Your Love Is But a Dream (Clara and Wren)

Chapter 63

Ivy stormed up the stairs, not waiting for Shirley to catch up. The tension in her stride was unmistakable.

Shirley was startled by Ivy's sudden outburst, quickly following her into the bedroom, Once the door shut, Ivy couldn't hold back her anger and fear any longer. Mom! Wren didn't come to Havenbrook to get me!" Ivy's voice trembled with rage. "I've been calling him for days, and he hasn't picked up once,

*I went to his office to find out where he was, but his secretary gave me nothing but excuses, Something's not right!"

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as jealousy and panic twisted her face. "He's gone to find Clara, hasn't

Shirley frowned, trying to process her daughter's accusations. "That doesn't make any sense," she said, her tone skeptical. "Clara moved out, didn't she? Why would Wren go looking for him?"

by's frustration boiled over. "Because he cares about hier!" she snapped.

H

Shirley shook her head, unconvinced "But Wren doesn't even like that girl. Remember? When things got dangerous, he chose to save you, not her. And now, your engagement tomorrow, why on earth would he throw all that away and chase after her?" with

Shirley is disbelief was rooted in her recent triumphs. With Ivy about to many into the Zachman family and her own position in their social circle solidified, Shirley couldn't imagine a scenario where things might unravel,

After all, Wren had always seemed to choose Ivy Why would it be any different now?

vy ground her teeth, her voice dropping to a near hiss. "You don't understand. He's obsessed with her. Why else would he leave me stranded in Havenbrook and disappear without a word?"

Shirley hesitated, her brow furrowing as she tried to reconcile Ivy's claims with the Wren she thought she knew. "Are you sure you're not overthinking this? Ivy shot her a withening glare. "Mom, have you been paying attention? Do you know anything that's been going on?"

She took a deep breath, her voice rising as she vented her frustrations. "Clara, that little tramp, texted Wren the day she was discharged from the hospital. She wanted to meet him, but 1 intercepted the message and stopped them from seeing each other. I thought she was just playing games, trying to get his attention, so I didn't take it seriously at first."

avy paused, pacing back and forth, her nerves unraveling "But then she left Phoypolls. And now Wren's gone, too. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to

Shiney folded her arms, trying to maintain a calm exterior. "It she's gone, isn't that a good thing? No competition, no drama, Wren's yours, and with Mr. Zachman on your side, he wouldn't dare go against you."

"You don't get it!" Ivy nearly shouted, her fear and desperation spilling over. "It she left and Wren didn't care, fine! But he does care, Mom! "He left me to go look for her! That means she's not just his so-called 'sister. What if he never really loved me? What if he wants to call off

the engagement?"

Her voice cracked as the voiced her greatest fear, and Shirley's expression hardened. She'd worked too hard to let this engagement tall apart now. "Ivy," Shirley said, her tone sharp, "you need to calm down. You're letting your emotions get the better of you." She stepped closer, gripping Ivy's shoulders firmly. "Listen to me.

no choice but to respect you, to call you Mrs. Zachman."

RESET disk Clare of anyone

che in What Wien is doing tight now, you

ZIE DIEUSEFE TORE TO

doesn't come back for the engagement?y whispered, her voice trembling "Wisit the embarrasses me in front of everyone?"

Burley's jaw tightened, her expression darkening. The thought of her daughter being laumiliated, of their carefully laid plans unraveling, was enough to send a dall downer spite

"If Wien doesn't saw up." dey said clowly, "we'll make sure he does Tought, when Mr. Zachman gets home, we'll take care of this.

Cat takes, Wien will be there too. I don't care if we have to drag him there ourselves. This engagement is happening, Ivy. Nothing will stop it.

Her voice carried the weight of her determination, sudley hadn't been able to secure a place in the Zachman family for herself, but she would make damn sure her dauglendid