Clara cried so hard that her eyes were swollen. If Jocelyn saw her, she would ask what was going on. Clara wiped off her tears and realized her makeup was smudged.

"I promised grandma to have lunch with her. I'll leave after the ceremony is over."

​​

"Why bother?" asked Catherine. She has seen Leydon exchanging rings with Emma and had to see them show affection in public. Catherine wondered how much more Clara could take.

"I think I can."

Although Clara looked fragile, she had a tough mind, or she wouldn't survive all these years.

Being refused so many times made Clara wonder she barely had feelings. She reapplied makeup. Although her eyes were still a bit red, it would take a second look to notice. She looked at Catherine, "Is this too much for you? How could I like my brother?"

Catherine has known, so there was no point in hiding.

Catherine didn't know what to answer.

"But we're not biological siblings."

"I guess so."

"You're sharp."

"You don't look like him, nor his parents."

"My parents died in a car accident when I was two. I was brought here. Grandma was nice and asked mom to adopt me. And my name was changed to Clara, and thus the daughter of Leydon's family."

Catherine felt bad for Clara. She lost her parents so little and didn't get a chance to meet them. She must be painful.

"Let's get out. Sean must be worried about you."

Clara became the same Clara the public knew. But Catherine could always see the faint sorrow lingering around her eyebrows. Her look wasn't as sparkling as it used to be.

Sean rubbed Catherine's head, seeing she was okay.

The ceremony started. They sat down at the table.

Leydon was a man of few words. Whenever someone came to congratulate him with a glass of drink, he would finish his in return. It looked more like venting rather than being happy.

Brad kept talking Leydon into drinking, saying it was a waste if they didn't finish it.

Emma changed into a dress and came over. She was practically a Fields and sat next to Clara.

Iris said, "Emma, your dress is lovely."

Emma said, "Really? Thanks to Clara, I get to borrow Margo Fresco to design the dress and my style."

"Whatever you like," Clara said.

"I do. Clara, why don't you stay with us for a few days?" asked Emma.

"Sorry. I have plans this evening."Clara said.

"But it's Leydon's engagement. It makes sense that you stay."

Catherine sneered at the way Emma showed off. What a great sister-in-law to rub it in Clara's nose! She wondered.

Clara raised her glass and said, "I wish you happy forever."Then she drank all from the glass.

"That's quite a gesture, Clara," Emma said.

"It's nothing."

"We're a family from now on. Don't worry. If Leydon isn't nice, you have me."

"Thanks a lot."

Leydon looked at them, and Emma smiled. Clara didn't say anything nor looked up at him.

"Brad, be careful. Don't make Leydon drink too much."Leydon's mom said.

Brad laughed out and said, "Don't worry, I won't. I know he has things to do tonight."

Catherine saw how Clara clung on to the glass and got paler.

Emma went blushed.

Others started drinking out of joy.

Leydon's look never changed much. He glanced over at Clara, took the glass Brad handed over, and drank all. It wasn't any drink. The liquor was strong. Leydon just finished it without hesitation, which surprised the guests persuading him to drink.

That wasn't the way to drink liquor. Maybe it was for beer, but not liquor.

"Don't you give him that strong drink?" Leydon's mom said.

Emma said, "Yeah. What if he passes out."

"Whatever Emma says. We'll drink beer."

Emma said, "Leydon, don't drink too much."

Leydon neither answered nor responded. Even his back looked cold.

Emma seemed to be the only concerned party in the engagement party. Leydon was too indifferent, like it wasn't his own engagement. Instead of any joy, he looked being forced into this.

Others might not notice it. But anyone familiar with him noticed it, including his family.

However, Leydon agreed to the engagement. No one pressured him. When they asked him, he simply nodded.

Jocelyn talked to Leydon's mom in private to get something to sober him up. Drinking in the way Leydon did could be fatal.

Clara felt bitter. She couldn't tell whether Leydon was pleased or not. Leydon barely drank. Even if he hung out with friends, he would drink one or two. He wouldn't drink the way he did at the second. Clara hated how well she knew him. She felt upset and started drinking.

"Clara," Catherine said.

"I'm okay," Clara said as she drank a bottle of wine. Then she poured a glass of liquor and drank it, frowning.

Her throat was burning. As the liquor went in her stomach, she felt so hot, like burning. Her cheek got red so fast.

"Clara, don't drink it. You won't feel well."Catherine said.

"It's okay. I feel like it."Clara said.

Catherine knew she was on a bad moon. But drinking like the way Clara did might cause problems.

"Clara, do you want them to see you like this?" asked Catherine.

Clara was such a woman of pride that she wouldn't show her hard feelings. But she didn't want to care. All she could feel was the excruciating pain from her heart, which almost deprived her of sanity. She wished she could stop the engagement and take Leydon back. But she was too aware of the consequences. Besides, she wouldn't be happy taking something that didn't belong to her.

"Clara, why do you drink so much?" asked Jocelyn.

"Grandma, I'm so happy for Leydon."

"You don't have to drink so much. You barely drink."

Clara was an obedient girl in her family. She never defied any of the seniors. Even if she had a career in show business, she cherished her name. She was known to be a diligent and driven actress. Although she was only 22, a lot of rich and powerful women had the thought of making her their daughter-in-law.

"I'm just overjoyed. Don't worry, grandma."Clara said. Her cheek was red like rotten apples. And her look was empty.