At the hospital,
Liam and Charlotte arrived together to take Clara back ho.
While Liam went to complete the discharge formalities, Clara remained seated in the hospital room, quietly watching Maria move around as she packed her belongings. The room, which had felt heavy and suffocating the previous day, now carried a lighter air —yet it wasn’t entirely free of tension.
Charlotte stood nearby, her gaze fixed on her daughter ...
Seeing Clara looking better than yesterday brought her a sense of relief. The pale weakness that had been there on her face yesterday had eased, and her complexion had also regained so of its color. However—
Sothing else about her caught her attention.
The way Clara kept glancing toward the door.
Not once. Not twice.
But repeatedly.
As though she was expecting soone ... or perhaps hoping soone would walk in.
Charlotte observed her for a few monts before finally asking, unable to hold herself back any longer,
"Are you waiting for Xavier?"
Clara froze for a brief second at the question.
Then she slowly turned her head to look at her mother.
The denial was already on the tip of her tongue —but the mont Charlotte raised her brow ever so slightly, Clara’s gaze faltered. She looked away.
And that alone was answer enough.
Charlotte smiled faintly, her expression softening.
"He must already be on his way." She said reassuringly, reaching to stroke Clara’s hair with a gentle hand. "Have you called him?"
Clara lifted her gaze again, eting her mother’s eyes this ti.
Then she shook her head.
"Mom, that’s not necessary," she said softly. "Xavier is a doctor. He barely gets any ti to rest. It wouldn’t be right for to disturb him when he finally has so ti for himself."
Her words sounded thoughtful —considerate, even.
Like soone who deeply understood her partner.
But Charlotte could see through it.
This wasn’t understanding.
This was distance.
Deliberate distance.
And that quiet sacrifice —it wasn’t noble.
It was costing her daughter her happiness.
How could she let that happen?
"Silly girl," Charlotte said gently, though there was a hint of reprimand in her tone. "What’re you thinking?"
She leaned slightly closer, her voice soft but firm.
"Xavier rested the entire night. And he cares for you too. If you tell him you want him here, he will co. Didn’t he always do that for you before?"
Clara’s lips curved into a faint smile.
But it didn’t last.
It weakened almost instantly.
She nodded slowly.
"He did, Mom," she admitted. "But that was before."
There was a pause.
Her voice softened further, almost to a whisper.
"Things have changed now. I shouldn’t bother him ... especially when he might not want to be bothered by anymore."
Charlotte’s brows drew together in a frown.
"Clara," she said firmly, "you’re doubting your place in his life again."
She reached out and held her hand.
"You are not unimportant. Believe that. Xavier cares about you just the sa. His feelings for you won’t just disappear because Adelyn has returned."
Clara didn’t respond.
But the slight shift in her expression spoke louder than words ever could.
The hesitation.
The uncertainty.
The insecurity.
Charlotte saw it all.
And she didn’t like it one bit.
"Fine," she said after a mont, her tone taking on a decisive edge. "If you don’t want to call him, then I’ll do it."
Before Clara could stop her, Charlotte had already taken out her phone and dialed Xavier’s number.
But ... the call didn’t connect.
Charlotte frowned slightly and pulled the phone away, staring at the screen as if trying to understand what went wrong.
Then she dialed again.
This ti again—
Nothing.
No ring.
No response.
Just silence.
As if the number itself no longer existed.
Her frown deepened.
Before she could attempt a third ti, Clara reached out and gently held her hand.
"Mom ... don’t," she said softly. Her voice was quiet —fragile. "Xavier will co if he has ti. Let’s just go ho for now."
Charlotte didn’t like it.
Not one bit.
But seeing the expression on her daughter’s face, she held herself back and nodded reluctantly.
Just then, Liam returned.
"The formalities are done," he said, handing Clara’s dical file over to Maria.
Then he walked over to Clara and extended his arm.
"We can leave now. Are you ready?"
Clara held onto his arm before smiled faintly at him.
"Yes," she said. "Let’s go."
And with that—
They stepped out of the hospital together ...
However, the mont they exited the building, a group of paparazzi suddenly surged forward, blocking their way.
Liam halted imdiately, his expression darkening.
Behind him, Clara, Charlotte and Maria also stopped.
Caras were already flashing.
"Ms. Scott!" one of the reporters called out. "Your fans have been very worried since news broke that you were hospitalized. Is there anything you’d like to say to them?"
Liam frowned, already about to step forward and dismiss them.
But Clara reached out and held his arm.
He turned to look at her. And she shook her head at him slightly.
Understanding her intention, Liam restrained himself.
Clara, then, stepped forward.
Her expression changed instantly.
A gentle, composed smile appeared on her face as she looked toward the caras.
"I truly appreciate all my fans’ concern," she said, with a voice gentle, soft yet clear. "It’s always their love and support that give the strength to keep going even when I have all the reasons to forfeit. Thank you for caring about . I’m feeling much better now ... so please don’t worry anymore."
The caras flashed rapidly, capturing every angle of her.
But before they could move on, another voice rose from the crowd.
"Ms. Scott! We heard that you recently auditioned for Director Rhodes’s upcoming project. Your fans are confident you’ll get the role. Can you give us any hint about the results?"
Clara’s gaze instinctively shifted toward Liam.
Her eyes turned slightly tearful.
Liam’s frown deepened imdiately.
He stepped forward, ready to shield her.
But before he could, Clara turned back toward the caras.
Her voice remained gentle.
"I’ll do my best ... to not disappoint my fans’ expectations."
Her words sounded harmless on the surface.
Even modest.
But beneath them, there was sothing subtle—
A suggestion.
Liam noticed it instantly.
His gaze turned sharper as he looked at her.
But he said nothing.
Instead, he simply wrapped an arm around her shoulders and stepped forward, his tone firm and controlled.
"Clara has just been discharged and still needs proper rest. Please give her so space."
Without waiting for another question, he guided her forward.
The paparazzi continued snapping pictures, voices calling out behind them—
But Liam didn’t stop.
He led her straight toward the car parked not far away, shielding her from further intrusion as they finally left the scene behind.
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