Chapter 15
Clara heard every word, loud and clear. She hadn’t expected Lucas to be keeping secrets from he -let alone this many. The weight of betrayal crushed her chest and she finally broke down into tears.
“Mom… I can’t. I can’t do this. I don’t want to stay with him anymore.”
Her mother pulled her into her arms, stroking her hair like she was comforting a child after a nightmare–only this time, the nightmare was real.
“It’s okay, honey. We’re leaving,” she said, voice low but laced with fury.
“The Caldwell Family is nothing but a pit of vipers.”
She sneered in disbelief. “That Lucas–how dare he? The son of a mistress, lying through his teeth and trying to marry into our family?”
She tightened her grip on Clara. “We’re done here, sweetheart. Let’s go home.”
And just like that, they were gone.
Meanwhile, Lucas was still sitting there, thinking he had the upper hand. Still holding on to the idea that he could break her down, manipulate her into coming back.
And then, her message arrived.
Lucas! You’ve got some nerve. The son of a homewrecker, trying to trap me in a marriage? Go be with your mistress–mom. I’m done. I’m calling off the wedding. I’ll return your stuff. Don’t contact me again.]
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He panicked. He had no idea how Clara found out. Had no idea the truth had finally caught up to him.
He scrambled to call her. Again and again. But all he got in return was the robotic silence of a blocked number.
Clara had shut the door completely.
For once, Madeline couldn’t smooth it over. Her words–their shared little strategy–suddenly didn’t work. Lucas was beyond reason now.
Still, she tried. She stepped in front of him, tried to calm him, tried to say Clara would come around.
But Lucas shoved her aside, no hesitation and ran out the door like a man on fire.
Too little, too late.
By the time Ryan returned the next day with
Lucas–disheveled, glassy–eyed and looking like he hadn’t slept in twenty–four hours–everything was already in
motion.
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4
Even before they reached the porch, they noticed something was wrong.
The yard was crowded. Strangers were walking in and out
of the cottage like they owned the place.
And Ryan, exploded.
“What the hell is going on here? Who are you people?! What are you doing at my house?!”
No one answered him.
Instead, movers continued their job–carrying out
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furniture, boxes, whatever they could grab. Tossing things onto the driveway like garbage.
Lucas’s face contorted with rage. He stormed forward and grabbed one of the workers by the sleeve.
“What the hell are you doing?!” he barked. “This is my house! You can’t just come in here and-”
“This wasn’t your house,” the man interrupted calmly.
Then he pulled a folded document from his back pocket and held it out. “See this? The deed says otherwise. This place has a new owner now. I bought it.”
Ryan stepped closer, his hand trembling as he snatched the paper from the man.
“You’re lying,” he croaked. “I’ve lived here for forty years. This is my home.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “Maybe. But the legal owner sold it to me. And I have full rights to do whatever I want with it.”
He shrugged.
3
6
21
4
=
4
+
可
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“Honestly, she told me I could start renovations right away, but I figured I’d give you some time t clear out. Was trying to be considerate.”
Then, as if it were nothing, he added, “If there’s anything valuable still inside, I suggest you grab it now. I’m not responsible for whatever gets tossed.”
And just like that, Ryan folded. His knees buckled and he sank onto the walkway like someone had pulled the air out of his lungs.
Lucas just stood there, staring blankly at the movers
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carrying out what used to be his life.
In less than forty–eight hours, he’d lost his fiancée and the home he grew up in.
He snapped.
Elise is insane!” he shouted. “She actually sold the house?!”
He turned to Ryan, desperate and furious.
“Dad! Call her! Tell her to give it back! Before she blows through all the money!”
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