Chapter 109: Trouble has a habit of finding me
Clara’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Before she could even process what had happened, Tim had already disappeared into the crowd.
He didn’t even look back.
Clara stared at the shattered glass scattered across the floor before letting out a silent groan.
Great... Now is everyone looking at me?
She already knew the answer.
Still, she looked up at the ceiling as if silently pleading with the heavens for a miracle.
"Please... just this once."
A second later, she sighed in defeat.
"Well... I guess this was bound to happen sooner or later."
Brushing the tiny glass fragments from her uniform, Clara slowly straightened herself.
She took a deep breath before turning around.
The moment she did...
Her smile froze.
Every single guest in the banquet hall was staring at her.
Not one person looked away.
Even the music had stopped.
For a brief moment, Clara genuinely wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
Jaden rushed out of the kitchen after hearing the crash.
The moment he saw the shattered decorative glass display and Clara standing in the middle of it, his eyelids twitched.
...What has she done this time?
Not far away, Lily covered her face with both hands.
Madam...
Can you please survive one event without causing a disaster?
She silently prayed.
Dear heavens, I’m begging you. Save us.
Completely aware that everyone was watching her, Clara forced an awkward smile.
"Hehe..." She gave a small wave. "Hello, everyone."
Silence. Not a single person smiled back.
Her raised hand slowly dropped.
"...Tough crowd," she mumbled under her breath.
Just then, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"It’s her!"
The elegantly dressed woman whose gown Clara had accidentally stained earlier stepped forward.
"This is the same waitress who spilled juice all over my dress."
She crossed her arms and clicked her tongue.
"Honestly, why would anyone hire such a clumsy employee?"
Several guests began whispering among themselves.
"First the juice..."
"And now she broke the display."
"What a mess."
Clara sighed inwardly.
Wonderful. My fan club is growing.
Among the guests, Hannah frowned.
She had been about to leave the venue when the sound of shattering glass caught her attention.
Now, seeing the same waitress standing at the center of everyone’s attention, she couldn’t help feeling puzzled.
"What is this woman doing?" Hannah muttered softly.
She had no idea who Clara really was.
But for some reason...
She felt sorry for her.
She keeps ending up in trouble.
Meanwhile, on the stage, Helena’s expression darkened the moment she recognized Clara.
"Oh, not her again," she muttered.
Standing beside her, Alaric looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Helena leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"She’s the waitress I met earlier."
"The one who said you were looking for me."
Her irritation was obvious.
"I thought she was acting strangely back then. She kept hiding her face as if someone was chasing her."
She looked toward Clara again.
"Now it all makes sense."
Alaric frowned.
"But... I never spoke to her."
Helena blinked.
"What?"
"I never told anyone I was looking for you."
His answer caught her completely off guard.
"Then..." Helena said slowly, "why would she tell me that?"
Both of them turned toward Clara.
There she stood in the middle of the shattered glass, wearing the most awkward smile imaginable, looking as though she wished she could disappear on the spot.
Helena narrowed her eyes.
"...Who exactly are you?"
Meanwhile, Ruby’s patience was wearing dangerously thin.
She had been waiting for this moment for far too long. All she wanted was for the ceremony to proceed without another interruption.
Instead, everyone’s attention had shifted away from the stage.
Her jaw tightened.
"Why is everyone even paying attention to that waitress?" she snapped. "Just get rid of her already."
The irritation in her voice was impossible to miss.
Standing beside her, Maria gently patted her hand.
"Calm down, Ruby," she said reassuringly. "I’ll handle it."
Ruby nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
"Please do. I don’t want that woman ruining my wedding."
Maria gave her a reassuring smile before making her way toward the growing crowd.
Ruby tried to compose herself again, but something else quickly caught her attention.
Eric.
He wasn’t even looking at her.
His gaze kept drifting toward the guests, as though he were searching for someone.
Ruby frowned.
"Eric."
There was no response.
Her expression darkened.
"Eric."
This time, he blinked and turned to her.
"Hm?"
"Where do you keep looking?" Ruby asked, unable to hide the annoyance in her voice. "I’m your bride. At least look at me."
Eric visibly flinched.
"Oh... sorry."
He forced a smile, though it looked strained.
"I was just distracted."
Ruby studied him for a moment.
His smile never reached his eyes.
Something was clearly bothering him.
Before she could question him further, Maria had already reached the center of the hall.
Clara was still standing awkwardly among the shattered glass, smiling so stiffly that even Lily felt secondhand embarrassment.
Madam... please stop smiling.
You’re making it worse.
Maria stopped in front of Clara and crossed her arms.
"What exactly is wrong with you?" she demanded.
Clara blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"First you spill juice on a guest."
"Then you break a decorative display in the middle of a wedding."
Maria gestured toward the shattered glass.
"Do you have any idea how expensive this was?"
Clara rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"Actually... it wasn’t entirely—"
Maria cut her off.
"And why are you even standing here? Instead of apologizing, you’re smiling."
Clara’s smile instantly disappeared.
"I wasn’t smiling because I found this funny."
"No?"
"No." Clara sighed helplessly. "I smile when I’m nervous."
Lily nodded from the side.
"She really does."
Maria looked unconvinced.
"That doesn’t explain why you’re causing one problem after another."
Clara opened her mouth to answer, then hesitated.
She couldn’t exactly say, I was pushed into the glass display.
Without proof, it would sound like she was trying to avoid responsibility.
"I would’ve agreed with you..." Clara said with a small shrug. "If that were actually true."
Maria frowned.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Clara dusted a tiny piece of glass off her sleeve before looking Maria up and down. A faint, knowing smirk curved her lips.
"The thing is..." she said calmly, "I don’t usually go looking for trouble."
She paused just long enough to hold Maria’s gaze.
"Trouble has a habit of finding me."
Several people exchanged puzzled looks.
Maria folded her arms.
"And what exactly are you trying to imply?"
Clara tilted her head slightly.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean..."
Then, with an innocent smile, she added,
"...Maria."
The instant her name left Clara’s lips, Maria’s expression froze.