Toxic Relationships
The Truth

...Happy Reading ...

Clara was now staring at the scene under the building, this time she was really bored. Today is exactly one week since dinner with the Hilton family, when all her efforts ended in vain. Actually he really wanted to return to France to meet his daughter, especially his Bakery that is unattended. But Jack forbade him to go back on his own under the pretext of going astray. The most absurd excuse Jack ever gave her.

Clara now turned to look at Jack who was still busy with the monitor screen in front of her, they are still in the GrantHill Company since this morning, more precisely three hours ago. And for three hours he was just lazing. Moreover, Tiffany was also in France, no one accompanied him to just walk around the mall or take a leisurely walk. He's very bored.

Drrt... Drrr...

Clara flinched as she felt the vibration of her phone on her pants, Clara frowned when she saw a message coming in with a number she did not recognize. Clara quickly opened the message.

‘Good afternoon Miss Villegas, I am Mrs Hilton. If you're not busy, can we meet at Corner Cafe now? I wait.'

Clara swallowed her saliva and looked at Jack who still looked so busy with his work. Should he tell Jack about the message he received? But then Clara nodded. No, of course if he told Jack, the man would never allow it. Moreover, he was also very curious about what Mrs Hilton wanted to convey to him. In contrast to Mr. Hilton, Mrs Hilton seemed so gentle to him.

“Jack, can I go for a minute?” Clara asked and looked at her lover, making Jack take his eyes off the monitor screen.

"Where are you going?" Jack's eyes were now completely distracted staring intensely at Clara. Clara seemed to pause for a moment to think.

“Umm... Search coffee.”

“Alright, don't take too long.”

Jack said briefly and refocused on his work, Clara smiled broadly. He does not know if asking permission to Jack is this easy, unlike Jack who was always angry even just because of trivial things.

Before wasting time and Jack who changed his mind, Clara quickly walked out of the room and headed for the elevator, taking her downstairs and leaving the GrantHill Company building.

......................

Clara now opened the entrance of the cafe, from a distance she could see a middle-aged woman who looked so elegant. Clara's smile expands, she thinks Mrs Hilton will come with Mr. Hilton, but she turns out to be wrong.

“Good day Mistress.”

Clara was standing next to Mrs Hilton and bowing her body. Mistress Hilton who saw Clara coming smiled faintly.

“You've come Clara, Sit down.”

Mrs Hilton's gentle speech made Clara smile thinly. Ms Hilton is very different from her husband.

“You want what message?”

“No, no need Mistress.”

Clara now raised both hands, she did not want to stay here too long. Yes, even though Mrs Hilton treated her so well, she was still very awkward. Looking at Clara who refused, Mistress Hilton seemed to smile and nodded in understanding.

“It's our second meeting, isn't it?”

Clara lifted her face and looked at the middle-aged woman who was smiling at him. Next Clara looked down and nodded small.

“I..Yes Madam.”

“Sorry for not being able to take good care of Jack all this time, Clara.”

At the instant of silence, Clara lifted her face and could see Mistress Hilton looking at her with sadness. Clara's nervous face now turned questionable.

“And don't call me Mrs Hilton, I don't have that status. You can call me Mother."

Hearing the middle-aged woman's words before him, Clara fell silent for a moment, trying to digest everything she said. Clara could see the woman blinked her eyes for a moment and smiled faintly at her. Although she tried to hide it, Clara could see the sadness on her face.

“I've been divorced with Mr. Hilton since Jack was in prison, and I don't think Jack knows about that.” Mrs Hilton said calmly and drank a glass of warm tea served.

“Ke..why? Why are you divorced?”

After asking that question Clara bit her lower lip, she was too frontal and very disrespectful.

"Ma.. Sorry." Clara said nervously and lowered her head. Seeing Clara's reaction, Mrs Hilton seemed to be smiling faintly.

“Master Hilton never forgets his first wife and always blames himself for the woman's death. Until I finally gave up on all his attitude and found out that Mr. Hilton did not love me."

Clara could see the middle-aged woman before her looking teary-eyed. I don't know what Jack's reaction would be if he heard all this. And also, why did Mrs Hilton decide to tell her all this? No, no she's not Mrs Hilton anymore.

“I know, I made a mistake trying to snatch Mr. Hilton from his first wife. Seizing my first love from a woman who has degrees far above me.”

“Cin.. First love?” Clara asked puzzledly, she still did not understand this.

“Then Hilton and I were lovers, but she was betrothed by someone else who was her equal. And the matchmaking made us part and years later unexpectedly I met him again as a superior and I was his secretary.”.

The middle-aged woman in front of him seemed to ponder with a small smile, as if reminiscing about the – times that were so pleasant in his life. Clara was still silent and listening, she began to understand which way this conversation was going.

“Master Hilton thought his love for me never faded and so did I, but he only felt such a great loss when he lost his first wife. Even from that moment Mr. Hilton has never treated me the way I used to. Although we married, but his love has been taken completely by the first wife.”

Clara felt her chest claustrophobic, even though this woman was wrong. But he only wants to be with his first love, but fate does not allow them to be together. Even Jack never knew about Mr. Hilton's regret since his mother's death.

“When I saw you at dinner last night, I looked at myself. But the difference is that I don't have the guts to hold on to my love like you Clara. You're a great woman.”

This woman held Clara's hand tightly and looked at her deeply, Clara smiled faintly. It was clear that the woman was starting to shed her tears.

"I hope that my breakup with Mr. Hilton will improve Jack's relationship with his father. Please take good care of Jack Clara, I'm so guilty of destroying Jack's relationship with Mr. Hilton."

Tell the woman and start hiccupping. Clara was still speechless, not expecting everything she heard, Clara now started to stand up and walked towards the middle-aged woman and hugged her, trying to calm her who looked so sad.

“Fight your relationship with Jack, Clara. I've helped as much as I can to talk to Mr. Hilton.”

"Okay, ma'am, thank you so much."

To be continue...