Chapter 16 - The Silent Guardian|
Three weeks passed.
Clara was discharged from Northwestern Memorial and returned to the Lake Forest estate to complete her physical therapy.
Dominic changed everything. He dismissed his old security team, replacing them with hand-picked soldiers whose loyalty was absolute. He moved his primary office from downtown Chicago to the estate, working out of the study so he could be near her every single day.
He never mentioned Serena. He never went out at night. He personally oversaw her medical care, sitting silently in the room while physical therapists helped her regain her strength.
Yet, despite his constant presence, Clara remained a ghost.
She spoke to him politely, ate her meals in silence, and spent her afternoons reading in the glass conservatory. She treated him not as a husband, nor as an enemy, but as a polite stranger who happened to share her house.
One rainy afternoon, Dominic walked into the conservatory carrying a tray of tea and fresh pastries.
"I had the chef make those lemon scones you like," Dominic said gently, setting the tray on the small wicker table beside her armchair.
Clara closed her book, looking up at him with a quiet, measured gaze.
"Thank you, Dominic," she said softly. "You don't need to serve me yourself. The staff can handle it."
"I want to do it, Clara," Dominic replied, sitting in the chair across from her. "I want to take care of you."
Clara looked at him for a long moment, a sad, faint smile touching her lips.
"Dominic," she murmured softly. "You're trying so hard. But you look exhausted."
"I don't care about being tired," Dominic said, reaching out to gently touch her hand. "I just want you to look at me the way you used to."
May you like
Clara didn't pull her hand away this time, but her eyes held a profound sadness that made his heart ache.
"The woman who looked at you that way is gone, Dominic," she whispered. "You burned her away long before that car crash."
