Chapter 2

As expected, one morning soon after that day, Jerald knelt before Clara.

He showed a few faint scars on his chest that hadn't faded in a casual white shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

He got them when he protected her from stabbing by a knife years ago.

Clara sneered, knowing that he'd show these scars to garner her sympathy every time he had made a mistake.

"Clara, I was wrong." He looked up at her with his eyes full of vulnerability. "Cecilia... Cecilia is pregnant. My father unexpectedly knew it and insists that the child must be kept."

Clara responded nonchalantly, "OK."

Jerald reached out, trying to take Clara's hand, but stopped midway. "Clara, I know this is unfair to you, but I... I can't let our family's business fall into the hands of outsiders.

You're not in good health, and I can't bear the thought of you going through pregnancy. Let's have Cecilia give birth to the child. And once she does, I'll send her away with a substantial sum of money and tell her to disappear.

This child... this child will be ours, alright?"

He added, "I know how much this hurts you. I'm worried about you, too. Trust me, you're the only one in my heart."

Clara looked at Jerald kneeling on the floor. This man, a CEO whom many were fearful of, now begging her for forgiveness like a child.

She chuckled softly and asked, "Jerald, are you sure this is what you want to do?"

Jerald was taken aback and frowned slightly with a hint of displeasure. "Clara, I have no other option. It was just an accident. If I hadn't been drugged, how could I have slept with her? Moreover, I can't just stand by and let anyone take away the Lucas family's century-old business to which my father has dedicated for his whole life. I need this child to stabilize the situation. You understand me, right... ?"

"Sure." Clara interrupted him, "Then let her have the baby."

Jerald looked up abruptly, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. "Clara, you'll agree?"

Clara didn't look at him. She merely replied, "Mm," then turned to walk upstairs.

Jerald stood up and sighed in relief when watching her walking upstairs. He quickly followed to hold her, but she gently avoided his touch.

He paused and did not step forward again.

After returning to her room, Clara pulled out her phone and finally dialed a number she knew by heart.

The call was answered after three rings, and spoke a man surprisingly, "Clara? Have you finally made up your mind?"

Clara's eyes were brimmed with tears. But she forced herself to hold her tears.

Mathew Rernald, Clara's brother, said in a tone filled with joy but little surprise.

She went missing when she was a child. And when her brother found her again, she was already married to Jerald.

She hadn't figured out how to confess her true identity to Jerald then suddenly appeared Cecilia. Now, she realized there was no need to confess anything to him.

After taking a deep breath, Clara said, "Mathew, I've made up my mind. I want to come home."

There was a brief silence on the other end. Then Mathew's voice, choked with emotion, came through, "It's good that you're coming back..."

He paused and spoke with a deeper voice, "Did Jerald hurt you? Clara, just tell me."

Though Clara had already downplayed the pain and grievances she had recently, there was a moment of silence on the other end.

Then Mathew said with concern, "Sure, whatever you say.

But remember, you are a member of the Rernald family. No matter what happens, our family stands strong."

Clara felt her nose tingled and couldn't hold back her tears any longer, "I know."

After hanging up, Clara looked at the phone screen displaying a photo of her and Jerald. It was taken on their third wedding anniversary, in which he was holding her.

She fondled his face in the photo, with tears dropping onto the screen.

At the dinner, the warm light cast a glow over the plates, and the steak gleamed with grease.

Clara cut a small piece of steak and ate it with a fork. However it tasted hard and insipid.

Outside, darkness had fallen, and raindrops began to hit the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Jerald's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered in a softened tone, "Hello?"

A woman's fragmented sobs came from the other end, "Jerald... My stomach hurts... It's raining so hard outside, I'm scared... "

Jerald frowned then instinctively looking at Clara, looking troubled.

Clara lifted her eyes to meet Jerald's. A smile unexpectedly played on her lips. "You go."

Jerald paused and exhaled a sigh of relief. He stood up, trying kiss her on her forehead.

Clara slightly tilted her head, causing the kiss to land on the top of her head.

Jerald stiffened. He whispered, "Clara, I'm sorry. I'll be back as soon as I settle this."