Chapter 4

The "Clara" necklace held immense value, meaning an auction house was the only viable place to sell it.

Had Julian seen it listed there?

Clara didn't reply right away. Instead, she countered, "You went to the auction house?"

Julian hesitated, a brief flicker of unease crossing his face.

"I wanted to buy you some jewelry," he replied a few seconds later.

*Was it really for me?* she thought. *Or was it for Sylvia?*

Sylvia had gone out of her way to arrange a grand surprise for him, so naturally, he would feel obligated to return the favor.

Having already steadied her emotions, Clara kept her voice perfectly calm. "I didn't sell it. I donated it."

Julian let out a frustrated sigh and took her hand. "Clare, I know you have a kind heart. But if you want to donate something, use anything else. This necklace, of all things, can't be given away."

He pulled out a small box and placed it on the table between them.

Inside the black velvet lay the "Clara" necklace, its brilliance just as striking as she remembered.

"I bought it back," Julian said, his tone gentle yet unyielding. "This necklace is a symbol of my love for you. It should never be taken off, no matter what happens."

Leaning forward, he carefully fastened the clasp around her neck once again.

Clara stared down at the familiar jewels resting against her skin and swallowed a bitter laugh.

*Julian, your acting is flawless,* she thought. *You just rushed home from another woman's bed, yet here you are, whispering sweet words of love as if absolutely nothing happened.*

Later that night, just as Clara was drifting off to sleep, Julian's phone shattered the silence.

He quickly silenced it and patted her back in a soothing rhythm, trying to reassure her.

A few seconds later, it rang again.

After letting it ring a few times, Julian frowned. Not wanting to disturb Clara any further, he reluctantly answered.

In the quiet bedroom, the voice on the other end was unmistakable.

"Hey, Julian! Come out and join us. Everyone's here, and we're just waiting on you!"

Julian declined without a second thought. "I'm putting Clare to bed. I can't make it. Bye."

"Hey, hey, don't hang up! Don't be so whipped! It's been forever since you joined us for a night out."

"Yeah, man. Most guys forget their friends when they get married, but you've completely erased us. That's taking it a bit far!"

The background noise on the call was chaotic. Julian pressed a hand over the receiver. "Enough. Quiet down. I've told you before, no one in the world is more important to me than my wife. I'm staying here with her."

Despite his firm stance, the voices didn't relent. His friends passed the phone around, each taking a turn to try and convince him, determined to wear him down.

As the back-and-forth dragged on, Clara—who was now wide awake—finally spoke up.

"Go out with them. It's been a long time since you've seen your friends."

Julian looked reluctant, but Clara simply repeated herself.

He eventually caved, though only slightly. "Fine. But I'm bringing you with me. If you don't come, I'm not going."

The voices on the phone immediately pivoted, pleading directly with Clara.

"Come on, Clara, join us! It'll be fun, and Julian will finally get out of the house!"

"Yeah, Clara, please come! You know he won't budge unless you're there!"

Clara finally agreed, and only then did Julian confirm they would head out.

When they arrived at the private lounge and opened the door, they found Julian's friends surrounded by women. The girls were draped over their shoulders, laughing loudly.

Julian's expression instantly darkened. Without a second thought, he turned around to leave.

Realizing their mistake, the group scrambled, hurriedly pushing the women away.

"Okay, okay, everybody out! Go, now!"

Once the lounge was cleared of the extra company, the men let out a collective sigh. One of them slung an arm around Julian's shoulder.

"Julian, you're still the same after all these years. No other woman can even get close to you except for Clara," his friend teased.

Julian brushed him off with a look of disdain, going so far as to pat imaginary dust from his shoulder. "I'm a married man. I have to make sure Clare feels secure. Not that a single guy like you would understand."

The room erupted into laughter, and everyone threw playful glances in Clara's direction.

Even though it was supposed to be a night out with his friends, Julian's attention never wavered from Clara.

When someone lit a cigarette, his sharp glare immediately shut them down. "Put it out. Clare doesn't like the smell of smoke."

When another friend tried to hand him a drink, Julian shook his head firmly, completely unapologetic. "Clare doesn't like it when I smell like alcohol."

When the karaoke machine booted up, Julian frowned. "Turn it off. Clare prefers it quiet."

Ignoring his friends' playful protests, Julian remained entirely focused on Clara. He carefully peeled and sliced fruit with a level of skill that only came from practice. The pieces were perfectly cut, arranged in a neat bowl, and handed to her with a look of pride.

"Here, Clare. Have some fruit."

Noticing her thin dress and the cool air conditioning in the lounge, Julian immediately shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Is that better? Are you still cold?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

His friends couldn't hold back their laughter, teasing him relentlessly. "Julian, you've truly earned your place as a married man!"