Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 183

Dominic: [Clara, do you have any specific preferences? For example, in terms of lifestyle or food.]

Clara stared at the screen, her mind going blank for a second. She couldn't quite believe this message was actually from Dominic.

It felt a little too personal... not at all like something a client would say to an independent contractor.

Clara read it five times before confirming she hadn't hallucinated, then carefully typed her reply:

[I have quite a few preferences. Is something wrong, Mr. Jarrett? Do you need something?]

Dominic: [Nothing's wrong, just curious. Could you give me a brief description?]

Clara's eyes flickered. She couldn't understand his sudden obsession with her preferences.

Did he want her to accompany him to a business dinner?

It definitely couldn't be that he just wanted to get to know her.

Clara thought about it and sent him a simple breakdown, roughly a hundred words long.

A moment later, Dominic replied:

[Got it. Thanks.]

Clara sent a quick acknowledgment, and remembering the blood test from the hospital, she added:

[Mr. Jarrett, the results from that blood test should be out by now. If there's anything going on, you can tell me directly. I'll do whatever is in my power to help.]

She worried he was holding back out of politeness and felt awkward being straight with her.

There was really no need for that. She would never forget that he bailed her out of the police station; it was a debt of gratitude she'd remember for the rest of her life.

Dominic was silent for a moment before replying:

[They are out. I'll contact you if I need anything.]

Relieved, Clara replied:

[Alright then.]

Message sent, she tucked her phone away and continued walking through the complex gates.

It was mid-afternoon, and the warm sunlight bathed her from head to toe.

Yet her mood had inexplicably dropped, a heavy weight pressing against her chest... a feeling she couldn't quite put into words.

Clara stopped walking, frowning in absolute bewilderment.

What is wrong with me...

...

He took a heavy drag.

The smoke slowly drifted upward...

He narrowed his eyes, and through the thin blue haze, he could almost see the vibrant, lively girl from all those years ago...

She was so good at acting spoiled, bright and warm like a little sun.

But at the same time, she was fiercely driven. To enter the city's art competition, she would push through her exhaustion every day after finishing classes and group projects just to prepare.

Every time he saw her work herself to the bone, his heart ached, but she would just laugh and say: 'I don't mind the grind. I'm young, and the young have to hustle, or they'll definitely regret it when they're older.'

That was exactly who she was.

Dead at twenty-two...

To this day, he still felt like it was all a dream—a beautiful dream that morphed into a nightmare he couldn't wake from.

Dominic closed his eyes, exhaling a cloud of smoke, slumping back into his chair as if he had lost all his strength in an instant...

Just then.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by Toby's voice from the hallway.

"Mr. Jarrett, are you busy right now? There's something I need to discuss with you."