Whitmore Charity Gala (2)

Later in the evening, as the orchestra began to play a slow, romantic melody, Clara found herself caught in the middle of a silent battle. The soft strains of the violin filled the air, wrapping around her like a delicate embrace. Dylan approached her first, his hand extended. "May I have this dance?"

Clara glanced at Aiden, who was standing nearby, his expression unreadable. To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, she was about to decline Dylan's invitation. "I…"

But before she could respond, Aiden stepped forward, his smile polite but his tone firm. "I'm afraid my wife's dance card is full tonight. But I'm sure there are plenty of other lovely ladies who'd be happy to dance with you."

Dylan's jaw tightened, but he kept his tone light. "I was hoping to catch up with Clara. It's been a while."

Aiden's smile didn't falter, but there was a sharp edge to his voice. "I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to catch up later. But for now, I'd like to dance with my wife."

Clara felt like she was being pulled in two directions, the tension between the two men making it hard to breathe. She forced a smile, trying to diffuse the situation. "Dylan, maybe we can talk later. Aiden's right—I did promise him this dance." Taking Aiden's hand, she hoped to quell the storm brewing between them.

Dylan's expression softened, though a flicker of disappointment lingered in his eyes. "Of course. I'll be around."

As Dylan walked away, Aiden took Clara's hand and led her to the dance floor. His grip was firm but not painful, his expression unreadable as he pulled her close. "You're too nice, Clara," he murmured, his voice low. "You don't owe him anything."

Clara looked up at him, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Aiden, this isn't a competition. Dylan and I have history, but that doesn't mean I'm going to run back to him. You don't need to act like this."

Aiden's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. "I know it's not a competition, Clara. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stand by and let him think he can just waltz back into your life. Not when I'm the one who's here with you now."

Clara's heart ached at the sincerity in his voice, and for the first time, she saw past the charming façade to the man beneath—a man who was trying, in his own way, to protect what they had.

She sighed, her frustration giving way to a strange mix of emotions. The soft glow of the chandeliers reflected in her eyes as she gazed at him. "Aiden, I'm not going anywhere. But you need to trust me."

Aiden's grip on her hand loosened, his expression softening. "I do trust you, Clara. But I also know how much he meant to you. And I'm not going to pretend that it doesn't scare me."

Clara looked at him, her heart swelling with a mix of emotions. She didn't respond, her silence speaking volumes. The weight of his words hung in the air between them, a reminder of the fragile trust they were building.

The gala eventually came to an end, and Clara returned to her daily routine, throwing herself into her work with renewed focus. The encounter with Dylan had left her unsettled, but she was determined not to let it derail her.

She had made her choice—Aiden was her present, and she was committed to making their marriage work.

–

One afternoon, as Clara and Kason walked out of the office together, discussing the latest project updates, she was caught off guard by the sight of Aiden and Dylan standing side by side near the entrance.

Both men looked serious, their expressions tense as they exchanged words. Though Clara couldn't hear what they were saying, it was clear that the conversation was far from friendly.

Clara's heart skipped a beat as she took in the scene. She quickly turned to Kason, her tone calm but firm. "Kason, could you give us a moment? I'll catch up with you later."

Kason nodded, his sharp eyes flickering between Clara and the two men. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything." With that, he walked away, leaving Clara to approach the brewing storm.

As Kason walked away, Clara took a deep breath and approached Aiden and Dylan. Dylan was the first to notice her, his expression softening immediately as a gentle smile spread across his face. "Clara," he greeted warmly, his voice as warm as ever.

Aiden, on the other hand, stopped mid-sentence the moment he saw Clara, his lips pressing into a thin line before he forced his signature charming smile.

Clara raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting between the two men. "What are you two doing here together? And why do you both look like you're about to start a fight?"

"Clara," Dylan said warmly, his tone light but his eyes still carrying a hint of tension. "We were just… catching up."

Aiden's smile was tight, his voice smooth but laced with an edge. "Yes, just a little brotherly chat. Nothing to worry about."

"This is… unexpected." Clara said.

Dylan's smile widened, his tone casual. "I thought, as Aiden's older brother, it was about time I took the two of you out for a proper meal. You know, to celebrate your marriage and all."

Aiden's jaw tightened, but he kept his smile in place. "Yes, Dylan's being… generous. Isn't that right, brother?"

Clara hesitated, sensing the undercurrent of tension between the two. But before she could respond, Dylan gestured toward the parking lot. "Shall we? I've already made reservations."

It seemed there was no way to escape, Clara thought.

-

The restaurant was elegant, the kind of place Clara would have enjoyed under different circumstances. But tonight, the atmosphere felt strained, the unspoken tension between Aiden and Dylan casting a shadow over the meal.

Dylan played the role of the doting older brother perfectly, asking Clara about her work, complimenting her on how well she and Aiden seemed to be doing, and even offering a few lighthearted jokes. But every now and then, he would casually drop a story about Aiden's childhood—embarrassing anecdotes that made Clara laugh but clearly irritated Aiden.

"Did you know," Dylan began, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "that Aiden once tried to impress a girl by climbing a tree, only to get stuck and have to call the fire department to get him down?"

Clara chuckled lightly, though she noticed Aiden's jaw tighten as he forced a smile. "That's enough, Dylan," Aiden said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. "I think Clara's heard enough about my childhood misadventures."

Dylan chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll stop. But you have to admit, it's a good story."

Clara smiled, though she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this dinner than Dylan was letting on. He seemed genuine, but there was something in his demeanor—a subtle edge—that made her wonder what his true intentions were.