Chapter 6

Claire's POV

He walked up to me and gripped my chin, forcing me to lift my head. His voice was ice-cold.

"You actually wanted to leave me. How dare you? If your father hadn't told me in time, you really would've gotten away."

I froze completely. The news of my departure. My own father had told Ethan?!

Just then, my father's figure emerged from the back of the crowd, his expression a mixture of flattery and guilt.

"Claire," he began, unable to meet my eyes. "I'm doing this for your own good. Instead of living well with Ethan, what are you throwing a tantrum for?"

"Just think about it. You're a woman who's been divorced. What else can you do? Ethan is so capable. He can take care of you, take care of us. What more could you want?"

I closed my eyes in utter disappointment. I understood everything now.

In the past, to pave the way for his son, my father had come to me more than once asking me to appeal to Ethan.

Now it seemed he'd achieved his goal. Even if the price was selling out his own daughter.

"Dad... he lied to me... betrayed me, threw away years of our relationship, even brought another woman into our home... hurt and humiliated me at will. And you think I'm ungrateful?"

My throat felt like it was choked with razor blades. Those two short sentences left my heart unbearably bitter.

Seeing my grief, my father turned his face away as if unable to bear it.

Ethan's brow furrowed too.

Finally, a phone ringtone broke the deadlock.

It was Rachel calling to hurry him along. That brought Ethan back to his senses.

"I have to go. Rachel's waiting for me. Anyway, you should calm down first. We'll talk about whatever it is when I get back."

For some reason, his eyes looked somewhat panicked. He gestured to the bodyguards to confiscate my bag and phone. "I'll keep these for you to prevent you from running around."

Ethan turned and walked out, then suddenly paused.

"Oh, right," he said as if remembering something. "I already handled your resignation at the hospital. You won't have to work so hard anymore. Just rest well at home from now on."

My head snapped up. "No, you can't do this... You have no right to make decisions for me."

Hearing that only made him walk faster. Everyone assumed he was rushing off to meet his mistress.

After Ethan left, my father quickly ran off too.

A bodyguard opened the villa door. "Please, Mrs. Moore."

I looked at this house that once held my happiness, then witnessed all my suffering.

The thought of being imprisoned here made it impossible to breathe.

But now I had no documents, no phone, no money. I couldn't go anywhere.

I walked through the door in despair, only to be pinned to the sofa by two bodyguards the moment the door closed.

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

But my struggles and shouts. They ignored everything.

When I scratched one of their faces, he actually slapped me hard.

Smack!

The blow sent my face to the side, my vision going dark in waves.

Just then, I heard their conversation.

"Miss Connors only told us to film her. Hitting her isn't good, right?"

The one who'd struck me sneered. "What are you afraid of? Miss Connors said once Mr. Moore sees the video, he'll definitely never be with her again. By that time, do you think anyone will speak up for her?"

After hearing that, the previously worried man laughed. "You're right. Let's have some fun with her tonight."

He busied himself setting up the camera while the other started undressing.

I seized the chance and jumped up, running out desperately.

My clothes were disheveled. I didn't dare look back, afraid danger would catch me at any moment. I could only run forward with all my might.

Just when I was most desperate, a car suddenly pulled up and stopped in front of me.

The rear window rolled down. I saw a familiar face and was filled with immense surprise.

Adrian Sinclair. The man I'd once had a brief marriage with.

My ex-husband.