Chapter 172 - Be With The Lesser Evil

The tension in the room was so thick that one could slice at it with a knife. Clara went rigid the instant Marcel made that statement and she blanched.

"And what's the endgame?"

"What?" Marcel said.

"We will be with whoever we like, what happens to our kid then?" 

At the mention of a kid, all colors drained from his face. Sometimes, Marcel forgets that the sole aim of marrying Clara was to get a hair that would take his place if anything were to happen to him. And now, he thought about it, he felt stupid for having made that statement. 

"What kind of family are we going to present to our child, Marcel? You of all people should answer that correctly," 

And she was fucking right, he could answer better having come from a troubled one. As much as Marcel disliked Clara, he couldn't let his child grow up in a loveless marriage. His child can't go through the same thing he encountered. 

"Even if you don't love me, at least try to encourage the future I'm trying to build for us. Don't make me look like a fool," The tears Clara had been trying to hold back, finally broke free. 

"I'm so tired of fighting with you," Clara threw herself on him and hugged him tight while Marcel stood frozen like the north pole.

He didn't know what to do nor did he push Clara away as she cried on his body. This was his fault. 

Clara was right, whether he liked it or not, the both of them would have to build a family together. Even if he manages to get Chloe back, he can't just break the engagement now, the decision was above him. 

Even if he and Clara eventually broke off their engagement, he would still end up in an arranged marriage. His marital life is nothing more than a pawn in the politics to promote their family or between leading clans.

The devil you knew is better than the angel you have not seen. Marcel would rather be with Clara whom he knows her tendencies already than another woman from enemy clans. 

Sometimes, an arrangement like that ends up in bloodshed when the woman with an ulterior motive betrays her husband for her family. Marcel would rather be with the lesser evil, Clara.

It was not like he was going to marry for love in the first place - he doesn't even know what that means. All that mattered to Marcel was giving his child a better family and since Clara was interested in creating one as well, he might as well give her a chance.

Moreover, it would end his obsession for Arianna - he eventually came back to the subject he was avoiding. After today's mission goes successful, Arianna would be sent far away and he would settle down with Clara and make a family.

Arianna would no longer be here to distract him or make him do stupid things- like killing one of his own for her. He would forget all about her and the fact she ever existed, focusing on his future. Clara was not a bad choice anyway. Maybe? 

"Fine, let's give it a try," He finally said and one should see the expression on Clara's face when she finally lifted her head.

"W-what?" She choked, a big look of unbelief on her face. She must have heard wrong.

A small furrow appeared on Marcel's face, he doesn't like repeating himself and certainly not on sensitive matters like this one.

"Let's try and create a good family for our child," He said once again, a little bit louder this time.

"Oh my God!" Clara gushed, pulling away from his body. 

"I can't believe this!" She screamed and then hugged him once more. But this time she was full of Joy. 

Still hugging Marcel, Clara looked up, chin resting on his body, saying, "I promise you, you're not going to regret this decision," 

Marcel sure hoped so because he was beginning to have this sickening feeling in his belly he just made a big mistake. 

"Thank you," Clara was still in high spirit because she stood on her toes and smooched him on the lips. Marcel tried to look happy for her sake else she releases those tears that scares the hell out of him. 

"I have to leave," He looked down at his watch for emphasis. 

"Call me when you're back," 

Never. 

"Sure," He betrayed the true answer in his heart. 

Since he was leaving, the both of them walked out together and Clara was the one that intertwined their hands with a coy smile that didn't even stir his heart. It was going to be hard getting used to the fact they were now together. 

Victor was lounging on the couch in the living room when they arrived and his gaze first rested on their joined hands before his brows raised and even without asking, Marcel already knew the question. 

"Don't even ask," Marcel's uncomfortable demeanor supplied the answer without speaking. 

"The both of you look good together," Victor had never been insincere until now. 

Clara smiled at the compliment - as she thought - only Marcel understood the irony there. 

"See you then," Marcel was more than happy to dump her with Victor. Maybe, with time, he would get used to her, Marcel kept telling himself. 

As soon as Marcel left, only Victor and Clara remained in the living room. He went back to reading his magazine when she interrupted him, "Hi, Vic," 

"It's Victor," He added, "We're not close enough to give me a nickname," 

Clara blinked, the smile on her mouth froze. She thought they were friends. Further, she had been so happy with Marcel accepting their relationship that she thought it would be the same with everyone else. It seems winning them over wouldn't be as easy as she thought. 

"Okay," She laughed to ease the awkwardness that fell over them afterward. 

Silence fell over them once more until Clara felt parched, she tried her luck once again. 

"Hi Victor, can I get a glass of -" 

"This is not your first time here, in one word, you're not a guest. So find your way around," He said bluntly, moving his attention back to his magazine. 

He added almost immediately, "And has anyone ever told you it's quite rude to interrupt a person while reading," 

And that was all Clara needed to leave the mansion in the next minute.