Your Love Is But a Dream (Clara and Wren)

Chapter 98

Wren hadn't slept all night. He spent hours lying in the dark, staring at the ceiling, the weight of his thoughts suffocating him.

As the first rays of light broke through the sky, he got up quietly and headed downstairs. By the time Clara came down, he was already in the kitchen, busying himself at the stove.

when she saw him, for a fleeting moment, the sight overlapped with an image from her memories-the Wren who used to cook breakfast for her when they were younger Tut just as quicldy, the image blurred and faded. lowered her gaze, avoiding him.

"You're up," Wren said, noticing her the moment she stepped into the room. He quickly timed off the stove and grabbed the pot of oatmeal he'd been simmering, "I made breakfast-cream of mushroom soup and surmy side- ups. If there's anything else you want, just let me know. I can make it for lunch, too, if you'd like. He placed the pot on the table, ladling a portion into a bowl. Clara said nothing, her expression distant.

When set the bowl in front of her, a nerves, almost childlike hopefulness on his face. "Here, try it before it gets cold. I know it's your favorite." However, she didn't move. Her gaze shitted to him, steady and wielding. Wren urged, his voice other now. "We can talk after."

Clara stayed silent for a moment longer before she Imally spoke, her tone calm hat firm. "Wien, you should leave after breakfast."

bowl down in front of her,

His smile froze. The cheerful facade he'd been trying so hard to maintain cracked, and for a moment, he looked lost, Still, he set the b forcing himself to stay composed.

"Can we not talk about this now? just eat," he said, his voice low

However, Caca wasn't going to let it slide. "Why did you come here?" she asked, her tone unwavering. "Was it guilt or something else?" Wren termed up but said nothing, his hand tightening around the ladle. "You keep telling me to go back to the Zachman family, but we both know I don't belong there," she continued.

"You've seen how fy looks at me. She doesn't want me there, and honestly, I don't want to go back to the same environment where I have to j

to justify my existence

was the best choice for everyone. You wouldn't be tom between me and your fancée, and

Her voice softened, but her words hit harder. "When I left, I thought it was i Aunt Joerrina wouldn't have to deal with the tension.

sense. So why are you here now, trying to undo it all?"

When closed his eyes, the painos face unmistakable. He knew she was right-he had no one to blame but himself for the situation they were in. And yet, he couldn't let her po..

I can't explain everything right now." he said finally, his voice hoarse with emotion. "But I promise, if you come back, things will be different.

I'll make sure you're never put in that positional And I won't

He hesitated, his chest tightening. "I won't marry Ivy:"

Carara boow fallowed. She studied his face, searching for something she couldn't quite name. His words didn't make sense; his actions didn't make sense. "Why?" she asked, her voice steady. "Why now, Wen? After all this time, what's the point of saying these things? Four years ago, you made your choice. I accepted Why come back uw and try to change things?

Her question Lung int

sharp and cutting. When couldn't answer, not the way she needed him to

"No," Clara said, shaking her head. Her expression remained calin, her voice resolute. "I can't."

Wor's breath landed as though she'd just pulled the ground out from under him. His hands trembled as he stared at her, silently begging her to take it back, but

Instead,

siglad softly mal gasa lama sad saule. "I don't blame you for anything, When You don't owe in anything. Just because you love someone doesn't Dean Hay probligated to love you back." nardant slightly, i

, but she kept going. "What hurt me wasn't that you didn't feel the same, you knew

knew how much I cared, yet you treated my feelings like