Chapter 2
She paused for a moment, then said softly, "I prefer quiet, that is all."
"Is that so?" Elliott's gaze was piercing, seeing right through her. "If you truly loved quiet, there wouldn't be that hint of discontent in your eyes. Miss Sterling, it seems you don't want to accept the life that's been arranged for you."
His words struck a chord in her heart.
Clara looked up, meeting his deep gaze. There was no hint of probing or mockery in his eyes, only a clear understanding of her.
She relaxed her guard a bit and replied, "Mr. Kane, isn't it true that everyone has parts of their life they can't control?"
"Control is a matter of how much you want something," Elliott said, his voice steady and commanding by nature. "What you truly desire, you have to take for yourself. You don't let others decide for you."
The evening breeze swept through Clara's long hair as she gazed at this rebellious, unbridled man before her. For the first time, a strange ripple of emotion stirred in her heart.
He lived boldly, doing as he pleased. While she had always followed the rules, and her every step was controlled by others. Their lives couldn't have been more different.
"It's easy for you to say that, since you live so freely," she said softly, a note of wistfulness in her voice.
Elliott looked straight at her, his voice dropping to a soft, tempting whisper. "If you want, you can."
Clara's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes again.
Clara reminded herself, 'I'm engaged. I shouldn't allow myself any ambiguous involvement with another man.'
"It's getting late. I should go back to my room," she said with a slight nod, turning to leave.
"Clara," Elliott called after her.
She paused.
"Remember what I said," Elliott said, his voice serious and commanding as he watched her back. "A life arranged for you will never be complete."
Clara's eyes flickered, but she didn't look back.
A gleam of certainty filled Elliot's eyes. Since fate had brought her to him, she could only ever be his.
Over the next three days, they kept running into each other by chance.
Every morning, Clara would be in the garden practicing her basic dance moves, while Elliott lounged on a nearby bench, soaking up the sun and doing his rehabilitation exercises. He never interrupted her.
In the evenings, when she stepped out onto the terrace to enjoy the breeze, he'd always appear as if on cue. They'd chat about dance, soccer, or the cultural differences between Eastland and Westland.
He never asked about personal affairs, yet he always seemed to know how to ease the unease in her heart.
The longer Clara spent with him, the more her perception of Elliot was turned upside down.
Rumours portrayed Elliot as domineering, brash, and aloof, a man who kept others at a distance. But the real Elliot was gentle, perceptive, and considerate. He knew when to step back and when to move closer, and his eyes held a rare sincerity.
That evening, the sunset painted the entire lake in a warm, fiery red.
They stood side by side on the terrace, letting the breeze wash over them in comfortable silence.
Elliott was the first to break the silence. "You're heading to Milana the day after tomorrow to continue your tour, right?"
"Yes," Clara nodded. " Three more shows, then I'll be returning to Eastland."
"And after you get back, you'll be getting engaged?"
Clara turned to him, not expecting him to be so direct.
Elliott met her gaze without hesitation. "Don't be surprised. It's easy to look you up. The engagement between the Sterling and Hart Families is well known in Eastland's upper circles. The Kane Family has extensive business dealings with Eastland."
Clara replied calmly, "Yes."
"Do you love him?" Elliott pressed, his tone blunt and direct.
Clara lowered her gaze and gave a gentle shake of her head. "No."
"If you don't love him, then why are you getting engaged?"
"It's a family arrangement, my obligation," Clara answered, her voice dull and weary. "My parents' marriage was peaceful; their lives went smoothly.
"They believe marrying someone of equal status and living a stable life is the best kind of happiness. For me, an arranged engagement is the best choice."
"The best choice isn't always the right one for you," Elliott cut in, his voice strong and unyielding. "Stability isn't the same as happiness, and settling for less isn't living. Clara, your life shouldn't be about fulfilling your family's expectations."
Clara gave a wry, helpless laugh. "Most things in life aren't up to us. Not everyone gets to live exactly how they want."
"Then let me help you live however you want."
Elliot's voice suddenly turned firm and unwavering.
Clara's heart jolted, and she looked up at him in shock.
He stepped forward, closing the gap between them. His deep eyes locked onto hers, intense and completely unfiltered.
"Clara, I like you. The moment I saw you dancing on stage, I was drawn to you," Elliott said.
His sudden, fervent confession caught her off guard, throwing her heart into disarray.