Chapter 17 A Soft Corner

It was so refreshing to walk over the grass with a night view. The stars are shining so brightly. Her sleeveless gown made her shiver. She cursed herself as she didn't carry her jacket. Clara felt so light walking there. Her life turned upside down in a day. Her lips curved up realizing the effect of her change.

She didn't need to live under someone like her father anymore. There is no need to hide from her step-sister, Elsa who would always taunt her and mock her.

The thought of her past life made her cringe visibly. Her day won't end without any pain. She lifted her gown to see many wounds. Some are faded half way and many are still fresh. She will one-day payback for everything to that woman.

Her eyes lined up with tears recalling her mother, Stella. Only if she was there for her, Clara would have had a beautiful childhood like others.

Clara answered the call without checking the caller ID.

"Why do you even have a phone if you don't answer it?" Elsa snarled in the call. Clara responded sharply. She couldn't help but smirk as she recognized the voice on the other end.

"Who is this?" Clara inquired, fully aware of who was calling and the reason behind it. "It's Elsa, you idiot," Elsa snapped.

Clara, with a bored smile, retorted, "I don't recall us being close enough for phone conversations." She was already planning to have some fun during the call.

"No one in the office knew about the youth festive event you signed up for next week. Where are the details?" Elsa demanded, her voice rising. Clara's grin widened, eager to respond in various ways.

"It's just a day or two. Can't you handle things at the company? Why bother staying there?" Clara laughed loudly, causing Elsa to lose her temper. However, she needed the information at that moment.

"Your mom's company is on the line. Stop fooling around. Send me the details ASAP," Elsa spoke sharply, not interested in prolonging the conversation.

"Do you really think I care?" Clara teased, playing with her hair.

"It is your and dad's company. Don't bring my mom into your mess. Clean up your action," Clara snapped with a chuckle, deliberately provoking Elsa further. Elsa was seething with anger, wanting to lash out physically.

"By the way, you're interrupting a honeymoon couple. Can you hang up?" Clara added fuel to the fire.

"Stop it, Alex," Clara pretended to moan, causing Elsa to stomp her foot in frustration. "I'll get you, you b*tch," Elsa snarled.

"Maybe later. Tonight, I am hell busy. My husband is a little impatient, you know?" Clara replied, making Elsa burn in jealousy. She always felt so warm to tease Elsa like this. It is her antidote to living from Elena's torture.

"Guess you don't know about him entirely. But anyway, I can't anger him more. Bye, my dear sister." Clara chuckled more and cut the call as Elsa's tears spilled out with no gap. It should be her with Alex. How can Clara have this life?

"hokum" Alex cleared his throat as Clara turned, startled by his presence. Damn, why did she have to get caught like this every time?

Alex's expression showed that he heard her words already. She wanted someone to give her a knock or some wind to swallow her up right at this moment.

"I was just." Clara stuttered, not able to form any right words to defend her actions. What if he thinks that she is interested in him?

"You can ask for my help in this if you want to make your sister jealous" Alex whispered near her ears as he bends to her height. She widened her eyes at his proximity. Damn, her heart was so visibly and shamelessly beating fast and loud. He smirked at her flushed face and stood straight.

"I am not making her jealous. She is not that important to me." Clara mumbled in a low voice and for the first time, she felt the loss of words to reply to anyone.

"Even I have to settle with her for spoiling my marriage event and making it as a joke in front of all. So, I might help you with this little drama." Alex added with a chuckle. But her expressions screamed at him to stop talking about this anymore. So, he decided not to make her feel uncomfortable.

"I was bored there. So, I thought to walk with you. Maybe to compensate for leaving you alone the next day of our wedding." Alex replied honestly as he walked beside her. She took a long sigh to clear her mind.

"Guess you and your sister, Elsa, are not that close" Alex started the conversation.

"Can we not talk about it if you don't want me to snap at you?" Clara asked, to which Alex was amazed with her words. She is straight forward. She doesn't want to make up her words or try to be nice in front of him or anyone.

"If you say so." Alex agreed with a smile as Clara walked beside him in silence. This guy is not at all harmful. She could feel that.

"Are you angry that I asked you to marry?" Alex asked softly. Somehow, he knew that he blackmailed her to marry him for his sake.

"Of course," Clara replied instantly. But she too wondered how her anger subsided in just a day. Just because he supported her in front of everyone, she felt somewhat soft towards him. Of course, that must be the reason. No one has ever supported her like that. Not even her father.

"Why did you do this? I mean. Of course, it would be a disgrace if the bride ran away. But marrying her sister who had once rejected you was even worse than that" Clara asked her question finally which had been itching since she got married.

Alex looked at her. She has a point. But how will he tell her that it was because of his ugly past and the moment he saw Sandy, he was mad to do everything?

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"Some questions should remain unanswered so that life will be exciting" Alex replied and he took his jacket instantly to cover her. Her cheeks turned pink with his gesture.

Rose saw them talking with each other and felt so happy. The reason she came there is to check if Sandy pulled any drama there or not. She can't let anyone ruin their happiness again. She got back to her room but stopped there seeing Sandy on the other end who was also watching Alex and Clara.

For a few seconds, she felt sad to see him alone with no one beside him. But isn't what

he brought himself upon? After whatever happened, Rose and Alex had their family to support but Sandy was left alone.

She remembered some of their moments.

Flashback:

"For God's sake leave now" Rose pushed him while Sandy was busy kissing her earlobe and hugging her from the backside.

"You know that I hate to stay alone at home. Mom and Dad have gone on a business trip. So, I decided to stay here till they return" Sandy replied nonchalantly.

"With whose permission?" Rose asked, crossing her arms in a dominating way.

"My permission" Alex came there with two mugs of cold drink.

"So, you wanted to be here for Alex?" Rose asked unbelievably when Sandy left her side instantly to join Alex to watch their movie on TV with lots of snacks and cold drinks.

"Final say, me or Alex?" Rose asked, pouting her lips cutely and standing before them with a long face.

"Of course, you." Sandy replied as he gently grabbed her to his side.

"Now go and sleep" he kissed her forehead as Alex started laughing with his words and Rose's expression who was not at all pleased with how he asked her to leave right after he chose her over Alex.

"You both. Don't ever talk to me." Rose threw a pillow harshly and went to her room as Sandy and Alex were laughing like hell.

Flashback ends.

Rose gets a call as she shrugs off the thoughts about them.

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"Hello," Rose answered her call without seeing the caller ID.

"Miss. Fernandez?" The voice was damn polite.

"Yeah, who is this?" Rose asked, catching Sandy's attention now.

"Daniel. Remember?" He spoke.

"Danny. Wow. What a pleasant surprise! How are you and how did you get my number?" Rose asked with a smile. Sandy fisted his hand hearing her conversation. "Oh, Alex gave you, my number. That's good." she was going on talking with him. "Sure. I am free the day after tomorrow. Let's meet by 5." Rose said and cut the call. She forgot about Sandy as she was smiling and went back to her room. Sandy recalled a particular moment with Alex.

Flashback.

"Why are you picking fights with Danny?" Alex asked all annoyed with Sandy.

"He is such a dumb a**. He is useless." Sandy was all about calling him names.

"What did he do?" Alex asked, stopping him to talk further.

"He has a crush on your sister. I mean come on man. How can he?" Sandy yelled, grabbing his hair up in frustration as Alex rolled into laughing.

"Everyone here knows that Rose is my girl. Who would dare to have such feelings for her?" Sandy asked with a pout. Alex laughed loudly to see how Sandy was jealous of the guy who had never even approached Rose in his dream.

Flashback ends.

Sandy is damn sure that Alex wanted to set up a date for Rose and Danny. They don't

deserve to be happy, do they? Sandy smirked at his plan which was vicious for sure. He wanted to see how Alex and Rose would react to this.