Chapter 614

The moment Claire stepped into the empty apartment, the silence hit her like a physical blow.

Julian's absence was palpable. Even Eleanor had gone out, leaving the space eerily quiet.

Her arms tightened around little Sophia as she carried the sleeping infant to the nursery. With trembling fingers, she dialed Julian's number again.

Still no answer.

The memory of their heated argument that morning flashed through her mind, making her stomach churn.

After an entire sleepless night and the emotional rollercoaster of the day, her nerves were frayed beyond repair.

"Enough," she muttered to herself.

Collapsing onto the bed, she surrendered to exhaustion.

When she awoke hours later, golden afternoon light streamed through the windows. Sophia's hungry wails pierced the silence.

Claire scooped up the crying baby, mechanically beginning to nurse while massaging her throbbing temples.

The clock on the wall read 2:17 PM.

Her stomach growled painfully - she hadn't eaten since yesterday.

Passing Julian's bedroom door, she hesitated before pushing it open.

Everything was immaculate, as always. The military-precise bed, the stacks of medical textbooks with their dog-eared pages and meticulous margin notes.

She'd heard through the grapevine he'd been awarded the prestigious Harrison Scholarship this term.

Her gaze swept the room until it landed on the empty space where his suitcase usually sat.

Her breath caught.

Flinging open the closet confirmed her fears - several of his favorite outfits were missing.

"Just... left?" The words tasted bitter on her tongue.

Claire pressed her lips into a thin line, shaking her head as an unfamiliar ache spread through her chest.

This was their first real fight. She never imagined he'd walk away without a word.

"Adults talk things through," she whispered to the empty room. "What are you, twelve?"

Storming into the living room, she sank onto the couch, trying to steady her breathing.

She'd always believed Julian would never leave unless she asked him to.

How wrong she'd been.

No calls. No texts. Just... silence.

Twenty minutes passed before she could think clearly again.

Life had to continue, Julian or no Julian.

Sophia's renewed cries snapped her back to reality. She rushed to comfort the infant, but the weight of single parenthood pressed down on her.

Between feedings and diaper changes, she couldn't even find time to use the bathroom, let alone eat.

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm her, three sharp knocks echoed through the apartment.

Claire answered the door with a fussy Sophia in her arms.

"Can I help you?"

"Mr. Bennett sent us," the silver-haired butler announced.

Behind him stood two uniformed maids. One immediately washed up and expertly took Sophia from Claire's arms, while the other marched toward the kitchen.

"These ladies will handle all household duties," the butler explained. "Mr. Bennett has arranged their compensation." With a polite nod, he departed.

The maid bounced Sophia gently, engaging her with high-contrast flashcards while the other produced a steaming plate of pasta.

"The pantry was nearly empty," the cooking maid apologized. "I'll do proper grocery shopping after cleaning."

Claire devoured the meal, her pride warring with gratitude.

Lucas's help was the last thing she wanted to accept, but she couldn't deny she was drowning.

These women had cared for Sophia before - the baby already recognized them.

With household burdens lifted, Claire finally caught her breath.

She dialed Lucas's number.

His smug voice answered on the second ring. "Enjoying my little gift?"

"I'll pay their salaries myself," Claire snapped.

"Still pushing me away?" Lucas chuckled. "Do it for Sophia then. Though I'm sure they wouldn't object to double pay."

Claire's finger hovered over the end call button.

"I hear your pretty boy moved out," Lucas continued. "Got what he wanted and left, did he?"

Claire's grip tightened on the phone. "Lucas, if you licked your lips, you'd poison yourself."

His laughter grated. "I'm the only one who truly cares, Claire. Julian was never right for you. You're fundamentally incompatible."

The line went dead.

Claire realized with startling clarity how little she actually knew about Julian.

His university, his major, his age - surface details. She didn't even know his hometown.

Now, finding him would be like searching for a ghost.

At dawn, Evelyn returned to the conservatory to whispers and pointed stares.

Head high, she deposited her bags in the dorm before slinging her cello across her back and marching to the practice rooms.

With the international composition competition days away, she cycled through playlists - classical, jazz, pop - desperate for inspiration.

She was steps from the practice room when someone yanked out her earbuds.

Cassandra Brown stood before her, smirking.

Fresh from two weeks in police custody for locking Evelyn in the concert hall, Cassandra sneered, "Heard about your plagiarism scandal, Evelyn."

Evelyn extended her hand for the earbuds.

Cassandra tossed them aside. "What's with the attitude? If those claims stick, even your precious mentor won't save you from being blacklisted."

Evelyn's laugh was ice. "Funny - right after your arrest, your father came begging my husband for leniency." She eyed Cassandra with disdain. "He's not getting any younger. How can you sleep at night, causing him such stress? Instead of lying low, you're still-"

Cassandra's mouth opened and closed like a fish. With a frustrated stomp, she stormed off.

Evelyn watched her go, shaking her head.

Whoever had orchestrated this smear campaign using Natalie Riley as a pawn, it certainly wasn't Cassandra Brown.

That girl couldn't plot her way out of a paper bag.