Chương 7
The feared man wanted revenge.
The real man was afraid of becoming someone he hated.
Over the next week, the investigation affected every part of their lives.
Sebastian spent more time at the office.
Clara spent more time alone.
The mansion, once unfamiliar, slowly became familiar in a lonely way.
She learned which floorboard creaked near the library.
She learned the kitchen staff liked listening to old music while preparing breakfast.
She learned the gardener always arrived ten minutes early because he disliked being late.
Small details filled the spaces where conversation used to be.
But Sebastian was slipping away again.
Not because he wanted to.
Because pressure made him retreat.
One night, Clara found dinner untouched.
She looked at the clock.
Nearly midnight.
When Sebastian finally arrived, he looked surprised to see her awake.
“You should be sleeping.”
“You should be eating.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You always say that when you’re stressed.”
He removed his jacket.
“You’ve been studying me.”
“No.”
She looked at the untouched plate.
“I’ve been paying attention.”
The difference made him quiet.
He sat down.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Sebastian asked,
“Do you regret it?”
Clara looked up.
“Regret what?”
“Marrying me.”
The question was so direct that she did not immediately answer.
Sebastian waited.
That was another thing that had changed.
He no longer filled every silence with distance.
“I regret that I didn’t get a choice,” she said.
His face tightened.
“But I don’t regret knowing you.”
The answer affected him more than she expected.
He looked down.
“I don’t understand you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Most people would hate me.”
“Maybe.”
“Then why don’t you?”
Clara thought about it.
Because the answer mattered.
“Because you make it difficult.”
A small smile appeared.
“What?”
“You’re supposed to be a terrible person.”
“And?”
“And terrible people usually make things easier.”
He laughed quietly.
It was brief.
But it was there.
Then his expression became serious.
“Clara.”
“Yes?”
“I need you to know something.”
She waited.
“If things get worse, I will protect you.”
She frowned.
“I don’t need protection.”
“I know.”
“Then stop treating me like something fragile.”
He looked surprised.
Clara continued.
“I lost my home.”
“I know.”
“I lost my relationship with my father.”
“I know.”
“I was forced into a marriage with a stranger.”
His expression changed.
“And I’m still here.”
The room became quiet.
She stepped closer.
“So don’t look at me like I’m someone who will break because life becomes difficult.”
Sebastian stared at her.
Then he nodded slowly.
“Okay.”
It was a simple word.
But from him, it meant something.
The next day, a new problem appeared.
A former company employee came forward with a claim that Sebastian had hidden financial problems before the marriage.
The story spread faster than the previous one.
This time, people did not only question Clara.
They questioned Sebastian.
Investors wanted answers.
The board demanded explanations.
And Ricardo Montemayor appeared on television claiming he was “deeply concerned” about the company’s future.
Clara watched the interview from the living room.
She saw the sadness in Ricardo’s expression.
The carefully chosen words.
The performance.
“He’s good,” she said.
Sebastian stood behind her.
“Yes.”
“You knew?”
“My whole life.”
She turned around.
“Then why does this hurt?”
Sebastian looked at the screen.
“Because a stranger lying about you is expected.”
He paused.
“When family does it, you start wondering if you were wrong for trusting them.”
Clara looked at him.
For the first time, she understood the real danger.
The threat was not only losing the company.
It was losing the last pieces of trust Sebastian had left.
The last thing Sebastian expected was for Clara to defend him.
Not publicly.
Not privately.
Not after everything that had happened.
But when the company began to shake, she did not move away.
She moved closer.
That unsettled him more than any accusation.
Because losing money was something he understood.
Losing trust was something he had spent years avoiding.
The board meeting was scheduled for Monday morning.
Sebastian spent the weekend preparing.
Documents covered his office desk.
Emails filled his screen.
Reports from different departments sat open beside handwritten notes.
Clara watched him work from the doorway.
She had never seen someone fight so hard to protect something while looking like he wanted to let it all disappear.
“You haven’t slept.”
Sebastian continued reading.
“I slept.”
“When?”
He paused.
“That depends on your definition.”
She walked inside.
“That’s not reassuring.”
He looked up.
“You should not worry about this.”
She frowned.
“There it is again.”
“What?”
“You saying I shouldn’t worry.”
Sebastian leaned back.
“Because you shouldn’t have to.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because you don’t get to decide what matters to me.”
The answer caught him off guard.
He looked at her for a long moment.
Clara realized something.
He was not used to people challenging him without wanting something.
Everyone around him either obeyed him or fought him for power.
She did neither.
She simply spoke.
“I’m not here because of the contract anymore.”
His expression changed.
The sentence was quiet.
But it carried weight.
Sebastian looked away.
“That makes things harder.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know what to do with that.”
Clara did not answer.
Some truths could not be forced.
Some people needed time to accept something good before they stopped preparing to lose it.
On Monday, the boardroom was filled before Sebastian arrived.
Executives whispered among themselves.
Some avoided eye contact.
Others watched every movement, waiting to see which side had more power.
Ricardo sat near the end of the table.
He looked calm.
Almost disappointed.
That was what bothered Clara when she saw him later in the news coverage.
People who caused damage rarely looked like villains.
Sometimes they looked like concerned relatives.
Sometimes they looked like victims.
Sebastian entered the room alone.
The meeting began without greetings.
“Sebastian,” one board member said, “the company needs stability.”
“I agree.”
“Then you understand why we need answers.”
May you like
“Yes.”
Ricardo folded his hands.
