Your Love Is But a Dream

Chapter 74

I

Chapter

74

When froze in place, a surge of anger and fear crashing through him like a tidal wave, squeezing his chest until he could barely breathe. Heded to suppress the emotions that threatened to overtake him, but his face hardened, and he demanded, "What do you mean?" Clara looked at him calmly, her gare steady and devoid of emotion.

"When," she began quietly, her voice firm and measured. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. Aunt Katrina was always busy with work, but you raised, protected, and spoiled me.

"I'll never be able to repay that landness. I don't have much to offer,

H

to offer, but the things I sent with Aunt Katrina were my way of expressing gratitude" She paused briefly, then continued, her voice unwavering "I wasn't muture enogh before, I put myself in the wrong place and caused you a lot of trouble. For that, I owe van apology. 1 hope you and live can find happiness together. From now on, I'll treat you as nothing more than family-abrother. I won't entertain any foolish thoughts or dingt voor life anymore Herwinds were

a hint

sincere, free of

moment, Wren had clung to a faint hope. But heating let say this aloud felt like a death sentence. It was like she had taken a knife to his chest, carving

the start, all he'd wanted was to distance her from the complications of his family. He'd

leave.

his throat. He gripped her hand tightly, his voice breaking and filled with desperation as he pleaded, "Clara, this isn't how you really teel, is it? You're still mad at

himself to keep going. "I know I shouldn't have ignored your feelings because of Ivy. I shouldn't have left you alone at the banquet, shouldn't

leave. Mease

has always been your home-don't That promise Wren had said it himself fifteen years ago had once been the most certain truth in Clara's life. She had never doubted it.

she said softly, shading her head. "That's not my home, and I'm not angry

day at the hospital. You're not my legal guardian, and we're not related by

no right to expect you to save me. I said things I shouldn't have, and I blamed you

su remember? you

to Waen's chest, piercing straight through his heart. Each word was a cruel teminder of his mistakes, and the pain in

pale as if all the blood had drained from