Chapter 136 The Gathering Storm
At the Ashford residence
The house felt quiet on Monday morning, the chaotic energy of the weekend finally beginning to settle. The news vans outside the front gates were slowly trickling away, leaving only a few lingering photographers who kept their long lenses aimed at the stone driveway.
Clara stood at the kitchen island, watching Jasmine meticulously arrange her colored pencils for an art project. The sweet sight was a grounding reminder of what actually mattered.
"Mummy?" Jasmine looked up, her bright eyes clear and happy. "Are the bad people with the cameras gone?"
Clara felt a soft ache in her chest at the word Mummy. Jasmine had started using it naturally over the past few weeks, and every single time she did, it healed a little more of the lingering trauma from the warehouse attack.
"Almost all of them, sweetie," Clara said gently, leaning down to smooth a stray lock of hair behind Jasmine's ear. "And Daddy’s security team is making sure they stay far away from the house. You don't have to worry about them at all."
"Good," Jasmine said, nodding decisively before returning to her drawing. "Because I want to show you and Daddy my new picture later."
"We can't wait to see it," a deep voice sounded from the doorway.
Clara turned to see Dominic walking into the kitchen. He had traded his corporate suits for a soft grey cashmere sweater and jeans, his dark hair slightly messy from sleep. He looked relaxed - more relaxed than she had seen him since his rescue from the hospital.
He crossed the floor, sliding his strong arms around Clara’s waist from behind and pulling her back against his broad chest. He rested his chin on her shoulder, his eyes watching Jasmine color.
"The legal teams just concluded their morning brief," Dominic murmured into her ear, his deep baritone a comforting warmth against her skin.
"The prenuptial filing has successfully cleared the public registry. The cynics no longer have a leg to stand on, Clara. The city knows you didn't marry me for a payout."
Clara leaned back into his embrace, letting her hands rest over his forearms. "Did the compliance boards accept the contract explanation?"
"Entirely," Dominic said, a quiet triumph in his tone.
"Framing the two-year contract as a strict security protocol to protect you and Jasmine from Blackwell's remaining associates was a masterclass move. The shareholders view it as a responsible, protective strategy. The stock price has completely stabilized."
Clara let out a long, heavy breath, the final trace of the weekend's suffocating anxiety completely leaving her system. "We actually did it, didn't we? We protected our family."
"We did," Dominic whispered, turning her in his arms until she was facing him fully. He looked down into her dark eyes with an unvarnished devotion. "But more importantly, we protected us. I love you, Clara."
"I love you too, Dominic," Clara said softly, reaching up to wrap arms around his neck.
He leaned down, capturing her lips in a sweet, lingering kiss that tasted of pure, hard-won peace. The contract in the study desk still said two years - but holding him in the quiet kitchen, Clara knew their hearts had already signed a lifelong agreement.
Later that afternoon, Clara was up in the library shelves when her phone rang. Seeing her sister Celina’s name on the screen, she answered instantly.
"Celina! I was just thinking about you - "
"Clara," Celina’s voice cut through the line, breathless, trembling, and completely stripping away her usual calm, corporate shell. "Are you alone? Is Dominic in the room?"
Clara froze, a sudden spike of protective adrenaline hitting her chest. "No, I'm by myself in the library. Celina, what’s wrong? Is it the corporate war? Did Carlos do something?"
"No, it's not the boardroom," Celina whispered, a fragile, tearful laugh escaping her lips across the ocean line. "Clara... I took a test this morning. Two of them. I'm pregnant."
Clara's breath caught sharply in her throat, a massive wave of pure, radiant joy completely blanketing her chest. "Oh my god. Celina... you're having a baby?"
"Yes," Celina sobbed softly, the happy tears finally spilling over. "Justin doesn't even know yet. I haven't shown him the tests. You're the very first person I called, Clara. I needed my sister."
"I am so incredibly happy for you, Celina," Clara said, fresh tears stinging her own eyes as she gripped the phone. "You and Justin are going to be magnificent parents. This is the most beautiful news."
"It's a miracle," Celina murmured, her tone turning deeply emotional.
"But Clara... the timing terrifies me. This baby is coming right as our family is tearing itself apart. Carlos is escalating his campaign for the shareholder vote next month, and Justin is ready to burn the company to the ground to stop him.
I am so scared the stress of this war is going to hurt the baby."
Clara’s expression instantly turned serious, an iron protective instinct taking over her posture. "Listen to me, Celina. You insulate yourself completely. Let the Masons fight their battles. You focus entirely on taking care of your body and that little one."
"I'm trying," Celina whispered, her voice heavy. "But Justin is facing the biggest threat of his career. Carlos is ruthless, Clara. He’s using his marriage to Teresa as an absolute shield, and he’s winning the independent board members over."
"Justin is not fighting alone, sister," Clara stated firmly, her voice ringing out with absolute conviction.
"I need you to listen to me carefully. Dominic’s alliance is not with Carlos. His loyalty is completely with Justin. Dominic has already instructed his London legal teams to back Justin’s plays and secure his borders for the assembly. We are going to protect your husband’s throne, Celina. For you,
and for this baby."
Celina let out a long, ragged breath, pure relief washing over her. "Thank you, Clara. Knowing Dominic is backing Justin... it gives me the strength to stand up straight. I love you, sister."
"I love you too, Celina. Go tell your husband he's going to be a father."