Linc's POVWhen Clara set foot outside the station, she looked around until our eyes met. She did not move after that. Something chilling about the way she looked at me overcame my body running my blood absolutely cold.  How angry is she about what Yvonne has done?  I approached her and immediately took off my coat to cover her. "Are you okay?" Her gaze softened until she started crying. She wouldn't let me hold her. I know how hard it is to get arrested and get out behind bars. It's a scary experience.  "What do you think?" She pushed me away and walked briskly as though to get away from me.  "Clara, wait up. Hey!" I wrapped my fingers around her elbow. "Stop for a second. Did they hurt you? Are you okay?" "No I'm not! I'm tangled you in your twisted life! Your sick ex sent me a sex video! What do you expect me to be feeling Linc?

Clara's POVI opened my eyes to the sight of nothing but a clear road and stretches of trees on either side. I blinked repeatedly to make sure I am not dreaming. It's a breathtaking scene and I should enjoy it but I am sadly reminded that I am his prisoner.   I am in a car. It is moving fast on the tarmacked road. It is a clear day, blue skies. Winter has finally paved way to spring and it is a good thing to be free from the biting cold. The radio is playing John Denver's 'take me home, country roads'. Linc is tapping his fingers on the steering wheel with a light low hum to the tune. He looks happy this morning but when hasn't Linc looked like he will have a great day? He raised his eyebrows at me when he noticed I am awake. A beautiful smile graced his handsome face forcing me to smile back at him.  "Good morning." "Morning." I sighed. "May I?" "Yes ma'am." He tilted his har t

Clara's POVThe door is open. Linc must have forgotten to lock it when he left to go into the convenience store. My eyes shifted around the gas station. I count about five people doing different things. I can get out of the car and ask any if them to help me get away from him.  My heart is thudding hard. I reached for the door again and gently pushed it open. I tilted my legs and set foot outside into the crisp cold air. It blew past me carrying with it whispers of freedom. I still can't see Linc.  My heart is telling me to run. My mind is telling me not to be stupid. I lingered near the car with uncertainty until I saw Linc coming out of the store. I got back into the car and closed the door. I say quietly and waited.  When he opened the door he didn't pay much attention as to why it's open. I think it was a test and by sitting out I have passed it.  "

Clara's POVMy pregnancy is really announcing its presence. The few weeks of quiet I have enjoyed are over. I woke up this morning with the strongest urge to throw up. I don't have a bathroom in my bedroom. The only bathroom is in the hallway. We all share it and if I give into the urge, my mother will hear me and she will want to know what is wrong with me. She's very upset about what she found out thanks to Mikey mouthing off three nights ago. I would have found a way to tell her Linc and I are over without revealing how dark things got between us. She loved Linc and it was not necessary to paint him in such a light. There is a part of me that strongly wants to protect him from everything even his own nature. I dragged my fingers through my dark hair. Yes, protect him against himself. That is what he was doing for me.  If my mother finds out I'm pregnant, it will complicate things. I am avoiding eye contact with her. The table

Clara's POVThe day I watched Linc driving away is as fresh as this morning's chocolate chip cookies. It's been twelve weeks. For the first time in my life, I'm actually living quietly. I barely leave the house. In this town, it is scandalous to be pregnant without a man in the picture. The idle gossipers will say that I'm loose. They will say I was scorned by a billionaire and he left me a baby.  The last part is true. A billionaire left me a baby but I was not scorned. No. I dumped him and I haven't heard from him in four months. But at the end of every month, a sum of money usually ranging between $20k-$30k makes it into my account. The money comes from Linc. It's compensation for resigning on my behalf. I apparently resigned from the Sun Rise Cove Tribune on this 'backpacking through Europe'. That is the story line Linc fed everyone who would have been concerned about my absence.  I have never touched a cent of it, not e