164 164. Clara’s Willpower

“Noo!”

Patrick awakened from his sleep in a state of extreme dizziness from a hangover. Final night time, he fell asleep at his research. He had a dream about unhealthy moments that made him really feel responsible for all times. He thought again to the incident164 that compelled him to have a daughter he didn’t need.

Linda left Patrick rapidly after their final argument involving Clara. Linda was not completely satisfied along with her husband’s conduct in treating their daughter unfairly.

Earlier than lengthy, somebody knocked on Patrick’s door. Patrick advised his maid to come back in. The maid was not alone. She got here with a feminine lawyer. Patrick knew her nicely. She was Linda’s greatest buddy, and in addition her lawyer. She’s the identical girl who got here to him years in the past to ship Linda’s divorce papers after he was tricked into sleeping with Eva.

“Sir, Mrs. Larsson needs to see you,” mentioned the maid, introducing the visitor.

Patrick smiled wryly. He then requested the maid to go away the room. “I don’t prefer it should you come to me,” Patrick mentioned to Linda’s Lawyer. “Did you include the identical factor as twenty-three years in the past?”

Legal professional Larsson nodded. “Linda requested me to provide you this doc.”

Patrick, who had a really raveled face, massaged his head briefly. It was unhappy to search out that this morning was so darkish. He simply wished to get up by Linda’s facet with a candy smile that all the time brightened up his day.

With a heavy coronary heart, Patrick took the doc Legal professional Larsson had proffered and glanced by it. A bitter smile tugged at his lips.

…..

“How a lot cash would you like? I’ll pay so long as you possibly can assist me persuade her to cancel the divorce,” Patrick mentioned flatly.

“Sadly, this time, it doesn’t appear doable as a result of Linda doesn’t wish to come again to you in any respect,” mentioned Legal professional Larsson flatly.

Patrick knew that the previous Linda nonetheless wished to forgive him as a result of he might show that he was framed by Eva. He might show that solely Linda he loves. How about now, what ought to he say to persuade her?

“A mom doesn’t need her daughter to be harm, Patrick,” mentioned Legal professional Larsson apologetically. She knew Patrick beloved Linda. Nonetheless, she additionally knew that this time the connection between the 2 needed to come to an finish. “You must have understood that from the beginning.”

Patrick fell silent. He didn’t anticipate that the type of his love for Linda would make him lose the lady he beloved. “I all the time spoil Noel, our son, as a result of I wish to present that she is my solely love.”

Patrick stared blankly on the divorce papers in his hand. His eyes have been bloodshot, both from eager to cry or from anger. “I used to be robust on Clara as a result of I wished to indicate that my solely love was Linda. I didn’t need Linda to assume that I beloved Eva’s little one. I don’t need Linda to assume I really like Eva even slightly bit.”

Patrick’s wailing crammed the darkish room. Anybody who heard it will really feel the ache of his lamentation. He had but to appreciate the place he was incorrect as a result of, in keeping with him, his angle was the perfect.

“That is all of your fault, Patrick. Linda accepted Clara within the first place just because she is your flesh and blood. She is part of your life. She determined to forgive you and love the whole lot in you,” defined the lawyer in a low voice. “In case you understood Linda and didn’t do as you please, perhaps your loved ones would nonetheless be intact at present.”

Legal professional Larsson crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes seemed pityingly at Patrick who seemed so devastated.

“About Clara, even when she is a baby born from a mistake, you need to by no means hate her,” she continued, lecturing Patrick. “No little one has to pay for the sins of their dad and mom, Patrick. All youngsters are harmless. Linda may be very soft-hearted. For her, Clara was a present from God. Similar to Noel.”

Patrick fell silent. If he handled Clara nicely, would Linda be happy?

The person then took the wine bottle beside him which was nonetheless half full. He poured the contents slowly onto the doc Lawyer Larsson had given him.

The lawyer’s eyes widened. She had already ready herself that one thing like this might occur. Nonetheless, she was nonetheless shocked when Patrick returned to behaving like a baby.

“Give me a while. I wish to attempt to persuade her to name off the divorce,” Patrick begged as he continued to pour the contents of the bottle till the crimson liquid ran down the facet of the desk, onto the ground round his ft.

***

In the meantime, Linda took Clara away from Patrick’s home. They now dwell within the Frederick household residence. The state of affairs was definitely not nice. Clara’s situation was so unhealthy.

Linda’s dad and mom might solely settle for their daughter’s choice to file for divorce for the second time. They knew Linda very nicely and understood why her daughter didn’t like Patrick’s method of expressing his love.

At first, Frederick’s household didn’t agree with Linda’s choice to lift Clara. Nonetheless, they realized that their daughter was an angel who might give like to any child and any little one. Due to that, they supported Linda’s choice and regarded Clara as their very own granddaughter.

“Clara, granny made your favourite rooster soup,” Linda mentioned that afternoon, as she introduced her daughter a tray of meals. “Eat! You’ll be able to’t be sick.”

Since yesterday, Clara had barely touched her meals. She was virtually misplaced in thought, not understanding what to do.

“Thanks, mother!” whispered Clara in a low voice. Lazily, she took a spoon to eat the nice and cozy soup she used to love. Nonetheless, she zoned out once more, staring blankly into the air.

No one knew what number of instances Clara’s tears flowed, she might now not communicate. It was nonetheless very laborious for her to simply accept the surprising actuality. She nonetheless regretted the whole lot that had occurred previously. She virtually had a child as soon as. She was ever going to be a mom … her personal child.

“Mother, why didn’t you simply let me die within the first place? I can’t face this type of destiny ….”

“Clara, don’t say that,” Linda mentioned as she stroked her daughter’s pale face. “Each little one has the correct to be born into the world. So do you.”

“Then why not my little one?” Clara requested once more. Her sobs have been getting heavier. “Simply because my child’s not Dave’s little one, she or he didn’t need to be born?”

Linda couldn’t say something. She might solely wipe Clara’s tears along with her slender fingers. She knew Clara’s coronary heart have to be damaged.

“Why do I’ve to have a merciless father like Patrick Decker?” Clara requested once more whereas squeezing her chest. Her eyes checked out Linda, however she couldn’t clearly see Linda’s face due to the flowing tears.

Linda might solely swallow the bitter capsule. She based the hospital, financed by Patrick, to assist folks. Nonetheless, why did the hospital turn out to be a spot to hurt her beloved daughter? How ironic.

“I’ll sue everybody who harmed my child! I’m going to sue Patrick Decker and Physician Evans,” Clara mentioned with a face filled with anger.

Clara’s assertion shocked Linda half to demise. If this was identified to the general public, it should absolutely tarnish the title of the Linda Decker hospital. A lifetime of her laborious work could be ruined instantly.

“Do you assume that’s for the perfect?” requested Linda in a trembling voice.

Clara simply stared at her mom in disbelief. “That’s the one reward they deserve.”

“Nonetheless, perhaps Patrick didn’t do this, Clara,” Linda defended, frightened by the hatred in Clara’s eyes at this second.

“I’m fairly certain Patrick requested physician Evans to abort my child, mother!” Clara argued vehemently. She thought that Linda nonetheless wished to defend her husband.

“I’m not attempting to defend Patrick. Nonetheless, we now have to know the reality,” Linda defended once more. “Shouldn’t we—”

“I’ll search for the proof, mother! I’ll reveal the reality,” Clara decided, with out the slightest hesitation.

Linda noticed the embers in Clara’s eyes. Clara’s anger reminded her of Patrick’s hatred for Eva, Clara’s actual mom. Linda was afraid that hatred would eat away at Clara’s soul and switch her into one other particular person she didn’t acknowledge.

Clara obtained up from the mattress. She hadn’t eaten something since yesterday, however she nonetheless managed to face up straight, by some means getting the vitality to vary her garments and placed on her coat and scarf, getting ready to go away.

“The place are you going, honey?” requested Linda frantically. Her eyes watched Clara’s each suspicious transfer. “You haven’t eaten something since yesterday.”

Nonetheless, Clara didn’t reply Linda’s query. She didn’t even look at her mom. She simply continued to organize and left her room with out saying goodbye.

The younger girl walked previous her grandparents who have been sitting in the lounge with out saying hiya. She walked rapidly to her automobile which was parked within the driveway. Earlier than beginning the engine, she took out her telephone and made a name to somebody.

As quickly as a voice got here from the opposite facet, Clara mentioned, “This time, I’ll destroy your life, Mr. Decker!”