Chapter 18
Claire’s tears had all but dried up, her arms hung limp at her sides as she stared at Ayrton and Walter with a look of utter bewilderment. She couldn’t wrap her head around it–why had their attitude toward her changed so drastically?
In the past, the mere sight of her tears would have them more anxious than a cat on a hot tin roof. But now, all she got was indifference. It was as if she could cry a river, and they wouldn’t bat an eyelash.2
Claire dared not mention her provocations against Lucille or the schemes she’d concocted. She clamped her mouth shut, almost desperately pleading with Walter, “Walter, I haven’t done anything wrong. Please believe me, okay? Lucille’s helped me so much, I’m grateful to her. Why would I ever treat her badly?
“If it’s her you both care about, then… I can move out…” She tried her best to squeeze out a few more tears. “Is it because Lucille’s mad that I moved in? She’s been acting cold towards me lately. Maybe that’s it..
Claire was pulling out all the stops, hoping to sway them with her tale of woe. Walter had always been the more approachable one; she was counting on his soft heart to let this slide. If they could just forget about it for a while, living under the same roof, she’d find a way to make them see her as the only one. Lucille had only been around them for twenty odd years. If she had Lucille’s kind of background, she’d certainly not be as humble as Lucille was now.
But this time, Walter didn’t fall for it. He let out a bitter laugh, his lips curling into a sardonic smile.
“You just don’t know when to quit, do you? Anyone who knows me knows my temper isn’t as mild as you think.”
With that, he slammed Claire’s head down on the table, his hands gripping her neck tightly.
Ayrton’s voice sliced through the air like a cold wind, drilling into Claire’s ears. “Claire, you’ve lost your job. I’ve informed your family. they’ll be here in a few days. You should start thinking about how you’re going to deal with them.“2
A few taps on his phone, and Ayrton had sealed her fate with ease.
“No! Don’t bring them here! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!”
The threat of her family arriving was more terrifying than the lack of air. Panic surged through Claire, threatening to drive her mad. Satisfied with her capitulation, Walter loosened his grip. “Spill it.”
“Cough, cough.” Claire spluttered, gasping for air. “I… I can show you my phone!”
She unlocked her phone, thrusting it towards them. “I didn’t do anything, you’ve got it all wrong.”
Internally, Claire was breathing a sigh of relief, grateful she had deleted all the incriminating messages to Lucille beforehand.
Ayrton didn’t even bother to take the phone, his eyes glanced over it, knowing she was still trying to bluff her way through.!! Walter snatched the phone, preparing to send it off to have all the data restored.!!
Hearing Walter make the call, Claire felt her world collapsing. She clung to Walter’s arm, pleading desperately, “Please don’t send it for data recovery.”
But this time, Ayrton and Walter didn’t offer her another chance. They’d given her enough opportunities, but she had squandered them all. Ayrton promptly arranged for someone to dig into everything Claire had done involving Lucille over the past few months.
The next day.
lay, the results of the investigation were in:
