Four

Chapter 4

Clara spun around and bit his hand violently. Julian cursed, grabbing her chin to break her grip, before shoving her into the rear seat of his car and shouting at the chauffeur to drive.

The driver, a long-serving employee of the Maxwells family, glanced nervously into the rearview mirror.

"Mr. Maxwells... Dr. Alexandra seems deeply distressed..."

"Who pays your salary, Thomas? Drive!"

Realizing physical resistance was useless inside the moving vehicle, Clara forced herself to stay calm. "Julian, stop this foolishness. We are broken up. There is no need to make this humiliating for both of us."

Julian's expression was stormy. "Broken up? I never agreed to a breakup!"

"You are marrying Victoria Thorne. Leave me out of your life."

"I refuse!"

Julian leaned down, his voice dark and possessive against her ear. "Didn't you spend years asking to have my child? I'll make sure you get your wish tonight."

A loud, sharp crack echoed through the enclosed car.

Clara's hand trembled from the impact of the slap. Julian's head was turned, his eyes wild with shock as he pressed a hand to his burning cheek. "You... you dared to strike me?"

Tears gathered in Clara's eyes, but she bit her lip hard to keep them from falling. This was the man she had loved for eight years, a man who held so little respect for her that he treated her like disposable property.

"What am I to you, Julian? A convenient servant, or a high-class mistress?"

Julian's face flushed with fury, but as he stared at Clara's tear-filled, utterly heartbroken eyes, his anger slowly gave way to a strange unsettled feeling. He took a heavy breath. "You want to be my wife, don't you? Fine. Once I settle Victoria's crisis and finalize the public annulment, I will marry you."

"No need," Clara said quietly. "I am not suited for your world."

"Clara, do not test my patience! If you continue this ridiculous act, we are truly finished!"

"We are already finished."

Her tone was utterly devoid of emotion, which unsettled Julian far more than her anger. "You have been with me for eight years, Clara! Do you honestly believe any gentleman in high society would take you after that?"

"So in your eyes, I am so degraded that no respectable man would want me?"

Julian tightened his jaw. "That is not what I meant."

Clara let out a soft laugh. In that precise moment, her mind cleared completely. The illusion was gone; she saw Julian Maxwells for exactly what he was. Eight years was a painful loss, but she had decades of life ahead of her.

"What are you laughing at?" Julian demanded through gritted teeth.

Clara looked directly into his eyes, her smile serene and absolute. "Julian, from this moment on, I no longer love you."

Julian froze. Clara had threatened to leave him during past arguments, but she had never once said those words.

"Driver, please pull over," Clara called out calmly.

Thomas looked back nervously. "Dr. Vance, we are currently on the M4 motorway..."

"Pull over at the next hard shoulder," she instructed.

Just then, Julian's phone rang. His furious expression softened instantly when he saw Victoria's name on the display. He answered immediately. Victoria was distraught on the line, asking him to come to her residence in Kensington.

"I am on my way," Julian said before turning to the driver. "Take the Kensington exit at the next junction."

Clara frowned. Kensington was in the opposite direction of her destination. "Pull over and let me out."

"Stop the car and let her out!" Julian ordered angrily.

Thomas hesitated. "Sir, on the motorway corridor, "

"I said stop!"

The car veered into the emergency layby and stopped. Clara stepped out without hesitation. The heavy door slammed, and the car accelerated away into the darkness, leaving her stranded on the shoulder.

It was only after the red taillights vanished that Clara realized her handbag, containing her phone and wallet, was still on the back seat.

With no alternative, she began walking along the shoulder toward the nearest exit. Headlights flashed past her, some drivers honking angrily as they sped by. She walked for over an hour before reaching the city streets. Without money or a phone, she kept walking through the cold London night toward the estate.

By the time she reached the residential gates of the estate, dawn was breaking. Pale sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the grand facade of Julian's villa.

She walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

The door opened to reveal Victoria. Her blonde hair fell loosely over her silk nightgown. Seeing Clara standing bruised and disheveled on the porch, Victoria feigned surprise. "Clara? What are you doing here?"