Your Love Is But a Dream

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.”

in front of her,

facade he’d been trying so hard to maintain cracked, and for a moment, he looked lost, Still,

talk about this now? just eat,” he said, his voice low

“Was it guilt or something else?”

go back to the Zachman family, but we both know

looks at me. She doesn’t want me there, and honestly, I don’t want to go back to the same environment where

justify my existence

the best choice for everyone. You wouldn’t be tom between

softened, but her words hit harder. “When I left, I thought it was i Aunt Joerrina wouldn’t have

are you here now, trying to

was right–he had no one to blame but himself for the situation they were in. And yet, he couldn’t let

said finally, his voice hoarse with emotion. “But I

never put in that positional And

his chest tightening. “I won’t marry

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?

question Lung int

When couldn’t answer, not the way she