Chapter 61: Like what you see hubby

Hannah looked at Clara with a solemn expression while Clara simply giggled.

"I was kidding," Clara said, waving her hand dismissively. "You don’t have to thank me. We’re family."

The moment those words left her mouth, the tension in Hannah’s face melted away. Even so, she shook her head.

"Still... I want to thank you."

Her voice softened as she took a slow breath.

"I said so many terrible things to you when all you wanted was for me to see Eric’s true colors."

She lowered her gaze for a brief moment before looking back at Clara.

"So... I’m sorry. And thank you... for everything."

The usual mischievous grin on Clara’s face gradually turned into a warm, genuine smile.

For a second.

Then she dramatically sniffled, wiped away imaginary tears, and looked at the ceiling.

"Great. Now you’re making me emotional."

She even pretended to fan herself.

"I specifically woke up today planning to be a menace."

Hannah burst into laughter.

"You really can’t stay serious for more than five seconds, can you?"

"I can."

"..."

"I just don’t want to."

That earned another laugh.

After the laughter settled, Hannah leaned forward curiously.

"By the way... how did you even get that recording?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Were you secretly following Eric around?"

After Clara had apologized for falsely accusing Eric, Hannah had believed she was mistaken. Clara had sounded sincere back then.

Now she realized Clara probably apologized only because she didn’t want Hannah to worry or become upset before she had actual proof.

Clara lazily leaned back against the sofa and crossed one leg over the other.

"It wasn’t that difficult."

She shrugged casually.

"Beating up a few jerks isn’t exactly challenging."

Hannah blinked.

"...Excuse me?"

"But no," Clara continued as if she hadn’t casually dropped something insane. "I wasn’t following Eric. Fate simply decided to help me for once."

She chuckled.

"I went to deliver a cake, and guess who happened to be drinking and loudly exposing himself like an idiot?"

She pointed both thumbs upward.

"Our beloved Romeo."

Hannah stared at her.

"So you’re telling me..."

"Yep."

"You accidentally walked into Eric confessing his crimes?"

"Pretty much."

"..."

"..."

"I hate how lucky you are."

"I know."

Hannah couldn’t help rubbing her forehead.

"Forget the recording. How in the world did you manage to beat men who were literally twice your size?"

Clara flashed an arrogant smirk.

"Technique."

Hannah waited.

"...That’s it?"

"Confidence."

"..."

"And maybe a little bit of anger."

"..."

"Fine."

Clara laughed.

"That’s a story for another day."

She stretched lazily before continuing.

"The important part is that Eric exposed himself. I just happened to record it."

Her smile disappeared.

"Then that idiot came up with a ridiculous story after getting caught."

She clicked her tongue.

"I should’ve uploaded the video immediately."

Hannah frowned.

"Then why didn’t you?"

She genuinely couldn’t understand.

"If you already had the evidence, why not send it to me? Or Dominic? Or Grandpa?"

Clara’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

"Because..."

She paused dramatically.

"I was waiting."

Hannah blinked.

"For what?"

"The perfect timing."

Silence filled the room.

Hannah looked completely confused.

Clara couldn’t help laughing.

"I knew you went looking for Eric."

Hannah froze.

"...What?"

"You didn’t find anything, though."

Hannah’s eyes widened.

"H-How did you know that?"

"You’d be surprised how observant little kids are."

She rested her chin on her palm.

"Lily and Silvia saw you leaving the club."

"They told me after we got home."

"By then, I’d already connected the dots."

She smiled knowingly.

"But your brother confirmed my theory this morning."

"When Grandpa called us."

Hannah stared blankly.

"So..."

"You all knew?"

Clara nodded.

"Pretty much."

Hannah covered her face with both hands.

"I swear this family shares one brain."

"No."

Clara corrected her with complete seriousness.

"We share gossip."

Hannah laughed so hard she almost fell off the couch.

"You people are unbelievable."

"I know."

Clara proudly accepted the compliment.

Then, out of nowhere, she sighed dramatically.

"Speaking of your brother..."

She looked toward the entrance.

"I suddenly miss my husband."

Hannah slowly lowered her hands.

"...You saw him this morning."

"I know."

"And?"

"I’ve been without him for..."

Clara looked at the clock.

"...almost seven hours."

Hannah stared at her in disbelief.

"Seven."

"Long."

"Hours."

"You sound like he’s deployed overseas."

Clara nodded solemnly.

"It has been difficult."

"I’ve shown remarkable strength."

Hannah rolled her eyes so hard they almost disappeared.

"You’re hopeless."

"I prefer romantically committed."

"Obsessive."

"Passionately devoted."

"Clingy."

"Emotionally expressive."

Hannah sighed.

"I give up."

"You usually do."

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The comfortable silence between them felt surprisingly natural.

Finally, Hannah smiled.

"I still can’t wrap my head around what changed in you."

She looked at Clara thoughtfully.

"One second you’re serious."

"The next you’re acting like the world is your personal comedy show."

She shook her head with a small smile.

"But..."

She paused.

"I don’t mind anymore."

"As long as you don’t hurt my brother..."

"...or this family."

Clara’s playful smile slowly disappeared.

For once, there wasn’t a single joke on her face.

She met Hannah’s eyes directly.

"I won’t."

Just two simple words.

No teasing.

No sarcasm.

No grin.

Yet somehow, Hannah believed her completely.

She smiled in return.

"I know."

The two women chatted for a while longer before Hannah finally decided to leave.

As she stepped outside the Sterling Mansion, the sound of an approaching engine echoed through the driveway.

A sleek black car rolled to a smooth stop.

The driver’s door opened.

Dominic stepped out, still dressed in his business suit.

The moment he saw Hannah standing there with an unusually bright smile, his brows knitted together.

Something was wrong.

Or perhaps... very right.

Hannah walked toward him with her hands behind her back.

She looked up at him with a grin that instantly made him suspicious.

"Good luck, Brother."

Dominic blinked.

"...With what?"

Hannah merely smiled wider.

"You’ll find out."

Before he could ask another question, she patted his arm.

"I believe in you."

"..."

Then she happily skipped toward her own car.

Dominic watched her leave with the same expression someone would wear after walking into the middle of a conversation without context.

"What was that supposed to mean?"

Hannah only waved from the window before driving away.

Dominic remained standing there for several seconds.

His instincts told him something had happened.

Something involving his wife.

"...Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?"

Shaking his head, he walked toward the mansion.

Only after stepping inside did he realize something.

The house was unusually quiet.

His eyes instinctively searched the living room.

Then the dining area.

Nothing.

He loosened his tie slightly and frowned.

He hadn’t realized how much time had passed while working.

But now that he was finally home...

He noticed the one person who normally greeted him first was nowhere to be seen.

His wife was missing.

Dominic pushed open the bedroom door, loosening his tie as he stepped inside.

The room was unusually quiet.

His eyes instinctively searched for the familiar figure who usually greeted him the moment he returned home.

Nothing.

His brows furrowed.

"Clara?"

Silence answered him.

He glanced toward the balcony.

Empty.

The walk-in closet.

Empty.

The sofa near the window still held several shopping bags, while Clara’s phone lay abandoned on the bed, charging.

His frown deepened.

"Where did she go?"

She rarely went anywhere without her phone.

As he took another step into the room, the faint sound of running water reached his ears.

Dominic stopped.

His gaze slowly shifted toward the closed bathroom door.

"...She’s showering."

A small sigh escaped him.

He set his briefcase beside the bed before beginning to unbutton the cuffs of his shirt.

He had barely loosened the second cuff when the sound of the shower stopped.

A few seconds later...

Click.

The bathroom door opened.

Warm steam drifted into the bedroom.

Dominic looked up and immediately forgot what he was doing.

Clara walked out, completely unaware that he had already returned.

A large white towel was wrapped securely around her body, while another smaller towel rested over her shoulders as she gently dried her damp hair.

Tiny droplets of water clung to the ends of her hair before falling onto the floor.

She looked fresh from her shower, humming softly to herself.

Dominic stood perfectly still.

His mind... exploded.

(Holy crap, my wife just walked out wearing a towel. How am I supposed to remain calm now? My rusted member is already throbbing.)

"W-What are you wearing?" Dominic blurted out before his brain could catch up with his mouth.

The question earned him a smug smile.

Clara’s eyes curved mischievously.

You ignored me the entire day, hubby.

Now let’s see how long that composure of yours lasts.

Instead of answering, she simply smiled.

With slow, deliberate steps, she walked toward him until only a small distance separated them.

Dominic instinctively took a quiet breath.

(She’s doing this on purpose.)

(She knows exactly what she’s doing.)

(Don’t react...)

Clara casually lifted the smaller towel that had been draped over her shoulders and tossed it onto the nearby chair before running her fingers through her damp hair.

The motion sent a few cool droplets of water flying.

Several landed on Dominic’s face.

He froze.

(...I am under attack. This woman is dangerous. No... she’s lethal. Is this some kind of punishment, or am I being cornered by my sexy wife

Clara tilted her head, clearly enjoying the rare sight of the usually unshakeable Dominic Sterling looking completely flustered.

"Like what you see, hubby."

(Hubby. Did my wife just call me hubby? Holy crap... I feel like I am flying. Should I kiss her or call her wife. Will she stop punishing me like that because I defintely like what I see)