CHASING MY SUBSTITUTE BRIDE

CHAPTER2

CLARA

The thunder crackled outside as I rushed to pack up my things. Throwing every basic necessities I have together into my box as I rushed out of the house. The divorce was finalized, I had nothing more to do here. I had to get to grandma as soon as possible.

My body trembled as I made my way downstairs the stairs, barely able to hold myself together.

“Clara.” A familiar voice made me turn my head towards the dining room. Adrian's grandmother stood there, her eyes immediately falling on the suitcase in ny had. Adrian was still seated at the table, eating what the maid had probably brought to him.

“Am I hearing right? Is it true you're leaving?”

A shaky smile made its way up to my lips as I nodded, taking her hands in mine despite how badly they were trembling.

“My time is over here, Mama.”

“Nonsense.” She frowned, looking at the suitcase in my hand. “You want to leave in the middle of this rain? Look at you? You're trembling.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as though a dam had just burst. “Grandma died, Mama.” I managed to mouth and her expression changed immediately.

“Oh dear…” She pulled me into a hug, her hands finding way to my back as I finally broke down.

For these past three years, she was the only person in this house who has bothered to care about me. The only person who made me feel like I wasn't simply the woman who had taken Sophia's place. Even maids had become distant over time, afraid that showing me too much kindness will cost them their jobs.

But Mama never cared. She had always treated me like her own.

“I'm sorry, Clara.” Her voice cracked as she held me tighter. “I should have known you had somewhere else to go.”

“You don't have to apologize.” I shook my head, trying to wipe my tears but that wouldn't stop. “I just need to get to the hospital.”

“Then I'll have someone drive you.” She pulled out her phone and my had reflexively pulled away, moving to stop her.

“I already called a taxi. It's on its way.”

Before she could respond, a chair scraped against the floor causing us to both look up at Adrian. “Sophia?...” he called out and my heart sank.

Since I got married to him, I had never gotten a reaction of urgency from him. But it took her just one call and I could tell what it was about. Without waiting to listen longer, I gently squeezed Mama's hands with a small smile.

“I'll be leaving.”

I picked my suitcase before making my way out the door. Just before stepping out, I turned back to look at the place that had my home for three years. Or at least I tried to make it so.

The drive to the hospital felt longer than usual. The rain hit the windows violently as the car sped through the city. My hand clasped tightly over my stomach, trying my best to keep my tears down.

I was finding it hard to accept that my life had just changed all just in one night.

My phone vibrated and I quickly reached for it and the bold caller's ID stared back at me spelling DAD. I knew it was only a matter of time before I got his call. The hospital would have reached out to him and Adrian would have told him about the divorce.

“Ma'am we're here.” The driver's call pulled me out of my trans.

Tears uncontrollably flowed from my eyes as I made my way into the hospital. I headed straight towards my grandmother's ward. I pushed the doors but stopped in my tracks as I spot my father standing there, talking to the doctor. I knew he would have gotten the news but the last thing I expected was for Richard Hayes to come here of his own accord.

I haven't seen him in three years. Since the day he had me take Sophia's place, I never crossed his paths. We only occasionally spoke on the phone or through his assistant who reminded me of what I was.

“Father.” I called.

His eyes moved briefly over my drenched clothes and suitcase before settling on my face. “Clara.”

Neither of us moved or said a word till my eyes fell on a familiar figure behind him. Adrian. He stood with Sophia in his arms, her face buried in his chest as her shoulders shaking like grief had completely broken her.

If I thought seeing them together would hurt? I had no idea it would break me this much. Sophia was truly back and seeing her in his arms like she was the only thing that mattered shattered all the lies that he might reciprocate my love too.

“She was also my grandmother, Adrian.”

I wanted to run away. To look away, but I couldn't. My eyes were glued to them. The way Adrian's eyes soften as he whispers comforting words to her. He had never done that to me.

Even now, after three years, she was still the same. Making everything about her. Adrian looked up and our eyes met before I glanced down at Sophia who already stepped out of his arms to walk towards me.

What was all this? A joke?

“What are you doing here?” I didn't know when the words slipped out throught my lips and my father glanced in my direction.

He didn't look surprised that I was here. In fact, the fact that I was drenched in rain and was standing there with my suitcase. “Why shouldn't I be here? My mother-in-law just died.”

Mother in law? I would turn and curse him in my grave if I were her. He had the audacity to call her that after forcing me to take Sophia's place just for her bills. “Clara…”

Sophia made her way towards me and I instinctively took a step backwards. “I'm sorry.” Her voice trembled. “I never wanted you to meet me this way.”

Something inside me snapped. “You're sorry? Can you hear yourself?” The doctor took the cue to leave. It was no longer a conversation he could be a part of.

“Clara, don't start.” Adrian stepped forward, and for the first time, I felt so irritated.

“Enough, all of you.” My father's voice came out calmly. “Just go home, Clara. The family will handle her funeral.”

“Grandma was never your family to begin with, she was only mine. Father, you didn't even care for her while she was alive? I'm not shocked, you never even cared for your own daughter. It was always Sophia."

“Watch your tongue, Clara. You have done enough for one day.” He said calmly, turning back to the doctor. “The driver will take you and Sophia to the mansion.”

So he knew about the divorce. Yet, he never asked how I was feeling, if I felt like three years of my life had all gone to waste and had sacrificed everything for this family and just for what? Everything to all be for nothing?

“I'm done.” I said. “I'm done with you or the Hayes family.”

“Oh, don't be rude, Clara.” I heard Sophia scoff from my side. “We are only trying to help.”

My fingers clenched into a fist beside me as I tried to hold myself back. “You've helped enough. You now have Adrian whom you've always wanted. You got everything you wanted.”

“Clara…”

“You've never even treated me like your own daughter since Eleanor came into that house immediately after mother's death just to find out you've been having an affair.” I expected a reaction from him. Anything but he just stared back at me.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Adrian hold on to Sophia who had resumed her sobbing in his arms as though I had just hurt her with

my words.

“Don't worry, father. I'll stay out of your sight for good. Just don't regret it.”