Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 49: Rumors

Clara felt like a ghost walking through the halls of the school, her once carefree world now replaced by an unbearable tension. Every glance, every whisper seemed to weigh on her as she walked through the crowded corridors. Her belly was just beginning to show, discreetly enough that it could be hidden, but obvious enough to fuel the rumors. Some people said it was Henry's child, others snickered and hinted at the darker truth one that made her stomach twist every time

she heard the name Adrian on someone's lips.

The engagement to Henry had come as no surprise to anyone, but the speed of it had raised eyebrows. People were talking. They always talked. But now, the whispers behind her back felt sharper, more pointed. They weren't just curious- some were downright cruel.

"Did you hear? She's marrying Henry Caldwell because she's pregnant."

"I bet it's not even his baby. Remember her uncle, Adrian Belfort? I bet they were fucking, this is why he gave her that car."

Clara bit the inside of her cheek as she passed a group of students, their whispers barely concealed. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but instead, she kept her head high and forced herself to walk past them as if she didn't care. She couldn't afford to care. Not anymore.

Yet, amid the cruel gossip, there was also a strange shift in how some people treated her. Girls who had barely acknowledged her before were now suddenly nicer, more polite. Some of them even went out of their way to compliment her ring, the giant pear-shaped diamond sparkling on her finger-a constant reminder of the life she had chained herself to. They saw her engagement as an elevation in status. Soon she would be a Caldwell, richer and more powerful than almost anyone at school. It was as if the ring alone had given her an aura of untouchable wealth and prestige.

But it didn't make her feel better. It didn't erase the dread that gnawed at her. None of their fake kindness mattered. Clara felt like she was suffocating under the weight of the secret she was carrying her baby, the deal with Mr. Caldwell, her father's betrayal. She had sold her soul to survive, and now she was bound to become her father-in-law's mistress, trapped in a life she didn't want.

Each day at school felt like a prison sentence, but she had no choice but to endure it. She told herself she had to stay strong for the baby, for the innocent life growing inside her. She focused on surviving each day, on letting time pass until she could figure out what to do. The weight of everything threatened to break her, but she refused to let it. Not yet.

Clara found solace in small moments-sitting quietly in the library or staring out of the window during class. She imagined a future far away from the Caldwells, far away from the mess her life had become. But the reality was always waiting for her, suffocating her the moment she snapped back to the present.

As the days stretched on, she felt like a ticking time bomb, counting down the moments until everything exploded. Until she could no longer hide the truth. Until the life she had signed away fully caught up with her.

The announcement of the engagement party in Italy had come quickly, faster than Clara expected. Richard's cold, commanding voice still echoed in her head when he'd informed her of what had to be done: she had to find a way to sleep with Mr. Caldwell before the wedding. The pregnancy would be too advanced by then to go unnoticed, and her only option was to make it look like Henry was the father.

Clara felt a deep sense of dread as they boarded the plane to Italy. She had always dreamed of returning to Europe, remembering a childhood trip to visit relatives. Back then, it had been magical-the ancient buildings, the art, the feeling of history all around her. But now, it felt like she was walking into a nightmare. This wasn't the return she had once imagined.

The Amalfi Coast was breathtaking. The sun dipped low over the sparkling waters, casting everything in a golden glow. The rolling hills, lined with villas and lush greenery, felt like something out of a dream. Luxury was everywhere the Caldwells had spared no expense. Clara found herself staying in a private villa overlooking the Mediterranean, with rooms larger than any place she had ever called home. Everything from the marble floors to the handpicked décor screamed wealth.

Yet none of it brought her joy.

The Caldwells provided her with a wardrobe full of designer clothes-gowns, dresses, shoes, handbags-all meticulously chosen for her. But Clara hadn't been consulted about any of it. She hadn't picked a single dress, hadn't chosen a single pair of heels. It was a harsh reminder of the life she was walking into, a life where nothing belonged to her not even her own decisions. Everyone was making choices for her. From the clothes she wore to the man she would marry, every detail of her life had been decided by someone else.