Clara could barely form words,unable to explain what had happened to her.She managed only to blurt out the address of the
small motel.
On the other end of the line,Jonathan was silent for a few seconds before his steady,reassuring voice came through:”
“Stay where you are. Lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone. I’m on my way.”
No questions. No hesitation.
After hanging up,Clara curled into a broken chair beside the motel reception desk.
Time dragged unbearably,every second an agony.”
At last,a sleek black Rolls–Royce pulled up in front of the dingy motel,its presence almost absurd in the narrow street.”
The driver in a black suit stepped out first,opening the rear door with respect.
Clara thought the driver had come for her–But then a tall,broad–shouldered figure emerged.”
Jonathan was wearing a well–tailored charcoal gray suit and had obviously just attended an important event.<
His handsome face was etched with worry and urgency. His sharp gaze swept the squalid surroundings before locking onto Clara,huddled in the corner.
His pupils contracted violently.
He strode forward in long,decisive steps and, without hesitation,shrugged off his expensive jacket,wrapping it gently around Clara’s near–bare frame. His touch was achingly careful.
“Clara.”
His voice was low,almost terrifying in its restraint.“Don’t be afraid. I’m here now.”
At that,Clara lifted her head. All the terror,humiliation, and despair she had bottled up through the night broke loose.She collapsed into his arms,sobbing uncontrollably.
Jonathan held her tightly. His gaze cut icy and murderous toward the villa in the distance,rage burning beneath his calm.He patted her back,murmuring over and over:”
“It’s alright now,Clara. It’s alright. I’m here.”
That night,Clara burned with a fever that raged so fiercely she was rushed to a private hospital.
Five days later, Clara’s eyes slightly opened. She weakly saw Jonathan sitting on the sofa next to her,looking through documents.”
“You’re awake?“He immediately set the papers aside and came over,pressing a hand to her forehead.Relief softened his stern features. “The fever’s finally broken. How do you feel?”
Clara’s throat was so dry she couldn’t speak.
Jonathan gently held a straw cup to her lips,letting her sip warm water.
Just then,her new phone on the nightstand rang.”
It was Lawyer Bennett.
“Miss Winter, I’m glad to hear you’re awake.“His voice carried the exhaustion of long days,but also relief.“The seven–day cooling–off period has passed.Since you didn’t revoke the filing,the divorce will be finalized tomorrow morning. Shall I have the certificate and documents delivered to the Cole residence?“}
Clara’s heart clenched as though caught in an invisible fist,then slowly released.
She closed her eyes.Memories flashed one after another-
The thrill of first love,the struggle of building a company,the sweet vows once whispered…N
And then the coldness of his study,the humiliation in the villa,her cat hanging by a rope,and Vanessa’s venomous sneer. “Send thern back,” she said,her voice steady and clear.”
After ending the call,Clara instinctively opened a news app.
She didn’t even need to search Headlines about the Cole Group flooded the screen:N [Cole Group stock plummets for consecutive days–market value evaporates by billions!]N [CEO Adrian Cole exposed in marital affair scandal–investor confidence crumbles!] [Who is Adrian Cole’s new lover?Reports suggest troubled background and shady past.JN [Cole Group’s PR crisis spirals–public backlash intensifies!]
There were even blurry paparazzi shots–Vanessa flailing angrily as reporters closed in
As Clara scrolled,her phone buzzed violently with incoming calls, an onslaught of unfamiliar numbers and vile messages. She frowned,but before she could react,another call came through.
8:36 AM p p.
She answered in silence.
Adrian’s furious roar blasted into her ear:
“Clara Winter,you vicious woman!Was it you? Did you sell this to the press?I can’t believe I ever misjudged you. You pretended to be kind and generous,but inside you’re rotten! You just can’t stand to see me and Vanessa happy.can you?You won’t rest until you destroy us?“}
Clara felt her chest ache with a thousand tiny stabs–yet quickly it numbed.
Her voice was calm.“It wasn’t me.I haven’t done anything.“”
“Who else could it be?Vanessa told me–it has to be you,jealous and spiteful!” Adrian’s voice dripped with contempt. “Do you realize Vanessa’s being doxxed,harassed online,she can hardly survive?If anything happens to her,I’ll never forgive you.”[
Clara almost laughed at the absurdity.
Adrian raged on,panting:”
“Where the hell have you been these past days?You had no money on you.I sent people to comb every cheap motel,every bridge,even the shelters.Nowhere. Tell me–where are you?”
Clara pressed her pale lips tight,saying nothing.
Her silence infuriated him.
His tone turned vile,dripping with humiliation:
“Say something!Cat got your tongue? Or is it because you’ve already found yourself a lover?Huh? Another man picked you up,didn’t he?No wonder you’re so bold now.”
From the background came Vanessa’s mocking voice,crystal clear:
“Adrian,do you even need to ask?Of course she did.I told you–she’s no saint. Plays the innocent little angel,but she’s rotten inside.”
“With my years in nightclubs,I know her type. Some rich man must have scooped her up already. Looks pure,but she’s dirty to the bone. Otherwise,where could she possibly be hiding with nothing to her name?“\
“Shut up!“”
Clara’s voice cracked out before she could stop herself, raw with fury.”
She cut them off,hung up,and blocked the number,”
8:36 AM P P .
