Chapter 2 Luxury Gift

CLARA'S POV.

I sat at the end of the bed, still wearing the white wedding dress that felt too luxurious for the reality that had just unfolded.

Outside, the sound of guests slowly dispersing begins to fade. Part of me wishes it would never go away, because the silence in this room feels like a noose ready to shut me up.

Lucas stands by the window, his back to me. He undoes his bow tie with a casual gesture, as if he doesn't feel burdened by this marriage.

"I know you're not Cassandra," he said suddenly, his voice flat yet sharp.

I froze, my hands clenched into fists above the skirt of my dress. My heart was pounding, but

I tried hard to keep a calm expression.

"What do you mean, who am I?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly despite my efforts to sound firm.

He turned around, his face expressionless.

"Don't lie, Clara," he said, emphasizing my name.

Instantly I flinched stiffly. Wait, how did he know my name?

"Do you think I don't find out about my partner's character? I know everything," Lucas said once again, this time smirking.

Really, now I feel like an idiot. He didn't say anything at all at our wedding.

If he really knew I wasn't Cassandra, why didn't he cancel the arranged marriage?

"Cassandra ran away, right?" Lucas asked. He walked over to me, then suddenly grabbed my chin.

I flinched slightly, but I couldn't get my face away from his. For a few seconds, he watched me intensely, as if he was looking for something on my face.

"Cassandra doesn't have a birthmark near her jaw, whereas you do," Lucas said as he pressed my jaw area with his thumb.

Suddenly, I pushed away his hand that was gripping my chin. I suddenly panicked and hid my jaw area from his sight.

While Lucas was laughing-salaciously, he sounded like he was laughing at me. Now I felt really stupid. How could he have pretended to smile at the altar earlier?

"If you knew I wasn't Cassandra, why didn't you call off the wedding?" I asked.

Lucas took a breath, then exhaled. For a moment he looked off in a random direction as if he was thinking about something.

"I know your family is almost bankrupt. I did you a favor," Lucas said.

I laughed sarcastically. "As if our family can only get money from your family," I replied a little exasperated.

"Isn't that so?" Lucas sounded sarcastic. "You have no hope other than this arranged marriage. Your father, Mr. Willson, only thinks about how to keep the company going."

What he said was the truth. But somehow it sounded painful to me.

"So, what do you want?" I asked. "I'm sure that's not the only reason you're going through with this marriage."

I noticed the thoughtful look on Lucas's face. Even so, I realized his lopsided smile implied that he was already planning something.

"I'm not going to pretend that this is an ideal marriage," he said quietly, but there was a cold tone in his voice.

"You may have your own reasons for pretending to be Cassandra, but I have plans too. So, how about we just make a pact?"

I looked up, staring into his sharp, hawk-like eyes.

"An agreement?"

"A marriage contract," he replied without hesitation. "I'll keep the family name, and you'll get protection. But don't expect me to be a loving husband, Clara."

My name escaped his lips in a tone that somehow sent chills down my spine. I tried to read his expression, looking for an opening, but his face remained like an impenetrable wall.

"And if I refuse?" I asked quietly.

Lucas smiled faintly, a smile that looked more like a threat than sympathy.

"You know the answer. Everything will fall apart. For you. For me. For everyone you're trying to protect."

I swallowed, my stomach feeling like it was being churned. Did I really have a choice?

I stared at Lucas with mixed feelings-anger, confusion, and, somehow, a little fear. His words were still echoing in my head.

The marriage contract.

It was like a nightmare that suddenly came true in the middle of what was supposed to be the most beautiful moment of my life.

Lucas stood in front of me, tall and sturdy like an indestructible wall. His dark eyes stared at me emotionlessly, like a judge who had just decided the fate of his defendant.

"You seriously want to make this marriage a contract?" I asked finally, my voice sounding sharper.

He nodded, without a hint of hesitation. "I've never been more serious than this."

I stood up from my seat, trying to match his height even though I knew it was futile.

"Lucas, marriage shouldn't be about contracts. It's about... love, trust, supporting each other."

I sounded like I was quoting cheesy romance books, but I didn't care.

Lucas snorted softly, like I'd just said something ridiculous.

"Love and trust?" he asked sarcastically. "You really think that applies to us, Clara? You even entered into this marriage with a lie."

His words stabbed like daggers, but I showed no reaction. I must not give her a reason to feel victorious.

"I have my reasons," I said quietly but firmly.

He nodded again, this time with a little more understanding.

"And I have my reasons too, Clara. This marriage is not about love or happy dreams. It's about a win-win deal. You get what you want, and I get what I need."

I folded my arms across my chest, looking at him probingly.

"And what do you need, Lucas?"

He approaches, his steps slow but confident. I backed away reflexively, but he kept enough distance to make me feel cornered. "I need a wife," he said, his tone softer now. "But I don't need someone who will mess things up with... unnecessary emotions."

"So you want me to be a doll, is that it?" I challenged.

She smiled faintly, almost like a joke. "I want you to be an ally. That's all."

I paused, trying to digest what he was saying. There was something in his voice that made me feel that this wasn't just about him. That there was a burden he was carrying, something he wasn't telling me.

"Fine," I finally said, sighing heavily. "But if you want me to agree to this contract, I have conditions."

Lucas raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Oh? What's that?"

"We can't hide anything anymore," I said, making sure every word came out clearly. "If this is about cooperation, then we have to be honest with each other."

Lucas chuckled, but his laughter wasn't warm. "How ironic, coming from you pretending to be someone else."

I didn't answer. I knew he was right, but that didn't mean I was going to let him win.

She sighed softly, as if considering something. Then she said, "Alright, I agree. But I also have a condition."

I waited, trying to guess what she would say.

"This contract must be kept secret," she said finally. "No one should know, including your family. Let alone the media."

I frowned. "Why? Isn't this just an agreement?"

He looked at me with eyes that were hard to read. "Because the world doesn't need to know that this marriage is just a game. You know how people will react. They'll look for loopholes, and I don't have time for that."

I nodded slowly. I knew she was right. The world wouldn't understand, and I didn't have the energy to deal with the accusations or gossip that would inevitably arise.

"Fine," I said finally. "But I have one last question."

Lucas crossed his arms over his chest, waiting.

"If you knew I wasn't Cassandra, why did you marry me anyway?" I asked, looking directly into his eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Because you're the only person crazy enough to stick by my side," she says. "And, Clara, I need someone crazy to live this life with me."

"I'll buy a building for you to own your business. This is the Purchase Agreement and Sale Deed of Property."

Now I know why everyone thinks Lucas is crazy. This wasn't something I expected. I had never gotten a property purchase deed, and this property was given to me!

"This... property purchase deed?" I asked, confused. I read the name on it, the location, and the price attached. It wasn't a small number-the amount was enough to make anyone surprised. "And this deed of sale is... in my name?"

Lucas nodded, his face as calm as ever. As if what I had just seen wasn't something out of the ordinary.

"Lucas, what's this all about?" I looked up, trying to find the answer in his eyes, but he just smiled a small smile, full of mystery.

He gets up from his chair, walks over, then sits on the edge of the table directly in front of me. "I know you like fashion, Clara," he says finally, his voice soft yet firm. "I've been looking into it-about what you liked, what you dreamed of before all this happened. And I thought, instead of you continuing to live with the feeling of being trapped, why not give you something that could be completely yours?"

I looked at her in confusion. "You mean... a boutique?"

She nodded. "The property is located in a great location. I've talked to a few consultants and made sure everything is in order. I want you to have a business that you can build from scratch. I'll provide the initial investment-"

"Lucas," I cut in, my voice almost a whisper. "This is too big. I don't even know if I can run it yet. And why are you doing this?"

He looked at me, and for a moment, I saw something behind his face that was always hard to guess. Maybe it was warmth, maybe it was hope, or maybe it was something that even she herself wasn't fully aware of.

"Because I want you to have something that is truly yours," she said finally. "I know our marriage is not something ordinary. I know you feel like it's just a deal. But I want you to know, Clara, that I have no intention of making you feel trapped. I want you to have the freedom to do something you love."

I paused, trying to digest his words. All this time, I thought Lucas only saw me as part of his plan, a tool to maintain his image in the eyes of the world. But tonight, he showed me a side I never expected.

"I don't know what to say," I whisper.

She smiled a small smile. "You don't have to say anything. Take some time to think about this. If you don't want to run the boutique, it doesn't matter. The property is still yours."

I stared at him, still in disbelief. "Lucas... thank you. This is... amazing. But I don't know how to start this business."

Lucas stood by the large window of his office, his back to the dim city lights that looked like a sea of stars. His back was straight, his hands tucked into his pants pockets, creating the perfect silhouette of a man who looked unflappable. However, when he spoke, there was a different tone in his voice-one I had never heard before.

"You know, Clara," he said without turning around. "I don't understand why you're so hesitant. You have everything you need to succeed."

I sat down on the couch, hugging the small pillow in my lap. "I doubt it because I'm not sure I can do it," I answered honestly. "I don't even know where to start."

Lucas finally turned around, looking at me with his deep, dark eyes. There was something there that made it hard for me to look away-it was as if he could see right into my mind, into my fears and doubts. He stepped closer, slowly, like a predator who knew his quarry wouldn't run away.

"Clara," he said, his voice low and almost a whisper. "You've been through far worse than just starting a business. You survived a man who treated you like you were nothing. You survived his betrayal, all the scars he left behind."

I averted my eyes, feeling heat on my cheeks. Hearing Lucas bring up my past with Ethan always made my heart feel tight, but this time there was something different. There was an intensity in his eyes, in his tone, that I couldn't ignore.

"Lucas, I don't want my life to be about... revenge," I finally said.

He chuckles, but his laugh isn't cold like it usually is. This time, his laughter was warm, almost like encouragement. "It's not just about revenge, Clara. It's about proving to the world-and to yourself-that you're more than he ever imagined. You have the power, the vision, and the ability to create something extraordinary."

She sat next to me, close enough that I could feel her body heat. His hand reached out, picked up the envelope on the table, and placed it on my lap.

"This property," he said, his voice growing softer, "is the beginning. This boutique will be the place where you can rebuild everything. I don't just want you to succeed, Clara. I want you to show Ethan, and everyone who has ever underestimated you, that they were wrong."

I stare at him, trying to look for signs of manipulation or hidden agendas, but all I see is honesty. Lucas is a man of secrets, but tonight, I feel a sincerity that he rarely shows.

"I don't know if I can," I whispered, my voice almost lost in the air.

He lifted my chin gently, forcing me to look into his eyes. "You can, Clara. I know you can. And I'll be by your side to make sure that happens."

My chest felt tight with sudden emotion. Something had changed between us tonight, something I couldn't explain. She wasn't just offering help or support; she was offering her faith, something I'd never gotten from anyone else before.

"What's in it for you?" I asked, trying to mask my nervousness with sarcasm.

He smiled a little, but his smile this time wasn't full of cynicism like usual. "What's in it for me? I get the satisfaction of seeing my wife become more than what others think she is."

His words hit me like a huge wave. For the first time, I felt Lucas wasn't just talking about a business deal or a contract marriage. He was talking about me, about the real Clara, and it made something inside me tremble.

"Fine," I said finally, my voice stronger than I expected. "I'll do it. I will build this boutique, and I will succeed."

Lucas smiled widely, a smile that, for a moment, almost seemed genuine. He leaned back against the sofa, looking at me with eyes that shone with satisfaction. "That's the wife I want," he said, his voice full of conviction.

And for the first time in a long time, I felt that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't alone.