Chapter 7
I stared at the old man in front of me–his eyes were hollow, like two empty wells, shoulders hunched as if carrying a mountain.
And suddenly, it was like a weight crashed down on my chest, so heavy I could barely suck
in a breath.
“Fine. Then pay back all the money this family has spent on you over the years.”
Grandfather locked eyes with me, a smile curling his lips–but it was cold, almost mocking and gloomy.
“To be fair, raising a daughter in this family is done with great care. Over twenty–some years, two million dollars isn’t excessive, is it?”
“Two million dollars… The Ward family didn’t even have two million in assets ten years ago, did they?”
“Can’t pay? Well then, be a good girl and get married. Someone will be willing to pay two or three million for you.”
“The Ward family didn’t raise you forty years to end up with an ungrateful brat. Clara
Ward, you can’t be this heartless.”
I was locked inside my own home.
Two weeks later, my family began arranging blind dates for me.
But whether because of Julian’s influence or because the Ward family’s debt was truly terrifying, suckers weren’t easy to find.
Fortunately, I needed to return to L.A to prepare my thesis and defend it.
After all, having that shiny degree would add another layer of gold to my resume.
The Ward family still valued this, so my parents personally accompanied me back to L.A.
Julian’s latest scandal was all over the news.
Chapter 7
Apparently, he was now pursuing some C–list actress.
Showering her with jewelry, luxury cars, and mansions like money was nothing.
When my parents found out, they berated me several times for “letting him get away.‘
Once, my mom got so worked up she actually slapped me.
When Bree saw the handprint on my face, she was shaking with rage.
“Clara, cut ties with them. Parents like that are worse than animals!”
“Two million dollars, Bree. Even if they killed me and sold me inch by inch, I wouldn’t be
worth two million.”
I shook my head hopelessly, my heart filled with misery.
“Clara, this is just… it’s too cruel. It’s heartbreaking. What are you going to do?”
I scoffed at myself, a bitter laugh slipping out
But underneath it, a cold dread settled in my gut-
Like I could already feel the edges of this bottomless hole digging into my hands.
Like no matter how hard I tried–I’d spend my whole life clawing at the walls and getting
nowhere.
“Clara.”
Bree suddenly tugged at my sleeve, her face turning pale as she stared at something behind
me:
“That male model from that night… he’s here…”
I instinctively turned around and met Evan’s gaze.
In that instant, my scalp tingled and my back broke into a cold sweat.
Before my brain could process it, my body reacted first.
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I jumped up, grabbed Bree, and made a run for it.
But I didn’t notice the chair in front of me.
My dress caught on the armrest, and I nearly crashed to the ground.
Evan moved faster than me, though.
He grabbed my arm, steadying me firmly.
“Clara Ward, why are you running?”
I let Bree to leave first, planning to explain things to him.
“I’m really sorry about that night. I was drunk, which is why I mistook you for-”
Evan suddenly reached out and gripped my chin, anger flashing in his eyes.
“Clara, what happened to your face?”
I froze, then remembered the handprint.
The hurt I’d been suppressing silently flooded through me.
“It’s nothing.”
I tried to push Evan’s hand away, but he wouldn’t let go.
“Who hit you, Clara? Tell me!”
For some reason, my eyes welled up.
“My family did it. It has nothing to do with you. Just leave it alone.”
“They tried to force you back with Julian, and now they’re forcing you to marry someone
else, aren’t they?”
I gasped, staring at him with wide eyes-
“How’d you know that?”
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The words just spilled out
Then I remembered those two suspicious men in New York.
“You’ve been having people follow me?”
