Clara turned toward the door. “I’m telling Ryan.”
Jake immediately stood. “Clara, wait.”
She kept walking.
“Clara!”
He caught her arm before she reached the hallway. She stopped and looked down at his hand.
“Let go of me.”
Jake released her. “I’m begging you. Just wait.”
“Why?”
“Because you need to think about this.”
“I have thought about it.”
Clara turned around. “My brother’s wife has been seeing another man, and you expect me to sit here and think about it?”
“I know how it looks.”
“It looks exactly like what it is.”
Jake shook his head. “There are things you don’t understand.”
“Then explain them.”
“I can’t.”
“Of course you can’t.”
She reached for the door again.
Jake stepped in front of her.
“Please, Clara.”
She stared at him. “Why should I protect Bella?”
“You sho
