Billionaires with Benefits

158 158. The Last Kiss

“Honestly, Dave. Can you bear to see Lea, who is having a hard time fighting for her child’s life, lose her rights as a mother in the future?” continued Clara again. She then broke away from Dave’s embrace. “Honestly, I can not do that, even if I have to do it. I will live with regret and guilt for the rest of my life.”

Dave was stunned. Clara was right. He also felt that it was unfair to Lea. Supposedly, anyone would feel the same way. It was as if everyone was conspiring to give Lea a punishment that wasn’t worth the mistakes she made.

“There is something greater than our love, Dave. There are bigger things to do … more than uniting our family businesses,” Clara said again. This time, she would convince Dave to let her go completely. Failure was not an option.

Clara squeezed Dave’s hand. Provide support to the man who was in doubt to make the right decision. “It will be fair for your child to know who his or her real mother and father are. Let him or her get the same rights as other children.”

Dave smiled faintly. Again, Clara was right and he wanted to give the same rights to his future baby. He wanted the child to know his or her mother’s great struggle.

“I know, our parents will object to this decision. However, be a man! Give your parents the same level of compensation,” Clara said again. Her lips now felt very cold and dry. Her tongue was no longer able to add moisture to those trembling lips. “You could convince them. I believe in you.”

“How about you? What will your parents do to you?” asked Dave worriedly. He understood very well that Patrick was very hard on his daughter.

Clara gulped. She knew the problem was more confusing than what she had told Dave. She still had unresolved issues.

Ever since she found out about her true identity, Clara still hadn’t met Patrick and Linda in person. She wanted to stay away from both of them for now. She was even reluctant to use the name Decker as her last name.

.....

“Do not worry. I’ll be fine,” Clara finally answered. “I’m an adult, Dave. Don’t think of me as the whiny girl Patrick could always threaten.”

Clara forced a light smile on her lips. She looked at Dave affectionately.

“Am I entitled to a goodbye kiss?” Clara asked then.

Dave put his arm around Clara again. He was reluctant to let Clara go. However, all of Clara’s reasons were in line with his thoughts, making him get paralyzed and unable to move. Something had to be released.

“Do you think I’m too greedy because I want to get everything I want?” asked Dave in a low voice.

“You and I, must learn to let go and compromise with fate,” whispered Clara.

Dave breaks away from his embrace with the woman he loved. He then landed his lips on hers. Just lips for lips, he resisted the urge to go any further as that would make it hard for him to let her go.

Seconds later, they broke away from the kiss. Although many things still made them want to hold hands, this time the two of them let go of each other’s ties peacefully.

What they wanted was a peaceful goodbye. No hatred. What they wanted was to break ties with a smile.

Clara leaves Dave’s room devastated. However, she was relieved that she had managed to do so. A heavy weight had been lifted, making her shoulders feel lighter.

It’s so unfair to let Dave and her be in a marriage full of indecision and sparks of hatred because of the betrayal. Even if the two of them loved and cherished each other, it would be impossible to survive in that kind of life.

Dave also realized it. He couldn’t force Clara to stay with him, while his heart was bound by something he accidentally created with Lea. Something that made him feel he had another big responsibility, far bigger than his love for Clara.

Dave also felt that if he was with Lea who was pregnant with his child, he would no longer be able to think about Clara. Lea’s situation, who was currently struggling to risk her life to protect their baby, made him feel closer to the baby’s mother. It made him feel that Clara was something else. It was not like it used to be when all the incidents hadn’t happened.

The existence of Clara and his future baby in Lea’s womb felt like water and fire. He couldn’t have them at the same time.

This made Dave feel he had to let Clara go even though he loved her. Clara had made him realize that love alone was not enough to keep them together. In their hearts now, many things have sprung up besides love.

Not only loved Clara, Dave now had a great sense of responsibility. He started to care for the baby’s mother. The feeling of wanting to protect Lea and how to support her. He also wanted to see Lea give birth to their baby safely so that their child would still have a mother. A great one.

As for Clara, she felt like she wanted to be free from her parents’ restraints. The feeling of wanting to be alone. She wanted to come to terms with her condition of never being able to have children and let the world know about it. She didn’t want to lose confidence because of that imperfection.

After leaving Dave, Clara still had other burdens that she must face. She had to meet her parents and tell them the truth.

In the cab heading to her parent’s house, Clara was determined to explain everything to Patrick and Linda. She would accept any consequences. She would no longer be afraid of Patrick’s threats.

“Whatever happens, let it happen!” muttered Clara as she kissed the handkerchief which was now mixed with Samuel’s masculine scent.