Chapter 42

Clara kept her head down, quietly staring at Ethan. Ethan’s eyes locked on her. “Clara, don’t push me, okay?” The way he said her name sounded intimate, but there wasn’t a hint of warmth in his tone. It felt like he could shred her to pieces without blinking. Clara stayed expressionless, just as calm as he was. Right as she opened her mouth to speak, her phone buzzed. Ethan let go of her hand immediately. She glanced at the screen—Linda’s name popped up. Without a second's delay, Clara picked up. Ever since her surgery, Linda had been mentally sharper and would often call Clara just to chat. “Mom,” Clara greeted softly. “That’s funny, I just finished eating and thought I’d give you a call,” Linda's cheerful voice came through the speaker. “Of course, Mom. Call me whenever you want,” Clara replied with a sweet smile, her tone full of patience. “Clara, you’re leaving next week, right?” Linda asked again, confirming her travel plans. “Yep,” Clara nodded. She had her back to Ethan and hadn