The Dream of a Dying Swan

“Clara!”

I instinctively walked away, but in the next second, Julius rushed in front of me and grabbed my wrist. His voice was filled with panic and desperation.

“Clara, listen to me. It's not what it looks like. I just had something in my eye. Don't misunderstand.”

At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to throw the video in his face and see how he could explain his way out of it.

However, before I could speak, Lea cut in with a gentle voice. “Clara, please don’t be upset. There’s really nothing going on between Julius and me…”

Watching them play their parts so perfectly, I suddenly lost all interest in exposing them. Instead, I flashed Julius a bright smile.

“You don’t need to explain. I trust you.”

Relief flickered across his eyes the moment he saw I wasn’t making a scene. Then, he turned to Lea and spoke firmly.

“That’s enough. You should go.”

Lea looked unwilling to leave but eventually turned around and walked away. Only then did Julius's gaze fall to my soaked pant legs. The concern in his eyes was obvious.

“I’m sorry, Clara, for making you worry. It’s just a few scrapes. It’s nothing serious. I’ll be discharged soon.”

I didn’t respond.

After we got home, he prepared a cup of warm hot chocolate for me and blow-dried my hair. When his warm lips brushed the side of my neck, he leaned down, intending to press his lips against my chest. However, I instinctively turned away and avoided his affection.

“Not tonight. I'm tired.”

He paused. Then, he twirled a strand of my hair around his finger as he said softly, “Do you remember when we first got together? Every time there was a thunderstorm, you’d crawl into my arms and leave marks all over my arm from how tightly you held on–”

In the darkness, I cut him off. “Julius, if I had never woken up… would you have found someone who looked like me to take my place?”

After a long silence, he pulled me closer. His voice was hoarse but unwavering.

“No. Clara, nobody could ever replace you. You're the only woman I've ever loved.”

I closed my eyes, finding it ridiculous, and didn’t say another word.

The next day, Julius canceled his meetings and took me to a bridal boutique for a custom wedding dress fitting. Once upon a time, I had dreamed of wearing a wedding gown. Now, staring at my reflection in the mirror, all I felt was bitter irony.

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out beside me.

“So? Why did you ask me here? To show off that you’re finally marrying my son?” Mrs. Carter, Julius’s mother, sized me up with open disdain and added, “Lea has called Julius away. Whatever you have to say, say it quickly.”

As soon as she said that, a text message from Julius appeared on my phone.

[Sorry. Something urgent came up at the office. Pick whatever you like. If you love it, we'll buy it.]

A snicker escaped me. Even on a day like this, he couldn’t stay away from her.

Looking at Mrs. Carter’s smug expression, I finally said, “You once said that if I left Julius, you’d give me ten million dollars. I want you to help me get the divorce papers done. I’ll leave on the wedding day.”

A mocking smile curled on her lips. “And here I thought you had some pride.”

Not long afterward, she arranged for someone to deliver divorce papers that already bore Julius’s signature.

“Don’t even think about playing games with me. You’ll get the money when the divorce is finalized.”

Gripping the documents tightly in my hands, I finally realized that my freedom was here.

When I returned home, Julius was sitting in the living room with a grim expression. The moment he saw me, he looked up.

“Clara, what did my mother say to you today?”