Chapter 6 Dissolution * 5 Free Coins Frederick had been shaken , too , but he pulled himself together fast . " Honey , come on , Clare already admitted her mistake , " he said , holding Penelope's arm gently . She's clearly been through a lot . Look at her eyes . She's exhausted . Let's just let her rest . As he spoke , he helped Clarissa up from the floor and gave the maid a quick nod . The message was clear - Get her upstairs ) Penelope was still frozen in place . Clarissa kneeling had completely thrown her . By the time she snapped out of it . Clarissa was already gone . " Get that girl back down here ! " she shouted . Her voice cracked with fury . " She ran off like that and thinks she can just waltz back in like nothing happened ? This wasn't skipping curfew . She eloped ! " Frederick stepped in again , doing what he always did - soothing , smoothing , trying to keep peace . " She already owned up to it . Make her kneel.again , and you'll just feel worse . Besides , we covered most of it up . Hardly anyone knows . I'll take care of the Jeffersons myself . " Penelope had always talked tough , but she was tender - hearted . Seeing Clarissa back safe had already chipped away most of the anger . With Frederick's calm voice wrapping around her , she gave up the fight for now . Selina , though , was burning inside . Clarissa had walked away without a scratch . There was no screaming contest , she got no punishment , and they didn't even have a fallout . She watched the staircase , eyes cold . Then , she followed , her steps slow and silent . Upstairs . Clarissa stood still in her old bedroom , her eyes sweeping the room . Every piece of furniture , every picture frame , looked exactly as it had years ago . Nothing had changed . She had lived in this same house . And in her last life , she had been dragged from it , locked in a filthy basement by Selina and Gregory . She remembered rats crawling over her . Snakes slithering past . Roaches covering the walls . The door creaked open . " Clare . " Selina walked in with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes . Clarissa looked at her with the kind of coldness that came from pain too deep to show . " You always went head - to - head with Mom , " Selina mentioned , watching her closely . " What happened just now ? You actually got on your knees and said sorry ? " Clarissa didn't flinch . Her stare didn't waver . There was a quiet force behind it . " What , were you hoping I'd blow up again ? " she asked , her voice cool . " Of course not , " Selina replied quickly . Her smile faltered , but she covered it fast . " It's just … Weren't you and Mr. Gosling supposed to be long gone by now ? How did Jonathan catch you ? " She had planned it all so carefully . Clarissa's scandal would ruin everything . And when both families turned their backs on her , Selina would step in . The engagement hadn't named a daughter . And before Clarissa came back , Selina had been the bride - to - be . " Jonathan runs Imperia . You think he'd let us slip away ? " Clarissa retorted without emotion . Selina bit the inside of her cheek . Jonathan's reach was absolute . " So , you came back . Where's Mr. Gosling now ? " she asked , her voice just barely steady . " Jonathan caught him , " Clarissa answered with a shrug , like it didn't matter anymore . 1/2 P P. Chapter 6 Dissolution +5 Free Coins Selina clenched her jaw . With Gregory in Jonathan's hands , he might never make it out . " Clare , I know you care about him , " she said softly , her tone all sugary . " If you really want to save him … and if you want to get out of the engagement with Jonathan … I might have a way . " Clarissa raised an eyebrow . " You just need to go all out . Make it big . Something dramatic . Cut your wrist or throw a fit . Mom and Dad will panic . They won't dare force you into this marriage . They'll go to Jonathan themselves and demand he let Gregory go ." Selina's voice stayed sweet , but her eyes gleamed . If Clarissa cracked like that , Jonathan would be done with her . His pride would never survive it . He didn't chase women who broke down . He didn't go after drama . And once that door slammed shut , Selina would be