Chapter 98: The art of not letting go

***Kent, England***

Mary, Julian’s wife, sat at the kitchen island, her mind entirely clear now that she had all the details of the trust fund straightened out. It had been days since Julian had come home with the single paper that changed the trajectory of her daughter’s future.

And just like Clancy said, he had sent the official trust management documents to her the very next morning. She had spent the last few days reviewing everything on her tablet, making sure she fully understood every single clause he had put in place for Chloe.

She carefully cross-checked the Mayfair real estate portfolio and the five percent non-voting equity share in the Primrose Hotel Group, ensuring the asset allocation was completely locked in.

When she was done, she shut her tablet and sighed, knowing that Chloe’s financial independence was fully secured for life. And then, another Stage of the realisation of what Clancy had done for her child set in.

She felt guilty for even doubting the intentions of a man who was just missing his own family during her baby shower.

****Madrid, Spain**

The following day, Clancy spent hours pacing the floor of his office. His eyes kept darting back to his desk, where Daniel’s drawing sat right next to his laptop. He remembered the absolute pride on the boy’s face during their video call.

That moment had made him feel like he finally belonged somewhere, a feeling he had not experienced in a very long time.

He stopped pacing and stared out the window. Was he really going to let jealousy walk him out the door? Was he going to give up on the family he was falling for just because things got complicated?

"No," Clancy said to the empty room. Leaving was the easy way out. It was what he always did when things got uncomfortable. But if he wanted to be the man who handled the heavy, exhausting days, he had to actually stay and fight for her.

He could not just run away because another man had entered the picture. He needed to prove to Selen, and to himself, that he was capable of standing his ground.

That evening, Selen was downstairs in her living room. She sat on the couch, going through recent art portfolios sent by potential artists for her gallery space. She scrolled through the images on her tablet, trying to focus on the paintings and sculptures, but her mind kept wandering back to Clancy’s strange, distant behavior earlier.

Upstairs, the kids were completely asleep for the night. The house was quiet until a sudden, firm knock at the front door broke the silence.

Selen started, placing her tablet down on the coffee table. She walked into the foyer, confused about who could be visiting so late, and pulled the front door open.

Clancy stood on the porch. His hair was messy from the wind, his coat was completely unbuttoned, and the hesitation that had been there since the day before was entirely gone.

"Clancy?" she said, looking at him with confusion. "You left hours ago. Did you forget something?"

Clancy did not say a single word. He stepped right past her into the foyer, closing the door behind him to shut out the cold night air.

Before Selen could even process what he was doing or ask him what was wrong, he reached out, grabbed her waist, and pulled her hard against his chest.

He bent down and kissed her.

It was not a gentle, hesitant test. It was a completely different kind of kiss- rough, intense, and filled with a sudden, demanding passion. He poured all of his jealousy, his fear of losing her, and his refusal to back down into it.

His lips pressed against hers with total possession, leaving no room for doubt or anyone else. Selen gasped against his mouth, her hands flying up to grip the flap of his heavy coat. The sheer intensity of it sent a jolt straight through her spine.

The confusion and hurt from his distant behavior over the past two days melted away instantly. It was replaced by a sudden rush of heat. She leaned into his weight, tightening her grip on his jacket, and began kissing him back just as hard.

She did not want him to stop. She needed this intimacy just as much as he did, but that was not something that she was going to admit to.

When Clancy finally broke the kiss, he did not pull away completely. His forehead rested right against hers.

Both of them stood in the quiet hallway, breathing heavily. His hands stayed locked around her waist, holding her close against him.

"I am not going anywhere, Selen," Clancy whispered. His voice was rough and determined as he looked straight into her eyes. "I do not care how hard it gets. I am staying."

Selen looked up at him, her heart pounding fast against her ribs. She finally understood exactly what had been driving his silence.

Clancy was terrified of losing her to Newton, and this was his way of saying he was ready to fight for their relationship. He hoped that she saw the meaning behind his actions.

***Newton**

Meanwhile, inside Newton’s home, the atmosphere was completely still. Newton sat at his desk and pulled open the top drawer of his nightstand.

He took out a small, red velvet box. He held it in his hand for a moment before opening it gently to reveal a beautiful diamond engagement ring.

He stared at the ring for a long while. He thought about his history with Selen, the months they had known each other, and the future he wanted to build with her and the kids.

He had been waiting for the right time to make his move, believing that their bond was strong enough to withstand anything. After a few minutes, he placed the box back into the drawer and turned the key, locking it safely inside.

So while Clancy was in Selen’s home, promising to be a better man for her and the kids, Newton was staring at the ring he had gotten for her.

Clancy was claiming his place in her present, while Newton was quietly preparing to claim her future.