NovelOnlineChapter 156
After finishing a piece of cake, Dylan slid the revised document over to Clara. He had already marked that point,
so it was all set. As Clara reached out to grab it, her fingers accidentally brushed against his, causing the
document to slip and fall onto the desk with a loud "thud."
She was a bit startled, but Dylan was already focused on his work, scribbling away with his pen.
Assuming he was busy, Clara picked up the document. "Mr. Dylan, I'll head out now," she said.
"Mm," he replied without looking up.
Just as she was about to leave the office, Dylan spoke up, "There's a dinner at seven."
Clara caught on quickly, "Alright, I'll join you."
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She closed the office door and returned to her desk, hoping for a calm end to her day. But just as she was about
to clock out, Simon showed up. He looked worn out, standing silently by her desk before saying, "Ryan's waiting
for you downstairs; he's been there all day."
Clara frowned and made her way to the elevator, with Simon following behind. When they got downstairs, she
saw Ryan. He was holding a cigarette but quickly put it out when he saw her.
Clara playfully swatted his head. "Aren't you too young to be smoking?"
"I'm just stressed," Ryan admitted. "Can you cwithto the café next door? It'll only take ten minutes."
Clara wasn't one to hold grudges against her brother, so she followed him. Simon tagged along, uninvited but
undeterred.
At the café, Ryan ordered a dessert and pushed it toward Clara. Simon, sitting beside her, shamelessly ordered
something for himself too.
Clara didn't mind him; it wasn't her café, and he could sit wherever he wanted. She just had dessert in Dylan's
office and was mindful of her strict fitness goals, so she didn't touch it and got straight to the point. "Alright,
what's on your mind?"
Ryan hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Clara guessed he might be there about Quinn. Finding it
amusing, she sipped her iced coffee, the bitterness spreading across her tongue. "Are you here to convince me
to say the recording was my doing? Did Quinn throw another tic fit at home?"
Ryan felt like he'd been slapped, but knowing Quinn's struggles, he couldn't just ignore it. "Clara, Quinn's been
seeing a therapist."
Clara found it laughable. "And that's my fault?"
Ryan's voice shook. "It's because of you. Her foster parents weren't treating her well. Mom cries every day. Clara,
the family will make it up to you."
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Clara took a deep breath and set her cup down. "So, Quinn's fake pregnancy act to frme is just going to be
swept under the rug? With all of you backing her, she's really got it made, hasn't she? She builds her perfect
image at my expense, then hides while you all fight her battles. Ryan, I'm disappointed."
Panic flickered in Ryan's eyes before he suddenly stood up. "Clara, do you think I want this? | just want everyone
to be okay. If Quinn has a mental illness, why not give her sslack? And don't you feel guilty? If it weren't for
you, she wouldn't have been taken!"
The more Ryan spoke, the more agitated he became, his words tumbling over each other. "Do you remember
when you were sick before Quinn was taken? Only the doctor could see you. | couldn't even see you, but Quinn
would sneak in to see you and bring you things."
His eyes were red with tears as he continued, "We all got along so well back then. I just don't get why things
turned out this way."
Clara sat across from him, watching his tears drip onto the table. A dull ache shot through her heart, but she
stayed silent, staring at her coffee cup. Finally, it was Simon who spoke up.
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