Daddy’s billionaire step-brother
Chapter 63: Bad influence

Adrian's realization hung in the air like a heavy weight.

Clara's heart sank as she heard his words. "My father?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. She pulled away from Adrian, sitting up in bed, the blankets still wrapped around her. The betrayal stung deeply. Her own father, who had already manipulated her into a disastrous engagement, was now selling private details about her life to the media?

Adrian sat beside her, his expression dark and calculating. "He's the only one who knew the exact amount of the payout. That number was supposed to stay between us, the lawyers, and the Caldwells. It's not something that would leak by accident."

Clara's mind raced, piecing everything together. Her father had already proven he would go to any lengths to control her, to use her for his own benefit, but this? Selling their private life to the tabloids for money or worse, revenge was a new level of betrayal.

"How could he do this to me?" Clara murmured, her eyes wide with hurt. She felt tears welling up again, but she blinked them back, trying to stay strong. "Hasn't he done enough already? Why can't he just leave us alone?" Adrian's jaw tightened, and his fists clenched as he spoke, "This is about more than money for him. He's trying to fuck with us, Clara. He wants to make us pay because he thinks I took you away from him. He's not going to stop, I know him." Clara swallowed hard. Her father's influence still cast a long shadow over her life, even now, miles away from the world he had trapped her in. She had always known he was controlling, manipulative even, but she never thought he would go so far as to sabotage her happiness just to get back at Adrian.

"I won't let him," Clara said, her voice firm. She turned to Adrian, determination flickering in her eyes. "He won't tear us apart. I won't let him win."

Adrian looked at her, his gaze softening as he took her hand. "We'll deal with him. I'll deal with him, Clara. Don't worry."

Clara nodded, feeling a sense of solidarity with Adrian. They were a team now. She wasn't the same naive girl who had been controlled by her father's schemes. She was Adrian's wife, carrying his child, and she wasn't going to let her father or anyone else sabotage that.

But deep down, Clara knew that this was only the beginning. Her father wasn't going to give up easily. He had already shown how far he was willing to go, and she couldn't shake the feeling that things were going to get a lot worse before they got better.

Adrian was packing his bags for a business trip to London, and Clara watched from the doorway of their bedroom, a knot forming in her stomach. The idea of being left alone in the vast, empty mansion for a week made her feel uneasy. The house was breathtaking, but its size and solitude felt overwhelming without Adrian there. She needed a distraction, something to keep her company-and then the perfect idea hit her.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Jessica.

"Why don't you come out to Mykonos for a few days? We'll have some girls-only fun," Clara suggested, a smile creeping onto her face as she imagined her best friend's reaction.

A few days later, Jessica arrived. As soon as she stepped out of the private car, Clara rushed to greet her. Jessica let out a squeal of excitement and threw her arms around Clara, hugging her tightly. "Oh my god, Clara! I've missed you so much!" she said, laughing as she pulled back, eyes wide as she looked Clara up and down. "Look at you! Your belly's grown so much since I last saw you!"

Clara grinned, placing a hand on her growing bump. "I know, right? It feels like it's growing faster every day."

Jessica beamed, her happiness for Clara evident in her expression. "I'm so happy to see you. And this place" she gestured around at the sprawling mansion overlooking the ocean, "is unbelievable. You're seriously living in a dream." Clara laughed, feeling lighter already. "It's been a lot, but I'm glad you're here. I've missed you so much." Jessica winked. "Well, we've got a whole week ahead of us. Let's make it count."

Clara and Jessica were lounging by the pool, the gentle Mykonos breeze swaying the palm trees as the sun bathed them in golden light. Clara sipped her sparkling water and turned to Jessica.

"How did your parents react when you told them you were suddenly going to Greece for a week?" she asked, a curious smile on her face.

Jessica shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "I'm eighteen, Clara. I can do whatever I want now," she said, flipping her sunglasses back down onto her face.

Clara chuckled softly but then grew more serious. "What about Emma and Sophie? I wish they could've come too."

Jessica hesitated for a moment before answering, "Honestly? Their parents think you're kind of... a bad influence right now. With all the scandals and stuff going around in the media, they're worried that being associated with you might harm their reputation."

Clara's heart sank. Guilt washed over her as she twisted her fingers around the edge of her towel. "I didn't know it was that bad," she murmured. "I just... I wish we could all be here, celebrating this moment together. I'm happy now, truly happy, and it feels like they're missing it."

Jessica reached over and grabbed Clara's hand, squeezing it gently. "I can tell, Clara. You're glowing. I haven't seen you this happy in so long."

Clara smiled, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She looked down at her belly, softly rubbing the spot where her baby grew, then back at Jessica. "I guess I should tell you everything. How I left the Caldwells, the engagement..." Jessica sat up, eyes wide with excitement. "Oh, please do! I need the full story."

Clara exhaled and began to recount it all. "Adrian paid twenty-three million dollars to the Caldwells. Can you believe it? That's what it took to free me from that nightmare. Then, he flew me to Lake Como, and we got married immediately. It was beautiful, but kind of sad... The church was empty. No family, no friends. The only photos I have are the ones the paparazzi took."

Jessica's jaw dropped. "Clara! Well, that means your husband now owes you a million-dollar wedding party to make up for it."

Clara laughed softly, waving her hand dismissively. "Honestly, it doesn't matter. I'm just happy." She glanced down at her ring, the double diamond sparkling in the sunlight. Jessica's eyes followed, and her breath caught. "That is the most beautiful ring I've ever seen," Jessica said, admiring the stones with awe.

Clara looked at it proudly, her heart swelling with affection. But then Jessica's next question knocked the wind out of her.

"How did Henry react when you called off the engagement?" Jessica asked innocently, not knowing the full extent of the truth.

Clara's smile faded instantly. Her mind flashed to Henry, to Elena, to Mr. Caldwell and everything that had happened. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to steady herself, but Jessica noticed the shift in her friend's expression. "Clara... are you okay?" Jessica asked, leaning closer with concern in her eyes.

Clara swallowed hard, feeling visibly shaken. She didn't know how to explain it all-the betrayal, the lies, the ugliness that had unfolded behind the scenes.

Clara sat on the edge of the plush sofa, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her beach towel. Jessica, sensing the heaviness in the air, leaned in slightly, concern etched across her face.

"There's so much you don't know," Clara began, her voice fragile as she spoke.