Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 4

For the rest of the morning, Clara stayed in the cafe, focused on reading the project files. She ordered a light meal for lunch. It wasn't until three in the afternoon that she packed her things and headed home. On her way, she called a lawyer friend, asking her to help draft a property division agreement. "No problem, based on your description, the assets you mentioned are rightfully yours. I'll draft it and send it to you later." Clara smiled, stepping onto the villa's steps and heading toward the door. "Okay, thanks for the trouble." "You're welcome. If I'm fast, I can send it to you tonight." That worked out perfectly. Julian would be back, and he could sign it. "Thank you." She hung up the phone. Clara looked down to reply to a work message. She was coordinating the details of tomorrow's noon meeting with Dominic's assistant. Suddenly, a muffled crash came from inside the house! Clara was startled, wondering what Sera was acting up about this time. A few days ago, Sera had caused some trouble. Afraid that the matriarch would give her a hard time, Julian moved her here, using the excuse of having Clara take care of her. And the ridiculous part? Clara actually had taken care of her. Thinking about it now made her sick to her stomach! With a dark expression, Clara shoved her phone into her bag, strode up the steps, and pushed the door open. At a glance, she saw the oil painting she had spent a month and a half working on lying on the floor, shattered into pieces! The culprit, Sera, gave a sly smile, stepped back weakly, gasped, and cried out innocently, "How did this painting suddenly fall!" Clara gritted her teeth, looking at her ruined painting and then at the gloating Sera. Her eyes instantly turned red with anger. "Seraphina Shaw!" She furiously strode over. Unexpectedly, there was water on the floor. She didn't see it, her foot slipped, and she fell hard onto the ground in an undignified heap. Her ankle and elbow immediately burned with pain. "Sister-in-law, why are you so careless?" Sera walked over with feigned concern, blinking her eyes. "Let me help you up." She said she was helping, but she forcefully grabbed Clara's injured elbow and pressed hard. Clara turned pale from the pain. Sera's smile deepened. Just then, Susan returned from grocery shopping. Seeing the messy scene in the room, she hurriedly dropped her bags and walked over. "Oh my, Ms. Vance, how did you fall! That must hurt terribly. And this painting, it was hanging perfectly fine, how did it fall!" Seeing this, Sera instantly reverted to her usual good-girl persona. She shifted to supporting Clara's shoulders and said, "Sister-in-law, are you okay? I'll go get you some ointment." Susan helped Clara. "Yes, Sera, hurry and get the ointment for your sister-in-law." Clara recovered from the piercing pain and shoved Sera away. "Didn't you throw my painting down and spill water on the floor to mess with me!" Susan froze, looking at Sera in disbelief. Being exposed, Sera paused. She decided to drop the act, crossed her arms, and glared at Clara contemptuously. "So what if I did? It's just a painting. I'll pay for it." Saying that, she went to the bedroom and brought out a few hundred bucks for her. A few hundred bucks. It was a pure insult. Even a servant like Susan couldn't stand it, but she didn't dare say anything, knowing how much Julian favored Sera. Clara coldly glanced at the money, fully aware that Sera's confidence stemmed from Julian's pampering. However, she took it. Sera let out a scoffing laugh. Clara ignored her, handed the money to Susan, and said, "That painting was my birthday gift for Eleanor. She loved it very much, and now it's ruined. Call her and say Sera broke it and compensated with a few hundred bucks." Sera listened in shock, the smile on her face gradually stiffening before completely collapsing. "What did you say!" Clara paid no attention to her and told Susan to make the call. "Don't you dare!" Sera screamed nervously. Susan left without looking back. Not long after, people from the old manor arrived.