Chapter 2

Wilbur tried to comfort Laura. "If Ms. Campbell finds out you broke up, she'll probably fly back from abroad this afternoon to check on you. After all, you were her most prized student." Laura lowered her eyes and listened quietly as he went on about what had happened in the lab after she'd left. For a moment, she was taken back to that sweltering summer years ago, with the endless drone of cicadas and the long days she and Victoria had spent buried in the lab, researching intracranial diseases. "Laura, are you still there?" Wilbur asked, noticing her silence. "I am." He sighed as his voice turned low. "Ms. Campbell and I didn't reach out to you during the past few years because we wanted you to overcome your inner struggles. "When Clarence showed up unexpectedly and began pursuing you so openly, we thought he could help you break free from your past trauma. But who would've thought—" "Wilbur, let's talk later," she said gently, cutting him off and ending the call. Laura didn't rush home. When she was feeling down, she liked to visit the stray cats near her apartment, feeding them food and whispering her troubles to them. However, she couldn't find any today despite searching for a long time. Rain began to pour, and she had no choice but to head home. The moment she opened the door to their 600-square-feet apartment, the aroma of food hit her nose. Clarence emerged from the kitchen carrying a dish, his injured right arm visibly straining. A bright smile hung on his face the moment he saw her. "Tough day, huh? Come here, honey. Try these barbecue ribs. I just learned to make them." If Laura hadn't overheard his conversation at the hospital, she would have approached him with eyes full of affection and pretended to scold him for cooking before his hand had healed. He asked about her day like usual, but she merely nodded in response to his questions. Thinking that she was upset over something from work, he gently comforted her. "Honey, don't push yourself so hard because of me. If I'm crippled, then so be it. I don't want you to wear yourself out." The sincerity in his voice almost sounded genuine, and she nearly laughed. Before she could respond, he frowned and grabbed her wrist. "What happened to your arm?" Laura looked down and saw the scab below her elbow. She must have gotten it when she'd collapsed earlier. "It'll heal in a few days," she responded flatly and pulled her hand back. Clarence's expression darkened, and he scolded, "What do you mean it'll heal in a few days? Do you not care about yourself at all?" He rummaged through the cabinet for the first-aid kit and grabbed her wrist again. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and the cold light cast a sharp shadow of his nose bridge across his cheek. Once upon a time, that look would have made Laura's heart flutter, and she would have thought his actions were sweet. But now she was numb to it all. As her gaze swept across the table full of perfectly cooked dishes, she couldn't help but feel bitterness wash over her. It turned out that the pampered heir was truly dedicated to winning the bet. After forcing down a few bites, she excused herself by saying that she wasn't feeling well. After taking a bath, she lay in bed, tossing and turning. It was 9:00 pm, and Clarence should have been painting in his studio, but instead he was still at home. Perhaps he'd been bothered by Laura's coldness earlier. So, instead of going to the studio, he lay in bed with her and wrapped his arms around her waist. His voice was low and husky. "Honey, it's been so long since we had sex." In the darkness, she heard the rip of plastic, followed by the metallic clink of a belt buckle. Laura instantly felt disgusted and shoved him away forcefully before sitting up. "I'm too tired tonight." But Clarence was already aroused and refused to stop. "It's fine. I'll do everything. You just lie back and enjoy." With that, he grabbed her ankle roughly. Every cell in Laura's body recoiled, resisting his touch. Just as she raised her hand to slap him, his phone suddenly rang. The screen lit up with the caller ID "My Princess". The desire in Clarence's eyes vanished instantly. He let go of Laura, pulled on his pants, and stepped out onto the balcony to take the call. He returned to the bedroom less than a minute later, looking anxious. "A friend from Jencoria wants to meet up. I won't be coming home tonight." Laura was stunned by his words. This was the first time he'd ever dropped everything and left in the middle of a moment like this because of a phone call. She wondered who could be that important.