Your Love Is But a Dream (Clara and Wren)



Chapter 38

Clara answered the phone while scanning through her lesson plans.

"Clara," Katrina's voice came through, full of warmth and concern. "How are you settling in over there? Are you adjusting well these past few days?"

Upon hearing Katrina's voice, Clara smiled. "I'm doing great here. My first official day of teaching is next Monday, and I'm really looking forward to it."

"That's wonderful. Did you get the package I sent you?"

"Yes, I got it. Thank you, Aunt Katrina."

The package had arrived the day before. It contained some of her personal items and a few things Katrina had bought for her.

Katrina's tone turned more serious as she gently reminded her, "Your wrist isn't fully healed yet, and the medical facilities over there aren't the best. Please take care of yourself. Rest as much as you can, and don't overstrain it-it'll slow down the recovery."

She paused briefly, then continued with soft reassurance, "I'm not there with you right now, and there's only so much I can do, but remember, Clara. I'll always be your family.noveldrama

"Don't push yourself too hard. I'll always have your back, no matter what. If you ever feel unhappy there, you can always come home."

Clara's pen paused mid-stroke. Her gaze flicked to the jagged scar on her wrist, a shadow passing over her eyes. But not wanting to worry Katrina, she forced a lighthearted tone, saying, "I'm fine, Katrina. My wrist is almost completely healed."

Katrina wasn't so easily fooled. After all, she'd watched Clara grow up and knew her well enough to sense the emotions she tried to hide.

With a sigh, Katrina said softly, "Don't lose hope about your wrist. The medical field has advanced so much, and the doctors didn't say there's no chance. I'll keep looking for specialists and won't stop until we find a way to help you fully recover."

A faint, bitter smile touched Clara's lips. She knew how slim the chances were. What Katrina didn't know was that Clara had overheard her and the doctor's conversation in the hospital that day. Thus, she had stopped hoping a long time ago.

Swallowing the bitterness that rose in her throat, Clara replied with a soft laugh, "Aunt Katrina, you're the best! I believe in you."

"You silly girl," Katrina said with a fond chuckle. But then, recalling the real reason she'd called, her voice faltered, and a moment of silence stretched between them.

Clara immediately sensed something was off. The smile on her face faded. "Aunt Katrina, is there something you want to tell me?"

Katrina hesitated, then finally spoke, "Wren came back from Havenbrook. He found out you left and came to see me earlier. He's been asking where you are."

Clara froze, her hand that was holding the pen tightening instinctively.

She had thought Wren was too preoccupied with his engagement to Ivy to even notice she was gone, let alone care enough to ask about her.

Why was he looking for her now? Wasn't he the one who had always wanted her gone? Wasn't he the one who couldn't wait for her to disappear from his life?

Clara spoke quietly but firmly, lowering her gaze to hide her swirling thoughts, "Aunt Katrina, I don't want to see him."

Katrina heard the resoluteness in her tone and sighed inwardly. She knew Clara too well- there was no changing her mind once she had decided.

How had things come to this?

Katrina couldn't escape the guilt and regret that weighed on her heart. She'd made mistakes -prioritizing the company's survival and neglecting Clara-which had allowed Clara to grow close to Wren and develop feelings for him.

Had she handled things differently back then, perhaps none of this would have happened.

But now, it was too late. All she could do was prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control.

"I understand," Katrina said after a moment. "That's why I lied to Wren. I told him you went to Uthurnia."

Clara's grip on the pen relaxed slightly as she listened.

Katrina continued, "He'll probably go to Uthurnia to look for you, but if he doesn't find you there..."

"He'll give up," Clara cut in softly. "His engagement party with Ivy is in three days. He's been waiting for this for so long. He won't let me ruin it. Don't worry about it, Aunt Katrina."

Katrina wanted to believe her, but the image of Wren's desperate, unhinged state earlier lingered in her mind. She couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that this wasn't over. Her heart remained heavy with worry.