Chapter312 – Where are you…
That night, Clarissa only managed a few sips of water. Atticus held her close and murmured softly,
“I won’t interfere with the others. But those two kids… I’ll have someone take them away. New identities, a clean slate. I’ll arrange for them to be adopted by a decent family. What do you think?”
Clarissa lifted her head and looked at him, her eyes bright with emotion—focused, touched.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.
She smiled and shook her head. “Nothing.” Nestling against his chest, she slowly closed her eyes. “I’m tired. Let’s sleep.”
“Okay.”
Atticus adjusted the blanket, lay on his side, and wrapped his arms around her before closing his eyes.
After everything they’d been through, exhaustion overtook him quickly. His breathing soon evened out.
Clarissa, who had seemed asleep, slowly opened her eyes.
She looked at him quietly for a long moment, then carefully sat up and pressed a light kiss to his forehead.
They hadn’t slept long. It was barely six in the morning when Atticus woke.
He glanced down at Clarissa, still deeply asleep, curled into him like she belonged nowhere else. A soft tenderness flickered in his eyes—then vanished as a sound reached his ears.
His gaze sharpened.
He rose and opened the door.
A little boy standing outside yelped in surprise and fell backward, the sweet potato in his hands rolling across the ground.
The girl rushed over, panicked, bowing repeatedly.
“I’m so sorry—so sorry! He didn’t mean it. I told him to eat somewhere else. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“Quiet,” Atticus said calmly. “I want her to sleep a little longer.”
The girl immediately fell silent.
“Come here.”
Knife in hand, Atticus stepped outside and sat down.
The girl didn’t dare hesitate and hurried over.
“He can’t speak?” Atticus asked.
She froze, then tears welled up in her eyes. “He hasn’t spoken since Dad died.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m thirteen. My brother is seven…”
Atticus tightened his grip on the knife and took a slow breath.
“Listen carefully to every word I’m about to say. If you miss even one, you and your brother will end up like your father.”
The girl trembled and nodded frantically.
He tossed her a small vial.
“Take this. Don’t open the door for anyone. If someone tries to force their way in, use it if you have to. It’s highly toxic. A drop is enough to kill.”
Her face drained of color.
“I’ll send someone to pick you up. They’ll give you a code. The code is—”
He leaned in and whispered it into her ear, then continued giving precise instructions.
When he finished, Atticus stood and went back inside.
Clarissa was sitting on the bed, a coat draped over her shoulders, gazing out the window.
“Did I wake you?” he asked softly.
“No.” She stood. “I just woke up too.”
She slipped on her coat and shoes, then took his hand.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
This time, their journey home was smooth.
Clarissa stood on the ship’s deck, the sea breeze lifting her hair. A man’s coat rested over her shoulders.
“We’re crossing the border now,” Atticus said quietly. “It’ll get colder. Don’t stand in the wind too long.”
She turned to him. “Where are we?”
“A small country. Pretty remote, but very close to ours. It’s called—”
“The legal marriage age here is sixteen for men and fourteen for women, right?” Clarissa interrupted.
Atticus froze.
The sea wind tangled their hair as she looked at him steadily.
“Atticus… let’s get married.”
His breath caught, his voice hoarse. “Clarissa, no—we can’t—”
“What’s wrong?” she asked softly. “Don’t you want to marry me?”
“Of course I do!”
She tightened her grip on his hand. “Then let’s do it this way. When we get back, come meet my family, okay? I have something very important to tell you.”
“Family…” he murmured, his fingers tightening. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
“Atticus?”
He pulled her into his arms.
“I want to marry you in our country. Properly. That’s what you want too, isn’t it?”
Her eyes filled instantly.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. As long as it’s you, it doesn’t matter where we are. Atticus… actually, I—”
Her phone suddenly rang inside her coat.
Now that they had signal again, messages flooded in nonstop.
Clarissa glanced at the screen. Phoenix.
“Phoenix…”
“Clarissa! Is that really you? I’ve been calling for a whole day and night! Are you in danger? Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now—Clarissa, why aren’t you talking? Are you being threatened?”
“I’m fine,” Clarissa said calmly.
She glanced at Atticus.
“I’m abroad. It’s… complicated. I’ll explain when I get back. Wait for me at home, okay?”
“Okay. But you have to promise me—tomorrow. I need to see you tomorrow.”
“I promise.”
After hanging up, Clarissa let out a soft sigh and reached for Atticus’s hand.
He looked startled. “Clarissa?”
“Let’s talk when we get back,” she said gently. “A couple more days won’t change anything. After that… we’ll have plenty of time.”
.......
“Atticus, I need to go see Phoenix for a bit. Wait for me at home, okay?”
Atticus sat stiffly on the living room sofa. He looked up at Clarissa and replied patiently,
“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”
Clarissa let out a soft sigh, then stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek.
“I’ll be back soon. Don’t go anywhere before I get back, alright? I have a special gift for you.”
Atticus subconsciously touched the spot she’d kissed. He wrapped an arm around her waist, the reluctance in his chest impossible to hide, and nodded.
“Okay. I’ll wait for you here.”
Clarissa smiled, grabbed her keys, and turned to leave.
About ten minutes later, Atticus heard the sound of the door unlocking again. He instinctively turned and called out,
“Clarissa—”
The word died in his throat.
The smile vanished from his face as he stared at the man standing before him. After a long, frozen pause, he finally forced out a single word.
“…Grandpa.”
He stopped himself, his expression hardening.
“No. Mr. Callum.”
Callum’s eyes flashed with icy fury.
“Atticus.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
The silence was heavy, suffocating—spreading slowly through the room like frost, freezing the air itself.
......
After Clarissa told Phoenix everything, Phoenix nearly crushed the teacup in her hand.
“What did you just say?!”
She slammed her palm against the table. The sharp crash sent cups and plates flying.
“Nelson really was doing that kind of shit.”
“Who the hell cares about Nelson?” Phoenix snapped, glaring at Clarissa. “I’m talking about you! You and that Atticus kid—”
“I’ve already made myself very clear,” Clarissa said firmly. “I won’t love anyone else. Ever.”
Phoenix swayed, her face pale. Thankfully, Maximilian caught her in time.
Clarissa hurried over.
“Phoenix! Are you okay? I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to hide it from you…”
As she and Maximilian helped Phoenix sit down, Clarissa explained everything again.
Phoenix rubbed her temples. After what felt like an eternity, her breathing finally steadied. She lifted her head and met Clarissa’s anxious gaze.
“Phoenix… you don’t want me to be with him?” Clarissa asked carefully. “But he’s changed so much. I misunderstood him before. His situation is complicated—I can explain everything slowly, okay?”
Phoenix sighed deeply.
“No. I should’ve known.”
She looked at Clarissa with tired eyes and softened.
“Silly girl. I’ll respect your choice. If Atticus ever bullies you again, you tell me immediately. I’ll be the first one to deal with him.”
Clarissa grasped Phoenix’s hand, her eyes brimming with emotion.
“Thank you, Phoenix…”
Phoenix patted her hand, signaling for her to sit.
“Don’t celebrate yet. I’m easy to talk to—but Mr. Callum isn’t.”
“What?” Clarissa’s eyes widened. “You told Grandpa? Where is he?”
“He—” Phoenix was about to answer when a servant hurried in.
“Madam, Mr. Callum is missing.”
Clarissa’s heart skipped. She stood abruptly.
“Phoenix, I need to go.”
“Alright. I’ll look for him. He might be playing chess with Grandpa in the backyard.”
Clarissa nodded and rushed out.
Her car had just stopped outside when she spotted Oriana waiting downstairs.
“Miss Clarissa!” Oriana ran over excitedly.
“Is it ready?” Clarissa asked immediately.
“Of course.” Oriana handed it to her.
Clarissa’s eyes lit up as she accepted the gift. The sheet music was carefully framed, pristine and flawless.
She gently traced the notes with her fingers, her gaze soft.
“I wonder if he’ll like it…”
“He definitely will,” Oriana said without hesitation. “Miss Clarissa… are you really sure?”
“Yes.” Clarissa nodded. “I’ve decided.”
.....
Clarissa rushed home with the gift in her arms.
The moment she opened the door, she called out brightly,
“Atticus! I’m back!”
No answer.
“Atticus…?”
He wasn’t in the living room.
Clarissa froze.
The framed sheet music slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a dull thud, pages scattering everywhere.
He said he would wait for her.
A sense of dread crept up her spine.
She immediately called Atticus—but all she saw were red exclamation marks. No signal. No connection.
Without hesitation, she turned and ran out.
She called him while driving, again and again. No answer. Then she realized—all of his contact information was gone. Deleted.
She went to the hospital. To his house. To every place he might possibly be.
Nothing.
She called him on November 11th. Still no response.
Clutching her phone, Clarissa wandered down the street aimlessly. People passed by, laughing, talking, living—while she stood still.
She looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with an unfamiliar, terrifying emptiness.
Tears slipped down her face.
He promised he would wait for me…
Why couldn’t he wait just a little longer?
Her chest tightened painfully. She sank to her knees on the pavement, unable to hold herself up anymore, tears falling freely.
“Atticus… where are you…”
.....
Atticus wandered the streets without direction, the world around him washed out in dull shades of gray.
His phone was already powered off. It slipped from his fingers, hit the pavement, rolled once—and was crushed instantly beneath the wheels of a passing car. He didn’t even look back. He just kept walking, as if none of it mattered anymore.
What was meant to happen had finally happened. It had only ever been a matter of time.
.....
Inside the house, Callum’s fury was barely contained.
“Atticus, you dare show your face again after harassing Clarissa?” Callum roared. “You fucking animal. What do you want from her this time? To kill her again? Tell me—where is Clarissa?!”
“She’s fine,” Atticus said hoarsely. “She went to see Phoenix.”
Callum exhaled sharply, relief flickering across his face—only to vanish a second later as his eyes hardened again.
“Atticus,” he said coldly, “what did you promise me? Do you remember?”
“I remember…”
“And now you’re breaking your word?” Callum sneered. “You took advantage of her amnesia. Atticus, you’re shameless. Absolutely fucking shameless. How can someone be this disgusting?”