Look at the present

Regina waited for Adrian to answer her back when suddenly the line went blank and her face turned red in anger.

"How dare you Adrian" squeezing the cell phone firmly in her fist Regina threw it away in fury.

This wasn't the first time he ended the call in her face, but it was the first time he had answered her call without much delay.

"Calm down Gina. I think Adrian must be busy with work. You should try calling him afterward" Racheal who was present inside her room suggested.

After Alexander's declaration of bringing Clara back to the Mathew Mansion, Regina and Racheal began to panic but the one who was going nuts was Regina as she didn't want to lose Adrian to her step-sister again.

"Mom, he isn't busy with any work. Adrian is trying to avoid me" Regina gnashed her teeth and didn't let her mother defend him.

Rachel fell silent for some time, pondering Regina's words. It had been years since she was trying to woo Adrian, but the man kept his distance from her just as he did with the other suitors.

Adrian was the golden boy with many families lining up to get their daughters to marry off to the most reputed family in country A. He not only had good looks but also had a strong family background where the upcoming generation wouldn't have to work their ass hard for a living.

They had everything under the palms of their hand and Racheal wanted Regina to be the one for him.

"Mom, you have to stop dad from bringing Clara back into the house. I don't want hers and Adrian's paths to cross again" Regina pleaded to rush to her mother's side.

All these years she had been living a peaceful life hoping one day she would manage to get Adrian all by herself, but with Clara's appearance, her dream started to falter.

"Don't worry, I will handle all of this. You just focus on how you will make Adrian fall for you" Racheal cupped Regina's face, assuring her that she would take care of everything, after all, they can't lose the game they started because of Clara.

After comforting Regina, Racheal stepped out of her room and pulled out her phone to make a call. With just two rings the call was answered.

"What is it!!!" the annoying voice made her raise her brow.

"I need to meet you, now..." Racheal came straight to the point ignoring the blunt tone of the person on the other side.

There was a pause in between when suddenly the person answered," Sen me the location" saying the person ended the call making Racheal fume, but she tried to keep calm as she couldn't let her displeasure ruin her mood.

*****

After a whole ten minutes, Adrian stepped out of the room, abruptly ending Regina's call. He was so caught up with his thoughts that he ended up answering the call instead of cutting it.

He had been trying to maintain his distance from her but she was too adamant to get closer to him. He was just respecting Regina because of his aunt, who introduced them, but now she was getting on his nerves.

Busy in his thought Adrian didn't realize that Clara was staring at him. The second he sensed her gaze, his eyes moved to look at her and for the very first time after so long, he could see her getting worried for him.

'Am I hallucinating' he thought to himself suddenly feeling his heart accelerate.

"Adrian, are you okay" came her gentle voice and he found himself melting into it.

Clara started to feel uneasy when Adrian didn't step out of the room for some time which lead her to think of something happening to him.

She knew she shouldn't cross the line by mending into his personal space but she couldn't stand still when her thoughts began to imagine something worst.

Getting restless, Clara quickly marched towards the door to knock when suddenly the door opened and Adrian walked out.

Watching her getting worried for him Adrian felt happy and he slowly shook his head." I am fine, there is nothing to worry about" Adrian assure having the urge to reach his hand cupped her face, but he stopped himself from acting recklessly.

Adrian didn't realize he had been longing to touch her, hold her in her embrace just like they did after that passionate night. He remembered each and every detail vividly about the time they spent together submitting themselves to one another, confessing their love.

He never felt so happy before but with her, everything started to fall back into its place. Why did they have to be like this, just like strangers...

Clara observed the sweat bud on his forehead and then looking back into his eyes. She didn't know why he was lying when actually he wasn't fine. She could read the uneasiness on his face and not forget the paleness that was more prominent.

Without pushing the conversation further, she bobbed her head and said," let us have lunch" fluttering her eyes Clara looked away from him and turned around walking towards the couch.

Adrian let out an unknown smile looking at Clara's back silently following her towards the couch. He was happy to see Clara being so thoughtful about his health, that she asked Leo to send him homemade food for lunch.

"Thank you," he said making Clara's eyes grow wider in shock.

'' Huh!.. What did you say?" she asked rubbing her ears.

Adrian pursed his lips watching her act dumb and said," I only say it once" turning his eyes from her astonished face, he began to savor the food.

Clara thought she had heard something wrong which was why she asked him to repeat his words, but again Adrian being Adrian, he swiftly brushed off her words leaving her hanging.

"Rude" she mumbled under her breath and started eating the food.

Once she was fully busy with her lunch, Adrian lift his head and watched her being comfortable around him. Clara being next to him gave him sanity, making his ruckus brain stop thinking of the otherwise and look at the present.