Chapter 13: So it was your doing,Julian
Julian left the Sterling Estate with a dark expression.
The moment she got into the car, she slammed the door shut with enough force to make the driver flinch.
He instinctively lowered his head.
No one in the Hayes household dared to provoke Julian.
As Vincent Hayes’ and Dorothy Hayes’ beloved daughter, she had always been pampered. Whenever she lost her temper, everyone else simply endured it in silence.
"Drive," she ordered coldly.
"Yes, Miss Julian."
The driver immediately started the engine and pulled away from the Sterling Estate.
The luxurious mansion gradually disappeared from view, but Julian’s thoughts remained there.
She had gone to the Sterling Estate believing Clara’s sudden change was nothing more than an act.
A performance to lower Dominic’s guard.
Yet after today’s conversation...
For the first time, doubt crept into her heart.
Clara hadn’t looked like she was pretending.
She had defended Dominic.
Rejected Alex.
And even refused her offer to help her escape.
Julian clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms.
"Damn it..."
Her beautiful face twisted with frustration.
"Why won’t she just give up already?"
Ever since Dominic had announced he wanted to marry Clara, Julian’s jealousy had consumed her.
She had always believed she was the better choice.
She was Vincent Hayes’ acknowledged daughter.
Elegant.
Well-educated.
Respected in high society.
Meanwhile, Clara was merely the illegitimate daughter who had spent most of her life struggling outside the Hayes family.
Yet Dominic had never spared Julian a second glance.
From the very beginning...
The only woman he wanted was Clara.
That single fact had become the thorn in Julian’s heart.
"No..."
She slowly closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down.
"I won’t lose to her."
Her gaze gradually turned cold.
"Dominic Sterling will be mine."
"And I’ll make sure of it."
Julian wasn’t willing to let years of planning go to waste.
Long before Clara married Dominic, she had already begun weaving her web.
When Clara first entered the Hayes household after Diana’s death, she had been devastated.
She had lost the only parent who had ever truly loved her.
She was lonely.
Grieving.
And desperate for someone to rely on.
Julian had recognized that weakness immediately.
While Vincent and Dorothy openly neglected Clara, Julian had stepped forward as the caring older sister.
She comforted her.
Listened to her.
Protected her whenever their parents scolded her.
Little by little, she earned Clara’s complete trust.
She made Clara believe that, despite everyone else’s indifference, she sincerely cared for her.
In reality...
Every smile had been calculated.
Every act of kindness had a purpose.
She never saw Clara as family.
Only as someone useful.
A pawn she could manipulate whenever it suited her.
And until recently...
Everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Julian let out a slow breath before pulling out her phone.
Her thumb hovered over Alex’s name for a moment before she tapped it.
The call connected after only two rings.
"Well?" Alex asked impatiently. "What did she say?"
Julian’s expression darkened.
"Something’s changed."
There was a brief silence.
"She refused to leave with me."
Alex frowned.
"What?"
"She said she’s accepted the marriage..." Julian replied through clenched teeth. "...and that she wants to be Dominic’s wife."
Silence filled the car.
Neither of them noticed that the game they believed they controlled had already begun slipping through their fingers.
"But don’t worry," Julian said, her voice turning calm once again. "I won’t let that happen."
There was no way she was going to let Clara keep Dominic.
Not after everything she had planned.
"What are you going to do?" Alex asked from the other end of the line.
Julian remained silent for a few seconds, a calculating smile slowly appearing on her lips.
"I have a plan."
The confidence in her voice sent a chill through the air.
No matter how much Clara had changed...
Julian refused to believe she had completely slipped out of her control.
And if Clara truly had changed... then Julian would simply make sure she changed back.
***
Meanwhile, Clara spent the entire day either lost in thought or making plans for the future.
Now that fate had given her a second chance, she intended to make the most of it.
She wanted to repair her marriage.
She wanted to fulfill her mother’s dream of opening a bakery.
And most importantly...
She wanted to live a life without regrets.
Sitting on the sofa with a notebook in her lap, Clara scribbled down a few ideas before letting out a thoughtful sigh.
"The first step is convincing Dominic to let me work."
She knew it wouldn’t be easy.
In his eyes, she was still the woman who wanted nothing more than to escape from him.
He had every reason to doubt her.
"I’ll ask him once he gets home," she murmured to herself.
Just then, the butler walked into the living room.
"Younger Madam."
Clara looked up.
"Mr. Vincent Hayes is here to see you."
She frowned.
Why is everyone suddenly showing up at my door?
First Julian. Now Vincent. Something told her this visit wouldn’t bring anything good.
***
The atmosphere in the living room turned tense the moment Vincent stepped inside.
He didn’t greet her. He didn’t even spare her a proper glance.
Instead, he strode straight toward her.
Smack!
The sharp sound of the slap echoed throughout the hall.
The servants froze where they stood. Even the butler’s expression stiffened.
Clara slowly turned her face back, a burning sting spreading across her cheek. Before she could react, Vincent angrily thrust his phone toward her.
"You ungrateful girl!" he roared. "Look at what you’ve done!"
Clara lowered her gaze to the screen. A news article filled the display.
Several photographs of her and Alex together were spreading rapidly across social media.
The headline was even more sensational.
"Newlywed Mrs. Sterling’s Secret Romance Exposed?"
Her expression remained calm despite the throbbing pain on her face.
Instead of panicking, her mind immediately began piecing everything together.
Who leaked these photographs?
Years ago, after the scandal surrounding her birth had damaged the Hayes family’s reputation, Vincent had gone to great lengths to keep every detail of their private lives out of the public eye.
No matter how much he disliked her, he would never willingly expose another family scandal.
Especially not one involving Dominic Sterling’s wife. Yet somehow... these photographs had appeared only a day after her wedding.
The timing was far too convenient.
Just then, another familiar voice interrupted the silence.
"Dad..."
Julian hurried into the living room, her face filled with carefully rehearsed concern.
"Please calm down."
She quickly moved to Vincent’s side, gently holding his arm as though trying to stop him.
"I told you not to get angry. Clara probably didn’t mean for this to happen."
Clara’s gaze slowly shifted toward her stepsister.
Julian looked worried on the surface. But the brief satisfaction hidden in her eyes didn’t escape Clara.
Everything suddenly became clear.
A leak this perfectly timed...
So it was your doing, Julian.
A faint smile almost appeared on Clara’s lips as the realization dawned.