The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 47

Chapter 30: I’m Not Alone-1

Clara

“I know.”

With that answer, I thought the conversation would end, but it didn’t.

He turned slightly, as if he was going out. And then my phone vibrated.

The sound was low, almost discreet. But in that silence… It was deafening. It was evident that this call was expected by my hurried gesture.

Ethan stopped.

I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t want him to associate that gesture with weakness. But my hands were already looking for the device.

It was my mother.

A

“Mom… How is he?”

“They will do more studies. The doctor wants to rule out something cardiac.”

Something hearty.

The air became heavier, but I didn’t say anything. I didn’t have to.

I rested my hand on the glass table, took a deep breath and wanted to sound strong, I had to give my

mother strength.

“He will be fine, Mom. You’ll see, everything… everything will be fine.”

I swallowed loudly with a knot in my chest.

“I’ll hang up, the doctor just arrived.”

I saw the screen of my mobile phone and felt something in my chest.

“Is this about your father?” Ethan asked out of nowhere.

It was non-invasive. It was precise… I only looked at him for a second. And I nodded.

It was the only thing I could do without the voice betraying me.

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He didn’t ask for details, he didn’t offer advice, he didn’t say “I’m sorry.” He just did something he didn’t

expect.

“I knew something was wrong with you, The Clara I know doesn’t make mistakes like that.”

I looked at him and said nothing.

“Do you need to go?” he asked like this, directly, as if the possibility were on the table.

4 Chapter 4 let me i

As if my absence were not a strategic problem, as if I were more important than the meeting.

My first reaction was automatic.

“No.”

Too fast, too firm.

He held my gaze for a few seconds, he didn’t question my answer. But he understood it.

“Tomorrow’s meeting can be rescheduled,” he said calmly. “Fernán would not admit it publicly, but he depends more on this contract than he seems.”

I looked at him, surprised.

“I don’t need you to cover me.”

“I’m not covering for you.”

Pause.

“I’m being practical.”

Practical. He always finds neutral words for what is really cared for.

I took a deep breath.

“He’s stable,” I said, more to convince myself than to inform him. “Only exams.”

He nodded.

He got just close enough to lower his voice.

“You’re no less professional for wanting to be there.”

That phrase, that damn phrase. Because no one gives me permission to be human.

No one… Except him.

I swallowed.

“I can’t leave,” I finally whispered. “Not now.”

Ethan held my gaze for a second longer. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t see strategy in his

eyes.

“Then at least don’t carry this alone.”

He looks at Alexander and says no more.

Alexander understood that gesture. He didn’t need words.

Until that moment he had remained a few steps behind, reviewing some documents on the tablet as if the

scene was not with him. Professional. Discreet. Always measuring the space it occupies.

Chapter 10-mile

But he looked up and looked at me. Not at Ethat at me.

It was a different look, not inquisitive, not curious. It was… evaluator. Like I’m recalculating something.

I straightened up immediately.

Instinct.

“We must continue with point three of the contract,” I said, taking the folder and forcing my voice to regain firmness. “We will do it in our office.”

Alexander did not respond immediately.

He closed the tablet slowly and walked to the other end of the table. His footsteps were soft, but in that

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