âI mean, Iâm a victim too. Why canât you just forgive me even once?â
âHah, you call yourself a victim? Youâre the one who had that guy wrapped around your finger with your pretty face: Now your beautyâs been wrecked, and itâs no surprise he bolted without looking back.
Thought you were something special, didnât you? Iâve always said, youâre not the one who deserves true love. Besides, youâre the one who screwed up; whatâs it got to do with me? Why should I forgive you? You deserve to feel this misery. It is all your own doing.â
Ivyâs voice wavered, âCanât you just let me go? Arenât you afraid of suffering the consequences?â
At Ivyâs words, Clara burst into mocking laughter. âWhat a joke. Do you think I care about them anymore? I went to great lengths to bring you here today, prepared to take you down with me. Let me tell you straight, even if will suffer in the future, I wonât let you off.
I hate you. I want to gnaw on your bones, devour your flesh. This miserable state Iâm in is all thanks to you!
If you hadnât whispered sweet nothings to Balfour, would his lawyers have come after me like this? Iâm branded a scam artist all over the internet, treated like a complete pariah, while youâre becoming a rising star? How could I stand by and watch you live happily and bask in your fame?â
Ivy tried to explain, âI never asked him to do that. And isnât what youâre doing now exactly proving those peopleâs comments right?
Clara, for the bond between us and the years we lived together, please let me go. Only then might you reconcile with your past. Why do you have to sacrifice everything?â
âWhat bond do we have? Donât make me laugh. Just accept your fate, Ivy. Today marks the beginning of your downfall.â
Clara signaled with a finger, and Ellis, eager as a lapdog, sidled over, âClara, what do need?â
you âYou remember what I told you earlier? Donât make it too messy. Just snap a few pictures for me. Iâll leave her in your hands.â
Ellis nodded relentlessly, his eyes on Ivy dripping with desire.
âDonât worry, Iâll get the job done.â
Clara left the room without giving Ivy another glance, her phone in hand, her smile smug and triumphant.
She could almost see Ivyâs fall from grace, and the thought of the shock on the faces of 08:12 those who supported her when they found out she had mixed with riff-raff like Ellis made her laugh.
âThis is what you all owe me.â
Ellis, looking at Ivy cowering in fear, trying to dodge him, rubbed his hands together and sheepishly scratched his head.
âSorry about the digs, superstar. I wish it couldâve been somewhere nicer. But Claraâs given her orders, so just bear with me, I wonât be too rough.â
Ivy curled up in a corner, her fingers frantically clawing at the ropes binding her hands and feet, but all she did was scrape her skin raw without making any progress.
Her voice trembled ceaselessly, âYour nameâs Ellis, right? Youâve got a wife and kids, why are you doing this? Havenât you thought about your family back home?â
*