Chapter 55: But every day somehow becomes more unbelievable
"Let’s go inside. You need to get some sleep."
Dominic quickly changed the subject and reached for the door handle, hoping to end the dangerous conversation before it went any further.
Before he could move, Clara pushed him gently but firmly back against the seat.
His eyes widened. He hadn’t expected that much strength from her. Then again... How could he forget?
This was the same woman who had taken down three men twice her size without breaking a sweat.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Clara cupped his face with both hands. Her drowsy eyes searched his.
"You’re hard, Dom," she murmured. "I’m not letting you go until you calm down."
Dominic stared at her in silence. His composure was hanging by a thread.
She had no idea what she was doing to him. Or perhaps... being drunk meant she didn’t realise how intimate her words sounded.
(Don’t say I didn’t warn you, wifey.) he thought helplessly.
(If you keep looking at me like this... I’m going to lose what’s left of my self-control.)
Clara smiled softly, as though she had finally come up with the perfect solution.
"I know how to help."
Before Dominic could ask what she meant, she leaned forward and captured his lips in a firm, lingering kiss.
His eyes widened in surprise. For a brief moment, he forgot how to breathe. Then, unable to resist any longer, he slowly returned the kiss, one hand instinctively wrapping around her waist to keep her from losing her balance.
Just as he was about to pull her closer, the pressure against his lips suddenly disappeared.
"...Clara?"
She had gone completely limp in his arms.
Dominic blinked, then he looked down.
Clara was fast asleep. Her head rested against his shoulder, her breathing slow and even, as if nothing had happened.
Dominic remained frozen for several long seconds.
"...Seriously?" he looked at her. Then a helpless laugh escaped him.
His wife had kissed him out of nowhere... only to fall asleep at the very moment his heart had surrendered.
He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and shook his head with a resigned smile.
"You really know how to test my patience."
Carefully lifting her into his arms, Dominic stepped out of the car. As he carried his sleeping wife toward the mansion, he let out another quiet sigh.
"So this was your way of helping me calm down..."
He glanced at the peaceful face resting against his chest.
"It had the exact opposite effect." A helpless smile left his lips as he carried her inside the house.
***
[The Next Morning—Clara’s Bakery]
"Aargh!"
Clara buried her face in her hands before aggressively ruffling her own hair.
"How could I fall asleep at that exact moment? What must Dom be thinking about me?"
Her dramatic outburst startled everyone inside the bakery.
Gen nearly dropped the tray she was carrying.
Lily looked up from arranging pastries.
Even Silvia, who had been checking the register, paused and turned toward her.
Ever since they had arrived at the bakery that morning, Clara had been acting like someone whose soul had left her body.
She had sighed at least twenty times.
Stared blankly into space.
Then suddenly laughed to herself.
Only to groan dramatically a second later.
Now she was pulling at her own hair.
Gen leaned toward Lily and whispered, "What’s wrong with Madam?"
Lily shrugged.
"I don’t know."
She looked at Clara sympathetically.
"Maybe she didn’t sleep well and now she’s mentally scolding Master."
Gen blinked.
"...Why would she scold Master because she couldn’t sleep?"
Lily answered without hesitation.
"Because she’s Madam."
Silvia and Gen stared at her.
Lily frowned.
"What?"
"You say everything that comes into your head."
"I call it honesty."
"You call everything honesty."
Lily proudly puffed out her chest.
"It’s a gift."
"It’s a problem," Silvia corrected.
Gen glanced toward the entrance where several customers were beginning to gather.
"Well... while Madam is busy arguing with invisible people, I’ll go attend to the customers."
"I’ll help," Lily said before quickly following behind her.
Silvia watched the two leave before turning back to Clara.
The latter was now resting her forehead against the table.
"...Madam."
No response.
Silvia sighed and walked over before sitting opposite her.
"Are you trying to scare away all the customers?"
Clara slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes looked completely lifeless.
"...Silvia."
"Yes?"
"I’ve made a terrible mistake."
Silvia’s expression immediately turned serious.
"What happened?"
Clara looked around to make sure Gen and Lily were out of earshot.
Then she leaned across the table.
"I almost seduced my husband."
Silvia blinked once.
"...What?"
"I almost succeeded too."
Silvia nearly fell off her chair.
"...WHAT?"
Clara covered her burning face.
"I was trying to help him!"
"...By seducing him?"
"I didn’t know I was seducing him!"
Silvia stared at her for several long seconds.
"...Madam."
"Hm?"
"I’ve only been working for you a short time..."
"...but every day somehow becomes more unbelievable."
Clara let out another miserable groan.
"You don’t understand."
"No, I really don’t."
"I kissed him..."
Silvia’s eyes widened.
"...You kissed Master?"
Clara nodded dramatically.
"I did."
Silvia smiled.
"Isn’t that a good thing? He’s your husband."
"It would’ve been..."
Clara dropped her forehead onto the table with a loud thud.
"...if I hadn’t fallen asleep immediately afterward."
Silvia was silent.
Then...
She burst into laughter.
"So..."
She wiped the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
"Master finally got kissed..."
"...and then got abandoned because his wife took a nap?"
Clara slowly raised one finger.
"Exactly."
Silvia laughed even harder.
"Oh..."
She shook her head.
"I suddenly feel a little sorry for Master."
Clara let out another anguished cry.
"I know!"
She clutched her head dramatically.
"He probably thinks I’m the world’s biggest flirt and the world’s biggest idiot at the same time!"
Little did Clara know, the reality was the complete opposite.
The man she was convinced had spent the entire night judging her...was currently sitting in his office with the tips of his ears noticeably red.