Chapter 94

Clara's POV

Had I known this was how my day would turn out, I would have never left the house. I would have stayed home and told him the truth then, and maybe we would have had the chance to talk this out instead.

I was dreaming, and I told myself to try and make sense of this whole thing. There was no way this was happening. Soon, Katy would start jumping on my bed, and I'd wake up and find that it was all but a dream to teach me never to lie. But this was too real.

If he knew this, why wouldn't he talk to me about it? Why do this? And here?

Right now, I have two options. I could either stand here and cry, further embarrassing myself, or confront him. Now wasn't the time for me to cry or act emotionally.

I hadn't realised I had been frozen on the spot. Derek was already near the exit.

I hurried off the stage and walked towards Derek. Everyone seemed to create a clear path for me as they continued to murmur. Choosing not to look anywhere else, I walked straight ahead.

Derek was more in a rush to leave, but I caught up with him halfway down the corridor.

I grabbed his arm, spinning him around to face me with all my strength.

He was taken aback. His face was confused at first, which quickly turned into anger.

I think, at this point, I was equally angry as he was. I know what I did was terrible, but this was far too low. I hope Mom doesn't die from a heart attack after all this.

"Why did you do this?" I managed to ask. I looked into his cold stare. My voice must have squeaked, but I got a sentence out.

His anger worsened, his cheeks turning into a brighter shade. "Let go of me," he demanded, his voice forceful. If it were possible, I would have grabbed his arm even tighter. I had avoided this conversation for a long time, but it was about time it happened.

Some guests had left the hall and were now watching Derek and me as the murmurs continued. But I didn't care. I needed an explanation from him, and I would get it. Maybe he'd finally hear mine, too.

Derek pulled his arm away from mine forcibly. I thought he'd walk away, but he didn't. Instead, he grabbed hold of mine and pulled me away towards a door I hadn't noticed had been there earlier. It blended in perfectly with the wallpaper.

We stepped into the room. It looked like a study, with a desk and bookshelves. I didn't bother taking in the rest of the room.

He let go of my arm as I stood behind the door.

He leaned forward to push the door close, closing the gap between us. It left almost no space between us, leaving me trapped between the door and his arm.

We were close, well too close. I could feel his heart beating just as fast.

I needed to accept and get it through to my head that there was no chance of us ever being together, especially after all this. If I was going to think straight, I couldn't have him this year.

With all the strength I managed to master, I pushed him back, causing him to stumble.

"Why did you do this?" I repeated, this time more forcefully. I understood how he must have felt, but that was just pretty low for anyone to do.

He took a moment to balance himself, then walked towards the open window. It was as if he couldn't stand to be around me. I took some steps closer so that I wouldn't have to shout. I could tell his anger had resurfaced, but he somehow appeared calm. "You have a lot of nerves considering what you've done. You are only angry because I played by your rules, stabbing people in the back." He retorted.

"This was far too low. You didn't have to do this, and we could have talked about this." I answered.

"And you had to do what you did?" he asked sarcastically. "You chose to do what you did, yet when I do the same thing, I'm the bad guy. I guess I made my choice, too." He answered.

He was angry, with every right to be. He was right. I started this whole thing, and maybe it was my job to end it. Considering this was probably the last time I would ever speak to him, perhaps I'd finally have the courage to tell him what I could not before.

I let out a deep breath, hoping it would calm me down. It wasn't helpful having two angry people in a room. We just might kill each other. "I know I shouldn't have done what I did, and things got a little too far, but I never meant for any of this to hurt you," I said.

"Got a little too far?" He answered sarcastically. "How do you think I felt when I heard you and my mother discuss how they planned this whole thing? Both of you are seriously demented and sick." He answered.

Was that how he found out? I tried to thank back on that day. The only time that I could think of was possibly the day Derek and his parents came over for dinner. Other times, we were far too careful. Layla and I were speaking in my backyard, not loudly, but with enough effort, I'm sure he could have heard. Anyone could have easily walked in that day without Layla or me realising it. It's no wonder he looked upset later that day. He overheard Layla and I talking.

That meant that all of those days, he pretended not to know anything. That explains why Waylen was there that day and was so comfortable. Worst of all, it meant the baby room he prepared was never because he was excited for the baby but because he wanted to torment me.

"I thought you had a conscience, that underneath that calculated person, there was someone with a heart. But, when I said I never read that letter, you probably thought, 'Just great, now we can continue fooling him again.’ It was probably a slip-up you made, and you never intended to be honest. I guess you decided that you weren't bored of playing your little game after all." He snarled.

"I didn't mean for things to end up this way, and I wanted to tell you. If you already knew, what else did you expect from me?" I answered, my voice low and in a whisper.

"That you'd at least have an ounce of decency to say it to my face. That's the least you could have done, right?" He answered. "I realised something. It's not that you are just a coward, but you would happily continue lying to my face." He paused. "I don't even know if anything about you was ever real, every moment we spent together. I now realise it was all just a part of your act." He added.

I didn't know if his words hurt because they were coming from him or if it was that there was a small chance that what he said about me may have been true.

I shook my head. The tears somehow found their way back to my eyes.

It hurt me more knowing that this was what he thought of me. By then, I could only stare at my feet on the ground. He was right; I was a coward, and I shouldn't have done this. If I could turn back time, I would never have agreed to Layla's plan, and I would not have allowed Waylen to manipulate me. He had to know I didn't mean any of this.

"I just did the world a favour and exposed a poisonous snake like you. Now everyone will know just exactly who you are. You deserve everything that is coming your way." He continued.

“Derek!" I heard someone yell behind me.

With a blurred vision, I saw Vincent, who had somehow entered the room, which I hadn't even realised.

Derek turned to look at me disgusted before leaving the room.

Vincent's face softened as he looked at me concerned. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I don't think I was ever going to be okay. "I'm fine," I answered, trying to assure him.

He nodded. I could tell he didn't believe it either, but I don't think anyone would ever be okay after all this. He then walked out of the room, trailing behind Derek.

I was left alone. It felt much more awful being left with my thoughts than listening to Derek. Maybe he was right, and I deserve all this. I couldn't help but wonder what else he'd be willing to do.

Just when I thought I was free to drown myself in my pathetic tears, I heard some footsteps approaching.

I would have expected and preferred anyone other than Maddison who entered the room.

I should have known she'd be here too since Derek's grandfather was here earlier. I wouldn't doubt if he was in on it, too, so that he could see me miserable, considering he failed the last time. She stared at me with cat-like eyes, crossing her arms. A smile slowly appeared on her face. "Who would have thought that a self-righteous and pathetic person would be more pathetic?" She chuckled.

I tried to control myself.

I've already lost a lot of my dignity today. I couldn't have another video of me slamming Maddison's head against the table.

I needed to avoid her. Hopefully, she'd leave soon, or I'd gather the courage to go to this place after facing everyone.

Despite me turning away and showing just how uninterested I was. Maddison decided that she wasn't done talking. "I'm glad that Derek put you in your place today. That way, you and all the other street rats will learn to stay in your lane the next time." She snarled.

I heard a loud clap that nearly rattled me. I turned around to see Maddison's face, which had gone pale and flashed into a bright red. My mother's hand had just landed on her left cheek, and I'd never seen Maddison look this afraid.

"Don't you ever speak to my daughter like that again?" Mom yelled, pointing a finger in Maddison's face.

Maddison stepped back as she held her hand on her cheek. She looked like she was still processing that she had just been slapped. "You low-class savages! How dare you hit me?"Madison yelled.

"I will slap you again if I hear another word from you." Mom threatened.

All it took was a stare from Mom to send Maddison out of the room. Her face looked like it would soon swell.

With Maddison gone, I braced myself. I'd be ready for whatever lecture she would give me and tell me how disappointed she was.

I hadn't even realised I had sunk to the ground as I sat in a corner.

“Clara, you have to get up now."

"I can't," I answered.

"You have to," she insisted. "This is going to be hard, and it's going to take all of your strength, but you are going to be just fine." She assured me.

I hope she was right.