The wound on her back was still bleeding, and every movement felt like being pricked by countless needles. Clara sat on the ground and suddenly laughed, laughing until tears streamed down her face. Her laughter echoed in the empty garden, carrying endless sorrow and self-mockery.
This is the daughter she gave birth to after a brush with death and the risk of severe bleeding—who beat and kicked her for the sake of outsiders and destroyed what she cherished most. This is the husband who promised her "I will protect you for life" back on stage—who turned a blind eye to her wounds for another woman and even forced her to apologize to the perpetrator.
Liam had already scooped Vanessa up in his arms and was walking briskly towards the villa. Vanessa rested her head on his shoulder, a victorious smile playing on her lips. Lila followed behind like a shadow, turning back to glare at Clara before leaving and muttering, "You nasty fatso."
No one looked back at her, no one asked her if she was in pain, and no one cared whether she could stand up again.
Clara slowly reached out and picked up the ballet pendant from the grass. One of the diamonds had been chipped off, making it look particularly broken in the moonlight. She clutched the pendant tightly, the sharp edge of the diamond piercing her palm, drawing tiny beads of blood that mingled with the blood on her back.
She looked up at the warm yellow light shining from the villa, which had once been her home, her whole world. But now, all that remained was a facade of tenderness and a chilling indifference.
Clara took a deep breath, the last trace of lingering affection in her eyes completely extinguished. She vowed in her heart: she wanted neither this cold-hearted man nor this ungrateful child. From this day forward, she would live only for herself, for the Clara who had once shone brightly on the stage .
The pain in her back continued, but her eyes grew increasingly resolute. She slowly pushed herself up and walked step by step toward the outside of the manor—there lay her suitcase, her plane ticket to Germany, and her new beginning.