Chapter 82

Clara stayed quiet for a second. “I don’t want to go. I’d rather just rest at home. Besides, tagging along to your office… doesn’t really feel right.” There was no doubt—she was refusing. Ethan stared at her without a word for a moment. Clara instantly tensed up, bracing for him to push back. “Whatever.” Ethan’s voice was flat when he finally answered. Only then did Clara feel the tension slip from her shoulders. Coincidentally, she’d just finished tying his tie. “It’s done,” she said softly. Then she stepped back to put some space between them. Ethan looked at her with his usual stone-cold face. But in the end, he didn’t say a thing. He just turned and left the Blackwood estate with his usual calm, unbothered demeanor. As soon as the door closed behind him, Clara exhaled slowly, like she’d finally been able to breathe again. It felt like every second Ethan was near, she couldn’t even form a full sentence—like something was constantly pressing down on her. She was completely burned out