Chapter 16: Take your time
"No!"
Vincent frowned at Julian’s unusually strong reaction.
"Why?" he asked. "It’s always better to be cautious than wait for someone else to expose our family’s affairs again."
Julian’s heart skipped a beat.
There was no way she could allow Vincent to investigate further. If he did, it wouldn’t take long before the truth pointed back to her.
Suppressing her panic, she forced herself to smile.
"Dad... have you thought about it from another perspective?"
Vincent looked at her. "What perspective?"
Julian hesitated just long enough to make her words sound thoughtful.
"What if there isn’t a mastermind behind all this?"
"What if..." she paused, "...Clara leaked those photos herself?"
The room fell silent as Vincent’s brows furrowed.
Julian continued before he could interrupt.
"Think about it. Clara has never wanted this marriage. She even tried to run away before the wedding."
"What if she intentionally released those photos to embarrass the Sterling family?"
"So Dominic would have no choice but to divorce her."
Dorothy exchanged a subtle glance with her daughter before nodding in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing."
She folded her arms.
"After all, Clara has been against this marriage from the very beginning."
"Perhaps this was simply another one of her desperate attempts to escape."
She sighed dramatically.
"The only thing that surprises me is Dominic. I never expected someone as intelligent as him to believe her explanation so easily."
Vincent remained silent. The possibility slowly began to take root in his mind. After all the Clara he knew had always resisted marrying Dominic. Perhaps this really was another one of her schemes.
"You might be right," he muttered thoughtfully.
Julian secretly let out a sigh of relief. She and Dorothy exchanged a quick, knowing glance. The conversation had shifted exactly where they wanted it to.
Seeing Vincent beginning to believe them, Julian spoke again.
"But we still can’t act recklessly, Dad." She lowered her voice. "Didn’t you see how protective Dominic was today? If we make another impulsive move against Clara without solid evidence... I’m afraid it might damage our relationship with the Sterling family."
Vincent nodded slowly. She had a point. Dominic’s warning earlier still echoed in his ears.
For the first time, he realized Clara was no longer someone he could scold or discipline whenever he pleased. She now had the Sterling family standing behind her.
After a long pause, Vincent finally made his decision. "Julian."
She immediately looked up.
"I’ll leave this matter to you. Keep an eye on Clara like you’ve always done. If she does anything that could bring trouble to the Hayes family...inform me immediately."
Julian smiled warmly. "Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll make sure nothing gets out of hand."
Satisfied with her answer, Vincent nodded before heading upstairs to his study. The moment he disappeared from sight, the warm smile on Julian’s face vanished.
Dorothy let out a soft laugh. "You really are my daughter." She looked at Julian proudly.
"You turned the entire situation around with just a few sentences. The suspicion was about to fall on you...and now your father believes Clara may have orchestrated everything herself."
Julian curled her lips into a smug smile. "Dad has always been easy to manipulate."
She shrugged casually. "He believes whatever sounds the most reasonable in the moment." Her expression gradually darkened.
"But..."
She looked toward the staircase where Vincent had disappeared. "Even with Dad on our side...I’m still uneasy."
Dorothy frowned. "Because of Clara?"
Julian nodded. "Yesterday, she was still the same Clara I could control with a few words. But today..."
She slowly clenched her fists. "...she questioned me. And for a moment, I actually thought she had figured everything out."
The memory of Clara pointing out the limited-edition dress replayed in her mind. A shiver ran down her spine.
"No..." Julian shook her head firmly. "She couldn’t possibly know. There’s no way she suspects me."
She repeated the words more to reassure herself than to convince her mother.
Yet no matter how many times she said them...the uneasy feeling in her chest refused to disappear.
Her eyes gradually turned cold.
"Whatever has changed in Clara... I don’t care. I’ve spent years getting close to Dominic, and I’m not about to lose him to her now."
Julian had loved Dominic since they were in high school. And now, just because he married Clara, she refuses to let him go.
She looked out the window. "No matter what it takes... I’ll separate them. And when I do...Dominic Sterling will be mine."
***
Meanwhile, Clara sat alone in the bedroom. Not long after Nicholas’s call, Dominic had excused himself, saying he had something important to take care of.
She didn’t need to guess what the call was about. The scandal involving the edited photographs had reached the Sterling family, and given her behavior in the past, it was only natural for the elders to question her once again.
In her previous life, every time she disappointed the Sterling family, they had advised Dominic to divorce her. Yet no matter how many chances she wasted...he had never let her go.
Thinking of that only strengthened her resolve.
"I won’t divorce Dominic." She spoke the words softly, but the determination in her eyes was unwavering.
Not in this lifetime. Never again.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Clara looked up to find Butler James standing outside.
"Young Madam, the dinner is ready. Young Master asked me to inform you that he’ll be joining you and Young Miss shortly."
Clara nodded.
"Thank you, Bulter James."
She had originally planned to find Dominic and explain everything after his call. But it seemed dinner would have to come first.
***
[A few minutes later...]
The dining room was unusually quiet. Clara sat between Dominic and Hannah, completely focused on the delicious meal before her. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed the Sterling family’s dining table.
In her previous life, she had barely touched the food served here.
Sometimes because she was angry. Sometimes Alex had convinced her Dominic was trying to trap her with kindness.
Looking back now...she wanted to slap her past self.
Without another thought, Clara happily picked up another bite.
Hannah slowly lowered her fork. She stared at Clara as though she had just witnessed something impossible.
"...Has she been starving herself all day?"
She looked toward Dominic. "I’ve never seen her eat this much."
Even Dominic quietly watched Clara.
He, too, had never seen her enjoy a meal like this. Whenever he invited her out for dinner in the past, she had barely taken a few bites before claiming she had lost her appetite.
Yet tonight... she was eating with genuine enthusiasm.
His gaze instinctively shifted toward the servants standing nearby.
His expression remained calm. However, his thoughts were another story.
(Did someone forget to prepare lunch for my wife?)
(Or... did no one remind her to eat?)
(Have they been neglecting her all day?)
(If that’s the case, every one of them is getting their salary deducted tomorrow.)
Clara, who had just taken another mouthful of rice—
"Ack!"
She immediately started coughing.
Dominic was beside her in an instant. "Slow down."
His usually cold voice carried an unmistakable hint of concern.
Quickly pouring her a glass of water, he gently handed it to her. "Drink."
Clara quickly took the glass and swallowed several mouthfuls before finally catching her breath.
"I-I’m fine."
Dominic frowned slightly.
(How can she be fine?)
(She nearly choked.)
(Should I ask the family doctor to come over?)
(No... maybe I should have the kitchen prepare something lighter.)
(Or perhaps she’s eating too quickly because she likes today’s menu...)
(Then I’ll have the chef make these dishes more often.)
Clara lowered her head, desperately trying not to laugh.
This man... he’s already planning the entire week’s menu because I ate a little more?
Across the table, Hannah watched the interaction in complete disbelief.
Her brother...the same Dominic Sterling who could make executives tremble with a single glance... was personally pouring Clara water and watching her as though she might disappear if he looked away for even a second.
Something was definitely wrong.
Very, very wrong.
Meanwhile, Dominic picked up another serving spoon and quietly placed more of Clara’s favorite dishes onto her plate.
"Eat slowly." His tone was as calm as ever, but only Clara heard what came next.
(There’s plenty more in the kitchen.)
(No one is going to steal your food, Wifey.)
(Take your time.)
"...."
Dominic looked at her in confusion.
"...Did I say something funny?"
Clara quickly shook her head.
"No."
She smiled so brightly that even Hannah found herself staring.
"You didn’t say anything at all."
Only Clara knew...his mouth hadn’t, but his thoughts certainly had.