stood there shaking. His words had sent a jolt through her entire body. Panic and disbelief flickered in her eyes as she stared at his face, once so familiar and now completely unforgiving.

Did he really see her that way? Was she nothing but a burden to him?

Clara's heart gave out. Defeated, she dropped her gaze and let out a soft, bitter laugh. Silent tears streaked down her cheeks, leaving her face pale and hollow.

Barely able to stand, she swayed back. Declan's grip was the only thing keeping her from collapsing entirely.

"So that's what you think of me," Clara retorted, her voice breaking as she looked up with a wounded smile. "I get it now. I won't bother you again. Just go."

A sharp gust whipped through the cemetery, carrying away the last of her warmth.

The wind wiped her tears from her cheeks, scattering them across the cold earth.

For a moment, Declan felt a piercing ache in his chest, as if something inside him had snapped tight and would not let go. The sudden pain left him standing there, rattled to his core.