In a small and dimly-lit building, three people moved in from the countryside. Camille Raquin, who recently married Therese, was offered a job that would help support his mother and new wife.

A few months after their move, the new business Madame Raquin established was starting to become successful. Although, her son wasn't aware that his wife was having an affair with Laurent LeClaire. Therese honestly loved Camille, but he couldn't give her what he wanted. He was weak and ill, she needed a man that could please her in love and in bed. But was Camille really frail and fragile?


"Camille, I need you to send this paperwork to one of our business partners" One of the employees higher in power told the male Raquin. Even though he thought that personally delivering paperwork was unusual, he still complied.

Later, he found himself in front of a jewelry shop. It's entrance seemed simple yet elegant, the glass of the shop was crystal clear which he assumed was from the constant wiping everyday. From the glass he could see a woman with brown hair dutifully arranging the jewelries inside the shop. Camille opened the door and heard the ring of a bell.

"These were supposed to be given to you." He said and put the papers carefully on the glass display.

"Oh, you're the one they sent? Are you new in the company? They usually ask Robert or William to give me these." She stated with a smile. Her brown eyes sparkling with friendliness.

"I'm Camille Raquin, I just started a few months ago."

"Clara, Clara Lamar" The woman said as she grabbed the paperwork from the table and went through a door.

"If you don't mind me asking, why do they give you those papers personally." He asked while she was still in another room.

As she returned she began to say. "I have an investment in the company and they usually order jewelry from me to sell in other countries." Clara bent down to grab two boxes stacked together and handed it to Camille.

"So here's the usual lot, and you should bring that back and give it to Thomas. Be careful not to-" She was interrupted as she saw Camille struggling to hold the boxes.

"Hey are you alright?"

"I'm not really the strongest person. I have a sickness you see."

"Well then I'll help you." Clara went to close the doors of the shop and made sure that no one would be able to steal any of the valuables inside the store.

"You don't have to do this you know. I don't want to be a bother."

"It's alright Camille, I was hoping to take a walk this afternoon." Both of them were quiet and then halfway from their destination Camille asked a question.

"So how did you get involved in the company?"

"Well... my grandfather, from my mother's side, invested in the company when he was young."

"Where are your parents now?"

Clara bit her lip but said. "My father left my mother when I was still young and then my mother died when I was fifteen since then I've been all alone. I still managed since my mother showed me how to run the business and make the jewelry, though I still get a fair amount of money through the investment. Now that's enough of my past, we're already here and here's the other box."

"I'll see you around Camille." She said then waved off and left.


That night Camille thought of how somebody cared for him aside from his own mother and Therese. He also thought of how beautiful the jewelries inside her shop looked. He assumed that Clara was very skillful to make every single one of the accessories she make look intricate.

Even though he was curious about Clara Lamar he wasn't able to visit her until next week. He opened the door of the shop again and found her on a ladder putting a box on a shelf.

"Clara" The said woman turned her head and saw Camille holding another bundle of paperwork.

"Camille! I thought I would've seen you sooner." She grabbed the papers and went to place it in the usual spot behind the shop.

She came back and saw Camille still standing in the same spot as before. "Well it was nice to see you again"

"W-wait you don't have anything to deliver to the company?" He surprisingly found himself disappointed.

"Sorry, but I only need to give them jewelry at least twice a month."

"I was hoping we would be able to take a stroll"

"Well I assume it is your lunch break, right?" She asked and he nodded. "Then let's go out and eat."


After that encounter, the two took lunch together every single day Camille had work. One day they were walking along the park after eating their lunch.

"You know sometimes I feel guilty." Camille said after throwing another pebble across the lake.

"What for?" Asked Clara who was seated on a blanket behind him.

"Because, I think I spend more time with you than I do with my wife or my mother."

"Really? I didn't know you had a wife. What's her name?"

"Therese."

"How did you two meet?"

"She went to live with us when I has young. Her father left her with us. You know sometimes I don't feel like she's happy." Camille told Clara and then sat next to her.

"How come?"

"Sometimes I see her, staring at something blankly. She's keeping something from me I just know it." He said and then he started coughing. Clara instantly tried to soothe his back and tried to make him breathe normally.

"I should go or I'll be late in going back to the office."

Clara was left at the park pondering over her thoughts. She hugged her knees at the thought of Camille having a wife but whatever she did, she couldn't quite picture him with someone else beside him. She found herself missing his company once he disappeared. His wife was lucky to have someone like him, even with his faults.


The next day Camille went by the shop at his usual time. He didn't see Clara at the shop but heard noises from behind the glass building. He entered the store and went to the source of the noise. At a corner, he saw Clara hammering away pieces of metal.

"Clara?"

"Oh Camille! I didn't hear you come in. Sorry about the mess." She said while standing up from her seat. She tried to set aside the mess on her table, but found it impossible since her work area was always dusty and disordered.

"No, no it's quite alright." He said. Camille was surprised to see Clara without a dress on, she usually wears something with laces or frills but now she was only wearing a white top and some pants, which is completely understandable because of her work.

"I can't accompany you today. You see I have gems arriving and I have to get them."

"Well, how about I accompany you?"

"It's half way across town, Camille. I don't think the trip would be beneficiary to your health."

"I can do it. Don't worry about me."

She sighed then said "Fine."


After she change in a more appropriate outfit, they went to their destination and talked about insignificant things while walking. They fetched the gems from a shop and had to take the bags back to Clara's home.

"When we were still at the countryside Therese would always make sure that I take my medicine every single day. She was always there for me."

"You love her?"

"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure. You see, aside from my mother she was the only one who ever showed interest towards me."

"Did you ever ha-" Clara started but was interrupted when she was pushed to the ground by Camille and a carriage passed them as they laid on the ground.

"You alright?" He asked her as she went to pick up some of the gems that spilled out the bag.

"Yes, yes I think I'm f-" She gasped in pain as she stepped on her right foot. Camille inspected her ankle and predicted that it was sprained. While her left cheek was marred by dirt and blood, she probably has a cut there because of her fall.

He had to carry the bags of jewels while Clara held onto walls for support, though Camille coughed from time to time because he wasn't used to the weight he had to carry. When they arrived at the shop the sun was already setting and Clara quickly went to find a chair.

"You could just put them down anywhere and you should leave too. I assume your wife and mother are worried about your absence." She said as she lifted her foot onto a stool. Camille surprised her though, as he went to remove her boots and socks.

"You don't have to do that Camille."

"No it's my duty as your friend to make sure you're alright." Clara found herself silent as he treated her right ankle. Afterwards, he returned with a cloth and a basin filled with water. He tended on the wound on her cheek and Clara was staring at his face. First his eyes then later her line of sight descended to his lips.

"Am I only a friend to you?" She asked. He met her eyes shocked by the question and saw her beautiful brown orbs. She didn't know what came over her to ask such question. Neither did she know, when she felt something more than friendship towards the frail young man.

"Well you're more than that, you're my best friend" He said cheekily trying to laugh off his nervousness and went back to wiping the blood from her wound.

She lifted his chin with her fingers and looked at him straight in the eyes. If she would say anything to him, it would have to be now. Mustering up all her courage she said to him "But I don't want us be just friends." Afterwards, she kissed him with all the passion she had. Even though Camille was inexperienced and shy, he was still a good kisser.

He was surprised at first but after regaining his senses he pushed her away. "I have a wife Clara. We shouldn't be doing this."

Clara stood up slowly and used the arm of the chair as a support then asked. "Do you love her?" She was not like this, no not at all. She wouldn't steal a man who was already married but because of their conversations she knew that he wasn't happy, neither was his wife. So what's stopping them?

"I have told you so many times that she's my everything!"

"Yes but do you love her?"

"C-Clara, I can't just-"

"Do you love her?" She asked once again and was answered by silence.

"You said so yourself Camille, you doubt if she even holds your heart. Why not give it to me?" She asked desperately. This man who strode into her life so innocently, now held her heart. She knew this was wrong but god, did she love him.

"I can't do this to Therese." He said as he walked to the shop's door

"But you can do this to me?" Clara asked as she limped on one foot towards the man. Camille stopped himself from reaching the door knob after hearing her statement.

"I can show you how to love. I can be everything you want. I can show you so many things you do not know." She was on the verge of crying now and her thoughts kept repeating two words. 'Please stay. Please stay. Please stay'

Camille turned around and walked swiftly towards her. They were only centimeters apart when he whispered. "Show me."

Clara took no second thought as she kissed him. They managed to go to her bed through their heaps of passion. Camille laid on the bed as she furiously took her and his clothes off.

"I'm not that experienced in this area Clara."

"I don't care. Just love me Camille." She furiously kissed him as she guided him to fondle with her breasts. Her nipples fully erect a few second later. She was on top of him, and she clawed through his back as he put one of her breasts into his mouth. She nipped on his ear as she gasped when she felt his fingers inside her. He pumped her furiously, then added another finger and then another as she could do nothing but moan from pleasure.

She felt herself coming closer and closer when she stopped Camille. He pouted a little and then she smirked. "Not yet."

He positioned himself at her entrance and slowly went inside her. Clara gasped as she felt herself being stretched by him. "You alright?"

She nodded and he started moving slowly inside her. Though Camille took his time because of his condition, Clara felt happy as she finally had him in her life.