He shook the thoughts out of his head then looked down at his weeping wife. " Grace, let's go, " he said softly and they walked out of the room after glancing at Carl who stood there motionless.
" Big bro." Zach walked inside the room after their parents left and heaved a deep sigh, not wanting to believe what he had just heard. " Big bro, It's not true right?" He stammered and watched as his brother slumped down on the couch.
" I don't know. " Carl also sighed and rubbed his forehead. Was that the reason why he couldn't remember anything? They made him forget. But those masked men and that mysterious man__ A sharp pain suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts and he groaned while pressing both hands on his forehead.
Zach's eyes widened and he hurriedly sat down beside him." Big bro, Big bro. don't try to remember. . . heave a deep breath... relax," he slowly advised and another sigh escaped his lips.
Carl shut his eyes and after some minutes heaved a deep breath then opened them. " Instruct them to take down the news, " he muttered curtly and then stood up.
" Okay." Zach nodded and took out his phone then dialed a number.
After instructing the person on the other line, he cut the call and followed his brother who was already out of the room.
They walked past the hallway silently then paused in front of a door where small sobs were coming from.
It was their stepmother's and sister's voice and they could also hear Mira's voice who was trying to comfort them.
Carl sighed and muttered, " Let's go." and his brother nodded then they both left the mansion.
______
Zach drove the car silently and would glance now and then at his brother who was staring out of the window.
" Big bro, should I take you home, " he asked after a while and Carl shook his head.
" The company, " he replied then slowly closed his eyes and Zach nodded after releasing another sigh.
Several minutes later, They arrived at the company and Zach drove the car to the parking lot and after watching his brother entered the private elevator, he turned the car and drove off again.
_____
Carl stood inside the elevator, and his thoughts wandered again to the things that transpired earlier.
He sighed again then took out his phone which he had put on silent due to the incessant calls he had been receiving from his business partners.
However, in the next second, his eyes widened slightly after seeing the many calls from Clara and he wondered if she already knew.
After the elevator came to a stop, he hurried out and strode toward his office, ignoring the secretaries who were muttering words of congratulations.
When he entered the office, his heart sank as he stared at the empty place.
He clenched his fists then sighed heavily and after a while, staggered inside the private suite.
After removing his jacket, he loosened his tie then slumped down on the bed and dialed her number.
An electronic voice came from the other end that it was switched off and he gave up after several attempts and sighed again.
He stared at the ceiling expressionlessly then stood up after some minutes and walked toward the bathroom door then sauntered inside.
He stopped in front of the sink and slowly turned the tap then rolled up his sleeves.
Amid the running water, while rinsing his face, he suddenly paused as his eyes darted toward the bathtub area which was blocked by a glass partition.
He stilled then quickly turned off the tap and rushed toward the area, hoping he was not hallucinating, then sighed in relief as his eyes lit up.
Clara stared at him silently with swollen-red eyes, her expression changing from confusion to anger.
" Clara," He called out softly and slowly walked toward her.
She sniffed back her tears and her grip tightened on the invitation card then stood up from the edge of the bathtub.
" C..Carl, what is the meaning of this?, " she said in a low tone while trying to control her emotions.
Carl frowned and took the card from her hand then slowly wiped the tears that had subconsciously fallen from her eyes.
" It is all lies Clara..., I won't marry her, " he said softly and crumpled the card then tossed it inside the sink.
Clara watched as he flushed down the paper and she bit her lips. " Carl..., but your parents__"
Carl turned back and slowly cupped her cheeks then stared down into her glossy eyes. " Please trust me... Okay?" he whispered pleadingly.
Clara stared back into his eyes and more tears streamed down her face.
" Please, " Carl repeated after some seconds and she slowly nodded.
" I trust you, Carl...." Clara whispered with a sniff after wrapping her arms around him. " I trust you."
" Thank you." Carl broke into a smile and sighed in relief then placed a long kiss on her forehead.
" Let's go..." He pulled her hand and they walked back to the bedroom.
" Hungry?" He asked while she sat down on the bed.
Clara slowly nodded and watched as he walked back inside the bathroom then came out some minutes later.
" Aren't you going to work?" She frowned slightly while staring at the shirt and trousers he's now wearing.
Carl chuckled and shook his head. " I want to spend some time with you... without any distraction, " replied while walking toward the kitchen.
" Ohh." Clara laughed softly then stood up and followed behind him.
" What do you want to eat?" He asked her while opening the fridge.
" Anything, " Clara replied with a small smile then sat down on the stool in front of the table in the middle of the kitchen and silently watched as he swiftly cut the vegetables.
Her thoughts wandered to how cheerful his mother's voice sounded on the phone with Vivian earlier and she sighed inside.
What will happen next? But Carl asked her to trust him. But his parent__. She sighed again as many things ran through her head then snapped out of her thoughts when a delightful aroma suddenly wafted through the air.