Chapter 27: She was checking me out
[Flashback]
It had been two days since Diana’s funeral. Yet Clara still couldn’t bring herself to leave her mother’s side.
The small house that had once been filled with warmth now felt unbearably empty. Every corner reminded her of Diana’s laughter, her gentle voice, and the promises they had made together.
Unable to bear the silence, Clara found herself returning to the cemetery every evening.
As night fell, she would quietly sit beside Diana’s gravestone, refusing to leave until dawn.
The cemetery’s elderly gatekeeper noticed her on the very first night.
At first, he simply watched the young girl sitting motionless in the pouring rain. By the second night, his heart could no longer bear the sight.
Without saying much, he would quietly leave a bottle of water and a simple meal beside her before returning to his post.
Sometimes Clara ate. Most of the time, she didn’t. She simply stared at the name engraved on the gravestone.
"Diana Mathew."
Every time she read it, another wave of guilt washed over her. She had truly believed that going to Vincent would save her mother, that if she begged him or humbled herself enough... he would help.
Instead...he had thrown her out of his company like she was nothing.
He hadn’t even acknowledged her existence.
The memory still made her chest ache. She had never imagined that one day she would kneel before the man who had abandoned both her and her mother before she was even born.
The man who had filled Diana’s life with promises... only to leave her betrayed like her life was nothing but a plaything.
Growing up, Clara often found Diana standing before her parents’ photographs, quietly apologizing through tears.
Back then, Clara had been too young to understand. She only knew her mother cried whenever she mentioned the past.
As she grew older and began asking why all of her classmates had fathers while she didn’t, Diana finally told her the truth.
She spoke about youthful love. About blind trust. About believing promises that were never meant to be kept.
Most importantly... she admitted that the biggest mistake of her life had been believing Vincent truly loved her.
From that day onward, Clara stopped asking about her father. She accepted that she and her mother only had each other.
And yet... when Diana’s life was hanging by a thread... the first person Clara had desperately turned to... was still that very man.
"What a fool I was..."
A bitter smile appeared on her face, and a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
The sky gradually darkened. Soon, raindrops began falling one after another.
Within minutes, the gentle drizzle turned into heavy rain.
Her clothes became soaked. Her hair clung to her face. But Clara didn’t move.
She simply continued sitting beside the gravestone. It was as though leaving would mean leaving her mother behind.
She didn’t know how much time had passed.
Perhaps an hour. Perhaps several. Then... she heard footsteps crunching over the wet gravel. Someone stopped beside her.
Clara didn’t bother looking up. She already knew it wasn’t the old gatekeeper. The polished leather shoes standing before her were enough to tell her who it was.
The man slowly bent down. Without a word, he placed a bouquet of white lilies in front of Diana’s gravestone.
Only then did Clara slowly lift her head.
Vincent stood there, dressed in an expensive black suit, an umbrella shielding him from the rain.
His expression remained as indifferent as ever while he stared silently at Diana’s name for several moments before speaking.
"I may never have accepted you..." His voice was cold and devoid of emotion. "But I won’t let your existence destroy my life."
Clara’s fingers slowly curled into fists.
Vincent finally turned his gaze toward her. There wasn’t an ounce of guilt in his eyes. Only calculation.
"The media has already started asking questions. Everyone is becoming suspicious. I can’t allow this matter to damage my reputation any further."
He looked at Clara as though discussing a business arrangement rather than speaking to his own daughter.
"So..."
"I’ve decided to take you in."
The words echoed in Clara’s ears. Not because he cared. Not because he regretted abandoning them. But because... he wanted to protect his reputation.
The realization made the last trace of hope inside Clara disappear.
***
[Present]
By the time Clara arrived home, rain was pouring heavily outside.
"Huh?" She looked up at the dark clouds in confusion. "Didn’t the weather forecast say it was supposed to stay clear today?"
Shaking her head, she grabbed her bag and stepped out of the car, followed closely by Silvia and Lily.
The three hurried inside the mansion to avoid getting completely drenched.
As soon as they entered, Butler James greeted them with a respectful bow.
"Welcome home, Madam."
Clara smiled politely.
"Thank you, Bulte James."
"By the way, Madam, the Master—" Before he could finish, Clara was already halfway up the staircase.
"I’ll freshen up first!" She disappeared upstairs in a hurry.
James blinked before finishing his sentence to no one in particular.
"...came home early." He sighed helplessly. "I should’ve spoken faster."
Meanwhile, Silvia and Lily exchanged amused looks before heading toward the servants’ quarters.
...
Completely unaware of James’ unfinished warning, Clara pushed open the bedroom door.
She placed her handbag on the sofa and grabbed a towel from the wardrobe.
"I really need a hot shower," she muttered.
Without another thought, she walked straight toward the bathroom and pushed the door open only to freeze the next second.
"..."
"..."
Standing inside the spacious bathroom was Dominic. His back was facing the door as water streamed down from the shower.
For a solid three seconds, Clara’s mind went completely blank. Then...her eyes unconsciously traveled downward.
"...Wow." The words escaped before she could stop them.
"I never realized...his butt is rounder than mine."
The bathroom fell into complete silence. Even Dominic’s shoulders visibly stiffened.
Slowly...very slowly he turned his head, and their eyes met.
"..."
"..."
Clara’s smile instantly froze.
For another few seconds, neither of them moved. Then Clara blinked twice.
"Oh... I should probably leave."
She awkwardly pointed toward the door. "I’ll just pretend this never happened."
She turned on her heel, intending to escape before dying of embarrassment.
"Clara."
Dominic’s calm voice stopped her. She froze with one hand already on the doorknob.
"...Yes?"
Without turning around, she forced an awkward smile.
"I wasn’t peeking," then she paused.
"I accidentally peeked."
"Actually..." She scratched her cheek sheepishly.
"...I stared a little."
Dominic closed his eyes for a brief moment. He had faced billion-dollar negotiations without batting an eye.
Yet somehow... his own wife had managed to leave him speechless.
He let out a helpless sigh.
"Would you at least close the door?"
Clara’s face immediately turned bright red.
"Oh! Right!"
She hurriedly shut the bathroom door with a loud bang. However, the next second she opened it back, startling Dominic again.
"By the way you have very good butts."
Thud!
(Holy shit... did she just say I have a nice butt?)
(She was checking me out?)
(How long was she standing there?)
(Did she seriously compare my butt to hers?)
Dominic stood frozen under the shower, his usually composed expression completely shattered.
(How am I supposed to face her after this?)
(...)
(No... the real question is...)
(How am I supposed to stop thinking about what she just said?)