"As you probably can guess, Clara is using the master bedroom. You can take the guest room for tonight."

I shook my head, ready to turn him down, when I heard a voice as sweet as a nightingale's echoing from the stairs. "Darling, is Elena back?"

Lifting my gaze, I saw Clara Brown descending the stairs in a delicate white lace slip dress, looking as fragile and timid as a rabbit.

Liam immediately stepped forward, shrugging off his jacket to drape it over her shoulders. His expression softened completely, and his voice dropped to a gentle murmur as he leaned close to her ear.

"You're still not fully recovered yet. Didn't I tell you not to move around?"

"I really wanted to meet Elena," Clara mentioned, scurrying toward me and holding my hands. "I can't believe you're still alive, Elena! I'm so happy you're here!"

Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she lowered her head melancholically, as if reminded of something. "Now that you're back, I suppose I should leave."

Liam's brow furrowed immediately. "Don't be silly, babe. You're now my wife, the real Mrs. Waltz."

Clara's expression instantly brightened into a dazzling smile at Liam's words. Eerily, it bore an uncanny resemblance to mine.

I stayed silent, unmoved, watching the two of them wrapped up in their own world as though I were an outsider.

"Since you're staying the night, let me show you to your room, Elena!" Clara suggested sweetly, reaching for my hand.

Before I could respond, she gripped it firmly and pulled me up the stairs with her. Halfway up, she suddenly let out a startled cry. Her body lurched backward, and she tumbled down the stairs.

Liam's expression darkened as he rushed over to hold her. "Clara, are you alright?"

She winced in pain, tears rolling uncontrollably down her face. "I'm fine, Liam. I just don't know why Elena would want to push me. Did I… do something wrong?"

He cocked his head at me, coldly demanding, "Apologize to her, Elena."

I was speechless. "I didn't push her. She slipped."

Of course, Liam didn't believe in me. "For the last time, apologize to Clara."

His gaze was so piercing that I bit my lip hard and remained silent. How hurtful was that?

Clara tugged at his sleeve and meekly said, "Don't hold it against her, darling. Elena must've suffered greatly alone for the past four years. It's only natural that she resents me."

Soon, Liam's gaze toward me was replaced with unmistakable disappointment. "I can't believe you've turned out like this, Elena. Out of sheer jealousy, you pushed an innocent woman down the stairs?

"I don't think you should stay the night anymore. I'll find you a hotel instead."

I didn't plan on staying the night, anyway. My husband was still waiting for me at home.

Right then, the doors were pushed open, revealing a boy's silhouette. "Mommy, Daddy, I'm home."

I could no longer suppress my emotions as soon as I saw Lucas. I called out his name as I rushed forward, but he simply ignored me and ran toward Liam and Clara, exclaiming, "Mommy!"

My outstretched arms awkwardly lingered midair.

Meanwhile, Liam had called the doctor and left in a hurry with Clara, leaving only me and Lucas in the living room.

I tried to call out for him again. "Lucas, it's me, Mommy. Your real mommy."

He instinctively took a few steps back, his eyes full of wariness. I took a deep breath and forced a gentle smile. "How have you been? Is Clara good to you?"

He seemed to have a lot to say when it came to Clara. "She's very good to me. Not only did she not force me into studying, but she also supported my hobbies. Even if I don't do well in class, she'd never punish me for it."

Frankly, I disagreed with Clara's way of teaching; hobbies were important, but so was basic learning. Of course, I didn't argue about it.

I was content as long as I knew he was happy.

"So, are you back to kick her out?"

Shock overcame me as I heard those words. I quickly shook my head. "I've actually married someone else. I'm only here today to see you, Lucas."

"You married someone else?" Lucas' eyes widened. He was shocked as he questioned, "Daddy was nice to you. How could you get into someone else's bed without his knowledge?"

I didn't reply immediately, but frowned. "Who taught you to say such a thing, Lucas?"

Realizing he had made a mistake, he quickly sealed his lips and turned to the side. I was baffled at how foreign my son felt to me.

I couldn't be sure how exactly Clara had been educating him all these years, but I was confident, judging from his words, that he had been led astray. Bitterness surged in my chest.

Before coming here, I thought I could take him away with me if he wasn't doing well. Boy, did I overthink it. He already saw Clara as his mother. There was no way he would ever come with me.

Thus, I took off the ruby bracelet from my wrist and handed it to him. "Lucas, if you ever find yourself in trouble one day, bring this bracelet to me. I'll help you. But remember, it only works once."

Lucas took it without a word, his expression blank. When I turned to leave the villa, I saw that the bracelet had been tossed into the garden grass.

As soon as I stepped outside the garden gate, Liam came to me. "Clara has decided to forgive you. You won't have to sleep at a hotel tonight. The guest bedroom is yours."

He spoke with a tone that radiated selflessness. It was as if he expected me to thank him for it.

I turned him down. "No, thanks. I'm just about to leave."

He frowned, unimpressed. "You're leaving? Where do you have to go?"

"I'm going back to Zentara."

A sarcastic laugh escaped from his lips. He thought I was throwing a tantrum.

"Playing hard to get as a way to provoke me, huh? I told you, Clara is my legal wife. I can't just let you take away her place."

We dated for five years and were married for three. For some reason, it only occurred to me then how much of a jerk he was. Now, everything in the past was starting to feel like a joke.

I calmly replied, "My husband's in Zentara. He'll worry if I'm home late."

Liam was stunned. It took him a long while before he found his bearings. Pale and confused, he yanked my wrist and questioned, "You married someone in Zentara?"

I nodded. "You and I both have our own families to go back to. From now on, I'll be out of your life for good."

I struggled out of his grip, but he was surprisingly strong.

"I don't believe you," he responded. "I'm a CEO worth over ten million now. Are you really willing to give that up? Even if you married someone else while you had amnesia, staying here should still be the better choice, isn't it?"

His urgency felt strange and even a little funny to me. I looked at him with a hint of pity.

Thanks to the fortune I left behind, Liam's company had gone public. However, compared to my current husband, it was nothing.

Besides, wealth was never what I truly wanted.

I slowly pried away his hand. "I don't care about these. I only care about the one I love."

His breath hitched. "And what about Lucas? Are you gonna abandon him?"

"I heard Clara's been good to him. From now on, she can be his mother without guilt."

A black Maybach pulled up just in time, and I recognized it instantly as my ride. I broke free from Liam's hold and got in without looking back.

Outside the window, he stood rooted to the spot, his eyes red-rimmed, staring fixedly in the direction I was leaving.