Female Novel
Chapter 264
When he heared the words, Edwin’s dark eyes sparked with intensity. “Where is she?”
“We haven’t pinned down her location yet, but we found a picture of a little girl taken by a reporterduring a dance recital,” came the response.
“Send me the picture, now,” Edwin urged. His voice was laced with impatience.
A notification from WhatsApp buzzed on his phone, and he tapped it open. His eyes were instantlyblazing with a mix of shock and recognition.novelbin
The birthmark on the girl in the photo was eerily similar to the one his mother bore. It was perfectlysituated on the girl’s beautiful shoulder blades.
The photo captured only her silhouette. Her face was obscured, but the girl’s graceful posture wasundeniable – a slender waist, long legs, and the elegant curve of a neck glistening with beads ofsweat.
A satisfied smile played at the corners of Edwin’s lips.bIf this was indeed his sister, she seemed tobe living a life of grace and poise.
He quickly instructed his companion to continue the search for the girl. A beacon of hope was nowilluminating their once directionless quest.
Suddenly, Heidi burst into the room. Her entrance was as abrupt as a summer storm. She snatchedthe phone from Edwin’s hand, her face a mask of sorrow and reproach. “Edwin, they’re all pickingon me, and you won’t even defend me. Not even grandma takes my side. Doesn’t anyone love meanymore?”
As she wept, her eyes accidentally caught a glimpse of the photo on Edwin’s phone. Her heartskipped a beat. Had her brother already found a clue?
A flash of coldness flickered in her eyes, swiftly veiled by her tears. Pretending to have seennothing, she clung to Edwin’s arm, playing the victim.
“Why is it that Ian can accept Clara despite her inability to have children, but he rejects me andhumiliates me in front of everyone? I’m so embarrassed.”
Edwin was unmoved by her wailing. His expression was one of disdain. “Isn’t this all your owndoing? You know exactly what kind of man Ian is. If it weren’t for my and his friendship, do you thinkyou could have deceived him for three years and still be okay?”
Her argument deflated like a punctured balloon. Heidi hung her head in forlorn silence, with tearsstreaming down her face.
“Enough. I’ll have someone drive you home. Don’t embarrass me any further,” Edwin said,unceremoniously dismissing her with a wave of his hand as a driver escorted Heidi away.
The birthday banquet was still underway when Ian, seizing an excuse, took Clara and left early.
Throughout the journey, Clara pretended to sleep. Her eyes were firmly shut, but the fluttering of herlashes betrayed her pretense. Ian didn’t call her out on it. His warm palm securely held her smallhand, feeling the chill of her fingertips and the tremble of her heart.
With a tenderness that ached, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered huskily by her ear, “I’msorry, Clara.”
His neglect had inadvertently caused her to endure such pain, and he couldn’t bear to think of theburden she carried alone. He had thought his absence during her near-fatal hemorrhage was theworst blow, but now he realized the depth of her wounds went far deeper.
When he remembered his past harsh words, and the weight she bore in silence, Ian’s eyesmoistened, and his throat was tight with emotion.
His breath, warm and shaky, caressed Clara’s ear as he kissed it gently. “Clara, why didn’t you tellme? Why bear this all alone? Do you have any idea how much it breaks my heart to hear thisnews?”
A hot tear landed on Clara’s cheek, prompting her eyes to fly open. She met Ian’s gaze. His facewas etched with grief. She felt as if a thorn had pricked her heart. Her own tears followed, and hervoice was choked with emotion.
“Ian, I didn’t mean to deceive you. I thought the herbal treatments would help, but the doctor saidthere’s been no improvement. She mentioned this isn’t something that can be resolved overnight.”