Chapter 230: As if you left me with any other choice

Julianna frowned when Dorothy continued to ignore her remarks. Frustrated, she stormed over to her mother.

"Mom, did you even hear what I said? This is the place you chose for us to stay!"

Dorothy paused and finally turned to look at her daughter.

"As if you left me with any other choice."

There was no warmth in her eyes, and the coldness in her voice left Julianna stunned.

"You’re blaming me too now?" Julianna asked, her voice rising. "Mom, everything I did was to get revenge on Clara for taking the deal from us. You knew how depressed Dad was after losing the deal with the Prestine Group!"

Julianna still didn’t understand.

Dorothy’s disappointment wasn’t because Julianna had failed to bring Clara down. She was disappointed because one mistake after another had dragged their entire family into ruin.

Yet even now, with nothing left, Julianna was still trying to hold on to the life of luxury she no longer had.

"You still don’t understand, do you, Julianna?"

Dorothy’s words immediately silenced her.

"We have nothing left, and you still think I can afford a better place with the little money we got after selling my precious ring?"

Julianna’s eyes widened.

Only then did she notice that her mother’s hands were empty.

Dorothy had already spent the remaining cash on the driver. With Felix turning his back on her as well, she had been left with only one option—selling her wedding ring.

There was one painful truth Dorothy had finally accepted.

There was nothing more they could do.

Every door had been slammed shut in their faces. Even Vincent had finally accepted his fate.

If they wanted to survive, they had to let go of their obsession with taking revenge on Clara.

They had lost their wealth, their connections, and, most painfully, their dignity.

"Now, stop standing there and complaining. Start cleaning this place. I need to rest."

Dorothy walked away, leaving Julianna frozen in disbelief.

"M-Mom, you want me to clean this place?" she exclaimed. "I’ve never cleaned anything in my life!"

She looked around the dusty room in disgust.

How could her mother possibly expect her to do something so beneath her?

Dorothy stopped and looked back at her.

"Then what do you think? I’m going to clean it for you?"

Julianna’s mouth fell open, but Dorothy didn’t bother waiting for a response. She simply turned and walked away.

"Now, don’t just stand there like a log. Start working," she called over her shoulder.

Her words finally snapped Julianna out of her trance.

Julianna clenched her fists, anger and resentment burning inside her.

How dare she talk to me like that?

But with no money, no connections, and nowhere else to go, she had no choice but to swallow her pride.

***

Later that evening, Clara and the girls finally wrapped up their work and decided to head to a nearby restaurant for dinner.

After Gen returned from the police station, she had been unusually quiet. Normally, she was the one keeping everyone entertained, but tonight she barely spoke.

Clara had noticed it immediately.

That’s why she suggested they have dinner together. Maybe a good meal and some time together would help cheer Gen up.

Unfortunately, Clara had underestimated two things.

Lily’s tolerance for alcohol.

And Silvia’s ability to encourage her.

By the time Clara realized what was happening, the two were already several drinks in.

Lily rested her chin on her hand and stared at Gen with an overly serious expression.

"Gen..."

Gen looked at her cautiously. "Yes?"

"You look sad," she said with a pout.

"I know."

"No, no." Lily shook her head. "You look really sad."

Silvia nodded solemnly beside her. "She’s right. Your sadness is very... visible."

Gen blinked. "How is sadness visible?"

Silvia thought about it for several seconds. "I don’t know."

Lily burst out laughing. "Then why did you say it?"

"Because it sounded wise."

The two immediately started laughing again.

Gen couldn’t help but smile a little.

Clara, sitting across from them, quietly watched the scene. She hadn’t touched her drink once, knowing exactly what would happen if she did.

The last time she had drunk with Hannah, things had gotten out of control so quickly that she had sworn never to repeat the experience.

And judging by Lily’s current condition, that decision had been absolutely correct.

Lily suddenly leaned toward Gen. "Listen to me."

"I’m listening," Gen sighed.

"You shouldn’t be sad."

"I’ll try," she added.

"No." Lily shook her head firmly. "Don’t try. Just don’t."

Gen stared at her. Silvia then raised her glass.

"Exactly! From now on, we only allow happiness."

"How?" Gen blinked confusingly.

Silvia looked at Lily. Lily looked at Silvia. Neither had an answer.

"..."

Clara quietly took another sip of water.

This is why I didn’t drink.

Lily suddenly grabbed Gen’s hand. "Come on. Tell us what happened."

Gen hesitated, and Silvia leaned closer. "We’re excellent listeners."

Clara almost laughed. They’re drunk.

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Very excellent."

"You’ve been talking for the last ten minutes," Clara pointed out.

Lily turned toward her with a deeply offended expression.

"Madam, don’t ruin the moment."

Silvia nodded. "She’s right. We’re emotionally supporting Gen."

"You’re both drunk," Clara said flatly.

Lily gasped. "Drunk?" She looked at her glass. Then at Silvia. Then back at Clara.

"I prefer the term emotionally liberated."

Silvia raised her glass. "To emotional liberation!"

"Cheers!" Their glasses clinked, and Gen finally laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.

"They are unbelievable."

Clara watched her smile and quietly relaxed. At least their ridiculous behavior was working.

She leaned back in her chair, content to let the two drunk women handle the cheering.

There was absolutely no chance she was joining them. She valued her dignity—and her ability to remember what happened the next morning.

***

Another hour passed, and eventually, dinner came to an end. Unfortunately for Gen, that didn’t mean the evening was over.

Lily and Silvia were practically hanging off her, trapping her between them like a human sandwich.

"Gen, we’re not leaving you alone!" Lily announced, practically shouting into Gen’s ear as though she had forgotten how normal conversations worked.

Gen winced. "I can hear you."

"Good!" Lily beamed.

Silvia leaned in from the other side. "Yes! We’re going to make sure you’re not upset anymore."

Gen heaved a deep sigh. "That’s very sweet of you."

Clara stared at the two women in disbelief. She couldn’t decide whether to laugh or feel sorry for Gen. Then her gaze fell on Gen, who was trying her best to keep the two drunk women from falling over.

Poor Gen.

"Wau!"

The sudden bark made Clara look down at the little dog in her arms.

"Yes, I know it’s a bad idea," Clara whispered, glancing at Lily and Silvia. "But I doubt they’re coming with us."

Toto blinked at her before turning his head toward the three women. He stared at them for a few seconds. Then he looked back at Clara.

His expression almost seemed to say, Are you sure about that?

Clara sighed.

"Gen, are you sure you can handle the two of them?"

Gen looked at Lily and Silvia clinging to her.

She hesitated. "...I’m starting to have doubts."

"Don’t worry!" Lily suddenly shouted.

"We’ve got you!" Silvia added.

Gen closed her eyes. "That’s exactly what I’m worried about."

She quickly shook her head and tried to reassure Clara.

"Don’t worry about us. I’ll make sure we get home safely."

"You sure?" Clara asked, eyeing Lily and Silvia, who were still leaning heavily against her.

"Absolutely."

Lily suddenly raised her hand.

"We’re perfectly fine!" Silvia nodded enthusiastically.

"Completely fine."

Gen gave Clara an apologetic smile.

"See?"

Clara stared at the two of them.

"Right. Completely fine."

She wasn’t convinced, but she knew there was little point arguing with them now.

After saying their goodbyes, Gen carefully led Lily and Silvia in the direction where the bakery was.

While Lily kept stumbling, Silvia tried to hold her up, only to nearly lose her own balance in the process.

Clara watched them disappear before letting out a long sigh.

"Please just let them sleep when they get home."

She looked down at Toto, who was sitting quietly in her arms.

"Well, Toto, it’s time for us to leave too. Before your dad shows up and wonders that I left him."

Toto blinked at her.

"Don’t look at me like that. You know I’m right."

She pulled out her phone and unlocked it, opening the cab-booking app. She had barely started searching for a ride when a familiar voice suddenly reached her ears.

"Clara?"

Her fingers froze against the screen. She slowly lifted her head.

That voice... there was no way she could have mistaken it.

Of all the people Clara had expected to run into that evening, the man standing before her was certainly the last.

"You? What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice devoid of any warmth.

Her eyes were just as cold, making it clear that she wasn’t particularly pleased to see him.

Toto seemed to pick up on his owner’s hostility. He immediately turned toward the man in Clara’s arms and barked.

"Wau! Wau!"