Clara woke up in her car, headed straight home, and slept through to the next day. After a long, relaxing bath, she stood in front of the mirror, feeling refreshed, and finally decided to call Dylan.
“Hey, Dylan, are you free tonight? I’d love to take you out for dinner.”
She'd already made a reservation the night before, ensuring the menu was Dylan-friendly, with no seafood in sight.
Dylan held the phone in silence.
Thinking he might be busy, Clara was about to say something else when he finally spoke, “My dad set me up with another date.”
The news caught Clara off guard. If Walter knew what she had said, he’d realize she and Dylan were together. His arranging another date could only mean one thing: the Ferguson family didn’t approve of Clara.
Clara had promised to fend off any unwanted attention from Dylan, and she was ready to step up.
“Where are you meeting her? I’ll be there.”
Dylan paused, his pen leaving a tiny ink stain on the paper.
He casually mentioned the hotel’s name, while Clara responded eagerly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be there by six!”
Dylan let out a soft chuckle as she hung up, leaving Clara a bit flustered.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed with a message from Z.
[I want to see you.]
It was only nine in the morning. She figured she could visit Z, then leave by three to get ready for dinner with Dylan.
At the mall, she picked a scarf for Z, finding a matching one for herself.
She knew Z preferred simple, heartfelt gestures over expensive gifts.
Driving over, she parked by the rundown mansion and noticed the lone gravestone again.
As she got out, planning to walk over, her phone buzzed again.
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