Chapter 295 A Clean Break

“It means exactly what it sounds like. You’re smart enough to understand. I was a fool before, always afraid you’d expose this to your sister. That’s why I let you manipulate me time and again, why I let myself get lost in the tender illusion you wove. Now, I’ve completely woken up, and I’m horrified by how wrong I was!”

Frederick Forrester violently shook off Clara Shepherd’s hand, which was clutching his arm. The motion was sharp and decisive, his attitude leaving no room for negotiation.

“Frederick, don’t you dare leave! You can’t do this to me!”

Clara Shepherd stumbled as she tried to get out of bed to stop him, but her body was too weak. She fell straight onto the cold floor. All she could do was lie there, watching helplessly as the man walked resolutely away. He never once looked back, not even sparing her a single glance.

“Frederick…”

Her frail voice trailed off as a doctor and a caregiver entered the room. They carefully helped her back into the hospital bed.

The caregiver spoke in a calm and respectful tone. “Miss Shepherd, I’m the caregiver Mr. Forrester hired specifically for you. I will be taking care of you full-time for the remainder of your hospital stay. Mr. Forrester has already settled all the expenses, so please rest assured. I will provide you with professional and meticulous care.”

“I don’t want your care! Go get him back! He can’t just walk out on me like this!”

A chill washed over Clara Shepherd’s heart. So, Frederick Forrester had arranged everything in advance. He had planned it all from the beginning: once she gave birth to the child, he would cut all ties and abandon her.

She had been so sure that Frederick had developed genuine feelings for her. Those ten months of tender affection had turned out to be nothing more than a fleeting illusion.

The dreamlike bubble had been brutally shattered, and the cruel reality came crashing down on her.

‘How could he be so heartless?’

‘She had just given him a son!’

‘Does he really think he can sever his ties with me and go back to Carla Shepherd as if nothing ever happened?’

‘But they’ve already signed the divorce papers. And Carla’s the type who can’t stand the slightest impurity; she would never forgive and forget.’

‘There’s no way she’ll get back together with him!’

Frederick Forrester left the hospital and went straight to a private teahouse nearby.

When he pushed open the door to the private room, Nolan Forrester was already sitting there waiting.

The father and son sat in silence across from each other, quietly brewing and sipping tea. The room was dead silent; neither spoke a word.

After a long while, once a cup of tea was finished, Frederick was the first to break the silence, his voice tired and hoarse.

“You should know the whole story by now. I’m the one who wronged your mother. I made a terrible mistake. I’ve already signed the divorce papers with her. From now on, you need to be a good son and stay by her side.”

“So what are your plans?” Nolan Forrester put down his teacup and looked directly at him.

“Leave Northolme.”

“Haven’t you even considered trying to make it up to her, to atone for your mistake?”

“We both know your mother’s personality. She will never forgive me.”

Since the outcome was already set in stone, any further entanglement would be pointless. It would only lead to mutual torment and lingering embarrassment.

Nolan’s expression was complicated. “I’ve thoroughly investigated how Clara Shepherd set you up, and I told your mother the truth. Even though Clara schemed every step of the way, you still crossed a line.”

“I understand. My will was weak. I couldn’t resist.”

“Well, at least you’re man enough to own up to it.”

“At my age, if I don’t even have the courage to admit my mistakes, that would be truly shameless. I’d be unworthy of being called a man.”

“As for Clara Shepherd, what do you plan to do?”

“I’ve already made things completely clear with her. From now on, no matter how much she cries, pesters, or threatens me, I won’t soften or give in again. The caregiver is in place, and I’ve also transferred two million to her for child support.”

In addition to that money, the detached villa he had previously transferred to Clara Shepherd was enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

“Only two million?” Nolan was slightly surprised. “Do you think Clara Shepherd will just let it go?”

“There’s nothing more I can do. That’s all the compensation I can offer.”

“You always seemed like a responsible man. But when you decide to be ruthless, you’re exceptionally cruel.” Nolan refilled his tea. “Are you really planning to just walk away from it all?”

“Yes. All the companies, real estate, stocks, and funds in my name—I’m leaving them all to you and your mother,” Frederick said in a low voice. “I’ve lost all face. I have no right to remain in Northolme.”

That afternoon, Frederick Forrester packed a simple bag and quietly left Northolme, his destination unknown.

Unable to contact Frederick, Clara Shepherd completely lost control. She threw a massive tantrum, and the intense emotional distress caused her surgical wound to rupture, leading to major bleeding. She was rushed to the emergency room.

Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd rushed to the hospital when they heard the news. Seeing their younger daughter lying weakly in bed, they were both furious and heartbroken.

The couple blamed Frederick for everything and immediately called Carla Shepherd.

“Did you force Frederick to leave? Is that why your sister ended up like this? Even if Clara did something wrong, how can you be so hard-hearted as her own sister?”

Carla listened to the tirade in silence, her tone detached and icy when she finally spoke.

“This has nothing to do with me. You call and blame me without even trying to understand what’s right or wrong. Have you ever stopped to think that I’m your daughter, too? How do you think that makes me feel?”

“It was Clara Shepherd who drugged and seduced my husband, who single-handedly destroyed my marriage and my family. She brought this all on herself.”

“If you’re going to keep using your status as my elders to twist right and wrong and pressure me, then we don’t need to have any contact in the future.”

“Also, the villa that Frederick transferred to Clara Shepherd during our marriage is marital property. If I file a lawsuit, she will have to return the entire property. Don’t force my hand.”

Mrs. Shepherd stood frozen, her eyes red. She couldn’t believe that her older daughter, who had always been so gentle, filial, and obedient, was now speaking to her in such a sharp and cold tone.

Mr. Shepherd took the phone and softened his tone. “But she is your sister, born of the same mother. She was just confused for a moment, led astray by someone else.”

“Led astray by whom? Drugging him, planning the pregnancy, threatening him every step of the way—she orchestrated it all herself. Don’t try to downplay her role and shift the blame to others. The reason she has no self-respect is a direct result of your years of spoiling and indulging her.”

“From now on, don’t bother me with anything related to Clara Shepherd. I don’t want to hear a single thing about her.”

After saying her piece, Carla hung up the phone.

She turned her head to look at the garden outside the window, her heart heavy with frustration.

She never would have expected Frederick to just abandon Clara and leave town. She had assumed that he would ultimately take responsibility for Clara.

Only now did she see the truth: the “unforgettable, mutual love” that Clara always talked about had been nothing but self-deception from the very beginning.

She dialed Nolan Forrester’s number.

“Did you know that your father left Northolme?”

Nolan Forrester was sitting on the living room sofa, his gaze falling on Shiloh Sloan, who was busy nearby. He answered faintly.

“I know. He met with me yesterday.”

Carla was silent for a moment before asking softly, “What did he say?”