Your Love Is But a Dream (Clara and Wren)

Shirley bit her lip, a wave of unease rising in her chest. It felt like she was losing control over someone she had always thought was firmly in her grasp. That thought alone was enough to make her panic.

She quickly smoothed her emotions, wiping at her tear-streaked face, and looked up at Carlisle with red-rimmed eyes.

"If the Zachman family really can't accept me and Ivy, then I don't want to make things harder for you. Maybe it's best if we just let Ivy's engagement with Wren go. Tomorrow, I'll pack up and leave with her. We won't ever come back." With that, Shirley stood abruptly and made her way toward the door.

Carlisle, who was growing increasingly irritated by her tears, suddenly froze at her words. As he watched her walk away, he panicked and quickly strode after her, grabbing her arm and pulling her into his chest.

"You're not going anywhere. Not without my say-so," he said firmly, holding her close.

Shirley struggled against his grip, her voice rising. "What's the point of staying? Katrina can't stand me, your mother openly opposes us, and now even Wren's

"ty and Wren aren't getting married, then have no reason or place to stay in this house. I won't be humiliated here, Carlisle!

"I've been through that once before. Do you want me to live through the pain of losing someone i love again and having to leave with nothing?"

Her words struckanerve, dragging Carlisle's mind back to the past, Memories of how Martha had intervened to separate him and Shirley all those years ago flooded his thoughts & wave of guilt and regret washed over him, rekindling his sense of debt toward her. "Shitley," he said, his tone softening "Please just trust me one more time. I'll make this right for you and Ivy. I won't let anyone push you out. Just don't leave,

Shirley's lips curled into the faintest smirk of triumph, but she quickly masked it. She didn't agree right away, keeping her tone hesitant until Carlisle started making promises - Weanne on everything he held dear and pledging

more security for her and Ivy. It was only then that she relented, appearing reluctantly Served by his efforts.

Once Shirley and by were whisked away in a car Carlisle arranged, he made his way to a separate lounge to contront Martha

As soon as he walked in Martha greeted him with a sharp, disdainful scot. "Well, look who finally remembered his mother exists. I thought you might have been Too busy being wrapped around that woman's little finger to bother showing up." Carlisles tace darkened. He hated it when Mattha spoke to him this way, and the resentment was clear in every word.

"Mom, do you have to be so hersh? If it wasn't for you tearing me and Shirley apart wears ago, we'd already be married. I'm just trying to help her out now: is

such a crime? Why can't you let this go?"

Mambua's Laugh was ary. "You think I don't know exactly what you're up to? 1 tumed a blind eye to that woman for years because you were discreet enough not to enmatten the family. But now you want to use my grandson's engagement to help her daughter? Over my de Calle's temper flared, but he caught a glimpse of Katrina sitting in the comer, her face a picture of indifference. Her refusal to meet his gaze only stoked his

afe shot her a hard glate, but she ignored him entirely, Carlisle clenched his fists, forcing himself to rein in his irritation. He couldn't lash out with his mother in the

he said curtly, "we'll discuss tids later" Then, after a pause, he asked, "Did Wren tell you about this?"

"Dol need my grandson to inform me?" Martha replied with a cold smile. "You've made this engagement such a public spectacle, inviting half the city's elite. Did you trally tank words wouldn't get back to me?"

Ginde trowel "but wasir Wren

Martha's ship gate flickered with something unreadable, but she didn't elaborate. "Carlisle, have you really fallen so far that you're suspicious of your own son

like that," Carlisle said, though his expression remained troubled. "It's just... When disappeared right before the engagement. lanc't been stowering calls I thought maybe he was trying to avoid it and reached out to you for lielp

was the one who said no to Wien manying that gid. Don't you dare put this on my grandson," Martha said, her protective tone shutting down any further