As they rummaged through the dusty attic of the abandoned house, Clara and Derek stumbled upon an old, mysterious-looking door. The door was hidden behind a stack of old trunks and boxes, and it looked like it hadn't been opened in years.
Derek's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Do you think this leads to something important?" he asked Clara.
Clara nodded, her heart racing with excitement. "Let's find out."
As they tried to open the door, they realized it was locked. But then, Derek remembered the necklace his mother had given him. He took it out and inserted it into a small keyhole on the door. With a soft click, the door creaked open.
Inside, they found a room filled with old letters, documents, and photographs. Clara's eyes widened as she began to explore the room. "This must be where our parents kept all their secrets," she said.
Derek nodded, his eyes scanning the room. "Let's see if we can find anything important."
As they rummaged through the room, they stumbled upon a stack of letters tied with a ribbon. Clara's curiosity got the better of her, and she untied the ribbon. The letters were from Clyde to Alison, and they spoke of their love and their plans for their children.
The first letter spoke of Clyde's desire to unite their children in marriage. "If we can't be together in this life, let's make sure our children are," he wrote.
Clara's eyes met Derek's, and they both felt a shiver run down their spines. They read on, their hearts racing with anticipation.
The letters revealed a deep love and longing between Clyde and Alison, but also a determination to ensure their children's happiness. The last letter was the most shocking of all.
"I heard you are pregnant with a girl, and I have a boy child already," Clyde wrote. "His name is Derek. If you can't be together in this world, we will be together in the next world. Let's seal our children's fate in marriage when you give birth to the child. Please come and let's make arrangements for their future."
Clara felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She couldn't believe what she was reading. "Derek, did our parents really plan for us to get married?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Derek's eyes were filled with a mix of emotions. "It seems that way," he said.
Clara stood up, feeling like she needed to process everything. "I need to talk to someone about this," she said.
She called Josie, who arrived soon after. Clara shared the news with her, and Josie listened attentively.
"I told you so," Josie said with a smile. "I knew something was up between you two."
Clara rolled her eyes. "This isn't funny, Josie. Our parents planned our lives without us."
Josie nodded sympathetically. "I know, but maybe it's fate. Maybe you two are meant to be."
Clara wasn't convinced, but she decided to talk to her grandmother about it. Maybe she could shed some light on the situation.
When she called her grandmother, Clara asked her directly. "Grandma, did you know about this? Did you know our parents planned for us to get married?"
Her grandmother's voice was filled with surprise. "Clara, I never knew this day would come. But maybe it's meant to be. Maybe you two are destined for each other."
Clara wasn't sure what to think. She needed time to process everything. She decided to take some time to think about her feelings and what she wanted to do next.