But Margaret shook her head firmly.
"Let's just tell her, Ethan. Let's take her out of this misery. If she knows, she'll be careful. She'll protect Axiel. If we don't tell her now, she will never forgive us. She is in too much pain."
"No," Robert cut in, voice hard. "I will not put Axiel at risk like that. He's my son. Well, her son..but my responsibility nonetheless."
Silence hung for a moment before Robert added,
"Let's take until Friday to deal with Mateo. We'll find him another target, and he'll forget about Clara."
The meeting wrapped in under twenty minutes. Ethan immediately excused himself and went back upstairs. He had promised the doctor and himself, not to leave Clara alone.
Immediately he arrived in their bedroom, his chest tightened when he saw the bed empty. But then the flow of the shower reached his ears, and he let out a quiet breath. Though he knew he wouldn't wait long without going in if she didn't come out soon.
She returned in less than three minutes, hair still damp, wrapped in a short towel.
Bothered, Ethan started to step away, but Clara stopped him.
"No need to go. I'll dress in the bathroom," she said, voice low and hoarse, as she picked her clothes. "I don't want you to feel like a stranger in your own home. I know you've been retreating to the study for my comfort. I..I don't want you to do that...I should be the one to leave, really."
She disappeared into the bathroom before Ethan could respond. A few minutes later, she stepped back into the room wearing a body hugging dress, simple but striking. She looked nervous, like she wanted to say something.
"Can we talk?" she asked.