Marcus found me in the garden the next afternoon. I was sitting on the stone bench, staring at the flowers without really seeing them. My mind was still replaying David’s voice from the recording. The way he had laughed while calling me dumb. The way he had spoken about me like I was nothing. The words kept turning in my head, making my chest feel tight and heavy.
Marcus stopped a few feet away. “Clara.”
I looked up. His dark eyes were serious, almost worried. “Come with me,” he said quietly. “I want to show you something. Away from this house.”
I hesitated for a moment. Part of me wanted to stay hidden in the garden, but another part needed to get out of these walls. Anything felt better than sitting here drowning in my own thoughts. I nodded.
We drove in silence for twenty minutes. T
