Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 42: Leave her alone

Clara sat on Jessica's bed, her hands trembling, the positive pregnancy tests clutched in her lap. She stared down at them in disbelief, her mind spiraling into chaos. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think clearly. Her life felt like it had been ripped apart in an instant, and the weight of everything came crashing down on her all at once.

"I've ruined everything," she whispered to herself, tears streaming down her face. "How could I be so stupid? So careless?"

Jessica sat next to her, unsure of what to say. She reached out, placing a comforting hand on Clara's shoulder, but Clara was too deep in her own thoughts to respond. The future she had barely begun to plan the secret affair with Adrian, the engagement looming with Henry, her father's expectations-all seemed to collapse, leaving her feeling hopeless and trapped. What am I going to do?

The question echoed in her mind as panic set in. How could she possibly tell anyone? Her father would be furious. Adrian... she didn't even know how he would react. Would he want the baby? Would he walk away, leaving her alone to deal with this mess? The Caldwells, her father, society... they would all turn on her, tear her apart. She pictured herself, branded as the girl who threw her life away, ruining everything for a forbidden love that was never meant to last. Her head spun as she tried to think clearly. I can't tell anyone. Not yet. Keeping it a secret, at least for now, seemed like the only option. She needed time to think, to figure out what to do next.

After taking a few shaky breaths, Clara wiped her tears away. "I'm going to keep it a secret for now," she whispered, more to herself than to Jessica. "I can't... I can't let anyone else know yet." Jessica nodded slowly, though her concern was clear. "Okay," she said softly. "But... if you need anything, I'm here. You don't have to go through this alone."

Clara gave her a small, grateful nod, but her mind was elsewhere. She wasn't sure how she could possibly face any of this.

***

Meanwhile, Adrian was driving to Richard's estate. The moment he had dreaded was here. Richard had called him, requesting to meet, and Adrian had a sinking feeling he knew what this was about.

When he arrived, Richard greeted him stiffly. They sat in the office, the same one where Adrian had spent so much time as a younger man, Richard being the only family figure he had known after his own mother passed. Adrian respected Richard, despite the man's flaws. But this was different.

Richard didn't waste any time. "Adrian," he began, his voice low but firm, "I don't know what's going on between you and Clara. And to be honest, I don't really want to know." He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "But I'm asking you, as your brother, to leave her alone. For her sake."

Adrian clenched his jaw, feeling the words like a punch to the gut. He didn't respond immediately, trying to push down the sudden wave of anger and frustration building inside him.

Richard sighed. "I raised Clara on my own, Adrian. I've given everything to her so she could grow into a respectable young woman, after her mother died, she was all I had. She's too young, and she doesn't understand how the world works yet. You know that. You're older, you've lived through so much more. The least you can do for me after everything we've been through is to leave her alone. I won't ask any questions about what happened. Just leave her." Adrian stared at him, emotions swirling in his chest. He thought about the times Richard had taken him in when he had no one, how he had helped him get through the darkest parts of his life. There was loyalty between them, a history that couldn't be ignored. Richard wasn't wrong. Clara was young, and the situation they were in was more complicated than either of them had anticipated.

He nodded, though it felt like a part of him was being ripped away. "Alright," Adrian said, his voice tight. "I'll stay away."

Richard's face softened slightly, though there was still a tension between them. "Thank you," he said.

Clara arrived home later that day, still feeling sick from the pregnancy and emotionally drained. As she walked inside, she was shocked to replace her father and Adrian sitting together in the living room. Her heart raced, and she immediately felt a sense of dread.

They both turned to look at her as she entered the room.

"Clara," Adrian said, his expression unreadable. "I'm glad you're here. I was just telling your father that I'm going back to Europe soon. There are some things I need to take care of."

Her heart sank. He's leaving. She didn't know what to say, the words caught in her throat. She felt a wave of anger and sadness all at once, but she had to keep her composure in front of her father. Her plan stayed the same: no one needs to know anything for now.

"Right," she muttered, trying to sound indifferent. "Good luck with that."

She walked past them without another word, heading straight to her room, where the weight of everything finally came crashing down.