It was a Friday night, the diner was filled with office workers trying to forget their week in cheap fries and coffee. I was balancing plates on one arm when the door swung open and silence filled the room.

She walked in like she owned the air itself. Her heels clicked sharply against the tiles, her diamond earrings caught the neon light. Her hair was sleek, her lips painted a perfect red that spoke of money and power.

It was Victoria Mogul.

I recognised her from magazines, images from charity galas in wealthy society pages. She didn't need an introduction. And when her eyes found me,they were cold and sharp, my stomach twisted immediately with fear.

"Clara Evans?" she said, her voice was smooth but cruel, and it kept echoing across the diner.

Every head turned. My hands shook as I placed the plates on the table, forcing a smile I didn't feel. "Yes, ma'am. How can I help you?"

She walked to the table, her heels sounding like a bomb timer. "You can help me by staying away from my son."

A loud silence fell. Even the musicbox's broken tune seemed to fade.

I swallowed hard, my throat went dry. "I'm sorry?"

Her eyes looked at me harder, her lips curled into a wicked look and a smile.

"Don't play innocent. Mark may be foolish enough to waste his time here, but I am not. You're a waitress, a single mother living on garbage. You don't belong anywhere near him."

My face went white as whispers rose in the diner. I felt naked, my struggles was exposed to strangers who had always pitied me quietly but never said it aloud.

"I didn't ask him to come here," I whispered, my voice still trembling.

"No, but you didn't stop him either," she snapped at me immediately.

She walked closer to me, her perfume choking me. I was finding it hard to breathe.

"Listen to me carefully, Clara. Whatever fantasy you're building in that head of yours, it ends now. My son will marry a woman of his calibre. Not some poor waitress with an imbecile child weighing her down."

Her words cut deeper than knife. "Not some poor waitress with an imbecile child."

She had turned Lily, my perfectly healthy Lily into an imbecile .

I held the table tightly, forcing myself not to cry. I would not give her the satisfaction.

"I think you should leave," I said, my voice breaking but steady enough to speak.

She laughed very coldly. "Or what? You'll throw me out? This is just a stop on my way home, Clara. But you, this is your whole life. You don't get to choose. You don't get to dream. Remember that."

She didn't wait for my response. She slammed the door as she went out angrily.

I was so shocked that I couldn't move. All eyes in the diner were on me, shame covered me. I wanted to enter the floor, to run out into the night, to hide from the whispers I could hear around me.

I heard Lily's voice in my head, her small, tiny voice asking me, "Mummy, will we ever be happy like the people in movies?"

I fought back tears and forced myself to keep moving, to serve, to smile, to pretend like nothing happened.

When all the customers left, I sank into a chair, with my heart feeling like a sledge hammer was driven into it. I wasn't able to explain my pain.

I buried my face in my hands, my chest rising and falling from my cries..

That was how Mark found me.

He came in late but when he saw me, his face changed instantly.

"Clara?" He rushed to me, kneeling beside the chair I was sitting it. "What happened?"

I shook my head, wiping my tears quickly. "Nothing. Just tired."

"Don't lie to me," he didn't believe me, his hand gently touching mine. His eyes looked into mine. When I couldn't hold back anymore, the truth spilled out.

"Your mother came here," I whispered in tears. "She told me to stay away from you. She said Lily was an imbecile.." My voice choked on the word.

I saw anger flash in his eyes immediately. "She did what?"

I nodded, biting my lip so I wouldn't start crying again. "She's right, Mark. You don't belong here. You have a whole life ahead of you, a family empire to run. Why are you even here?'' My voice was loud with frustration and tears.

I realized I was yelling at him so I lowered my voice. "Leave me alone, Mark. I am just a waitress"

"Don't you dare say that!," he snapped, his voice shaking with anger. "Don't you dare belittle yourself like that. You're more than enough, Clara. You're more than anyone I've ever met."

"Mark, listen to me," I said, my hands shaking as I held his. "If you fight them because of me, you'll lose everything. Your parents won't forgive you. They'll destroy me, they'll destroy Lily, just to prove their point. I can't let that happen."

He shook his head and pulled me closer. "Let them try. I don't care about the money, or the empire, or their plans for me. I care about you."

Hot tears ran down my cheeks. His eyes were so intense, so desperate, like he was drowning and I was the only thing keeping him afloat.

"I don't know if I'm strong enough for this," I whispered to his ears as my tear stained face rested on his shoulders.

"You don't have to be strong alone," he said softly, his forehead resting against mine this time. "Let me fight with you. Let me fight for you."

My heart was beating painfully in my chest. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to fall into his arms and never let go. But his world was wicked, his family was powerful. And I had more to lose than just myself.

I had Lily.

My thoughts ceased when he suddenly kissed me, right there in the empty diner. His lips were soft and they passionately melted into mine.

Chapter 3 The Mogul's Family Wrath

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