Chapter 35: Chapter 35

2021

The woman was always clad in a beautiful dress that hugged her body perfectly. A pale green dress with a high slit that reached her thigh, not to mention the low-cut neckline. Her face was flawlessly born without any imperfections. Her gaze was sharp and mysterious. Many were drawn to look at her more closely, but the woman only desired one person.

The target of her steps now was Sebastian Sachdev.

Standing while holding a glass adorned with lemon slices at the edge, he occasionally laughed softly, his eyes fixed intensely on his conversational partner. His body language was unwavering, speaking confidently to both foes and friends alike. Clara had also noticed that he firmly shook hands with the people who approached him.

This didn't escape the woman's gaze. A thin smirk played on her lips, a source of her own pride. Tonight, they were attending the launch party for a new product by the Group Azure group. And their relationship was solidifying, no longer just a fling. Clara, the beautiful woman, was certain that before long, Sebastian would marry her.

The public knew how affectionate they were, a perfect and harmonious couple without exception.

"Sebastian," Clara greeted with excessive friendliness. She deliberately slipped her arm through Sebastian's. This caught him slightly off guard, but he quickly replaced his surprise with a small smile as a greeting.

"Have you tidied up your makeup?" Sebastian teased, met with a amused chuckle from his conversation partner. Jayden Alistar and his partner, the owners of the Roisan group, with whom Group Azure collaborated in raw material procurement.

"Clara doesn't need makeup touch-ups. She's already incredibly beautiful," Indira said, affectionately nudging her husband. Clara responded with a thin smile.

"Just being beautiful in Sebastian's eyes isn't enough, right? Isn't that right, darling?" Clara asked, gently stroking the back of Sebastian's arm, her fingers grazing the exquisite fabric of his expensive blazer.

Sebastian paused for a moment, then cleared his throat softly, affirming Clara's previous statement. "Clara is correct." He glanced briefly, then turned his gaze back to his two conversational partners. "She has to be intelligent and carry herself well."

They both nodded in agreement. "We can't wait for your wedding invitations to be sent out."

Sebastian gave a reserved smile, while Clara smiled meaningfully. Some time passed as Clara accompanied Sebastian in light, strategic business conversations. She tried her best to match the conversations that unfolded between them. Without forcing herself too much to engage, she elegantly projected her natural beauty.

The party lasted quite a while. There were many tasks Sebastian needed to attend to, including lobbying many new acquaintances for Group Azure. Not for himself, even though he felt there was nothing wrong with having such intentions. However, Sebastian understood one thing; he still had a debt to fulfill towards Alvin. As a repayment, because he failed to protect Fathia.

"Shall we head straight home?" Clara asked shortly after she got into Sebastian's luxurious sedan.

"Yes."

A rough sigh escaped Clara, uncontrollable. "Sebastian, when will there be progress in our relationship?"

The statement immediately caught Sebastian's attention. He fell silent for a moment before finally starting the car's engine. The gentle hum that emanated made Sebastian prepare himself mentally to face the streets of New York City at night with concentration. "What exactly do you want then?"

An irritated sigh came perfectly from the woman who was visually beautiful in Sebastian's eyes. There was no doubting that. "I'm not a broken cassette that just repeats whatever I'm told, Sebastian."

Sebastian pursed his lips, choosing to enjoy the automatically playing audio in his car.

"We're from different classes, Clara. You know that for sure."

Clara responded with just a glance.

"In less than a year, everything I've been working on, including the CEO position at Azure, will be handed over to the majority voice."

Clara understood the direction of the conversation Sebastian was expressing. "And then?"

The man glanced briefly, looking hesitantly at the woman beside him. "I will return to being the ordinary Sebastian, Clara. And you? Don't let all your dreams get delayed or ruined just because of me."

Clara sighed again, her hand clenched with a pained look in her eyes. She stared at Sebastian, undisturbed by the steering wheel. "No matter how many times I say it, I don't care." Clara emphasized, "You can still succeed, Sebastian. I believe that. Not even within the Azure Group, I've never made that an issue."

Silence enveloped them once more.

"Why?" Eventually, that's all Sebastian could say. This kind of question had been heard by Clara countless times. She chose to roll her eyes in annoyance, unwilling to respond.

"Are you serious about me, then?"

The car that Sebastian was driving had entered the apartment parking lot of the woman. He took an empty parking spot on the left side.

"Do you know what answer I'm going to give, Clara?"

"Sebastian," Clara exclaimed in frustration. "After all this time? Can't you see my effort? My love?"

"You can't force the heart, can you?"

A mixture of hatred and pain emanated from Clara, and Sebastian could witness it. "Can't you at least try? Struggle to love me? What's lacking in me? Tell me, Sebastian, tell me." Now, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes, even though they were obscured by gray soft lenses. She no longer cared how much she seemed to beg for his affection from the man who still hesitated to speak up.

"How many years have I waited for you to just... like me. Don't even talk about love. I know it's precious. Just appreciate my effort, Sebastian. Is that so hard?"

Her sobbing could be heard again, though softly. Sebastian repeatedly noticed from the corner of his eye that Clara was wiping the corners of her wet eyes. He let some time pass to allow Clara to calm down. He wanted to reach out and touch her shoulder, but he suppressed that urge deep within.

There was nothing wrong with Clara's personality. Who wouldn't want to have a partner like the woman beside him? Almost all of Sebastian's acquaintances always mentioned how lucky he was to have a girlfriend like Clara. Many men out there lined up neatly, competing for the attention of this well-known model. Besides being beautiful, Clara was also able to use her intellect to continue being creative. She was not only known as a top-tier model, but also the owner of several renowned boutiques in New York City, which had expanded both within and outside Java. It could be said that Clara was fairly well-known in the realm of young entrepreneurs.

He closed his eyes for a moment before Sebastian finally spoke. "Alright, I'll try."

The sobbing halted right then and there. Clara quickly wiped her wet cheeks, staring at the man beside her with an incredulous look. "You... you're not joking, are you?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

A smile appeared on Clara's face without needing any prompting. She immediately leaned into the man's side, though with a little difficulty. This elicited a soft groan from Sebastian; he was surprised.

***

Clara closed her eyes softly, sighing in time with every touch that moved through her body. Naked. All Clara could remember was that the high slit, turquoise green dress was already a resident of her bedroom floor. Avenging Sebastian's fingers on her. Their lips meet like a thirst quencher after such a long journey.

They have kissed often, but not with this taste. Usually, Sebastian presses mercilessly into her. Pausing only to fill his lungs with more air. Clara had resigned herself to being treated that way. And now it felt far more exciting than Clara could ever remember.

Gentle, slow, there was no rush, and it also felt... Sebastian seemed to enjoy it. From greeting her with the tip of his tongue to sucking corner after corner of her red lips. When the kiss descended to the top of her neck, all of Clara's fine hairs tingled. It caused a sensation that made her suddenly dizzy.

"Sebastian," she moaned softly. When she opened her eyes, she saw a small smile forming at the corner of the man's blackened lips.

"Do you like it?"

Sebastian asked her? Oh my God, this means Sebastian really means what he says. He is learning to accept and love Clara. Just like her whining before. His fight had not been in vain. It was sweet tonight, as sweet as the way Sebastian asked.

"Once more, please."

Not to be outdone by Sebastian's omnipresent touching of Clara, the delicate, nude-colored fingers move. Undoing every single button, still perfectly attached to the body of the man who is now hers.

Yes, his. Clara was sure of it. She could still remember their conversation on the way home. Also... the way he treated her now. It was as if the wall that Clara had been beating for so long was slowly crumbling. It made her heart swell with excitement.

"Sebastian," she moaned every time Sebastian sucked hard on her neck. And with that, the shirt that wrapped around the man's powerful body in front of her fell off. His muscles were perfectly formed, Clara could feel them with the palms of her hands, which she now used as travelling machines.

Their kiss is interrupted for a moment by Sebastian. With his thumb, he lightly strokes Clara's lips, which have lost their moisturizer. Wet. Sexy. Seductive. It all seems real now. He had seen Clara naked. Her doing, of course. But back then Sebastian couldn't shake the image of his past. Felice. Ah... I don't think so.

He kept the little girl's sweet smile close to his heart.

"There's nothing to regret, Sebastian. It's too late. Fathia is buried. It's our job to find out who's behind this."

Ronald was right. It was his job to unravel the tangled threads of the few remaining possibilities. As long as he served the rest of the will, he would not give up seeking justice for Fathia. For in his eyes, there was someone who wanted to eliminate her. But... Fathia can't come back, can she?

His life must go on. Including keeping the memories with Fathia in the other side of his heart. Learn to accept Clara, because she was the one who supported Sebastian all the time. At least ... it didn't hurt to try.

Learn to love a Clara Jasson.

"It's... still in the living room, Clara. You..."

"Wherever I want to make out, it doesn't matter, as long as you don't just leave me," Clara interrupted quickly. This made Sebastian smile a little.

"For once..." He gently stroked the visibly flushed cheeks and the rhythm of his slightly ragged breathing. A long peck on the forehead. "We did it right."