Chapter 207: You need to start taking responsibility for your own life

In her previous life, Clara had been so thoroughly manipulated by the Hayes family that she had failed to notice everything Dominic had silently endured because of her.

Blinded by their lies, she had repeatedly hurt the one person who had genuinely cared for her.

It was only after losing him that she finally understood how terribly she had wronged him.

And when fate granted her another chance, she made a promise to herself.

She would never allow the Hayes family to destroy Dominic again.

Once, she had been a naive girl who believed love could heal everything. Never had she imagined that she would become the very reason the man who loved her most would lose his life.

Clara looked up at Dominic, noticing the deep frown on his face.

She knew exactly why he was upset. He wanted to protect her, yet she was once again insisting on handling everything herself.

But this time, she wasn’t acting out of stubbornness.

She was simply terrified of losing him again.

"Dom, please don’t be upset," she murmured, gently cupping his face.

Dominic looked at her intently.

"Then tell me why you’re so determined to deal with them alone."

Clara hesitated.

"Because I know what they’re capable of."

"And you think I don’t?"

"That’s not what I meant."

She sighed before leaning closer.

"Hubby, I know you’re trying to help me. And believe me, I’m grateful. But I don’t want you getting dragged into every mess my family creates."

Dominic’s brows furrowed.

"Clara, we’re married. Your problems are my problems too."

[I don’t understand why she’s so afraid of letting me help her.]

His thoughts made her heart ache.

If only he knew how much she feared losing him.

"I know," she whispered. "But please trust me this once. I’m not going to do anything reckless."

Dominic remained silent.

Clara gently stroked his cheek.

"I know Dorothy and Julianna better than anyone. I know how they think, how they manipulate people, and how far they’re willing to go to get what they want."

She paused, meeting his gaze.

"I was careless before, but I won’t make the same mistake again."

Dominic studied her for a moment.

"And what if things get out of hand?"

"Then you’ll be the first person I call."

"Promise?"

Clara smiled and held out her little finger.

"Promise."

Dominic glanced at her finger before reluctantly hooking his own around it.

[Fine. But if anyone dares to hurt her, all bets are off.]

Clara suppressed a smile and leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss against his lips.

"Thank you for trusting me, hubby."

***

While Clara and Dominic slept peacefully in each other’s arms, someone else was busy drowning his frustrations in alcohol at a nearby bar.

Alex sat alone at the counter, staring bitterly at his half-empty glass.

"She even got herself a puppy," he muttered.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the sight of Clara walking beside Dominic, happily carrying that little fluffy creature in her arms.

Once upon a time, she had dreamed of having a pet with him.

Back then, Alex had dismissed the idea, convinced that he had far better things to spend his money on.

Yet tonight, seeing her so happy with Dominic had left an unpleasant feeling in his chest.

"Another drink," he told the bartender, pushing his empty glass forward.

Earlier that evening, Julianna had thrown another tantrum after he prepared dinner.

Not only had she complained about the food, but she had also called him useless and accused him of being incapable of providing her with a decent lifestyle.

Alex had finally lost his patience and stormed out of the apartment.

"Ungrateful woman," he grumbled, taking another sip.

He had never imagined himself tolerating someone as spoiled and demanding as Julianna.

When he first got involved with her, he had believed her family’s wealth would guarantee him a luxurious future.

But now that the Hayes family was facing financial trouble, Julianna had become nothing more than an expensive headache.

"She’s got no money, no manners, and still expects me to treat her like a princess!"

The bartender glanced at him before quietly moving away.

Alex scoffed.

"And Clara..."

His expression darkened as he remembered the way she had smiled at Dominic.

She hadn’t even spared him a glance.

For the first time, Alex wondered whether abandoning Clara for Julianna had been a terrible mistake.

He emptied his glass.

"Damn it. How did everything turn out like this?"

As Alex stared at his drink, memories of his relationship with Clara began flooding his mind.

She had been so innocent back then, genuinely believing they would build a beautiful life together.

He remembered how persistently he had pursued her, slowly breaking down her walls until she finally agreed to become his girlfriend.

At the time, he had even imagined marrying her and starting a family of their own.

But there had always been one obstacle.

Diana.

Clara’s mother had never considered him a suitable partner for her daughter. Although she tolerated their relationship for Clara’s sake, she never hesitated to remind Alex that he needed to take his future seriously.

"Alex, you’re both still young," Diana had once told him. "If you truly want a future with Clara, you need to start taking responsibility for your own life."

Back then, he had dismissed her concerns as unnecessary interference.

After all, Clara loved him. Wasn’t that enough?

But Diana had seen what her daughter couldn’t.

Clara was the one making most of the effort in their relationship, while Alex barely bothered with his studies.

Diana wanted her daughter to build a successful career and become independent. Naturally, when Clara first told her about their relationship, she had been skeptical.

Alex scoffed bitterly at the memory.

"She never liked me anyway."

Yet as he recalled Diana’s words, an uncomfortable realization crept into his mind.

Perhaps she had simply wanted someone who would love Clara as much as Clara loved him.

He tightened his grip around his glass.

But none of that mattered anymore.

Diana was gone, and Clara now belonged to someone else.

Someone who could give her everything Alex had once promised but never bothered to provide.

"Damn it, Clara," he muttered, his chest tightening with jealousy.

He had thrown away the woman who once dreamed of spending her entire life with him.