Female Novel
Chapter 294
Leonora gazed at Clara with a twinge of guilt in her eyes. "If you must blame someone, it's me. Iaccidentally let slip about your fertility issues. But I made it clear to him that the Hayes family don'tmind that. As long as Ian is happy, that's all that matters. Honestly, I didn't say anything else."
Hearing this, Rose slammed her hand on the coffee table, visibly upset. "Reed was alreadystruggling, Leonora. Talking about this stuff to him was like rubbing salt in his wounds. You startedthis mess, and if you don't make it right with Clara, you won't be forgiven—not by me, anyway! Teo,she's your wife. You decide what to do about it."
Teo's expression was stern, a clear indication that he was well aware of Leonora's motives. Hisgaze fell on Clara, his voice growing husky. "Clara, Reed left us in such a way because of Leonora,and that was wrong of her. I'll have her apologize at Reed's graveside, and I'll make sure to offersome kind of compensation to Reed's descendants. You won't bear the brunt of this. Is this anacceptable resolution for you? If you have any other demands, please feel free to voice them."
Teo, who usually carried himself with imperious aloofness, had never humbled himself like this foranyone. But facing Clara, he had no choice because he knew if this situation wasn't handledcorrectly, it would directly affect the relationship between the two newlyweds. If their marriage fellapart, Ian would lose the happiness he had just begun to grasp.
No matter how much Clara resented Leonora, she couldn't disrespect Rose and Teo—they hadalways been kind to her. However, with Leonora driving a wedge between her and Ian, theirrelationship was doomed to face constant turbulence.
Feeling helpless, Clara clenched her fingers, her voice catching in her throat.
"Grandma Rose, Uncle Teo, regardless of how this issue is settled, my grandpa will never comeback. We all know the real reason behind Leonora's actions. First, it was my dad getting kidnapped,and now it’s Grandpa Reed. The people close to me keep getting hurt because of me. I don't want
to be selfish. I want to use what little strength I have to protect them. So, thank you for acceptingme, but it seems Ian and I are not meant to be. Here, please take back these things. Let's considerthe engagement off."
Clara placed the diamond ring and the bracelet on her wrist, along with the credit card Teo hadgiven her, onto the coffee table. She then bowed respectfully to them and turned to leave.
Before she could take more than a few steps, Ian seized her wrist. His eyes were red-rimmed as helooked at her. "Clara, I don't agree. You promised to trust me."
Facing Ian's intense yet forlorn gaze, Clara's tears, long held back, finally escaped her control. Shebit her lip, her voice quivering. "Ian, I've tried for the sake of our relationship, but I can't exchangemy loved ones' lives for my love for you. We have to end this."
Without a word, Ian wrapped her in his arms, his voice laced with a plea. "Clara, I'll take care of thefamily issues. Please don’t break up with me—isn't my plea worth anything to you?"novelbin
His low, heartfelt entreaty made Clara's throat burn with pain. How could she bear to leave him? Yethe was still Leonora's son, and she didn't want to put him in the middle of this conflict.
If what Brodie said was true, and Leonora was indeed behind Casey's kidnapping, it showed thelengths she would go to. Leonora's goal was to keep Ian and Clara apart. If Clara persisted, whoknew what else might happen?