Secrets In The Scars

 

14 Days With My Love

Chapter 5: "Secrets in the Scars"

The Savior of the Empire

Before the celebration began, Michael had taken Clara to meet Long, the man often referred to as the "Steel Titan" of Beijing's tech sector. They met in a high-tech boardroom that felt more like a fortress than an office. Long was a man who didn't smile; he looked at Clara not as a guest, but as a distraction.

"Michael tells me you’re a software engineer," Long had said, his voice cold. "But my servers are being bled dry by a ghost. My company is facing bankruptcy within the week if we don't stop the leak. Can a girl from Denver really see what my top security teams missed?"

Clara didn't flinch. She sat down at the head of the table, opened her laptop, and went to work. For three hours, the only sound was the clicking of keys. Michael watched in awe as Clara’s eyes moved with lightning speed across lines of code.

"You aren't being hacked from the outside, Mr. Long," Clara said, turning the screen around. "It’s a 'Logic Bomb' hidden in your payroll software. It was planted two years ago, designed to trigger exactly now to make your investments look like a failure."

She didn't just find it—she neutralized it. She rewrote the security protocol in a language so advanced that Long’s team scrambled to take notes. By the time she stood up, Long wasn't just impressed; he was humbled. He stood and gave her a deep, traditional bow of respect.

"Michael," Long whispered as they headed to dinner, "you haven't just found a girlfriend. You’ve found a queen. If you let her go, you are the biggest fool in China."

Later that night, Michael met his good friend Long for drinks. He left Clara at home and promised her he would return soon.

The city lights of Beijing blurred into streaks of gold and neon as Michael sat in a private booth with Long. They were celebrating; thanks to Clara’s technical brilliance, Long’s subsidiary company had been pulled back from the brink of total bankruptcy. She hadn’t just found the hack; she had built a firewall that saved his legacy.

"Michael, I’m telling you," Long said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Keep that woman. Lock it down. She’s not just a partner; she’s a savior. I’ve never seen a mind like hers."

Michael leaned back, a glass of baijiu in his hand. He was more than a little drunk, the weight of the last few weeks finally lifting. "I know, Long. I know. I’m proposing on the final night. I’ve already got the ring."

Long’s face darkened slightly. "Be careful, brother. I saw Mei-Lin today near the office. She looked… possessed. Now that you’ve exposed her scheme and humiliated her firm, she’s a wounded animal. She knows you’re with Clara."

Michael’s grip tightened on his glass. "Mei-Lin was a mistake. A ghost I should have exorcised years ago."

"Does Clara know?" Long asked quietly. "About the engagement? About why you were with Mei-Lin in the first place while Clara was in Denver?"

Michael stared into the clear liquid. "I didn't have the heart to tell her yet. I wanted to fix the mess first. I’ll tell her after she says yes. I don't want the past to ruin the moment she becomes my future."

The Drunken Confession 🍷🌑

When Michael stumbled into the penthouse an hour later, Clara was waiting. She had been sitting in the dark, the black envelope still fresh in her mind.

"You're late," she said softly, her voice devoid of its usual warmth.

Michael tripped slightly, laughing as he fell onto the sofa. "Celebrated with Long. You saved him, Clara. You’re a genius. Come here..."

Clara sat beside him, her heart heavy as lead. "Michael, who is Mei-Lin?"

The name made Michael’s smile falter, but the alcohol stripped away his filter. He let out a long, ragged breath. "Mei-Lin... she’s a ghost, love. My grandfather—bless his stubborn heart—he arranged it when we were kids. He owed her family a debt from decades ago. Best friends with her grandpa."

Clara felt a flicker of hope, but it was cold. "And you were with her while we were together?"

"It wasn't like that," Michael slurred, reaching for her hand, though she kept it in her lap. "I didn't want to date her. I tried to end it a hundred times, but the families... the contracts... it was an 'arranged marriage agreement.' But Clara," he leaned in, his eyes glassed over but sincere, "I never touched her. Not once. In two years, I never felt for her what I felt for you in two seconds in that café in Denver."

He let out a dry, drunken chuckle. "I’m glad I finally let her go. I had to get things under control before I told you. I didn't want you to think I was weak."

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He flipped it open. A massive, pear-cut diamond caught the moonlight, flashing brilliantly. "See this? I’m going to surprise you. You have no idea... you’re going to be my wife, and the ghosts will finally be gone."

He closed the box and slumped back, falling into a deep, alcohol-induced sleep within minutes.

The Heart of the Matter 💔💬

Clara stared at the sleeping man she loved—and the man who had kept her in the dark for two years. She picked up the velvet box, looking at the ring that was supposed to be her "surprise."

"You think a ring fixes the silence, Michael?" she whispered to the empty room.

She stood up and walked to the balcony, looking out at the city that felt like a beautiful cage.

Memories echoed in her head:

"I love you even more," he had said. "I have no secrets from you," he had promised in Denver.

"You had a thousand chances," she whispered, a single tear finally escaping. "You could have told me about the debt. You could have told me about the pressure. I would have stood by you. But you let me believe I was the only one, while you were wearing another woman’s chains."

She looked at the ring one last time before placing it back in his pocket. She wouldn't confront him tonight. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a fight. She would continue to play the part of the perfect, supportive girlfriend for the remaining days. She would help his family, she would charm his friends, and solve his problems.

But as Michael dreamt of a wedding, Clara was already mentally boarding her flight home. She had won his world, but he had lost her soul. ✈️🌑

Michael is dreaming of forever, but Clara is counting down the hours. Will he realize his mistake before the suitcase is packed?

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👉 Read Chapter 4: The Silent Goodbye.