Ch. 11: What she didn't Know
948 Words
A while later...
Claire’s phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
“Mom…”
She answered.
“Hello?”
On the other end, her mother’s warm voice came through.
“Darling…”
A slight pause.
“…Are you and Alex dating?”
Claire blinked.
For a moment....
She didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.
So fast.
It hadn’t even been half a day,
And her parents already knew.
“…Clayton told you, didn’t he?”
A soft chuckle came from the other side.
“You know your brother.”
Claire shook her head lightly.
“…Yeah. We are.”
A brief silence followed....
Then her mother’s voice softened.
“Darling…”
“No matter what decision you make in your life…your father, your brother, and I…Will always support you.”
Claire’s expression gentled.
“We’ve known Alex and his family for many years. They’re good people.”
“I know, Mom.”
And she meant it.
Then,
Her mother spoke again.
“Did you know…Alex came back last year to propose to you?”
Claire froze.
“…What?”
Her grip on the phone tightened slightly.
“I didn’t tell you before,,,,” her mother continued gently.
“Because at that time...You looked happy with Drake.”
Claire’s heart skipped.
“Before he returned,,,He called your father and me. To ask for our approval.”
Claire’s mind went blank for a moment.
“He even went to your school,” her mother added.
“But…He saw you,,With Drake.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Claire’s chest tightened.
“I don’t know what happened after that,” her mother said softly.
“But a week later…your Aunt called me.”
Claire already knew who that was.
Alex’s mother.
“She proposed a business marriage between you and Alex.”
Claire’s eyes widened slightly.
“…A business marriage?”
“Yes.”
“But your father and I refused.”
Her mother’s tone remained calm—
But firm.
“We won’t decide your marriage for you.,,,even if it’s Alex.”
Claire lowered her gaze.
“…I see.”
Her mother continued...
“She said Alex locked himself in his room for several days. They were worried.”
Claire’s heart clenched.
“…Several days…After that, your Aunt contacted me again. I thought she would bring it up once more. But she didn’t.,she only said sorry.”
A quiet pause.
“She didn’t want you to marry like that either.”
Claire closed her eyes briefly.
That kind of concern...
Wasn’t for business.
It was for him.
“She’s a good mother,” her mom added softly.
“She was just worried about her son.”
Silence fell between them.
But this time...
It wasn’t empty.
It was full Of things Claire had never known.
“…Mom.”
Her voice was quieter now.
“…Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Her mother sighed gently.
“Because you were smiling back then. And we didn’t want to take that away from you.”
Claire’s fingers tightened slightly around her phone.
That smile...
She suddenly wasn’t sure anymore, if it had been real.
“…Darling.”
Her mother’s voice softened again.
“Just remember this, choose the person who makes you feel at peace....not just happy.”
Claire’s breath slowed.
“…Okay.”
Claire stood there, still holding her phone.
Motionless.
The wind brushed past her again..
But she barely noticed.
“…So that’s what happened…”
She murmured softly.
All this time...
There had been someone—waiting.
Loving her...silently...endlessly....
And she never even knew.
A faint ache spread in her chest.
Not regret, but something close.
She lowered her gaze.
“…Idiot.”
She didn’t know.
Whether she meant him—or herself.
" Darling..."
Claire didn’t reply immediately.
She simply listened to her mother’s voice—
Soft...Warm....
But her gaze...
It was fixed on the man below.
Standing beside his car.
Looking up....At her.
Her phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
[I’m here.]
Her heart skipped, at the same time,
Alex lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
And without hesitation...
He began walking toward the building entrance.
Step by step, steady, certain.
Claire’s fingers tightened slightly around her phone.
“…He really came.”
“Darling? Are you still there?” her mother’s voice called gently.
“Yes, Mom…”
But her attention was already split.
Because A few minutes later,
A footsteps echoed behind her.
Closer.
“Who are you talking to?”
That familiar voice—Low, and close.
Claire turned.
Alex was already there.
Standing just a few steps away.
Looking at her...
With a hint of concern in his eyes.
For a moment,
She didn’t answer.
She just stared at him.
Her gaze—complicated, soft, unreadable.
Alex’s chest tightened.
“…What’s wrong?”
A flicker of unease crossed his face.
Did he do something wrong?
Was she...
Regretting it already?
“Babe…”
His voice softened.
“Talk to me, okay?”
“If I did something you didn’t like…”
“I’ll change it.”
“I’ll do better.”
There was a trace of fluster in his tone.
Something rare....
For someone like him.
On the other end of the call, her mother paused.
“…Darling....Is Alex with you?. I heard his voice.”
Claire blinked.
Finally snapping out of her thoughts.
“Yes, Mom...he’s here to pick me up.”
A gentle chuckle came from the other side.
“Alright, I’ll call you again later. Take care of yourself, okay? If you need anything, call me and your dad.”
Claire’s expression softened.
“Okay, Mom...Thank you…”
“You take care too...I love you.”
“I love you too, darling.”
The call ended.
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