Seeing Clara kept drinking, Emma guessed she had hard feelings over Leydon's engagement. She could tell how Clara felt about Leydon a long time ago, which astounded her.

"Clara, stop drinking. It would ruin your plans for tonight."Emma said.

​​

Clara saw her as an eyesore, especially her smile.

That was when the accident occurred.

Clara stood up and poured the glass of wine on Emma's dress.

"Sorry, my hands slipped." Clara apologized.

Emma tried so hard not to let off her steam and kept a smile, "It's okay. I'll get changed."

"I'm sorry. I can't see clearly." Clara said.

"Clara, what is going on with you?" Leydon's mom said. Clara never behaved such inappropriately.

Leydon noticed what was going on here and came over.

He frowned and asked coldly, "What's going on?"

"Clara didn't mean it. Leydon, it's not her fault." Emma said first.

The wine stain was on the collar of the dress. Although it didn't make Emma a mess, it looked unpleasant.

Catherine frowned. Although Emma said it wasn't Clara's fault, she suggested Clara was the reason she had wine stains on her dress. It was a subtle way to accuse her. If she tried to ease the matter, she wouldn't name Clara. She would apologize for not being attentive.

Catherine sneered and realized what a calculating woman Emma was.

But it made sense. Emma had to do so to survive in such families. But Iris was an exception. She was foolishly naive.

"How could you let it happen?" asked Leydon.

"It's an accident. It's not her fault." Emma said.

Clara said, "I poured wine on Emma's dress."

"Why did you do this?" asked Leydon.

"Nothing. I was making a joke." Clara said.

"Obstreperous!" That was the word Leydon used.

Clara was anything but obstreperous. She had straight As in school and was an obedient girl at home. And she was a hard-working workaholic. How could she be obstreperous?

"Sorry, Leydon. If you like, pour it back on me."

Clara poured wine into the glass and handed it over to Leydon.

Catherine thought she was torturing herself. Taking responsibility for what just happened was forcing Leydon to do something, which would only hurt herself. Why did she do this? Catherine thought.

"Clara, stop fooling around!"

Clara smiled and wouldn't withdraw her hands.

Catherine was about to say something when Sean grabbed her arms. "Don't go," Sean said.

"But..." Catherine said.

"We can't interfere with their family matters," Sean said. Interference would only make the situation worse. It wasn't in anybody's interest.

"I'm worried about Clara," Catherine said. She knew what Clara was doing. She was forcing Leydon to be cruel, so she could let go of her feelings for him.

"Pain is universal. Life is like that sometimes." Sean said.

"That's not easy to understand," Catherine said.

Sean petted her head.

"You've developed a habit of petting my head. Do you take me as a kid?"

"Behave."

"Clara!" Leydon's mother frowned as she said. It was the first time she spoke to Clara so harshly.

Clara wanted to laugh. She never said no to anything her family seniors said. Now she tried to do something for herself and was accused. But she has made up her mind to be stubborn for this time.

"I'm giving Leydon a solution to the problem," Clara said.

Leydon stared at her.

Emma said, "Clara, it's not that serious. We're a family and shouldn't let such small things ruin our relationship."

Now it looked like Emma was the one defusing the situation, and Clara was the bad girl stirring things up.

"Fine, I'll take care of it for you," Clara said. She withdrew her hands and splashed the wine on her face, which almost complicated others.

"Is that alright?" asked Clara.

The red wine dropped along her cheeks and smudged around her collar. The white dress turned into a mess, and so was she.

"Clara!" Catherine stood up and grabbed tissues.

Clara grabbed the tissue and didn't wipe the wine. She said, "Sorry, I'm late for my appointment. Grandma, I'll come back the next time." Then she grabbed her purse to leave without any hesitation.

Catherine chased her.

Sean stood up and said, "We have to leave too."

Catherine stopped Clara by the gate, "Clara, where are you going?"

"To the airport."

"It's late. Why not leave tomorrow?"

Clara didn't look right. Catherine was worried something might happen to her. She was in a state of madness. She would think about it over and over again and might have the worst thought. Although Catherine knew Clara wouldn't, since she lived well in her last life, she guesses this must be the trigger that she quit her job and never acted again.

"Come back with me, okay?" Catherine said.

Clara looked at her.

"I'll keep you company. We can do whatever you want. You can cry or drink."Catherine said.

"Catherine..." They haven't known each other for a long time for Catherine to make such offers. But she did. And Clara did need someone to be with her and listened to her.

"Okay?" asked Catherine.

"Thanks."

Catherine smiled. Sean didn't have an opinion that Clara was staying over. He drove them back.

Catherine asked the kitchen to prepare some porridge. Clara barely ate anything and must be hungry.

"I have to stay with Clara tonight," Catherine said.

Sean frowned at the proposition.

"She's not stable. Just let me stay with her for one night, okay?"

"No drinking!"

"Okay."

One order from Sean would cut her way to the wine cellar. So Catherine didn't have the thought.

Clara looked exhausted, like she lost interest in living. She sat on the sofa, crossing her hands, and stared at the carpet on the ground.

It wasn't until Catherine came in with the food tray that Clara moved her eyeballs.

"I was ten when I knew my parents weren't my real parents. And I found out I wasn't his biological sister. It was because I liked him. I liked my brother."Clara continued, "But for them, I'm their kids. Grandma sees me as her granddaughter, and Leydon's parents see me like their own kid. And Leydon sees me as his sister."