Two Times the Charm (Clara and Emmett) novel Chapter 484

Sophia gently patted Emmett's hand, her voice carrying a motherly warmth, "Don't you worry, honey. If she weren't the biological mother of those two angels, I wouldn't let her stick around with the Melendezes and risk her becoming another Clara."

At the mention of Clara, a slight frown creased Emmett's brow.

"Oh, why on earth did I bring her up?" Sophia stood up, brushing off her apron. "Anyway, I've been rambling on for a bit. You look a bit tired around the edges. You rest up, sweetheart. How about I swing by with Alex and Aiden after school to see you?"

Emmett nodded, "Yeah, I've been missing them. But make sure they bundle up before coming over. Hospitals are crawling with germs."

Sophia chuckled, "I can see you're finally taking this father role to heart. There was a time I thought you didn't care about the kids; that's why Aiden was always harping on about needing his biological mom. But now, you seem to truly care for them."

"It's not that I didn't care before; I just didn't know how to be with him," Emmett confessed.

It was only after Clara came into their lives that he gradually learned how to bond with his kids.

But just as he was getting the hang of it, Clara had stepped down from her role as their mother.

...

Clara arrived at Liberty Avenue.

No sooner had she stepped into the given address than a man rose to his feet and shoved a cell phone into her hand.

Clara paused, then turned on her heel and left quickly; daylight was fading, and she couldn't afford to waste time.

Once she had the phone, she immediately dialed Elio's number.

The phone rang a few times before Elio picked up the unfamiliar number.

Clearly, he remembered the last time she had called from Rose's number and anticipated she might use a different one again.

It was always about Emmett!

He should have seen that coming!

"Get up, Clara! Didn't I tell you I'd help? I already said last time that I could only guess who has the antidote formula."

Clara rushed to explain, "The formula is in the hands of someone named Newell. Leah told me!"

Elio was taken aback, "She actually shared that with you?"

"It's because she's run out of options too. She helped me get out this time. Otherwise, I couldn't have left the Melendez Mansion on my own. And I have to return before nightfall! Elio, please save him. If you can keep him alive, I'll do anything!"

Elio was visibly shaken. It wasn't a matter of unwillingness to help, but rather the difficulty of the task. Even with the confirmation that Newell was the keeper of the formula, it wasn't new information to him and did little to improve the dire situation.