Chapter 11 Trained All Too Well Dead silence on the other end . A few seconds later , Julian seemed to finally process those three words . His voice shot up , twisted with disbelief . " M - Married ?! Clara , have you lost your mind ?! To who ? When ?! You've got to be joking ! " He was practically incoherent , shouting now , all traces of his usual composure gone . This version of Julian was completely foreign to Clara . He'd never rattled off so many words to her at once , never used such a frantic tone . " You're doing this out of spite because of me , aren't you ? Listen , the marriage thing - we can still talk about it . But you don't need to debase yourself like this ! " There was a loud thud in the background , like a glass slamming hard onto a table , betraying just how unhinged he was . The next second , Ethan seemed to sense something . His sharp gaze locked onto the phone in her hand , and without a word , he snatched it away , " Who is this ? " His voice was cold , laced with unquestionable authority . Before the person on the other end could even respond , he said icily . " She's getting married . She's busy . " Then he hung up , smooth and decisive , and shoved the phone back into her hand . The whole thing took seconds . Clara : " ... " Ethan glanced at her and offered an explanation . " You didn't look too happy just now . " He paused , as if unaccustomed to saying anything remotely considerate , then added stiffly , " ... So I handled it . If I overstepped - if I offended your ' old flame ' - I can call back and explain . " Clara let out a soft laugh and shook her head , tucking her phone away . " No need . Thanks ." She looked up at him , her eyes bright . " You just saved me the trouble . " The two red marriage certificates were quickly in their hands . After carrying Clara out of the registry office , Ethan slipped one from her grasp . Then he held out his hand . " Phone . " Clara blinked , puzzled , but handed it over . His long fingers moved swiftly across the screen . A moment later , he returned it . " My number . And the code to my apartment . Live there if you want . Or don't . Your call . " He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bank card , holding it out to her . " My salary card . The password is six nines . " Clara looked at the plain debit card , then at his simple , modest clothes , and didn't take it . Her limited - edition handbag probably cost more than months of his wages . " This ... isn't necessary . We agreed to keep our finances separate . " " That's your rule . " Ethan paused , his voice low . " In my team , every man turns in his salary card . " 11:57 My Husband Left Me to Burn ? I Married a Billionaire Firefighter ! Chapter 11 Trained All Too Well Clara fell silent . So ... was he trying to make this sham marriage look more convincing ? Afraid she might use it against him someday ? Or did he just think this was part of a husband's duty ? Fine . If that was what he wanted , she'd play along . " Alright . I'll keep it safe for you . " She tucked it away . He gave a satisfied grunt . " Good . I have duties back at the station . I'm leaving . " Clara stood in place , looking at the marriage certificate in her hand . Her feelings were tangled . In her past life , she had schemed endlessly for this thin little booklet . Hinting , prodding , waiting until a doctor's reminder finally pushed Julian into registering with her . How unwilling he must have been . Yet now , in this lifetime , the certificate had come so easily it almost felt absurd . Clara's lips curved in a bitter smile , her eyes cold with irony . Just as she was about to call a cab , a black sedan stopped beside her . " Miss Smith ? " the driver asked . Clara blinked . " Yes , that's me . " " Your husband already called a car for you . I'll take you home . " Clara froze completely . She hadn't expected that man to notice something so small . It seemed ... his " boyfriend " had trained him rather well . The moment Clara stepped into the villa , she sensed the tension . The living room buzzed with voices , livelier than any holiday gathering . She had barely crossed the threshold when a swarm of aunts descended on her . " Oh , Clara , you're back ! " " Poor thing , you've been wronged ! That Julian is absolute trash - planning to marry some other woman . It's outrageous ! " " Exactly ! And that Bianca is no better - stealing someone else's fiancé at her age , shameless ! " " Don't be too sad , Clara . Men are everywhere . Out with the old , in with the new ! " It took Clara a moment to realize . Of course . Today was May 20th . Originally , they'd planned to announce the alliance between their two families today . In her past life , years later , their wedding had also been held on this date - this day with its special meaning . 11:57 My Husband Left Me to Burn ? I Married a Billionaire Firafighter ! Chapter 11 Trained All Too Well He had booked the most extravagant hotel ballroom in the city . Invitations had gone out across high society . The scale had been astonishing . That " wedding of the century " had dominated headlines for a full week before it even began, letting her bask in fairy - tale romance as Mrs. Carter , the envy of all . And yet , that wedding never got the chance to truly start . It had gone up in flames . Now , the irony cut deep . Since he'd chosen Bianca , surely the grand wedding he had planned would simply be handed over to his beloved . And this time , he wouldn't drag his feet - he'd make it happen fast . " Clara , don't be too upset . " One distant aunt , who rarely showed up , put on a false look of pity . " It's just as well . Better than marrying in and suffering later . You know , the boy next door to us just returned from overseas - handsome , promising . Want me to introduce you ? " Clara steadied herself , a trace of confusion crossing her face . She knew exactly who this distant aunt's " boy who just came back from overseas " really was - someone who'd just been released after serving three years in prison . These people , one after another , were pretending to care - but really , they'd all come to kick her while she was down , to watch her squirm . She was just about to pull out her marriage certificate right then and there - to prove she wasn't unwanted . ( 0 ) ( 0 ) N 11:57