Three months later.
Everyone makes mistakes in life, so you can't judge anyone, even if they are ill-considered decisions that are made by listening to the voice of the heart, not reason.
Clare saw through it that day, when Felix's promise was just empty words spoken by him, and he left her during the whirlwind alone, driving away without saying goodbye. It was then that she saw him for the last time, falling asleep in his arms. She will never forget the terror that took over her body when she woke up in the cottage alone, with the gusty wind raging all around her.
Finding refuge in Ian's arms, she realized how blinded she had been by her empty love for the bastard, who had no intention of caring for her and had given in, claiming he was doing it for her sake. That night she hurt Waller once again, and yet he came to her under adverse conditions and took care of her. He put his caring arms around her and kept her safe.
It was then that she opened her eyes wider and realized that she had the right guy by her side.
First love is beautiful, but also the most painful. She felt it through Felix, her fiancé felt it through her, so now she intends to make it up to him.
- What are you thinking about? - She looked at her friend sitting across from her, who was eating a strawberry cake.
- About the fact that I finally made the right decision," she replied, shifting her gaze to the view outside the window.
Since autumn came, and it became cooler, they liked to come to a nearby café to talk.
- We both misjudged Ian. I finally realized that he had his reasons and was actually cool.
Paul couldn't eat that cake. He looked as if he had been starved for ages.
- I've been seeing him completely differently for some time now. In my eyes, he is no longer an old friend, but a man who is destined to become my husband. With his caring nature, he has proven that I can entrust my future to him.
- I envy you. I, for one, regret not running away from the altar.
Two weeks ago, Paul's worst nightmare became a reality. Even though he was so defensive and said he would even renounce his family just to get away from the psychopath he was engaged to, he eventually turned tail and married the woman he hated.
He was afraid of a new and entirely different life, so one day he gave up. He didn't have the courage to run away from home and start a poorer life, working for himself.
Now he endured the moods of his self-centered wife.
- I believe that you will eventually get along. Try to get through to her somehow.
- Her personality is terrible. It's impossible. - Belluci rested his chin on his hand, looking at his friend with sad eyes.
- Paul, but now you're her husband, so have some balls and don't let her put you in a corner. I know you're a polite, laid-back guy by nature, but she's just taking advantage of that! She thinks she can have power over you.
The 20-year-old squinted his eyes, pondering Clare's words. He looked at the window and jumped up in his chair, frightened by the presence of his demonic wife. She stuck her face to the glass, with a movement of her hand, warning him that he would be dead.
- I'm telling you that she is not sane in mind," he muttered. The blonde followed his gaze and laughed quietly. - How did she know I was here?
- If I were you, I would check all the apps on your phone because maybe she installed something and is now tracking you....
The slender girl rushed into the café, heading toward their table with a menacing face. Paul had time to cross himself before she caught up to him.
- Am I, according to you, a bloody joke? You purposely don't take calls from me! - she hollered, ignoring the fact that they were in a public place. - I am your wife, and you still treat me like air! When will you understand that I also need at least a little tenderness on your part, for you to show me that there is a chance that you will love me!
Clare looked at her with delight in her eyes, putting her finger to her lips. It only took this brief moment for her to understand that Rose cared about her friend, yet she treated him in a nasty way because he did not show her affection in any way.
It still didn't get to Paul, as he mirrored her with furious eyes.
- Have you gone completely mad? We are among people, stop howling," he warned her in a whisper.
- And how can I put up with the fact that you are more affectionate towards your friend than me? I am jealous, I wish you would finally start looking at me as a woman, as your wife, as someone you could love!
The blonde was so delighted by her speech that she felt like clapping.
- What are you talking about?
- Belluci, are you actually such a that I now have to make you realize how crazy I am about you and that it drives me to white fever to think that you don't feel anything for me?
The boy looked at her with wide-open eyes, not knowing how to react.
- You treat me so cruelly because you have feelings for me?
- Idiot, I'm treating you cruelly because I want you to finally see the light and act like my husband, not an enemy!
Clare guessed that this was the perfect moment to relent and let the newly married couple, have a frank conversation from the heart.
She got up from her chair and took off her beige coat from the backrest, which Rosalie immediately took advantage of and sat down in her place. Her friend didn't even pay attention to her as she headed for the exit. Apparently, he was in such shock that all he saw at that moment was his frantic wife.
- I hope your life after the wedding will start to get better now," the blonde whispered as she left the café.
*
It was the end of November, but the cooler air did not prevent the adult girl from being in the playground. With her eyes closed, she sat on the swing, once again reflecting on her life.
Felix was a finite subject for her, and it happened after that night. With him leaving her and going out of town, their chapter ended. She was angry with him that even though he promised her he wouldn't leave until she woke up, he lied to her. He left her alone while a storm raged around her.
She didn't miss him. She simply focused all her attention on the man she had next to her.
It's wonderful, but the man who was her former friend and later enemy turned out to be a caring boyfriend, ready to do anything for her. Blinded by a lie, she treated him like a monster for many years, eventually finding in him the greatest support.
That night, when he appeared in the doorway, ignoring the raging storm, she saw a god in him. She was overwhelmed with such joy that she was not alone... that he had survived the weather collapse with her, that she even let him yell at her.
She ignored the harsh vocabulary he directed in her direction, calling her blinded idiots. She deserved it because everything he said was true.
The girl ran away from her engagement to spend time for a while with the man who once again left her.
She was an idiot.
- You'll sneeze and spread germs again. - She opened her eyelids and looked at Ian, who was leaning over her and fixing her scarf. - I don't want flying snot in my house, since you've been spending more time in my house than at home lately.
They were engaged to be married. They were about to become married, and they still hadn't gotten close. Clare had been waiting for Ian to take the first step and kiss her, but it seemed to her that he had a distance because before their engagement she had spurned him. Now she was slowly losing herself in him from the moment he appeared before her that night. Even so, their relationship was more like a friendship with deeper feelings hidden inside.
Should she be the one to take the first step this time and show him that their future is secure, that she doesn't intend to reject him ever again?
- Rosalie confessed her feelings to Paul today. She did it in a frenzy, shouting in public that she was fed up with him not letting her in. It seems to me that in the end their relationship may be improving," Clare spoke up as Ian sat down on the swing next to her.
- You can see who has the balls in their relationship....
The blonde looked at him sullenly and laughed quietly.
- Paul is a well-mannered, polite boy, so afraid of his devilish wife. He was born with a peaceful character, so he was unable to escape from his family to avoid this wedding. I feel sorry for him and hope that after today their relationship will improve.
- You, on the other hand, can run away from the altar, and I think this is the day I dread the most in my life.
The girl watched him as he lowered his head and looked at his white sneakers.
- Why should I run away? I have already decided my future," she replied without hesitation.
- And if he shows up, won't you run away with him? - She saw anxiety in his eyes.
- Ian, are you crazy? Felix is a finished chapter, and nothing will change my decision about our wedding. Everything is prepared. We will get married in February.
- So I'm your new chapter?
He often acted like a child. Although he was twenty, mentally he stopped at the age of twelve.
- You are a novel, not a chapter. We've known each other too long, we've been through too much, we have too much in common," she calculated, which contributed to a wide smile on his face. - There is no reason that would change my decision. Unless you would do something really unforgivable.
His smile dimmed. After all, he was hiding a secret from her that would immediately divide them if it saw the light of day.
After all, it was because of him that Felix was in serious trouble, it was because of him that he left Clare, it was because of him that he contributed to the breakup of their relationship.
She would never forgive him for that.
- Well... I'm capable of it," he said in jest, though for a moment his voice trembled. Nevertheless, this did not catch the blonde's attention.
- That's why be on your guard, Waller. You know that I do not forgive easily. I hold a grudge for quite a long time," she threatened him with her finger.
He was afraid of that. He was terrified by the thought that if the truth came out, she would ultimately hate him.
Did he have any other way to win her over? In the past, he had done everything to separate her from Felix. His uncle's help at the time seemed like the best idea to him, to remove Brown from the life of the girl he loved.
Clare was his. He fell in love with her while he was a chump, it was with him that the girl spent half her life, so she had to spend the rest of her years by his side as well.
- I'd have something good to drink. - The blonde sighed, leaning her head against the chain.
Ian took out a can of beer from under his jacket and handed it to the girl. She looked at him with a gleam in her eye in acknowledgment.
- Waller, your ability to read my mind continues to prove itself.
- Who is supposed to know you better than me? - he muttered under his breath. - When I was sixteen, I also carried alcohol under my jacket because every encounter with you was like that.
She opened the can and took a big sip.
- Do you think I'm some kind of alcoholic?
- From a young age you liked to get drunk to the point of unconsciousness, Blondie," he stated, and his gaze was caught by a friend who had messed up their relationship quite a bit. - Some, on the other hand, like to poison the lives of others," he said loudly enough that Violette, walking towards them, heard him perfectly.
- Quite romantic this playground date of yours. You set an excellent example for the children.
Waller took the can from the blonde, tilted it to his lips and drank the entire contents out of nervousness. Clare teared up as she didn't have an opportunity to enjoy the beer.
- He who gives and takes away goes to hell," she muttered under her breath.
- I don't see any children here except you," bit off Ian, then got up from the swing and pressed an empty can into Violette's hand. - Make yourself useful for something, since you came here, and throw it in the trash.
Clare laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. She knew that Violette was in love with Black up to her ears, and out of jealousy until steam went from her ears every time she saw them in each other's company.
- Why do you treat me so meanly?
- And do you deserve better treatment? What do you expect?
- Everyone makes mistakes to eliminate a rival," she replied, to which he tightened his lips because truth be told he was no better than her. Furthermore, he did a mischief to get rid of Felix from Clare's life. - The funniest thing is that neither of you are saints, and you treat me like the devil's seed.
- Because you are an exceptionally devilish seed," the blonde interjected, standing next to Ian. - And finally get away from my fiancé. Find a free guy.
Waller looked puzzled: could it be that Clare was at least a little jealous of him?
- It's my business whether I'm still interested in him!
- It's a waste of saliva for this dumpster. Let's go. - She grabbed the brunet's hand and pulled him with her, which brought a smile to his face.
He liked it when Clare was so bossy towards him.