LOGINClara’s POVThe drive back to the hospital was quiet. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still gray, like it was grieving with us.Maurice sat between Damon and me in the back seat. His little hand stayed wrapped around mine the whole way. He hadn’t said much since the funeral, and I didn’t ask him to. Even a child needs time to deal with so much pain.“You okay, buddy?” Damon asked gently, looking at him in the rearview mirror.Maurice gave a small nod. He didn’t say a word. He just kept looking out the window as the city passed by.I gave his hand a gentle squeeze.When we reached the hospital, we checked him in, and a nurse took us to his room. It was the same room he had stayed in before. It still smelled faintly of antiseptic and crayons from all the pictures he used to draw there.Maurice climbed into bed, looking exhausted. I pulled the blanket over him and brushed his hair away from his forehead.“You’re safe now,” I whispered. “No one is going to take you away again. I pro
Clara’s POVThe nurse led Damon and me into the recovery room. Anita lay in the bed, pale but breathing, her chest rising and falling steadily with each soft beep of the monitor beside her.She’s alive, I thought. She’s really alive.I walked toward the bed and gently took her hand in mine.“Anita,” I whispered. “It’s me. I’m here.”Her eyes fluttered slightly, but she didn’t wake. The nurse moved around the bed, checking the IV line carefully.“She’s stable,” the nurse said. “The doctor said she’s going to be fine. She just needs rest now.”“Thank you,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for saving her.”“She’s a fighter,” the nurse said with a small smile.I smiled through my tears, pulling a chair close to the bed and sitting down without letting go of Anita’s hand.“I’m not leaving her side,” I said.Damon stood behind me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder.“I told you,” he said softly. “She’s strong.”I nodded, watching Anita’s face, grateful beyond words that s
Leonard’s POVThe handcuffs bit into my wrists as the officers dragged me from the altar. My face was white, my brain working so fast it wouldn’t slow down to process anything except for one thing.This can’t be happening. Clara did this. This bitch ruined everything. She and that asshole Damon.I looked over towards her. She was standing there with Maurice in her arms, looking at me with pure hatred in her eyes.My chest was burning with rage.If I can’t have her, no one will, I thought. I should’ve shot him the very first time I saw him standing next to her. Shot him right in his fucking head.“Leonard Grayson,” one of the officers said coolly. “You are under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder.”I remained silent, continuing to look at Clara as they dragged me away from the room.She’ll pay for this, I thought. They’ll all pay. I’ll make sure of it even if it means I rot in a jail cell for the rest of my life.They led me outside and threw me into the back of the p
Clara’s POVI moved forward slowly with my hands raised. My heart was beating so fast, but I forced myself to stay calm.“Let her go, Leonard,” I said. “Take me instead.”He looked at me for a long moment. I could see him thinking about it.“You’d give yourself up for her?” he asked.“She did the same for me,” I replied. “Now it’s my turn.”He didn’t answer right away. Anita looked at me with fear in her eyes.“Clara, no,” she whispered. “Please don’t do this.”“It’s okay, Anita,” I said softly. “I’ll be okay.”Leonard lowered the gun a little and nodded at me.“Come here,” he said. “Slowly.”“Put the gun away first.” I said quietly.“You don't have a say in what I do or not.”“You're scaring me Leo. Please just put it away.”“Are you coming or not?” He said putting his finger on the trigger this time.“Fine, fine I will.”I walked toward him. My legs were shaking, but I kept going. I couldn’t stop now.When I got close, Leonard reached out with his free hand.Then Anita made her move
Leonard’s POVI stood at the altar with my head held high. Pride filled my chest as I looked around the church. It looked just the way I wanted. White and gold flowers decorated every row, and every seat was filled with guests. They had all come to watch me finally get what I wanted.I looked around one last time, searching the crowd for Damon.He wasn’t there.A small smile crossed my face.He couldn’t even stay to watch me marry her. That was just like Damon. Always running away.The big doors of the church opened and Clara was right at the entrance looking stunning in her white dress. I had dreamed of this day for a long time and I still couldn't believe it was already happening.All the guests stood in honor as she slowly approached the altar.The diamonds on her dress gleamed under the light coming in through the window. I had picked out the wedding gown by myself because I wanted her to look the way she does right now. A feeling I could best describe as bliss filled my body as
Clara’s POVI sat inside the closet and listened attentively. The whole house was silent.The coast was clear.I opened the closet door very carefully and looked around the empty bedroom. My hands trembled as I stood up. I was still dressed in the simple outfit that Anita provided me before getting into the wedding dress. The small paper with the address was still in my hand.I opened the bedroom door quietly and stepped outside carefully. Then I moved silently down the stairs until I heard Marcus and Victor whispering somewhere in the living room.I held my breath and continued moving forward till the back door. I turned the doorknob carefully.It was unlocked.I went out and inhaled the fresh morning air.I’m out. I made it.I began running without looking back.After reaching the main road, my chest was aching from the run and my legs felt numb. I waved at a taxi and waited until it stopped.“Where to, ma’am?” the driver asked.I handed the paper to him. “Please, take me here.”He
Damon’s POV My words hung in the air, but for some reason Camilla didn’t look surprised— at least not the way I had expected.She let out a soft breath, the wooden spoon in her hand paused mid-air. Her gaze locked with mine, her expression guarded and unreadable like there was something waiting t
Clara’s POV Mr Salvador turned to face me fully. “Mr Damon stepped out to—” He paused as Maurice mistakenly dropped his spoon to the floor, which produced a clattering sound. Salvador and I turned to him as he clutched onto his food flask. “Sorry,” he whispered softly and lowered his face to the
Damon’s POV My fingers tightened around the phone as his words echoed in my head. The secret your wife has been keeping from you? For a moment, I said nothing, my mind struggling to catch up with what I had just heard. “Secret? What the hell are you talking about?” I finally demanded, my voi
Damon’s POV “You’re pathetic,” Camilla spat again, her eyes blazing. “I always knew there was something between the two of you.”“It’s not what you think—” “Shut up, Damon,” she cut in sharply. “Why were you trying to kiss her in that elevator?” Seconds dragged. I said nothing. She let out a h







