Chapter 361 Refuse to Admit
"Who are you sneaking off to talk to? You got the nerve to be a side chick but can't handle the gossip?"
Brynn's words hit like a punch, leaving Clara frozen while everyone else turned to stare.
Katniss had expected some drama when Clara and Brynn faced off, but she hadn't anticipated it would be this intense.
Brynn, as usual, was impulsive and unfiltered, spilling Clara's secrets without a second thought.
Katniss thought Clara might fight back, but instead, she hid behind Ethan.
"Ethan, I'm not a side chick. Brynn's got it all wrong," Clara whispered, clutching Ethan's sleeve.
Brynn couldn't stand Clara's act and rushed forward to pull her away. "Stop playing the victim! Ethan, Clara's a master manipulator. Don't let her fool you."
Ethan blocked Brynn's hand, "No fighting. Explain what's going on."
Clara, who had felt protected by Ethan, paled at his words.
She couldn't let Brynn reveal what happened in Luminous City.
If Ethan found out about her past with Desmond and how she pretended not to know him, he'd surely hold it against her.
Or worse, Ethan might already be displeased with her after Brynn's outburst.
No man would tolerate his woman having a tarnished reputation, not even someone as seemingly indifferent as Ethan.
Clara bit her lip, desperately thinking of a way out.
Sophia, seeing Ethan block Brynn, quickly stood by Brynn's side. "Ethan, take it easy!"
Sophia didn't know much about Brynn's heartbreak in Luminous City, but from what Brynn said, Clara was despicable.
Sophia believed they should trust Brynn, whom they'd known since childhood.
Yet Ethan was protecting Clara, which showed that Clara was no ordinary woman.
Calliope tried to mediate, "Let's talk this out later. How about we sit down and discuss it?"
She moved forward to lead Brynn to the couch.
Calliope was displeased with Clara, whom Ethan had brought home, and now that someone was here to expose Clara, she was delighted.
"Ethan, I don't feel well. Can you take me home?" Clara pleaded, looking pitifully at Ethan.
Ethan frowned and glanced at the others. Despite his low emotional intelligence, he could understand the basic situation.
Brynn laughed at Clara's words, "Are you scared? Trying to run away?"
Seeing Clara's closeness with Ethan, Brynn guessed Clara had latched onto him somehow.
Though she didn't know how Clara managed it, she wanted to vent all her anger at Clara.
Clara ignored Brynn's taunts and looked innocently at her, "Brynn, I don't feel well. It's not what you think. And what you said isn't my fault."
Calming down, Clara's thoughts became clearer.
She realized she didn't need to fear Brynn revealing the Luminous City incident.
She could also be seen as a victim in that situation.
All she needed was to ask Desmond to admit he had feelings for two women.
With newfound clarity, Clara was no longer as panicked.
Brynn glared at Clara, "Deny it all you want. Your affair was in the papers, and you still want to dodge responsibility?"
Brynn hadn't agreed with Ace's decision to publicize the affair, but seeing Clara's smug face now, she wished the news had reached Starhaven.
The Anderson family had no idea Clara was the one who ruined Brynn's relationship, and now Clara was Ethan's girlfriend.
Brynn's shout made Clara feel the time was right.
She started crying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but I wasn't a mistress. Desmond didn't tell me he had a girlfriend. I'm innocent too."
Her tears caused chaos, and everyone watched her cry without speaking.
Suddenly, Clara looked at Katniss, sobbing, "Katniss, you know Desmond broke off his engagement with you and then got engaged to me. He was with me first."
Katniss, caught off guard, looked at Clara.
Clara's words were manipulative but not entirely false.
However, her statement stirred up the situation and dragged Katniss into the mess.
Brynn turned to Katniss, her eyes filled with shock and desperation, "Ms. Manners, is she telling the truth?"
Brynn cared more about whether Desmond was with her first and if Clara was the other woman.
Katniss rubbed her forehead. She hadn't wanted to get involved in this mess, but Clara had forced her hand.
"She's mixing truth with lies," Katniss said slowly, staring at Clara. "You think I won't react because I don't like Desmond? You thought wrong. You flirted with him while he was still my fiancé, and I didn't care because I never liked him. But after Desmond broke off his engagement with you and started dating Brynn, you knew about it. What did you do? You became the other woman and kept pursuing Desmond!"
Katniss felt relieved after speaking, while Clara's face turned pale.
"Ethan," Clara whispered, "She's lying."
Ethan didn't respond to Clara but suddenly said, "I'll have someone take you home."
Clara was stunned, "Ethan? Ethan, don't believe her. I didn't do those things."
Brynn and Sophia were also shocked, not expecting Ethan to send Clara away.
Was he protecting her or indifferent?
Katniss guessed Ethan might find the situation too chaotic and decided to send Clara away.
Or perhaps he was annoyed by Clara's crying.
And Clara must have done something to make Ethan not question her even now.
Seeing the lively scene, Calliope said to Ethan, "Ethan, send her off and come back quickly. Your dad isn't coming home for dinner tonight, so don't leave."
Ethan didn't respond to Calliope.
He signaled the butler to arrange a car and driver, then took Clara's hand and led her outside.
Clara hesitated, following Ethan while asking, "Ethan, can you take me home yourself? I'm scared."
She wasn't afraid of going home alone but feared Ethan might believe Brynn's words if he heard them again.
Ethan didn't stop, leading Clara to the car. He pushed her into the back seat, gave the driver the address, and met Clara's gaze, "I'll come to see you tomorrow."
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