End of Contract, So Long

On their third anniversary, Adonis Kent suddenly announced that he was going to be single again. "Let’s break up." Claire Monroe was stunned. Before she could even wrap her head around what was happening, she was handed a "girlfriend evaluation form". Adonis's secretary, Bonnie Spencer, wore a mocking expression when she said, "Claire, you failed to score ninety points this year. Adonis has a rule of dating women who only scored above ninety. "Anything below that benchmark eliminates you as a suitable girlfriend candidate. "He will be breaking up with you today." Claire felt the tips of her fingers turn cold when she stared at the evaluation form. It was public knowledge that Adonis, the heir of the Kents, was very particular about his relationships. Any potential partner had to pass an evaluation conducted by his secretary to be considered worthy. Bonnie majored in mathematics and statistics. With her expertise, she designed a form for the express purpose of evaluating any potential partner. Every year, the partner would be re-evaluated by her. Failure to score more than ninety resulted in an immediate breakup. Chapter 1 In the three years they had been dating, this was the third time Claire Monroe had received such a form. The onlookers did not seem very much appalled by it. If anything, they fixed their attention on her because they were in it for the drama. Claire went through the evaluation form, which was, quite frankly, an absurd list. She had to keep her weight under ninety pounds throughout the duration of their relationship. Failure to do so would result in a point deduction. Any failure to reply to a text message within three seconds also resulted in a point deduction. She had to regulate her emotions. Losing her temper was equivalent to throwing a tantrum, hence leading to a point deduction. Furthermore, she had to be enrolled in the top university. She had to make sure the food she cooked was up to standard, be available to answer calls in an instant, and was forbidden from interacting with any other men... The list amounted to more than a hundred items. It was simply not feasible for anyone to live up to such expectations. Reading it had exhausted her as it was. She turned to Bonnie Spencer, the one who designed the form, and asked, “Ms. Spencer, if it were you, do you think you could meet these requirements?” Bonnie cocked her head and looked at Claire before answering dismissively, “I’m not Ady’s girlfriend. I’m only his secretary. I don’t have to abide by those rules.” Ady. What an intimate nickname for Adonis Kent. Anyone who was none the wiser would assume Bonnie had some kind of relationship with him. It was quite ironic that Claire, as Adonis’s girlfriend, had to adhere to such a strict regimen, while Bonnie, who was merely his secretary, could have her way with him. Adonis frowned upon hearing Claire’s questioning tone. “Bonnie is my secretary. She majored in statistics and data analysis overseas, so the list she compiled is not to be questioned. If you can’t do it, it says something about your competence.” The onlookers cast sympathetic glances at Claire. Everyone knew Bonnie was not only Adonis’s secretary, but also the foster daughter of the Kents. She spent a lot of time with Adonis growing up, and shared a very close bond with him. Though many women had been involved with Adonis in the past, Bonnie was the only one who was there from the beginning. Though she held the title of a mere secretary, anyone with common sense could tell she held a special status in Adonis’s life. No matter what happened, Adonis was always inclined to defend Bonnie. What was happening now was a clear example of that tendency. Adonis casually wrapped his arms around Bonnie while remarking in a nonchalant tone, “You should know the rules at this point. We will not interfere with each other during our breakup. If you can score at least ninety points, I might consider getting back together with you. “Until then, I want you to apologize for offending Bonnie.” Claire chuckled self-deprecatingly, then stayed silent. There was no denying that Bonnie was more important than she was. Bonnie was Adonis’s personal assistant and practically shadowed him every second of the day other than the moments he was sleeping. Whenever Claire went on dates with Adonis, Bonnie would be present as well. If Bonnie ever made a negative remark about Claire’s cooking, Adonis would toss out the food she spent three hours on in favor of the takeout Bonnie bought for him. When Bonnie made an offhand remark about how she thought the watch Claire bought for him was old-fashioned, he took it off without dropping a beat. Then, he put on a simple knotted bracelet Bonnie got for him as a replacement. When Bonnie mentioned how Adonis looked good in black, he had his entire wardrobe fitted with black clothes. And now, just because Claire had the audacity to question Bonnie, Adonis decided to humiliate her in public and make her apologize. Claire lowered her eyes to conceal the disappointment in them. She spoke in a dejected voice, “Forget it.” With that, she walked out of the private room without turning back. While leaving, she could hear Adonis’s friends whispering to him, “Adonis, your girlfriend looks upset. Aren't you going to go talk to her?” Adonis shot the friend a sideways glance. “Why bother? She’ll get over it on her own soon enough. “Besides, she isn't my girlfriend anymore, so stop saying that.” His friends exchanged awkward glances. “Aren't you afraid she might actually leave for good?” Adonis scoffed, then declared haughtily, “She won’t have the heart to do it. “She was the one who spent so long trying to be with me and would do anything I tell her to. Why would she ever break up with me? “Mark my words. It’s only a matter of time before she comes crawling back to me, asking for us to get back together.” Claire stood stiffly in front of the door for ages. Adonis was right. When she was trying to date him, she would do whatever he told her to. One of the most dramatic episodes between them was when Adonis threw a watch into the sea and told her he would date her if she could find it. Without a moment’s hesitation, Claire plunged into the sea. When Adonis eventually rescued her from the depths, he was infuriated and told her off for her madness. Everyone had the impression Claire was madly in love with Adonis. Even Adonis himself was confident that Claire would come running back to him the same way she did in the past. Meanwhile, Claire was the only one who understood that there was no longer a need for that. The truth was, her relationship with Adonis had been transactional from the start. It was all business. With that, she reached for her phone and called Gerald Kent, an elder in the family. “I have completed the mission. When are you going to settle the final payment?" Chapter 2 Four years ago, Claire was brought before Gerald. The old man offered a contract. She was tasked with keeping an eye on Adonis by posing as his girlfriend. The goal was to prevent him from his antics of street racing, binge drinking, street fighting, and womanizing. She would be offered a stunning salary of ten million dollars a year for her work. At the time, Claire had just graduated. She was broke, unemployed, and had a critically ill mother and a younger sister still in school to take care of. Given the circumstances, she accepted the offer without hesitation. To win over Adonis, she spent a full year desperately chasing after him like a lapdog. She had her hair done in a specific curly hairstyle he liked and changed her fashion style, tailoring it to his taste. She even went as far as to change all her taste in food to match his. On the occasions Adonis deliberately flirted with other women right in front of her, she would let it slide. Her advances were so blatant that Adonis’s friends felt like they had to speak up. “Adonis, if you’re not interested, let me have her instead.” That night, Adonis became very upset. The following day, Claire received the “girlfriend evaluation form”. “I’ll only date you if you meet these requirements.” Everyone who read the list agreed that Adonis must have expressly customized it to put Claire in a hard place. Claire, however, was unfazed. She treated it like a full-time job where she had to hit all of her KPIs. Within three months, she successfully won him over and became what was known to everyone as the “perfect girlfriend”. However, even during their first anniversary, Bonnie still deemed that Claire was inadequate for Adonis. Claire went to confront Adonis. She was hoping that he would take his side, seeing as they had been together for a year at that time. All Adonis did was dismiss her icily, “Rules are rules. If Bonnie says you’re unqualified, then you’re unqualified.” Claire swallowed her grievance, but stuck by his side nonetheless. Three years passed in the same fashion. By then, everyone thought she loved Adonis to the point of a complete, unhealthy obsession. Some of them even tried to advise her to stop giving in to Adonis’s whims and that she had to reel him in. Some claimed that she was simply too submissive to tame Adonis. Even Bonnie continued to taunt her, she acted as if she were none the wiser. As far as she was concerned, it did not matter, for she was only in it for the forty million dollars. After all, what kind of job pays you forty million in four years? Claire tried to console herself with this, but still, she could not help but feel the urge to cry. After all, anyone would catch some feelings in four years. Meanwhile, Adonis remained as closed off as ever. Upon getting home, Claire started to pack her belongings. Adonis returned home sometime the following morning, still reeking of alcohol. The first thing he did was to go to the couch to get some shuteye. Then, his gaze darkened when he spotted the suitcase on the floor. “You sure are moving fast this time. Is this your new strategy?” In the past, whenever they broke up, Claire would always invent some reasons to stay. But this time around, she no longer glued herself to him shamelessly. She said faintly, “I’m going to pack up and move out of here as soon as possible.” Adonis gave her a look before letting out a scornful scoff. “Suit yourself.” Then, he casually undid the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing a red streak along his neck. Claire felt a sharp throb in her chest. She lowered her gaze to pretend not to notice it. Suddenly, Bonnie appeared out of nowhere. “Ms. Monroe, since you have broken up with Ady, I have to do my duties as his personal assistant and inspect the items you are taking out of the house.” Claire shot her a baffled look. “What do you mean?” Bonnie remarked with disdain, “It means I have to go through everything inside your bags. How else can I be sure that you didn’t steal anything?” Claire clenched her fists, then turned to Adonis. “You're just going to let her humiliate me like this?” Adonis toyed with his lighter while answering candidly, “She's just doing her job.” Claire smiled ironically, then stepped aside to let Bonnie conduct her inspection. She thought she was such a fool to even expect Adonis to defend her in the first place. With that, Bonnie marched straight into the room where she was met with a wall mounted full of handbags as well as a massive walk-in closet filled with designer clothes. She proceeded to announce with contempt and jealousy shining in her eyes, “This one, this one, and this one were paid for by Ady. They belong to him, so you have no right to take them.” Claire stayed silent. She was not planning to take them anyway. Bonnie proceeded to rummage through the drawers and the suitcase, nearly turning the room upside down in the process. She even went as far as to pry open Claire's diary. Toward the end, she managed to fish out a bracelet inside a suitcase. Claire immediately cried out, “That’s mine! “It was my mother who gave it to me. It’s a personal item that has nothing to do with the Kents.” It was a bracelet Claire’s late mother, Heather Monroe, had worn every day when she was alive. On the day she passed away, she gave the bracelet to Claire as a memento. Ever since then, Claire had cherished it more than her own life. “That bracelet is important to me. Give it back!” Bonnie feigned obliviousness. “I was just curious and taking a look. Why are you so nervous?” Noticing Claire’s persistence, she made a show of being frightened, then handed it over. “Fine, here you go!” Moments before Claire managed to graze it, Bonnie suddenly let go. Smack! The bracelet dropped on the floor and instantly shattered into pieces. Chapter 3 The sound of the beads shattering was like thunder in Claire’s ears. After slipping through her fingers and hitting the hard marble floor, it shattered into four pieces. Claire could feel her heart breaking along with it. Bonnie covered her mouth with her hand and feigned a look of horror. “Oh dear, Claire, how could you be so careless with something that means so much to you? Such a shame to break it!” Claire shot Bonnie an incensed look. She knew Bonnie had intentionally dropped the bracelet, and yet, there she was, trying to shift the blame. With that, she got up and raised her hand in the air before swinging it down at Bonnie. Smack! The terrific blow sent Bonnie staggering backward. Adonis’s eyes widened in an instant. He immediately rushed over to Claire and shouted, “Claire, what’s wrong with you?” Claire’s eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice was quivering with rage when she spoke, “She broke my mother’s bracelet! It was the memento she left behind for me!” Adonis had been present when Heather passed away. He, of all people, should know how much that bracelet meant to her. It was the only memento Heather had left behind for her, but Bonnie had gone and destroyed it. However, all Adonis did was regard her icily while shielding Bonnie behind him. “I saw what happened. You were the one who failed to get a good hold of the bracelet. Bonnie is not to be blamed. “Apologize to her right now.” Claire’s eyes welled up with tears. She felt a sting running up her nose when she protested, “Why should I apologize when she was the one who intentionally broke it?” Adonis’s expression darkened further. “Because she isn't just my PA. She’s also the daughter of my father’s close friend and my family’s foster daughter! Nobody in the city is allowed to hurt her, not even you!” Upon hearing this, the housemaid who was present and usually got along with Claire shot her a look of caution. She advised kindly, “Claire, you should just swallow your pride and apologize.” Years ago, Bonnie’s father had died while saving Adonis’s father. After that, the Kents decided to adopt Bonnie out of gratitude for what her father had done. Since then, Bonnie had grown up together with Adonis, and both of them were inseparable. Eventually, she went overseas to study for several years. As soon as she returned, she became Adonis’s personal assistant, which caused them to grow closer. This was the reason Adonis would always feel inclined to prioritize Bonnie no matter what. In the past, Claire had wisely backed down. This time, she decided she had had enough. While crouching low to pick up the shattered pieces of the bracelet off the floor, she stated in a faint voice, “I won't apologize.” Adonis’s hands clenched into tight fists. “You sure have some guts, Claire. “Let's see just how long you can keep this up.” As soon as he said so, several bodyguards showed up to pin Claire down on her knees. Then, Adonis picked up the shattered remains of the bracelets, even stepping on one of the fragments. “Claire, I’m giving you one last chance to apologize to Bonnie.” Claire cried out in horror, “Adonis, what are you doing?” There was not a single trace of affection on Adonis’s face. “The bracelet could’ve been repaired, but now, it’s too late.” With that, he stomped on the fragments as hard as he could, crushing them into powder with sheer force! Claire let out a piercing scream. “Adonis, you’re sick! My mother left that for me…” Claire was wailing uncontrollably. After she managed to fend off the bodyguards, she scrambled forward on all fours to try to salvage what was left. To her horror, all she could salvage was a heap of powder which scattered at the slightest hint of wind. Adonis then angled his shoes against another piece. “It’s just a bracelet. If you care about it enough to justify hurting Bonnie for it, I will destroy it.” Claire tried to lunge at him to stop him, but the bodyguards stopped her. She was shaking all over, but was too terrified to oppose Adonis anymore. All she could do was feebly apologize, “I’m sorry. I was wrong. “Please, have some mercy. I’ll apologize to Bonnie. I’ll do whatever you want.” She knew Adonis had enough cruelty in him to follow through with destroying what was left of the bracelet. Adonis's voice was devoid of any warmth. “You’ll get it back only if Bonnie forgives you.” Claire obliged. She went to Bonnie and apologized profusely like her life depended on it. “I’m sorry, Bonnie. I shouldn't have hit you. Please, forgive me.” She felt something breaking inside her when she apologized. Large beads of tears fell onto the ground. Her dignity, along with the final remnants of her love and affection for Adonis, was utterly crushed. Meanwhile, a sense of triumph flashed across Bonnie’s eyes. Even then, she feigned concern and raised Claire’s head. “Oh, it’s fine. I’m sorry for being careless. “Ady is just overreacting, don’t take it to heart.” Claire turned back to Adonis with a hollow look in her eyes. “May I have it back now?” With that, Adonis handed her the remains of the bracelet. Just when it looked like he was about to say something, Claire turned away. Adonis felt an inexplicable pang of irritation when he observed the way Claire walked away. After that, Claire left the house with nothing to her person other than the three remaining fragments of the bracelet. She walked absentmindedly down the street and barely registered the fact that it was raining, only finally snapping out of it when she received a phone call from the hospital. “Hey, Claire. How was your day?” Claire had to press a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs as she was crying uncontrollably. After a long pause, she composed herself and answered as nonchalantly as possible. “It was fine. How are you getting along at the hospital? I’m coming to visit you now.” Ever since Heather’s passing, her younger sister, Elizabeth Monroe, was the only family she had left. Fate had a way of toying with her, for Elizabeth was eventually diagnosed with leukemia, which caused her health to deteriorate by the day. She was very frail now. After arriving at the hospital, Claire went straight to the ward. As soon as she opened the door, the items she held in her hand dropped all over the floor. Bonnie was sitting inside the room! Chapter 4 Claire turned deathly pale. She could even faintly feel her blood running cold in her veins. Elizabeth was smiling at her while beckoning her over, “Claire, you're here! Bonnie is helping me with some exercises! Come on in!” Claire forced an awkward smile while greeting Bonnie. “Hey, Bonnie. What brings you here?” Bonnie wore an inscrutable smile as always. “I heard your sister was in this hospital, so I figured I’d stop by since I was in the neighborhood. “I saw she was working on some tutorial and thought I’d help her with it. You don't mind, do you?” Elizabeth was eighteen years old. If not for leukemia, she would be in the final year of high school. Her greatest wish was to take the final exam like any other high schooler would. Even while hospitalized, she would make time to study and do worksheets whenever she had the chance. Regardless, Bonnie had nothing to do with this. Just as Claire was about to say something, Elizabeth managed to get a word in first, “Of course it’s not a problem! You’re a friend of Claire’s boyfriend, which also makes you my sister’s friend! Claire is wonderful to her friends.” Then, she stuck her tongue out playfully at Claire. “You never told me you had such a beautiful friend!” Bonnie playfully pinched her cheek as well and said, “Cut it out, you sweet talker! Now I know why Claire likes you so much, even getting you a premium ward that costs a thousand dollars a day!” Suddenly, the atmosphere inside the ward took on a dramatic shift. Elizabeth turned to Claire with an astonished look. “Claire, that’s how much the ward costs?” Claire immediately grabbed Bonnie to try to take her out of the ward, but Bonnie simply shrugged her off. Bonnie turned to Elizabeth with the same unfazed smile before continuing, “Oh, didn't you know? Other than the ward, your treatment, medication, and nurse assignment come to a couple of thousand dollars a day, which is up to fifty thousand dollars a month. Do you know where that money is coming from?” “That's enough!” Claire cut her off. “What exactly are you trying to do here?” Elizabeth held her back, then turned to Bonnie with the color drained out of her face. “What are you trying to say?” Bonnie sneered. “What I mean to say is that Claire has been working as a gold digger on the side, getting money from men to pay your medical bills. You should feel ashamed of using that kind of money! “Do you know how much she humiliates herself to serve those men? Do you even have a clue how much money she’s squeezed out of Ady? Did you truly think he’s your sister’s boyfriend? He only treats your sister like a plaything, is all.” Claire turned deathly pale as she shoved Bonnie aside. “Enough! Shut your mouth!” She tried to cover Elizabeth’s ears, but it was too late. Elizabeth had turned white with horror. Bonnie went on relentlessly. “Am I wrong? The room, imported medication, and even a medical team on-call at all times! Which part of this isn’t financed by Ady? You tell me! “If I were Elizabeth, I’d rather off myself than have my sister debasing herself in front of other men to make tainted money. It’s disgusting!” Elizabeth’s eyes turned red when she howled at Bonnie, “Don't you dare badmouth my sister!” As soon as she cried out, her expression became contorted. After pressing a hand over her chest, she suddenly slumped over in bed and lost consciousness. The heart monitor at her bedside started to beep violently. She was flatlining! Claire felt like she was on the verge of breaking down herself too. Her hands were trembling violently when she reached for the emergency button. “Elizabeth, Elizabeth! Please, quit scaring me! “Where are the doctors? Doctor!” Soon, the medical team rushed to the scene. When Claire left the room, she turned around just in time to see Bonnie walking away. Her eyes were burning red with rage when she grabbed Bonnie by the hair. “If anything happens to my sister, I’ll take you down with me!” Bonnie was startled and shoved her away. Then, she threw herself into Adonis’s arms. “Ady, I only came to visit her sister because I thought I’d do something nice for her, but she insisted that I was responsible for what happened! She’s threatening to take me down with her. I’m scared…” When Adonis observed the way Bonnie was crying, his expression darkened. “Claire, I thought you would have learned your lesson by now. “I can’t believe you would go as far as to attack Bonnie in a hospital. “Cancel the request for a medical team!” Claire cried out in horror, “No!” She started begging right away, clutching at the hem of Adonis’s trousers. “My sister is in critical condition, please, you can’t do this! I’ll have her discharged after this and won’t spend another cent of yours anymore. Please, just don’t call off the medical team.” Claire’s voice was shaking and filled with desperation. She had abandoned her pride entirely. Nothing else mattered to her other than her sister. Adonis’s other assistant, Mark Howser, could not bear the sight anymore and blurted, “Mr. Kent, seeing as Ms. Monroe has been with you for so long and that this is someone’s life at stake, perhaps you don’t have to—” Before he could finish, Adonis shot him a murderous look which effectively shut him up. He looked at Bonnie’s scalp that had become reddened from having her hair yanked by Claire before stating icily, “Since you like messing with her hair that much, let’s have your hair cut off. “Have her head shaved right now!” The onlookers gasped upon hearing this. Since they were inside a hospital, the commotion drew a curious crowd who gathered around them. They were all fixing their gaze on Claire. Claire did not resist when the bodyguards held her down and ran the sharp razor across her scalp. Her hair ran down to her waist, having spent years growing it out. She did not need a mirror to realize how hideous she must look now. It was the least of her concern as all she cared about was Elizabeth. When her head was completely shaved, everyone regarded her with a look of pity. Then, someone in the crowd announced, “The patient is alive!” Chapter 5 Claire felt her body deflating in an instant. The heavy burden weighing on her heart like a rock was lifted. With that, she staggered to her feet and walked toward the ward, only to stop when she remembered her head had just been shaved. In a fit of panic, she reached for a hat to cover her shaved head and held back tears before entering the ward. Elizabeth was lying peacefully on the hospital bed. All the color had been drained out of her face, and she looked so frail it seemed as if a mere gust of wind would blow her away. The doctor informed Claire, “The patient has only suffered a shock. However, her condition has worsened, and you have to prepare for a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible before time runs out for her.” Claire wept silently. She knew her bone marrow was incompatible with Elizabeth’s. All they could do was wait for a suitable donor to come along. They had been waiting to no avail for three years already. Seeing her reaction, the doctor sighed hesitantly before revealing the truth. “I know I should keep this to myself, but the truth is that we’ve managed to find a suitable bone marrow transplant for your sister a long time ago. However, it was Mr. Kent’s PA, Ms. Spencer, who stepped in and forbade us from following through with the transplant…” Claire felt like she was going to faint. “The hospital is owned by the Kents. Since Ms. Spencer is the foster daughter of the Kents, nobody dared to defy her orders. We had our hands tied.” Meanwhile, Bonnie, who was outside the ward, flashed a smug grin at Claire. Claire felt a shiver run through her body. It felt as if her strength had been sapped away. She asked feebly, “What will it take for you to let Elizabeth get a bone marrow transplant?” She knew Bonnie had always had something against her. She never imagined that this entire time, Bonnie was the one who was stopping the bone marrow transplant from going through. She was the reason Elizabeth had to suffer for so long. If not for her, Elizabeth would have recovered by now. She would get to attend her classes, exams, and play sports just like any ordinary high schooler. It was Bonnie who did this to Elizabeth. Her knees buckled, causing her to fall to the floor. She pleaded, “I’m your enemy. Please, leave Elizabeth out of this. I’ll do whatever you want. “I’ll leave the city. I’ll even go overseas if you want me to, and I will never show up in front of Adonis again as long as you let Elizabeth go.” Claire had no other choice. The Kents were the masters of the city. Since Bonnie was the adopted daughter of the Kents, she had the family’s strength and influence at her disposal. Adonis was the only one Claire could hope to count on, but he was no help at all. Bonnie sneered, “Knowing Ady’s personality, if I let you leave like that, he would not have it because he would not allow someone just walking away from him. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to let you become the ideal, unattainable perfection in his eyes. “If you want me to let your sister have a transplantation, there’s only one thing I need you to do.” With that, Bonnie handed Claire a picture. “This man is Ady’s business rival. He’s a sixty-year-old man, and word is that he loves beautiful young women more than anything else. He loves the submissive kind especially. “I’m sure you, of all people, would know how to please him. If you make him happy, I’ll let your sister have the transplant. How about that?” When Claire stared at the picture of the obese, hideous man, a shiver ran through her. Bonnie was trying to ruin her not just physically, but emotionally as well. She had no alternatives. She bit her lip so hard that she ended up drawing blood. Then, she caved. “Alright. I’ll do it.” As long as Elizabeth could live, she was willing to do anything. A life for a life. That night, she felt numb when she walked into the hotel. She had changed into the outfit Bonnie had provided for her and curled up in the corner of the couch to compose herself. “It won’t take long… it won’t take long…” The door suddenly burst open. She recoiled and instinctively closed her eyes from fear. Within seconds, she felt herself yanked up violently from the couch. When she opened her eyes, she was met with Adonis, who wore a dark scowl. “Claire? It really is you!” When he noticed the seductive nightgown Claire was wearing, he became furious. “When I was told you were spotted at a hotel, I didn’t believe it at first. “Are you so desperate for attention that you would go to another man the moment we break up? Is that the kind of cheap woman you are?” Claire could no longer contain herself. All the emotions she had bottled up for days erupted at once. She shoved Adonis away, then shouted with her voice cracking, “Yes, I’m a cheap woman, and I’m desperate! But what does that make of you? “You were the one who called for the breakup in the first place and insisted that we should stay out of each other's lives! Can you even count the number of women you’ve been with in the last three years we have been together? Why am I not allowed to be with another man?” Adonis clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles cracked. With one vicious gesture, he flung Claire onto the bed. “If I had known you were such a cheap woman, I never would have gotten involved with you in the first place! You’re desperate for touch, aren’t you? If it’s all about the money, you might as well service me instead of someone else! “I’ve got plenty of money. How many times can I sleep with you, and for how much?” With that, he smacked bundles of cash against Claire’s face. The sharp edges of freshly printed cash cut against her cheeks and drew blood. Claire was shaking when she tried to push him away. “Adonis, you’re an animal!” Adonis held her in a death grip, completely subduing her. He handled her with such violence that it was akin to torture. When it was all over, Claire dropped numbly onto the bed. Her tears had soaked into the sheets. Then, her phone rang. It was a call from the hospital. “Ms. Monroe, you’ve got to come to the hospital immediately! Elizabeth just jumped off the roof!” Chapter 6 Claire felt the blood run cold in her veins. She immediately scrambled out of bed in a frenzied state. Adonis pinned her down the moment he noticed her trying to leave. He hissed at her in a menacing voice, “Are you running off to see another man?” Claire snapped. She turned completely wild and started to scratch, bite, and kick at him. Her voice was broken and laced with a primal kind of desperation. “Adonis, I’ll make you pay if something were to happen to my sister!” Adonis was taken aback and loosened his hold of her. With that, Claire rushed desperately to the hospital. When she arrived, the doctor had just stepped out of the emergency room. He shook his head weakly before telling Claire, “I’m sorry. You have my condolences.” Claire felt as if someone had turned off all the lights in the world. The pressure was too much, and she fainted. When she woke up, she found herself lying in the same hospital bed her sister used to lie in. Then, a doctor came to her to hand her a letter. “Ms. Monroe, Elizabeth took her own life. She left behind his letter for you.” Claire’s hand was shaking when she took it and proceeded to read from it. [Claire, I heard everything you said to Ms. Spencer. For the entire time I have been sick, I’ve never known how much you had to suffer for my sake, just to pay my medical bills. [I’m so sorry I ended up being nothing but a burden to you. [Please don’t give in and do those horrible things she wants you to do. If I die, she won’t have anything to threaten you with anymore, then you’ll get to live a life for yourself. [I’m going to be with Mom now. Promise me you’ll live a good life. That’s what me and Mom would want for you.] Toward the end of the letter, Claire couldn’t see clearly anymore because tears had blurred her vision and dropped onto the paper. She was completely beside herself. The paper felt like it weighed a thousand pounds in her hands. Elizabeth took her own life for her. She was the one who caused Elizabeth’s death. She cried until nearly passing out again. After that, she forced herself to go to the morgue, bracing against the wall and slowly advancing a step at a time. There Elizabeth was, lying on a cold metal bed. Her body was battered and bruised all over. Elizabeth had jumped from the thirteenth floor. It must have hurt beyond belief. She could not even begin to imagine how much despair was going through Elizabeth’s mind when she stood over the edge. Claire clasped Elizabeth’s cold, stiff hand and tried to heave warm mouthfuls of air over her hand to give her some warmth. Despite her best attempts, the hand remained rigid and cold. From then on, she could not even remember how she managed to leave the hospital. After seeing through the procedures and burying Elizabeth next to Heather, she found herself at Kent Corporation in a complete state of daze. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, she stumbled into Adonis. There was a look of pure shock in Adonis’s eyes when he saw her. He was taken aback by how gaunt she had become. In just a few days, Claire had lost a significant amount of weight. She looked so haggard she could drop dead at any given second. “What are you doing here?” Claire ignored him while marching straight into Bonnie’s office. Bonnie looked upset upon spotting her. “Ms. Monroe, this is the CEO's office suite. Not just anyone can wander in here.” Out of nowhere, Claire produced a knife and lunged at Bonnie. She was out for blood. A piercing scream echoed across the office. Adonis pounced on Claire to shove her out of the way. Claire was sent flying and struck her head against the corner of a desk, spilling bright red drops of blood. However, she seemed completely unfazed by the pain and scrambled back up on her feet to go after Bonnie again. Adonis stood in between them and called out sharply. “Claire, have you lost your mind?” Claire knew she could not overpower him. She howled in a cracked voice, “You know what? Maybe I am crazy like you said! I should have snapped a long time ago! I’m going to drag all of you down with me!” With that, she summoned strength from the depths of her heart and managed to shove Adonis out of the way this time before lunging at Bonnie with the knife. When she jabbed forward, the knife plunged into Adonis instead. At the same time, the bodyguards rushed to the scene and subdued her. When she woke up again, she found herself inside the Kent family house. She was tied to the same bed she used to sleep in. Soon, Adonis entered with a rigid look on his face, “The company has taken care to cover up news of your attack. A doctor has been scheduled to give you a psychiatric evaluation. “In the meantime, you are not allowed to go anywhere without my permission.” Claire simply stared numbly at the ceiling and hardly reacted to what he said. Heather was dead, so was Elizabeth. What was the point of living anymore? She wept without a sound. Suddenly, Adonis felt an inexplicable throb in the depths of his heart. “Claire, what exactly are you crying about? “You tried to kill someone with a knife! If I hadn’t stepped in to protect you, you would have been thrown into prison by now!” Claire finally responded. She slowly turned toward Adonis and gave him a look. Her eyes, which were once bright and clear, were now completely devoid of light. The only thing within them was despair and hatred. She made her feelings known by biting down on each word. “I. Hate. You. “I wish you were dead.” Adonis shuddered. He clenched his fists so tightly that he started to shake all over. “Fine! Very well, then! “Since you hate me that much, there is no reason for you to be here anymore. Come on and boot her out. Let’s see how she survives on her own!” With that, the bodyguards escorted Claire out of the family estate. The heavy gates slammed shut behind her. Meanwhile, Adonis stood on the balcony and stared intently at Claire’s figure outside the gate. Her figure was reduced to nothing but skin and bones, where even the smallest-sized shirt looked comparatively big on her. She leaned against the wall and slowly shuffled forward step by step until she vanished completely from sight. The entire time, she never looked back. After that, she made her way to Heather’s grave and fell asleep curled up next to it. The next day, she somehow found the strength to hike up to the highest peak of the mountain range in the city. It was the place Elizabeth had wanted to visit more than anything else. When she was alive, she used to talk about how the first thing she would do after recovery was to climb up to this precise spot to watch the sunrise. And now, Claire was standing on the peak while the blood-red sun slowly rose above the horizon. “Look, Elizabeth. What a beautiful sunrise.” She slowly walked toward the edge of the cliff. With her eyes closed, she threw herself into the void.