He doesn’t love her, and she doesn’t love Sean Lennox.
Marrying Sean in this way, she would still feel like she was letting him down.
Because from the very start, this marriage wasn’t fair to him.
She didn’t want to ruin Sean Lennox’s life.
As for Uncle Oliver, although he didn’t love her, he cared deeply for her, didn’t he?
Back in her room, Clara raised a hand to touch the corner of her lips.
In truth, it didn’t have the imagined taste of a first kiss.
Could it be that this dream had been yearned for far too long, to the point she’d forgotten its original allure?
Was she really going to marry Uncle Oliver? She didn’t seem as excited as she had imagined.
Clara closed her eyes tightly, her heart filled with pain.
That night, both she and Oliver Turner struggled with insomnia.
Clara couldn’t sleep because everything felt too unreal, like she was trapped in a dream.
So much had happened that day; she couldn’t clearly distinguish between reality and illusion.
Meanwhile, Oliver Turner was riddled with internal conflict.
He knew all too well that he and Clara weren’t right for each other, and was keenly aware of his enduring feelings for her mother.
Yet, he had impulsively agreed to the idea of marrying her just moments ago.
To outsiders, perhaps his relationship with Clara had always seemed like that kind of relationship, hadn’t it?
They all said he was "keeping" Clara, didn’t they?
Faye Townsend was never going to return to his side. He couldn’t go on forever.
Since Clara loved him so devoutly and wanted so badly to marry him—
Why not give Clara what she wanted?
At the very least, she would be happy, wouldn’t she?
The sky slowly began to brighten with gentle light.
Clara woke up early to wash up and get ready; she even went out of her way to put on an elegant makeup look.
When she left the house, Oliver hadn’t come out of his room yet.
She purposely left early, simply to avoid the awkwardness.
She’d placed a sticky note on Oliver’s bedroom door. "I’m going to the Civil Affairs Bureau."
It was her way of reminding him of the promise he’d made to her the night before, ensuring he wouldn’t forget.
Clara chuckled to herself, "Hmm, off to the Civil Affairs Bureau."
As the car pulled out of the villa district, Clara’s phone vibrated. She took a look and saw that it was Sean Lennox.
"I couldn’t sleep all night, inexplicably filled with hope for the life ahead.
Clara, don’t forget to bring your ID and household registration. See you soon." There was no chance to back out now.
Inside the car, the driver asked in surprise, "Miss Clara, why so early today?"
Clara’s heart clenched tightly; she slowly turned off her phone and tucked it into her bag.
She took a deep breath, gazing out the car window. She couldn’t help but recall the conversation she’d had with Sean Lennox yesterday.
She had to admit, Sean Lennox was indeed a magnetic man.
At the very least, he had a way of leaving a lasting impression on anyone who spent time with him.
But sadly, the one she had met first wasn’t him. Otherwise...
Clara shook her head and closed her eyes. Was she really going to marry Uncle Oliver?
Had Uncle Oliver gotten up yet?
He... should be punctual, shouldn’t he?
The car came to a stop at the entrance of the Civil Affairs Bureau. Clara glanced at the time—7:20.
Holding onto her phone, her heart churned with anxiety.
Suddenly struck by an idea, she unlocked her screen and quickly sent out a message.
Time ticked by second by second. Eight o’clock, Oliver Turner still hadn’t arrived.
Clara had never felt so anxious before; it seemed as though these forty minutes were the most unbearable of her life.
Her gaze stayed fixed on the road leading to the Civil Affairs Bureau.
She meticulously noted the last three digits of every passing black car’s license plate.
But her hopes were crushed, again and again. A vague unease began to creep over her.
At that moment, her phone rang. She eagerly picked it up to check but was instantly disappointed.
The call was from Sean Lennox, not Oliver Turner.