Chapter 12
“It’s not like I was in the wrong,” she continued, voice trembling with anger.
“You and your mom crossed the line. All I did was speak up–and she came at me with that fake sweet act, all passive–aggressive and smiling like a snake.”
She laughed bitterly, full of disbelief.
“The way you two were hugging in front of me–what, are you planning to sleep in the same bed next?”
“Don’t forget, even though we’ve had the wedding, we haven’t signed the papers yet. And judging by the way you’re acting right now, I don’t think I need to.”
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off.
Lucas stood frozen, stunned by how quickly things had escalated. He knew Clara had a temper, but this… this was beyond what he’d expected.
All that fuss over something so small?
Now she was threatening not to get legally married?
He watched her figure retreat down the hall and panic overtook him. His heart skipped a beat. What if she really meant it?
Without thinking, Lucas turned to chase after her.
But Madeline grabbed his arm, stopping him mid–step.
“Where are you going?” she asked, voice gentle but firm.
1/4
Lucas hesitated for a second, then sighed. Because it was her–because it was Madeline–he tried to keep his tone
even.
“Clara’s never been this mad before. I need to talk to her before she really walks away and refuses to register the marriage.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but shoot Madeline a slight look of blame. If she hadn’t pushed Clara, none of this would’ve happened.
Madeline noticed, of course.
And that glance? It stung.
She didn’t understand how someone like me could’ve raised such a son.
But then again, Lucas was her real son.
And if there was a chance… a real chance she might get to live with him in the future, she needed to take control now. Set the tone. Break the daughter–in–law in early.
With that in mind, she smiled and said softly, “Don’t worry. You’ve come this far with the wedding -Clara’s not going to back out over something like this.”
“But if you go after her now, she’ll hold the upper hand in the marriage.”
Lucas stopped walking. His brow furrowed.
Madeline saw it–and leaned in.
“Marriage is a power balance,” she said smoothly. “Either you’re holding the reins, or she is.”
“If you cave now, you’ll never stand straight again.”
2/4
“Trust me, give it thirty minutes. An hour, tops. She’ll come find you. And even if she doesn’t, she’s not going to call off the marriage over this. I’m a woman, Lucas. I know.”
Her tone was calm, filled with faux concern and somehow, Lucas believed every word.
He and Clara had been together for years. But there was always one thing he kept pressing her on–he wanted her to give more of herself to the home, especially after marriage.
And every single time, Clara pushed back.
She had a career, ambitions, a life that didn’t revolve around being someone’s wife. And that drove Lucas mad.
So maybe… maybe Madeline had a point.
If Clara wasn’t going to compromise, maybe now was his chance to push her into it.
At the very least, if he let things cool down, they could just move past it like they always did.
And besides, he had confidence in their relationship.
He was sure Clara wouldn’t actually leave him over this. Not really.
Not after everything they’d been through.
So he stopped. His footsteps faltered.
And instead of chasing after her, Lucas turned back toward Madeline, walking away from the confrontation with a sigh, as if it were some necessary strategy.
But what Lucas didn’t know was this–Clara hadn’t planned on walking away for good.
3/4
Not at first.
This whole blow–up? She had only wanted to make a point.
Cool off. Maybe get some space for a while.
But fate had other plans.
Because the words Lucas had said to Ryan earlier–words dripping with entitlement, dismissing everything I had ever done–had been overheard.
Unlucky for him, one of Clara’s relatives had stepped out of the guest room at just the wrong time… or maybe, the right time.
And they’d heard everything.
