로그인CLAIRE“I hear that a lot.” I pulled the half-eaten piece of candy still hanging from his mouth and ate it. “Maybe so. But have you ever heard it from me?” I glanced at him. “Just because this is the first time I’ve heard it from you doesn’t mean you really feel that way.”“Hmm, okay, it’s fine if you don’t believe me yet. I can prove it as time goes on.”I rolled my eyes and pretended to look for another snack. But honestly, deep down, I was nervous. I don’t know if it’s the fear of being betrayed or because my trust has just been completely shattered. So now, sweet words don’t have any effect on me. I even see them as something that’s bound to turn bitter later on. Yeah, I know Matthew is a good person. But being good doesn’t guarantee he’ll follow through on everything he says, right? That’s what I always think. “Feeling better?” “I don’t know.” I finally lay down. I slept on my back, facing the sky, with both hands on my belly. “What if I disappoint you or can’t meet your ex
CLAIREWith a smile on his face and an innocent expression, Matthew walked casually. “I’m just helping you. If you walk on your own, your feet might hurt even more. Besides, how are you supposed to walk with just one shoe?”I smacked him on the back once to vent my annoyance. But after that, slowly, I stopped resisting. Not only was it pointless because our strength wasn’t matched, but I was also too tired today and didn’t have the energy to put up a fight anymore. So, instead of kicking my legs in the air, I decided to look at Matthew’s face. From down here, I could see the difference in his jawline from a few years ago. Now it’s more defined, more like a man’s—not the cute, innocent teenager he used to be. The Matthew of today has truly changed. “Admiring my face, hmmm?”“Ugh, what’s with you! Don’t get too full of yourself. I was just looking at the sky because there are so many stars.”Matthew, being the kind of person who believes in evidence, simply looked up. “You’re right.
CLAIREMatthew pressed the pen again. Then he handed it to me. "I've kept my promise. Now you can keep it with you. You can use it if you feel I'm breaking my promise."He slipped it into my hand. I took it, putting it away in my bag. "What do I do with it?" I asked curiously."Sue me? I'll prepare a personal lawyer for you. It's not that I plan to renege, but as a protection for you. After all, no matter who it is, in marriage, the woman is on average the most disadvantaged party. So even if I'm not going to do it, I still want to facilitate you with a lawyer and if necessary a marriage agreement. As for the points, what should be in there, you can decide."Oh what is this? Is this how it is to be married to a man who is emotionally, financially and intellectually prepared? Is this how it is to have a relationship with a man who has emotional intelligence? It's not even anything yet but he's already providing protective efforts for me, without me even asking. Why does it feel so e
CLAIREFinally, for the first time in years, I reunited Matthew with mom. I had thought this through, and I decided to accept Matthew's offer. In his car I cried for almost an hour by myself, letting all my emotions out. Only then did I explain mom's situation in more detail. And he ended up driving me to see her, without me begging. I refused many times because I didn't want to tire him. But Matthew's response was comforting. He said, "If I want you, I have to understand that you have a responsibility to your mom. Now, I want the responsibility to not only be yours, but let me handle it."How could I not melt? Used to being hurt and suffering alone for years because I loved a man, I had forgotten how good it felt to be cared for and seen. I feel valuable again because of Matthew. He made me feel like a living individual again and worthy no matter what. Matthew doesn't judge my past. Matthew doesn't see what the potential future holds if he's with me. He only sees, how I am righ
CLAIREI wiped my tears with Matthew’s handkerchief. “I’m trying to work again so I can have my own money to move mom to another place. That’s why I can’t divorce Charles yet, I’m afraid he’ll use mom as a threat. I’m still trying to get back the rights he took from me during our marriage, and I have to do it slowly. So I can’t divorce him right now.”“So you’ve realized everything?”I nodded repeatedly. “I’m pretty sure Eva wasn’t just his friend on the day he brought her home. But I don’t want to think about that. I just want to focus on how to save mom first. Then I’ll save myself.”“By divorcing Charles?”Even though I was embarrassed to admit all this, I nodded. “Divorcing Charles is what I want. But carrying out that wish is something I have to think through carefully. I don’t want to lose mom, the only person who’s there for me right now.”It felt incredibly relieving after telling him all of this. It was different from what I’d expected—I’d thought I might feel more anxious.
CLAIREMatthew never touches me without my permission. But that’s not the issue. It’s just an excuse so he doesn’t follow me to mom’s place. “Fine, if you don’t trust me, you can take this.” He handed me his phone. When I looked, I saw that a call to the emergency number was already set up.“You can press that number anytime if I act out of line.”I shook my head in disbelief. “You don’t have to do this. Besides, you know I’m just talking nonsense.”Still holding his phone in my hand, he put his coat back on me. “It’s fine. You can take my phone. I’ll drive you there.”If this is how it’s gonna be, there’s no way I’m going straight to mom’s place. At least first I’ll go get the car from the hotel, then head there. “Since you’re super annoying when you insist, just take me to the hotel,” I decided. Matthew’s face lit up like a flashlight, suddenly becoming very bright. “With pleasure.”And that’s how I ended up in Matthew’s car again.Just like before, there wasn’t much conversatio
CLAIRE“No, wait!” I said a bit loudly. I then took a deep breath and looked at the phone screen once more. “Thank you for everything. The flowers and all your kindness, thank you.”“You knew it was me?”I chuckled softly. “Of course. There were sender initials that I thought he intentionally inclu
CLAIRENo! It’s a trap. I’m sure of it.If I don’t work, I have no power. Without power, I’ll be trapped here with them forever. I’m sure it wasn’t Charles who realized that, but Eva. Because men take time to realize their mistakes, and women are more sensitive. Besides, Charles had done the same
CLAIRE"Shut up, bitch! I know you just wanna spread your negativity. And if you don't let go of me right now, I'm gonna scream for Charles!"I could only laugh and then let go of her. I made sure to shake my hands as if I'd just touched something dirty. “Let’s wait and see. You’ll understand what
CLAIRE“Eva, what’s wrong?” I glanced at Eva in the rearview mirror before finally getting out of the car. A week had passed, my recovery was complete, and now I was heading back to that house again. Annoyingly, Charles insisted on picking me up with Eva. I’d refused with a thousand excuses that







