Chapter 10: You’ve watched me enough
After breakfast, Clara decided to take a walk through the Sterling Estate’s sprawling garden.
The morning breeze was cool, carrying the faint fragrance of blooming roses.
Yet instead of wandering through the garden as she had intended, she found herself standing in the same spot, lost in thought.
More than two hours had passed.
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps.
Not far away, two maids watched her from behind a row of neatly trimmed hedges.
"Just how long is she planning to stand there?" one of them muttered impatiently.
Silvia folded her arms across her chest.
"It’s already been over two hours."
Lily frowned as she peeked in Clara’s direction.
"Do you think she’s planning something?"
Silvia’s eyes narrowed.
"Maybe she’s thinking of another way to escape."
Lily nodded in agreement.
"It wouldn’t be surprising."
Ever since Dominic Sterling’s marriage to Clara had been announced, the entire Sterling household had witnessed nothing but chaos.
Clara had repeatedly resisted the marriage.
She had argued with Dominic.
Tried to run away.
And had made it clear to everyone that she wanted nothing to do with him.
To the servants, she was a troublesome young mistress who refused to appreciate what countless women dreamed of having.
After all...
Dominic Sterling was the perfect man in almost everyone’s eyes.
Young.
Handsome.
Powerful.
Exceptionally capable.
Countless women had tried to catch his attention over the years.
Yet Dominic had never spared any of them a second glance.
Silvia herself had once entertained the foolish hope of earning Dominic’s favor.
When she realized that was impossible, she shifted her attention to the people around him instead.
Winning Hannah Sterling’s trust was far more realistic.
That was precisely why, when Hannah instructed her to keep an eye on Clara, Silvia had accepted without hesitation.
"We need to watch her carefully," Silvia whispered.
"If Miss Hannah learns we’re doing our job well, she might reward us."
Lily smiled.
"You’re right."
Neither of them realized...
The woman they were secretly watching had already noticed them long ago.
Clara glanced toward the hedges before quietly looking away again.
She remembered everything.
Every misunderstanding.
Every mistake.
Every painful memory from her previous life.
Back then, Hannah had arrived at the Sterling Estate shortly after the wedding...
Just as she had this time.
Not only that...
She had also arranged for Silvia and Lily to keep a close watch on Clara.
Every word Clara spoke.
Every place she went.
Every phone call she answered.
Everything eventually found its way to Hannah.
Over time, those reports created countless misunderstandings.
Some were exaggerated.
Others were deliberately twisted.
Bit by bit, Hannah’s distrust of her only deepened.
Ironically...
Back then, Clara hadn’t cared in the slightest.
Her only goal had been to divorce Dominic and leave the Sterling family forever.
She had never bothered explaining herself.
She had never tried to clear up any misunderstandings.
And despite everything...
Dominic had never agreed to let her go.
At the time, she believed he was punishing her.
Or perhaps he had simply become obsessed with possessing her.
Now...
She finally understood.
He had only been trying to protect her.
A soft sigh escaped her lips.
"I really was hopeless..."
She closed her eyes briefly, trying to organize the countless thoughts swirling through her mind.
How do I make him believe me?
How do I convince him that I’ve truly changed?
Years of hurting him couldn’t be erased with a few kind words.
Trust...
Had to be earned.
Just as she was lost in thought, her phone suddenly vibrated.
Buzz.
Clara lowered her gaze.
The caller ID made her expression instantly turn cold.
Alex.
Without the slightest hesitation, she rejected the call.
The phone immediately began ringing again.
Her lips curled into a bitter smile.
"So persistent..."
She opened her contacts, tapped his number, and selected Block.
A confirmation message appeared.
She pressed Yes without a second thought.
"There."
"I should’ve done this a long time ago."
A strange sense of relief washed over her.
In her previous life, she had answered every one of Alex’s calls.
She had believed every excuse.
Every apology.
Every lie.
Again and again, he had manipulated her into doubting Dominic until she eventually walked straight toward her own destruction.
This time...
She wouldn’t give him another opportunity.
Not even one.
As she slipped her phone back into her pocket, Clara lifted her head and looked toward the clear blue sky.
"I’ve already wasted one lifetime on the wrong person."
A determined smile slowly appeared on her face.
"This lifetime..."
"I won’t make the same mistake twice."
With her resolve strengthened, Clara finally turned and made her way back toward the mansion.
As she approached the entrance, she caught sight of two familiar figures hurriedly trying to pretend they hadn’t been watching her.
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Alright, ladies," Clara called out casually. "You’ve watched me long enough. It’s time to get back to work."
Her sudden voice startled both Lily and Silvia.
The two maids stiffened before awkwardly stepping out from behind the hedge.
"W-Young Madam..." Lily stammered.
Silvia forced a smile.
"We... we were just passing by."
Clara chuckled.
"Really? Then your timing is quite impressive."
Neither maid knew how to respond.
For a moment, an awkward silence settled over the three of them.
Truthfully, Clara never considered Lily and Silvia her enemies.
In her previous life, they had simply been carrying out Hannah’s orders. As servants of the Sterling family, refusing those instructions had never been an option.
Just as Clara was about to head inside, something suddenly crossed her mind.
She stopped mid-step before turning around.
"You two."
Lily and Silvia looked up at the same time.
"Follow me."
The maids exchanged puzzled glances before reluctantly following behind her.
***
[A few minutes later...]
"Goodness..."
Silvia let out an exhausted groan as she struggled to lift another large suitcase.
"Why are these bags so heavy?"
Sweat trickled down her forehead as she shifted the weight in her arms.
Lily wasn’t faring any better.
She was dragging an equally oversized suitcase down the hallway, her face flushed from the effort.
"Younger Madam..." she panted, "...did you bring bricks instead of clothes?"
Clara couldn’t help laughing.
"No."
She walked ahead with a light smile.
"They’re mostly books, a few keepsakes, and some winter clothes."
Silvia stared at the suitcase in disbelief.
"Books?"
She looked down at the luggage in her hands.
"...How many books does one person even own?"
Clara smiled innocently.
"Enough to make moving them a workout."
The two maids exchanged helpless looks before continuing toward the staircase, silently regretting every decision that had led them to this moment.