Clara let out a soft sigh. "Sean, I’m serious. This is exhausting."

"I just want to make sure you’re safe," Sean replied quickly.

Leo snorted. "You sound like someone who’s just looking for an excuse for his own obsession."

Sean’s gaze turned sharp. "I’m not talking to you."

"And I’m getting tired of seeing you show up all the time."

"Enough!" Clara cut in quickly before their argument escalated.

The woman looked straight at Sean. There was obvious exhaustion in her eyes now.

"You know what’s the strangest thing?" she said softly. "Back when I really needed you, you were never there."

Sean froze instantly.

"Now that I’ve finally learned to live without you..." Clara took a small breath. "You’re the one who won’t leave."

The words felt like a slap.

Sean opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

Because Clara was right.

Back then, he’d left Clara alone time and time again. When she was sick, when she was crying, even as their marriage slowly fell apart.

But now, just as Clara was starting to look at peace without him, Sean was the one constantly showing up to disrupt things.

And that made him hate himself.

Leo slowly took the last shopping bag from the cart and said casually, "Let’s go home."

Clara gave a small nod.

But before she left, Sean suddenly whispered,

"Do you really like him?"

Clara stopped in her tracks.

Leo turned to look as well.

Sean stared at Clara without blinking. For the first time since all this chaos began, his voice sounded much softer. Almost as if he were afraid to hear the answer.

"Leo," he continued softly. "Are you starting to love her?"

The parking lot suddenly felt silent.

Clara remained silent for a few seconds before finally answering softly,

"That’s none of your business anymore."

And that answer was far more painful than a direct rejection.

Because Clara wasn’t denying it.

Sean chuckled softly, looking down. His laugh sounded hollow.

"Damn..."

Leo opened the car door for Clara without saying much. She got in slowly, then looked at Sean one last time through the window.

That gaze wasn’t cold.

It was, in fact, too calm.

As if Clara had truly accepted that Sean was just a bad part of her past.

And that shattered something inside Sean’s chest.

Clara’s car slowly drove away from the parking lot.

Meanwhile, Sean remained standing motionless in his spot.

The evening breeze blew gently through his expensive suit, but the man felt nothing anymore.

For the first time in his life...

Sean was truly afraid of losing someone.

Not because of ego.

Not because of pride.

But because he realized his life felt so much emptier without Clara in it.

---

That night, Sean returned to his penthouse in a disheveled state.

His suit tie was loose. The top button of his shirt was undone. The bottle of expensive whiskey was back in his hand the moment he entered the room.

But tonight was different.

Usually, Sean drank to forget the stress of work.

Now?

He drank so his mind would stop thinking about Clara and Leo.

The man sat on the large sofa in his living room, gazing at the city through the tall windows.

The city lights looked beautiful.

But the apartment felt so empty.

And ironically, Sean only realized that since Clara left, a place as luxurious as this felt like a cold hotel that never truly came alive.

Back then, Clara always filled the place with little things.

The scent of cooking.

Fresh flowers.

Soft music in the morning.

Even her little complaints about Sean working too much.

The things that used to feel annoying are now what he misses the most.

Thud.

Sean flung his phone onto the sofa in frustration.

Because once again, without realizing it, he’d just opened an old photo of Clara.

"Damn..." he hissed softly, rubbing his rough face.

And just then...

His phone vibrated again.

The name that appeared on the screen instantly made Sean’s expression turn cold.

Moana.

Sean stared at the screen for a few seconds before finally answering.

"What now?"

On the other end, Moana chuckled softly.

"You sound even more pathetic than I do right now."

Sean immediately clicked his tongue in annoyance. "If you’re just here to mock—"

"Were you stalking Clara again today?"

Sean’s body tensed instantly.

"Who told you?"

Moana chuckled softly again.

"This town is too small for people like us."

Sean’s jaw tightened.

For some reason, he hated the fact that Moana still knew his every move.

"I’m not messing with you right now," he said coldly.

"Neither am I," Moana replied casually. "I just find it funny."

"Huh?"

"You once left Clara for me." Moana’s tone slowly grew softer. "And now you’re destroying yourself for Clara."

Sean fell silent.

Because those words were all too true.

Moana continued in a calm voice,

"Sean... do you know why you’re starting to lose your mind?"

Sean didn’t answer.

"Because for the first time in your life, there’s something you can’t buy... and can’t control anymore."

Click.

The call ended abruptly.

Sean stared silently at his phone screen.

And unfortunately...

Moana was right again.

*******

The next day, Sean was back in his black car.

And this time, even he was starting to get sick of what he was doing.

He’d been following Clara’s car from a distance since early that morning. From her apartment, to the office, and now to a family restaurant in downtown.

But Sean still didn’t leave.

He sat quietly, staring at the restaurant window where Clara was sitting.

Today Clara wasn’t alone.

Sitting across from her was an elegant middle-aged woman with a very familiar face.

Mrs. Diana.

Clara’s mother.

Sean recognized her immediately.

Back then, that woman had loved him dearly. She had even treated Sean like her own son before all those affairs came to light.

And now?

Sean wasn’t even sure Mrs. Diana would still be willing to look at his face.

Inside the restaurant, Clara appeared to be speaking softly, occasionally giving her mother a small smile. Mrs. Diana listened with a warm gaze, then gently stroked her daughter’s hand as if trying to soothe something.

That simple scene made Sean’s chest feel tight again.

He used to eat with Clara’s family all the time.

Back then.

Before he destroyed everything.

"Sir..." his driver spoke softly. "Are we going back to the office?"

Sean didn’t answer.

His gaze remained fixed on Clara.

Until finally...

Mrs. Diana suddenly turned toward the restaurant entrance. And her eyes immediately caught sight of Sean’s car. Her expression changed instantly.

Her warm gaze vanished, replaced by clearly visible anger.

"Oh no," Sean muttered softly.

But it was already too late.

Mrs. Diana stood up from her seat and walked quickly out of the restaurant. Clara looked confused and immediately turned to look outside as well.

As soon as she saw Sean’s car, the woman’s face instantly turned weary.

Outside, Mrs. Diana was already walking quickly toward Sean’s car, her face full of fury.

"Sir..." Sean’s driver began to panic.

Sean immediately opened the car door before the woman could lose her temper on the street.

As soon as Sean stepped out, Mrs. Diana pointed at him without any preamble.

"Have you lost your mind, Sean?!"

Several people nearby immediately turned to look.

Sean took a slow breath. "Mrs. Mom ..., I was just—"

"Don’t call me like that!" the woman snapped sharply. "You have no right to!"

Sean fell silent.

Mrs. Diana stepped closer, her eyes filled with rage.

"Do you think I haven’t noticed that you’ve been following Clara around lately?"

"It’s not like what you think."

"Then what is it?" Mrs. Diana cut in quickly. "Do you think stalking your ex-wife from morning till night is normal?!"

Sean’s jaw tightened slightly.

And unfortunately...

He couldn’t defend himself.

Because that was exactly what he had been doing.

Mrs. Diana let out a small, emotional laugh. "When Clara was crying because of your affair, you didn’t even care! But now ..., when she’s finally living with a peaceful life, you keep showing up like you’ve lost your mind!"

Sean’s gaze slowly dropped.

He accepted it all without a word.

Because every word she said was true.

Clara finally stepped out of the restaurant and immediately approached them with a worried expression.

"Mom..."

But Mrs. Diana was still too angry.

"I’m serious, Sean," she said coldly. "If you keep stalking my daughter like this, I’ll report you to the police."

That remark immediately drew the attention of several people nearby.

Sean glanced quickly at Clara.

She looked both embarrassed and exhausted by the situation.

And for the first time...

Sean began to see himself through someone else’s eyes.

Creepy.

Obsession.

Abnormal.

Things he used to think were just a form of affection now sounded like something was wrong.

"I didn’t mean to hurt Clara," he said softly.

Mrs. Diana snorted sharply. "Dou you idiot? You have hurt her for so many time! Bastard!"