Clara stood rooted to the spot for a few seconds before she finally made herself follow him.

She wasn't imagining it-Dylan was in a seriously bad mood tonight.

She trailed him upstairs to the second floor, watching as he slipped into his study and sat right in the middle of the room. He didn't look like he was about to get any work done; if anything, he looked lost in his own head.

Clara hovered at the doorway, debating with herself, then finally couldn't resist anymore.

"Did your family come down on you again?"

The marks from last time still hadn't faded. If they hurt him again, would his back ever heal?

Dylan glanced at her silhouette in the doorway, his lips quirking up just a little.

"Are you worried about me?"

Sometimes Clara wondered if she'd been fitted with a Dylan mood detector or something. How else could she always tell when he was upset?

She didn't answer, just stood there for a few more minutes before slowly walking over and bracing her hands on his desk.

"I just don't get it. If this is all so hard for you, why not just divorce me? Wouldn't that make both our lives easier?"

He looked up right away, eyes sharp. "Easier for who?"

Clara frowned. Was she not making sense?

"For me. For you. Mrs. Ferguson said it herself—marrying me would just make your life miserable."

His face stayed unreadable, but suddenly he reached out and gently gripped her chin, tipping her head side to side.

"Maybe it would be better for you, Clara. But not for me."

up here, Dylan had always

searching his face for any hint of what they might

She'd even slapped

Dylan to her,

lost in thought, she didn't even notice when he leaned

hers-soft, barely there. His

her mind blank for a few long seconds before she finally shuffled out, moving like a

heard him say, "Next time you

froze, feeling like someone

re

a ridiculous rumor

her.

moment, she

respond, but nothing came

her stiff back as she walked away, a real smile

always did that-without even trying, she made

back to her own room right away. Instead, she stood at the top

gazing down at

purpose. Somehow, this place had started to feel warm, even comforting. Waiting up for him on the

herself realizing it more

needed to find a way out, before

took a deep breath

a while, eventually making her way

car.

keys. She couldn't drive

left so

ет

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