Chapter 4

Clara got ready and headed out early this morning since she had plans to meet her friend. She was about to get an Uber when someone patted her shoulder from behind. The person said, "Clara." Clara turned around and saw Ivy behind her. The latter held Wren's hand and was beaming. While being caught off guard, Clara happened to meet Wren's eyes. She didn't shy away from him. Instead, she calmly stared at him. There was no longer a passionate spark in her eyes like before. She gave a simple hum of acknowledgment and went back to getting an Uber. Wren was unaccustomed to her being so distant. He felt that she had changed a lot now that she seldom spoke. He couldn't help but ask, "Don't you have classes today? Where are you headed this early in the morning?" Shock flickered in Clara's eyes. She was surprised that Wren knew about her class schedule. Still, she dared not overthink things and only responded with a low voice, "I'm meeting a friend today." "What—" Wren frowned and was about to probe into the matter more, but Ivy tugged at his arm just then. "Clara's already an adult. She should be allowed to have some privacy to herself. You may be her older brother, but don't tell me you plan on bossing her around forever," Ivy lectured. "Who knows? Maybe Clara's going to see her boyfriend. "Quit interrogating her about it. She might feel embarrassed if you do." Wren glanced at Clara, who didn't refute. She merely stood in silence and looked at her phone. Inexplicable frustration arose in his chest as he grumbled, "Where are you headed? I'll drive you." Before Clara could refuse, Ivy spoke up, "Wren, don't we have an appointment with the designer to make custom clothes for our wedding? We might not have enough time to drop Ivy off at her destination." Upon hearing that, Wren immediately told Clara, "You'll have to get your own ride, then." He didn't even wait for Clara's response before bringing Ivy into his car and driving off. Clara watched as his car traveled into the distance. Her nose felt prickly, but she suppressed her sorrow. She was in a villa residential area, so getting a taxi or Uber wasn't easy. She had no choice but to walk further out of the area since her Uber app indicated no drivers were available. Only after walking for what felt like ages was she able to get a ride. … It was noon when Clara finished visiting an art exhibition with her friend. She then went to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Lena Summers was Clara's best friend. Lena was shocked Clara wanted to study abroad and would likely live there permanently. She exclaimed, "What's with the sudden decision? Does your brother know? Would he even agree to it?" Clara didn't quite know how to explain the current state of her relationship with Wren. So, she could only lie by nodding. "He's agreed to it. After all, he and I don't share any blood relations. "Plus, he's about to be engaged. It would be appropriate if I continued to live in his family home." Lena cast a conflicted look at the former while cautiously asking, "Clara, are you actually okay with going abroad and leaving Wren?" Clara's fingers tightened around her cutlery as she forced a smile. "Why wouldn't I be? I'm already an adult and should start a new life soon. He has his future to worry about, too. We're bound to separate at some point." "I can't believe you're able to move on." Lena looked surprised. "Wren was so nice to you! He was so worried you'd be picked on if he wasn't around that he declined Timberfell University when they offered him direct admission into their institution. Instead, he chose to study at a local university. "Then, when rumors spread after a boy failed to court you, he risked getting punished just to give that boy a beating. And remember the fall school trip when you were lost in the mountains? He went up there to search for you, even though he had a foot cast and needed crutches to walk…" Lena and Clara had been friends since high school. Because of that, Lena had witnessed everything that happened between Clara and Wren. She couldn't help but sigh while recounting all the memories. She asked, "Why did things change between you two all of a sudden?" Clara froze while recalling the past, but she ultimately looked down with sorrow. Lena noticed the former's silence and no longer dared to mention Wren. She instantly changed the topic. After lunch, the two planned to return to their university when they happened to pass by a time-honored pastry shop nearby. Clara loved the elderflower muffins from that pastry shop. Although the shop was popular, they only baked a limit of 200 muffins daily. No matter how busy Wren was before, he would always queue in person to buy those muffins for her if she wanted them. Lena saw Clara staring at the pastry shop, so she brought the latter to queue for their baked goods. While doing so, she lamented, "The shop's owner is retiring because he's grown old. Today's the last day this shop is running, so we won't be able to have their pastries anymore." Clara stiffened. As she turned to look at the shop, her gaze locked on the man standing ahead. It was Wren. What was he doing here? Her gaze traveled downward to the bag of several pastries and baked goods in Wren's hand. Among the pastries was her favorite muffin. It was evident that Wren didn't expect to see Clara there. He glanced at Lena, who stood beside Clara, before saying, "Are you guys here to buy some pastries?" "Yeah," Clara glumly answered while nodding. Wren was about to speak when the shop's owner spoke up from in front, announcing, "Our elderflower muffins have sold out. Feel free to consider the other pastries instead." Lena hadn't noticed Wren was there. She heard the owner's announcement and whipped her head around to tell Clara, "What a pity. You couldn't make it in time to have the muff—" She hadn't finished speaking, but she soon saw Wren and the muffins in his grasp. Her eyes lit up. "Wren! Did you specially buy those muffins for Clara because you knew this shop was closing its doors after today?" Wren peered at Clara and was about to say something. "Are you still not done buying the pastries, Wren?" Ivy came over to affectionately hug Wren's arm. Only then did she realize Clara was there. "What a coincidence! "Did you come here for pastries, too, Clara? This shop's renowned for its elderflower muffins. Wren brought me here to try them since he heard I hadn't had them before. I didn't think we'd bump into you here." Lena cocked a brow while studying Ivy. Then, she silently held Clara's hand, wanting to give the latter some comfort. Little did she expect Clara to react coldly. Clara pursed her lips together and said nothing. Ivy wasn't offended. She just coquettishly asked Wren, "Did you buy the muffins?" "Of course. I can get you anything you want to eat." Wren flashed an endearing smile at Ivy before passing her the muffin. Ivy subtly shot a triumphant look at Clara before commenting, "It looks like a lot of people are queuing for this shop's pastries. Why don't we share some of our pastries with Clara? It's not like we can finish all these anyway." "Sure," Wren smilingly agreed. Yet, he didn't even spare Clara a glance as he handed her a random pastry. Clara looked at the words "Almond Pastry" on the paper bag, her lips tugging into a tense smile. She was severely allergic to almonds and even got hospitalized because of them. Since that incident, Wren forbade that ingredient from entering their household. He seemed to have forgotten all about it now. Then again, maybe it was more like he no longer cared. Fortunately, Clara had already decided to give up on Wren. From now on, she would only see him as an older brother. She no longer cared even as Wren and Ivy showed public displays of affection like nobody was around. She was unbothered by seeing Wren give someone else something that once belonged to her. Likewise, she couldn't care less that he had forgotten about her allergy. Clara didn't feel as miserable or in pain anymore. As for Ivy's constant provocation, Clara wouldn't pay them any mind or get involved with them from now on. Clara looked up at Wren with a calm gaze before indifferently replying, "No, thanks, Wren. If there's nothing else you need, Lena and I will be heading off now." She then led Lena out of the shop without any hesitation.