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

hint of bittemess. Even

free of resentment

faint hope. But heating let say this aloud felt like a death sentence. It was like she had taken a knife to

complications of his family. He'd thought she would never truly le How did everything

leave.

eyes reddened as a metallic taste filled 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 me,

I shouldn't have ignored your feelings because of Ivy. I

i never thought you'd leave. Mease come back

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

"That's not my home, and I'm not angry with

were right that day at the hospital. You're not my legal guardian, and

to expect you to save me. I said things I

su remember? you

Each word was a cruel teminder of his mistakes, and the pain in his chest grew

etched with anguish, his complexion pale as if all the blood had drained from