Chapter 206: Communicate

Back at Pearl Mansion, Grace was busy with her nightly skincare routine while Jonathan leaned against the headboard, quietly admiring his wife.

However, there was something he couldn’t help noticing. Grace seemed unusually distracted tonight.

Normally, she would chatter away about everything that had happened throughout the day while getting ready for bed. Tonight, however, she had barely spoken a word.

"What are you thinking about, Grace?" Jonathan finally asked.

Grace snapped out of her thoughts and turned toward him.

"Hmm?"

"You’ve been awfully quiet tonight. Is something bothering you?"

She hesitated before letting out a heavy sigh. Setting aside her moisturizer, she walked over to the bed and settled beside him.

"Jonathan, do you think we’ve been neglecting our children?"

Jonathan frowned at the unexpected question.

"Where is this coming from?"

Grace lowered her gaze, thinking about Dominic and Hannah.

She had always believed that she and Jonathan had done their best to raise their children with love and strong values. They had taught them to be compassionate, respectful, and responsible without imposing unnecessary restrictions on their lives.

They wanted both Dominic and Hannah to have the freedom to make their own decisions.

But lately, Grace had begun questioning whether giving them that freedom had also caused her to overlook certain things.

"Sometimes I wonder whether we’ve been too caught up in our own lives to notice what’s happening in theirs," she admitted.

Jonathan studied her thoughtfully.

"Are you talking about Dominic?"

"Both of them, actually."

Grace paused before continuing.

"You know how I used to feel about the Hayes family. I never thought Clara would be any different from them. But because Dominic chose her, I decided to accept her."

"And you don’t regret that now, do you?"

"Of course not." Grace shook her head. "Clara has proved me wrong in so many ways. I’m glad Dominic has someone like her beside him."

A faint smile appeared on Jonathan’s face.

"Then what’s troubling you?"

"Hannah."

At the mention of their daughter, Jonathan’s expression grew serious.

Grace clasped her hands together.

"We’ve known the Swan family for years, Jonathan. Eric practically grew up in front of us. I never imagined he would betray Hannah like that."

Jonathan’s jaw tightened.

"Neither did I."

"And the worst part is that we didn’t even realize how badly she’d been hurt until everything came out."

Grace’s voice softened.

"She didn’t cry in front of us. Not once. She acted as though she could handle everything on her own."

Jonathan reached for her hand.

"Grace, you know how stubborn our daughter can be."

"I know. But that’s exactly what worries me."

She looked at him, her eyes filled with concern.

"She’s keeping even more things to herself these days. Every time I ask her something, she either changes the subject or laughs it off."

Grace sighed.

"I don’t want her to feel that she has to hide her problems from us just because she’s grown up."

Jonathan gently squeezed her hand.

"Maybe she simply needs more time."

"Or maybe we haven’t made her feel comfortable enough to open up."

"Grace, our children know we love them."

"I know they do," she whispered. "But sometimes I wonder whether knowing that is enough."

She leaned against his shoulder.

"I just don’t want Hannah to go through something painful again while we’re completely unaware of it."

Jonathan wrapped an arm around her.

"Then we’ll make sure she knows she can always come to us. Without questions, without judgment."

Grace nodded slowly, though the worry in her eyes hadn’t entirely disappeared.

***

Meanwhile, Clara and Dominic finally returned home and got ready for bed.

[Finally! I can cuddle my wife to sleep.]

Dominic glanced at Toto, who was already snoring peacefully in his little bed across from theirs.

[He might have escaped his first training session today, but tomorrow will be different. I’ll make sure he learns to sleep in his own room and gives us some privacy.]

Dominic nodded thoughtfully, seemingly satisfied with his plan.

Clara, who had heard every word of his internal complaints, struggled to suppress a smile. She continued arranging their pillows before climbing into bed.

"All ready, hubby," she announced, patting the empty space beside her.

Dominic immediately abandoned his thoughts about Toto.

[Finally! My turn!]

He walked over and slipped beneath the covers. The moment he lay down, he opened his arms invitingly.

Clara chuckled before scooting closer and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Dominic pulled her against his chest, resting his chin gently on her head.

For the next few minutes, neither of them spoke.

While Dominic enjoyed having his wife all to himself, Clara’s thoughts gradually drifted back to everything that had happened earlier that day.

Dorothy’s threats still lingered in her mind.

She had expected her mother to cause trouble sooner or later, but she hadn’t imagined Dorothy would go so far as to sell the bakery’s property.

The bakery wasn’t merely a business to Clara. It held precious memories of her grandparents, and she had no intention of surrendering it.

However, she also knew Dorothy wouldn’t back down easily.

Lost in thought, Clara unconsciously tightened her arms around Dominic.

He noticed immediately.

"Clara?"

"Hmm?"

"Is there something you want to talk about?"

She lifted her head, looking at him in surprise.

"What makes you ask that?"

Dominic studied her face for a moment.

"You seem distracted."

Clara blinked.

[She was smiling and talking to Toto throughout dinner, but every time our eyes met, she looked as though she wanted to tell me something.]

His arms tightened protectively around her.

[Something’s bothering her. I could see it all evening, but I didn’t want to ruin her mood by asking in front of everyone.]

Clara stared at him.

[If she’s not ready to talk, I won’t force her. But I wish she’d stop trying to handle everything alone.]

Her heart softened as she listened to his thoughts.

So he’s been observing me this entire time? And here I thought I’d hidden it so well.

"Hubby," she murmured.

"Yes?"

"Have you been watching me all evening?"

Dominic paused.

"Of course. You’re my wife."

His straightforward answer made her smile.

"And here I thought you were too busy being jealous of Toto."

Dominic’s expression immediately stiffened.

"I wasn’t jealous."

[Why does she keep bringing that up?]

Clara laughed softly and snuggled closer.

"Alright, alright. You weren’t jealous."

However, her laughter gradually faded as she remembered Dorothy’s ultimatum.

Dominic noticed the change in her expression.

"Clara, what happened?"

She hesitated before finally meeting his eyes.

"Something happened at the bakery today."

Dominic’s gaze sharpened, but he remained quiet, waiting for her to continue.

Clara took a deep breath.

"Dorothy sold the property to Crownwell Holdings. They’re threatening to demolish my bakery unless I vacate it within two days."

Dominic’s expression darkened.

[No wonder she’s been so hesitant all evening.]

Dominic’s expression softened as he looked at Clara.

"You know I can help you, right?" he said without hesitation.

He had never wanted the Hayes family anywhere near his wife. That was precisely why, when he decided to bring them down, he had targeted the very foundation of their influence.

[I should’ve known. With every lawyer refusing to help Dorothy, she was bound to find another way to get back at Clara.]

Clara pursed her lips as she listened to his thoughts.

She had suspected the same thing. Knowing Dorothy and Julianna, she had never expected them to accept defeat so easily. It was only a matter of time before they came after her again.

Still, she couldn’t help regretting her carelessness.

I should’ve collected all my belongings from Hayes Mansion when I had the chance.

If she hadn’t left the property documents behind, Dorothy might never have found such an easy way to threaten her.

"Clara?"

Dominic’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She looked up and found him watching her with concern.

"Don’t tell me you’re planning to handle this on your own."

Clara smiled faintly.

"Would you be upset if I did?"

"Yes."

His immediate response caught her off guard.

[Why does she always think she has to face everything alone? I’m her husband. She can rely on me.]

Warmth spread through Clara’s chest.

She had already made up her mind to stop acting recklessly and start communicating with Dominic whenever something troubled her.

Of course, there were certain things she still couldn’t bring herself to reveal.

How was she supposed to explain that she could hear his thoughts? Or that she had been reborn with memories of a life in which he had died?

For someone as practical as Dominic, such revelations would be difficult to comprehend.

But there was one thing she was certain of.

She didn’t want to keep shutting him out.

"Actually, there’s something else I haven’t told you," she admitted.

Dominic gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"I’m listening."

"Dorothy offered to stop the demolition on one condition."

His eyes narrowed.

"What condition?"

"She wants you to withdraw the case against Vincent and get him released."

Dominic’s expression turned icy.

[So that’s what she’s after.]

Clara tightened her hold around his waist.

"Before you say anything, I already refused her."

Dominic looked at her.

"Good. Because I wasn’t going to agree anyway."

Clara smiled, but her heart remained uneasy.

She wanted his support. What she couldn’t bear was the thought of him getting too deeply involved with the very people responsible for his death in their previous life.