CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CLARK’S POV

The trip ended quietly.

Too quietly.

No scandals..No headlines and no pictures.

Just the kind of silence that follows chaos when everything looks calm on the outside, but something underneath is already cracked.

As soon as we landed back home, I felt the weight return to my chest.

Work waited, the wedding waited, Life waited.

And Rachel followed.

She didn’t even ask.

I noticed her car behind mine the moment I left the airport.

At first, I told myself it was a coincidence but by the third turn, I knew it wasn’t.

When I finally pulled into my house and stepped out, she was already getting out of her car, arms folded, lips pressed tight.

“What are you doing here, Rachel?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

“I followed you,” she said plainly, like it was nothing.

“That much is obvious.”

She frowned.

“Why are you talking to me like that?”

“Because you had no business following me to a business trip.” I said sharply.

“And you have no business following me home unannounced.”

Her eyes widened.

“I’m your fiancée, Clark.”

“That doesn’t mean you can cross boundaries.”

She scoffed.

“Boundaries? Since when did we start talking about boundaries?”

Since Eva.

I didn’t say that, of course.

Instead, I rubbed my temple and turned away.

“You embarrassed me..you questioned my integrity and you did it in public.”

She followed me inside.

“I only came because people were talking.”

“People always talk.”

“They were talking about you and Eva.”

I stopped walking.

Slowly, I turned to face her.

“What did you just say?”

Her eyes searched my face.

“Is there something going on between you and my sister?”

The question hung in the air like poison.

I laughed a short and humorless laugh.

“Are you serious right now?”

“Answer me, Clark.”

“You sound crazy,” I said bluntly.

“Completely crazy.”

Her face flushed.

“So that’s it? You won’t even deny it?”

“I am denying it.” I snapped.

“Nothing happened…Nothing is happening and nothing will happen.”

She stared at me for a long moment, like she was looking for cracks…for guilt or for anything to hold onto.

Finally, she exhaled.

“Then why do I feel like I’m losing you?”

Because you already have.

I didn’t say that either.

Instead, I opened the door.

“Go home, Rachel….We’ll talk later.”

“You’re sending me away?” she asked softly.

“Yes.”

She hesitated, then grabbed her bag and walked out without another word.

The house felt quieter after she left.

Too quiet.

I poured myself a drink and barely took a sip before the doorbell rang.

I frowned.

I wasn’t expecting anyone.

When I opened the door, my breath caught.

“Mother?”

She smiled brightly.

“Surprised?”

“What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping aside.

“I decided to come early,” she said, walking in like she owned the place which, honestly, she kind of did.

“Wedding preparations.”

I sighed.

“You could’ve called.”

“And ruin the surprise?” She waved it off.

“Where’s my future daughter-in-law? I want to meet her properly.”

My stomach tightened.

“I’ll invite her over,” I said carefully.

“Good.” She smiled. “I’m very excited.”

I called Rachel.

She answered on the third ring.

“Yes?” she said, still cold.

“My mother is in town,” I said.

“She wants to see you.”

There was a pause and then excitement.

“I’ll be right there.”

I sighed deeply as I knew that my Mother was making a mistake inviting Rachel over.

An hour later, the doorbell rang again.

I opened it and froze.

Rachel stood there, smiling brightly.

Beside her was Eva.

“What are you doing here?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Rachel laughed.

“I brought her…You don’t mind, do you? She’s family.”

Eva looked just as shocked as I felt.

My mother stepped forward, eyes lighting up.

“Oh! You must be Clark’s fiancée.”

Eva stiffened.

“No….”

Rachel quickly laughed.

“Oh no, that’s me.”

My mother blinked, then smiled politely.

“Ah…Then you must be her sister.”

“Yes ma’am,” Eva said softly.

Dinner was… exhausting.

Rachel talked endlessly.

About the wedding.

About the dress.

About how much she loved me.

My mother listened quietly, asking questions here and there.

“So, Rachel,” she said finally,

“what are your plans after marriage?”

Rachel smiled.

“Plans?”

“Yes. Career? Goals?”

“Well,” she laughed.

“Clark will take care of everything.”

My mother’s smile thinned.

“And your interests?”

“Shopping, traveling, being a good wife.”

Silence followed.

Eva barely spoke, but when she did, it was thoughtful, Calm and Intelligent.

My mother noticed.

When dinner ended, she stood.

“Thank you for coming.”

Rachel hugged her and Eva smiled politely.

As soon as the door closed behind them, my mother turned to me.

“I don’t like her.”

My heart skipped.

“Mother….”

“She talks too much and thinks too little,” she said calmly.

“And she’s not the woman for you.”

I swallowed hard.

And then she added..

“But the other one… that Eva girl… she’s dangerous.”

The room went very still.

“What exactly did my mother mean by dangerous???"