The crack of palm against flesh rang through the room. Adrian staggered, clutching his cheek, his eyes wide with shock. “Adrian!” Clara’s voice trembled with rage. “Could you be any more disgusting? Any more shameless?“”
Her gaze burned as she pointed toward the Hale Corporation’s headquarters beyond the window. Her eyes were bloodshot, though she refused to let the tears fall.
“To seize Hale Corporation, you schemed against me. You lured me to that snowy mountain with a ridiculous promise, knowing the danger, and you let me go anyway. Jonathan nearly died saving me, and instead of guilt, you stand here flaunting your so–called victory?“”
“You dare parade your ‘success‘ before me and ask me to come back? Adrian, you make me feel filthy just by breathing the same air.”
Her chest heaved violently, every word soaked in fury and grief. “I was blind! Time and again, fooled by your pitiful performances and fabricated memories. But from this moment forward–there is nothing between us. You and I are done. Get out. The farther from me, the better. One more glance at you makes me sick.”
Color drained from Adrian’s face, anger warring with humiliation, yet for a moment he stood frozen, crushed beneath her fury. That was when Vanessa arrived. That
“Adrian, Clara, please don’t fight…” Her soft, trembling voice carried a pitiful plea. She cast Clara a helpless look. “Clara, you’re still recovering, don’t work yourself up. Adrian truly cares about you.”
Then, turning to Adrian, her eyes brimmed with devotion. “Adrian, as long as Clara comes back to you, I–I’ll be fine. I won’t trouble you anymore.“”
Clara’s lips curved in a cold sneer. “Of course you’re ‘fine,‘ Vanessa. But how long do you think you can keep playing innocent? I’ve already recovered the surveillance footage–from the hotel–of you tampering with my oxygen tank, my climbing suit, and cutting my communicator.”
Her words fell like a hammer. Vanessa’s smile collapsed instantly, her face going sheet–white.
“No! That’s impossible, I… I made sure-”
The words tumbled out before she bit them off, covering her mouth.”
It was you.”
Clara’s heart clenched, confirmation flashing through her. Her voice dripped with ice. “So Vanessa’s knees buckled. She fell to the floor, sobbing, her words tumbling over each other. “Clara, I’m sorry! I was wrong, I was possessed–I beg you, please, don’t send me to jail! Please, just this once!”
She wailed, then desperately lunged at Adrian, clutching at his arm. “Adrian, save me! For me–for the child in my belly- please, speak for me. Don’t let them take me away!”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, his face grim. At last, he faltered, his voice rasping. “Clara… she’s carrying a child. Can’t we… resolve this quietly? I’ll restrain her, I promise she’ll never show her face to you again…“”
The bitter irony of his plea struck Clara like a blade. She let out a hollow laugh, then flung a document from her bedside table at his chest. The papers scattered like snow.
“Child? Open your eyes, Adrian. Look for yourself. This is your beloved Vanessa’s medical report.”
Her voice was sharp as steel. “She’s not pregnant. She never was. She’s been deceiving you from the beginning.” Adrian’s hand trembled as he caught one sheet. His eyes scanned the bold line: [Not Pregnant].
The blood drained from his face. He looked up, voice cracking. “You… you lied? You dared lie to me about a child?“” Vanessa collapsed against the wall, her lips trembling, eyes wide with terror. No words came–only silence and fear.
bar Abandoned Me for Another Women
