Chapter 3

Clara’s POV

They both flinched the moment my voice pierced through the silence of the room.

Damon quickly got up, guilt flashing across his eyes, but it vanished instantly as it came.

“You’re back,” he said firmly, his voice dismissive.

Camilla, on the other hand, didn’t have any atom of shame. She hissed and rolled her eyes, staring at me as though I were the enemy.

“What’s happening here?” I demanded through gritted teeth, but this time a bit calmer.

Damon shrugged, settling back on the couch. “What do you mean?” he snapped, his voice sharp and irritating. “You should be happy—your sister is taking care of your sexual responsibilities.”

My stomach dropped, his words irritating. “Was she the one you were with the night of our anniversary? I was in a coma for a whole month, Damon. Did you come to visit me?” I asked, sniffling and holding back my tears, as he wasn’t deserving of them.

Slowly, I turned to Camilla, my chest burning with rage as I glared at her.

We didn’t have the best of relationships, but sleeping with my husband was completely out of line.

“I thought you were my sister, Camilla. Why would you stoop so low as to sleep with my husband?”

She hissed, letting out a dry laugh. “He was always mine, Clara,” she spat, her words dripping with venom. “You were the one who snatched him from me, and now I have gotten him back,” she added, rubbing his chest.

“Now you’re crippled, you’re of no use to him. You couldn’t give him a child then, what makes you think you can—”

“How dare you!” I interjected, my hands clenching into a fist. I felt like moving to her and slapping her across the face, but my legs failed me.

“Oops, someone’s upset,” Camilla sneered. “How pathetic can you be, Clara? You’re mad at the woman who gave your husband what you couldn’t give him in five years—I did it in just five months.”

My chest tightened at her words. “What are you talking about?” I questioned, my eyes narrowed.

“Camilla is pregnant for me, Clara,” Damon’s voice cut in, his words sending a chill down my spine.

“You’re lying, right? Tell me you’re lying, Damon,” I spat, unable to hold back my tears any longer.

“Damon, you shouldn’t be doing this—”

Ethan, who had been quiet, finally spoke—but Damon halted him with a raise of a hand. “You don’t have any right to interfere, Ethan,” he groaned. “If you really do care about her, then go ahead and be with her for all I care.”

“What are you saying?” I managed to ask, my voice trembling.

Camilla stepped closer to Damon and slowly ran her fingers along his beard. “What my darling Damon is saying is that he's no longer interested in marrying you, my dear sister.”

I thought she was lying until Damon stood and went upstairs to our room, only to return with a document in his hand.

“It’s quite clear, there isn’t any future for our marriage, Clara. Not only are you barren, but now you’re crippled. Sign the papers and free yourself,” he said firmly, tossing the papers to me.

My heart slammed inside my chest when the papers landed on my lap. Was this my reward for being a dutiful wife?

I thought of the baby that was growing inside my womb, my hands trembling as I picked up the document.

“Damon, you need to reconsider your decision,” Ethan voiced again but didn’t go further as his brother threw him a dismissive look.

“Is this what you really want?” I asked softly, but his reply shattered my heart into a million pieces.

“Who would choose a barren woman, who is also crippled, over a beauty like her?” He mocked me, turning to Camilla and slowly pressing his lips against hers in an attempt to break me further.

“Here you go. You’re going to need this,” Camilla muttered with a victorious smile, holding a pen out towards me.

I took a deep breath as I took the pen from her hand, and with trembling hands, I dragged my signature across the paper.

When I was done, the pen slipped from my hands and clattered on the floor. Tears ran down my cheeks, which I tried wiping off, but they were too quick.

“Thank you, Miss Clara Hayes. You’re officially free from this marriage,” Damon said without any remorse as he took the divorce papers from me.

He turned away with Camilla, and together, they went up the stairs.

“Don’t worry, Clara. I will send you ten thousand dollars so you don’t have to start again from the gutters where I picked you.” His voice came from the stairs, but Camilla interrupted him.

“That’s too much, my love,” she said, caressing his chin. “A thousand dollars is enough for her.”

They both let out a dry laugh and continued moving up.

After Damon and Camilla left, the house was quiet. I sat there for a long moment, my eyes staring at my marriage ring.

My body was trembling, tears already dried on my cheeks. I wanted to cry more, but it felt like my tears were exhausted.

Ethan, who was also quiet, finally exhaled a shaky breath before breaking the silence.

“Clara, I’m very sorry for what’s happening, but I need you to know you’re not alone in this.”

I forced a faint smile, even though it didn’t reach my eyes. “I’ll be fine, Ethan. I’ll stay strong for my baby.”

“Won’t you tell him? He at least deserves—”

“Please don’t!” I cut in sharply. “Don’t mention a word about my baby to him. I’m strong, I will take care of him.”

“With a thousand dollars?” Ethan asked, his concern palpable. “Where will you go from here, Clara?”