Chapter 284

Chapter 284

Meanwhile.

Clara sat in the back seat of the business car heading back to Suncrest City, her fingers gripping her phone tightly. She had read that message on the screen dozens of times.

[Clara, long time no see. I'm back in Suncrest City.]

Though the number was unfamiliar, Clara recognized the tone immediately.

It was Luna.

The woman she had personally delivered to Derek.

After running away for two years, she actually dared to message her.

Clara's thumb pressed hard against the screen, her fingertip turning white.

Two years ago, Clara had watched Luna's feelings for Silas become increasingly obvious, so she contacted Derek, the boss who had always coveted Luna.

She knew better than anyone how twisted that man's preferences were. That's exactly why she sent Luna to him.

So what if she was her sister?

Who told her to go after Silas?

The scenery outside the car window flew backward rapidly, but Clara couldn't focus on any of it.

Only one thing occupied her mind—Luna was back, and she had to shut this down before Silas found out.

She couldn't let Luna speak another word.

Last time was at the wedding backstage.

Luna had burst in covered in injuries and spilled everything in front of Silas.

She was the one who made Silas realize his heart condition had nothing to do with Serena—that Clara had just been using his guilt to force him into marriage.

Clara would never forget the look on Silas's face that day.

He pushed her aside and rushed out, ignoring her attempts to stop him, saying he needed to find Serena.

Leaving her alone at the wedding venue.

Then came the car accident.

Clara closed her eyes briefly.

If it hadn't been for that accident, if Silas hadn't lost his memory...

She didn't dare think about what would have happened next.

God had given her a second chance, and she absolutely wouldn't let Luna ruin it again.

The car had just gotten on the highway when Clara's phone suddenly vibrated.

A call from that same unfamiliar number.

Clara stared at the screen for three seconds before answering.

"Clara."

On the other end, Luna's voice was much hoarser than two years ago, but that annoying tone hadn't changed.

"Long time no see. Did you miss me?"

Clara said nothing, her fingers gripping the phone so tightly her knuckles cracked.

Luna wasn't in a hurry either, continuing on her own, "I heard things are going well between you and Silas? He lost his memory, right? Doesn't even remember Serena and the child. Wow, Clara, you're so lucky."

"What do you want?"

Clara's voice squeezed through her teeth.

Luna laughed lightly on the other end.

"Don't be so nervous. I just wanted to say, for you and Silas to get this far, I deserve some credit, right? If I hadn't gone and told Silas all those things back then, would he and Serena have had such a falling out?"

Clara gripped the armrest tightly.

"So?"

"So..." Luna drew out the word, "if you two are having a wedding, shouldn't you invite me? After all, I'm the one who helped bring you together."

"Dream on."

"Dream on?" Luna's voice suddenly changed. The sweet pretense was torn away like a mask, revealing two years of suppressed hatred. "Clara, do you have any idea what kind of life I lived with Derek?"

Clara remained silent.

"I was locked in that house. He'd hit me whenever he wanted, curse me whenever he wanted. You know what he did to me..." Luna's voice carried intense hatred, which she quickly suppressed again. "I just want to ask you one thing—what did I do to deserve this from you?"

"You don't know what you did?"

Clara finally spoke, her voice so shrill even she found it strange.

"If you hadn't tried to seduce Silas, would I have needed to deal with you? You've been restless since childhood. After coming back, you kept going after Silas. If you didn't have such dirty thoughts, would I have gone after you?"

"I seduced him?" Luna laughed coldly. "Clara, put your hand on your heart and tell me—when was Silas ever yours? In college, he only had eyes for Serena. Even after Serena left, he never had you in his heart. You just took advantage of his amnesia to trick your way into being his fiancée. What right do you have to say these things to me?"

These words hit the deepest thorn in Clara's heart.

Her whole body trembled with anger, and she bit her lip until she tasted blood.

"Silas is mine! Not Serena's at all!"

"Yours?" Luna scoffed.

"Yes, he's mine." Clara's voice suddenly rose sharply. The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror, then quickly looked away.

"Whether it's you or Serena, no one can take him away."

"Serena?" Luna's voice suddenly became meaningful. "Serena's back in the country too, right? Are you sure you can stop her?"

"Actually, you know very well you can't compare to Serena. As soon as she appears in front of Silas, all your efforts will be wasted."

Hearing this, Clara's breathing caught.

The phone nearly slipped from her hand.

Impossible! Silas had lost his memory. He didn't remember who Serena was at all.

Clara clenched her teeth hard. "You're talking nonsense!"

"Silas has completely forgotten Serena. I'm the only one by his side now. I'm his future wife! We've already slept together!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Luna sighed softly on the phone. "Clara, how long do you think Silas can hold out? Even if he's forgotten everything, the body's memory doesn't lie. The first time he sees Serena, he'll feel something's wrong. Can you stop that?"

"Shut up!"

Clara abruptly hit the end call button.

The car suddenly fell silent.

Only her rapid breathing remained.

Clara threw the phone hard onto the seat and covered her face with both hands.

She bent over, pressing her forehead against the back of the front seat, her shoulders shaking.

The unfamiliar number lit up the screen again.

Luna had sent one last message: [Clara, you've done so much for me. Of course I need to return the favor.]

Clara stared hard at those words.

She slowly straightened up and pulled out a tissue from her bag to wipe her eyes.

The face in the mirror had regained its composure.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number.

After the call connected, her voice was steady as if nothing had happened.

"Help me find someone. Luna. I need her current address, by today."

After hanging up, Clara held her phone and looked out the window.

The tree shadows on both sides of the highway kept receding.

Suncrest City was getting closer and closer.

What she didn't know was that at this very moment, in a room on the hotel's top floor, Silas was flipping through photos John had handed him, one by one.

The little girl in the photos smiled at the camera.

Her features looked just like his.