A Contract with Desire

Chapter thirteen(13)

Chapter 13

The apartment door opened.

“Clara!”

Olivia’s cheerful voice rang out as she walked in from the kitchen, a smile already on her face.

“You’re back early—”

She stopped.

The smile faded instantly.

“…What happened?”

Clara tried to smile. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

But it didn’t reach her eyes.

Olivia frowned immediately, stepping closer. “Don’t lie to me. You look like you didn’t sleep… and cried at the same time.”

That was enough.

Clara dropped her bag and sank into the couch, exhaustion catching up with her all at once.

Olivia followed, her tone softening. “Hey… talk to me.”

And Clara did.

She told her everything—the call, the accusation, the warning… and the threat.

By the time she finished, the room had gone quiet.

Olivia leaned back slowly, her expression no longer playful.

“They threatened Bella?”

Clara nodded.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. “If I stay away, Bella is safe… maybe. But if I don’t—”

“They’ll ruin her career,” Olivia finished.

Clara looked down at her hands, her fingers tightening slightly.

“I can’t let that happen. You know how hard Bella worked to get where she is.”

Olivia didn’t respond immediately. She just watched Clara, thinking.

Then—

“We go to Bella.”

Clara looked up.

“And tell her what?” she asked. “That she should quit? You know she won’t.”

“Then we try,” Olivia said firmly. “We talk to her. We figure something out.”

A pause.

“…And if things calm down later, she can always come back stronger.”

Clara hesitated for a moment… then nodded.

“Okay.”

Without wasting another second, they grabbed their things and headed out.

⸻

Meanwhile…

Adam’s family home was already alive with soft chatter and the clinking of cutlery.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow across the long dining table where a few family members had gathered.

At the head sat Elder Madam Bean, composed as always, her presence commanding without effort.

“Where is she?”

The question came suddenly.

Adam didn’t look up immediately. He continued eating before responding calmly—

“She won’t be joining this morning.”

His grandmother lifted her gaze. “And why not?”

Before he could answer, one of his cousins spoke up.

“The nanny?” she asked thoughtfully. “Clara, right?”

Another aunt nodded. “Yes, that girl.”

Annabel, seated beside Adam, looked up immediately.

“Where is Clara?” she asked, her voice soft but expectant. “Is she still sleeping?”

Adam placed his fork down.

“She has something to attend to.”

Annabel frowned. “What thing?”

“A personal matter.”

“That’s not fair,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “She didn’t tell me anything.”

A few of the adults exchanged amused glances.

“She seems quite attached,” one of the aunts said with a small smile.

“Children always notice who treats them well,” another added.

At the head of the table, Elder Madam Bean remained quiet, her gaze thoughtful.