Chapter 5 The Masks of Truth

The morning was gentle, but a veil of uncertainty seemed to linger over the house. The conversations from the previous evening had left their mark. Clara, despite her revelations to Emma, still felt trapped in her thoughts. She knew the storm she had triggered would inevitably lead to a series of reactions.

Meanwhile, Lucas and Pierre had slipped away for a walk around the property. The two brothers shared a complex relationship. Lucas, the eldest, had always borne the weight of their parents' expectations on his shoulders, while Pierre, more relaxed and affable, seemed to navigate with ease in his brother's shadow. But today, the roles were reversed: Pierre, curious and slightly concerned, wanted to understand what was troubling Lucas.

- « You've been unusually quiet this morning, » Pierre remarked, walking beside his brother. « And I know it's not because of the wedding preparations. »

Lucas shrugged slightly, staring straight ahead.

- « Nothing important. »

Pierre smiled softly. He knew his brother too well to be fooled.

- « Lucas, I'm not Emma or Clara. I know when you're hiding something. »

Lucas stopped and let out a deep sigh, running a hand over his neck.

- « Let's just say... some memories I'd rather forget have come back to haunt me. »

Pierre crossed his arms, looking intrigued.

- « Does this have something to do with Clara? »

Lucas turned his head toward his brother, surprised.

- « How did you... ? »

- « Come on, » Pierre interrupted. « It's obvious. Ever since she arrived, you've looked like a man about to explode. So, what's really going on? »

Lucas remained silent for a moment, hesitating to reveal everything. But Pierre was his brother. If there was anyone who could understand, it was him.

- « Clara saw something years ago, » Lucas began. « Something I can't erase. And now, she holds me responsible. »

Pierre furrowed his brow.

- « What exactly? »

Lucas lowered his eyes, ashamed.

- « She saw me kiss another woman. »

A silence settled, broken only by the distant singing of birds. Pierre, initially incredulous, eventually shook his head with a touch of exasperation.

- « Lucas, seriously? That's why she left? »

- « Yes, » Lucas replied, his voice filled with regret. « And I can't blame her. »

Pierre placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, searching for the right words.

- « Listen, I'm not going to judge you. But you have to understand that you can't run from your mistakes forever. If you really want to fix things with Clara, you need to be honest with her. »

Lucas nodded slowly, but a shadow crossed his face.

- « It's not just that, Pierre. Our parents never truly accepted Clara. They thought she wasn't 'good enough' for me. »

Pierre pressed his lips together, visibly annoyed.

- « That again? They never understood that money and status don't define a person. »

Lucas sighed.

- « They have their own perspective. To them, Clara was a distraction, an obstacle to my responsibilities toward the family business. »

Pierre laughed bitterly.

- « The family business... Always that damn business. You know what? Sometimes I wonder if our parents realize how much their expectations weigh on us. »

Lucas and Pierre's parents, owners of one of the largest companies in the region, were influential but distant figures. Their family empire, centered in another city, had shaped their lives but also imposed considerable pressures on the two brothers. Emma, despite her natural curiosity, was unaware of this reality. Clara, on the other hand, had never been accepted by these demanding figures.

Pierre continued, his expression serious.

- « And Emma? She doesn't know anything about this, does she? »

Lucas shook his head.

- « No. To her, our parents are just expected guests at the wedding. »

- « And Clara? » Pierre asked.

- « Clara knows they didn't appreciate her, » Lucas admitted. « But she doesn't know the extent of their opinions. »

Pierre let out a deep sigh.

- « Maybe it's time to clear the air, Lucas. Not just with Clara, but with Emma too. They deserve to know. »

Lucas remained silent, the weight of his decisions heavy on his shoulders. He knew Pierre was right, but the truth seemed terrifying.

Meanwhile, Emma was in the living room, lost in her thoughts. Clara's words played in a loop in her mind. She couldn't ignore what she had learned, but she didn't know how to address it with Lucas. Finally, she stood up, determined to get answers.

She found Lucas in the garden, sitting on a bench, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Hesitant, she approached him slowly.

- « Lucas, » she said softly.

He looked up at her, surprised.

- « Emma. Are you alright? »

Emma nodded her head, but her serious expression betrayed her true emotions.

- « I need to talk to you. About Clara. »

Lucas straightened slightly, ready to listen.

- « I'm listening. »

Emma took a deep breath before asking her question.

- « She told me something yesterday. She told me that she saw you kissing another woman ten years ago. Is it true? »

Lucas closed his eyes for a moment, guilt visible on his face.

- « Yes, it's true. But it's not what you think, Emma. »

Emma crossed her arms, skeptical.

- « Then explain. Because right now, it looks a lot like betrayal. »

Lucas ran a hand over his face, searching for the right words.

- « It was... complicated. Back then, I was going through a tough time. I was lost, and that woman was... a distraction. But I never stopped loving Clara. »

Emma remained silent, her piercing gaze fixed on him.

- « You were lost? That's all you've got as an excuse? Do you realize what you did, Lucas? You broke Clara. And now, you're trying to minimize your actions. »

Lucas lowered his head, unable to respond.

Emma continued, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

- « Clara kept this from me for years so as not to hurt me. She carried this burden alone, while it was you who were in the wrong. »

Emma shook her head, disappointment written all over her face.

- « Maybe you can't. Clara loved you, Lucas. And you betrayed her. That's not something that can be easily fixed. »

Lucas remained silent, absorbing his sister's words. He knew she was right, but he couldn't give up on Clara. Not yet.

In another room, Pierre observed the scene from afar. He knew that the days to come would be decisive, not only for Lucas and Clara but also for their family. And he was ready to support his brother, no matter what.

In Clara's Perspective

Clara sat alone in her room, her gaze lost in the void. The conversation with Emma played on repeat in her mind, each word echoing painfully. She had finally revealed part of the truth, but it wasn't enough to soothe her heart. She felt vulnerable, exposed, as if she had opened a door she would never be able to close again.

She got up and walked over to the window, looking down at the garden below. Memories of Lucas and that woman in the park came flooding back, brutal and insistent. She recalled the pain she felt that day, a pain she had tried to repress for years. But now, everything had resurfaced, and she didn't know how to handle the storm inside her.

Clara placed a hand on the cold glass, her gaze drifting into the horizon. She wondered if she had made the right choice in coming back here. Perhaps she should have stayed away, continued running. But part of her knew she couldn't run forever. She had to face her past, even if it meant reliving wounds she had tried to forget.

She thought of Emma, their friendship, everything they had shared. Emma had been her pillar, her support, the one who had helped her through the darkest moments of her life. And now, Clara felt like she was betraying that friendship by revealing a truth that could change everything.

But it wasn't just about Emma. It was about Lucas. Clara wondered if she could ever forgive him. She thought about his words, his promises, everything they had shared. And yet, he had broken it all in an instant. How could she trust him again? How could she believe in his apologies, in his regrets?

Clara closed her eyes, letting a tear roll down her cheek. She knew she needed to be strong, but she felt so fragile. She wanted to move forward, but she didn't know how. And in this confusion, she felt lost, like a child searching for their way in the dark.

In Lucas's Perspective

Lucas sat on the bench in the garden, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped. He stared at the ground, lost in thought. The conversation with Emma had shaken him. He knew he had made a mistake, but hearing Clara's words through Emma had reopened a wound he had tried to ignore for years.

He remembered that day in the park, that moment when he had let his doubts and insecurities take over. That kiss, that woman-it had never meant anything to him. It was a mistake, a distraction, but he knew that didn't excuse anything. He had betrayed Clara, and now he was paying the price.

Lucas ran a hand over his face, frustrated. He wanted to make things right, but he didn't know how. Clara was so distant, so cold, and he couldn't blame her. He knew he had broken something in her, something he might never be able to rebuild.

He thought about Pierre, their parents, and everything they expected of him. The family business had always been a source of pressure, a responsibility he couldn't ignore. And Clara, with her gentleness, her authenticity, had been a refuge for him, an escape from that world of duties and expectations. But his parents had never accepted Clara. To them, she wasn't good enough, not strong enough, not wealthy enough. And Lucas, despite his love for her, had let those opinions influence his actions.

He stood and walked over to the garden fence, gazing into the distance. He knew he needed to talk to Clara, to explain, to show her that he was sincere. But he was afraid. Afraid she wouldn't believe him, afraid she would reject him. And yet, he couldn't give up. He had to try, for her, for them.

Lucas took a deep breath, searching for the strength to keep going. He knew the road would be difficult, but he was willing to do whatever it took to regain Clara's trust. Because despite everything, he loved her. And he couldn't imagine his life without her.