Chapter 5

Clarence, true to his wealthy upbringing, was a master at changing the subject. Laura felt as though she'd plunged into an icy abyss, her mind in complete disarray. It wasn't until he ushered her into the car that she snapped out of her dazed state. "Michelle is my boss, and she specifically invited both of us to her birthday party. Honey, make sure you behave and don't upset her," he said, his voice full of excitement. He was so caught up in his eagerness to see Michelle that he didn't even notice Laura's ashen expression. Her stomach clenched in pain sharply, making it impossible for her to voice the words of refusal. When they arrived, Clarence parked the car, and only then did he notice how pale Laura looked. "I'm not going in," she muttered. Realizing her stomach was acting up again, he paused for a moment before grabbing her arm. "We're already here. Just play it smart and avoid the drinks," he insisted. He pulled her out of the car. But he was too impatient to head in and hurried ahead without waiting for her. By the time she reached the private room, Clarence had already gone inside. The door was cracked open, and raucous laughter spilled out. "Clarence, you finally showed up! Wait, that clingy Laura didn't come with you this time?" someone jeered. "Seriously, Clarence, why haven't you dumped her yet? Don't wait until your wedding with Michelle to give her a gift. Do it tomorrow! Have someone kidnap her and dump her in some abandoned warehouse. Wasn't she a hotshot surgeon before? If her hands got ruined, she'd be forced to leave you alone." Laura's heart pounded. Five years ago, her father had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Her mentor, Victoria Campbell, had been the lead surgeon, and she herself had assisted in the surgery. She'd watched helplessly as it had failed. Her father hadn't survived. The trauma had been crippling. She could no longer hold a scalpel steadily, and her medical career had crumbled overnight. For years, she'd been fighting to overcome that fear. This year, she'd finally started to believe she could return to the operating room. But now she realized Clarence was willing to crush that hope completely, all just to push her out of his life. Laura couldn't bring herself to step inside. Instead, she turned away, heading for the restroom with every intention of leaving afterward. But as she did, she caught sight of Michelle and her friends chatting there. "Mimi, you're incredible! You haven't even been back for ten days, and you've already got Clarence doing whatever you want. He's even lowered himself to act as your bodyguard! If you start a class on training men like dogs, I'd be on my knees taking notes!" someone remarked. Michelle touched up her lipstick and let out a sly laugh. "He's just the fall guy for my baby daddy. If I knew who the real dad was, I wouldn't have come back looking for him." Through the mirror, she spotted Laura. She raised a brow, her eyes flashing with malice. "Didn't I warn you to stay away from Clay? And yet you dared to tag along with him to my birthday party?" Laura suddenly laughed. People who'd betrayed true love never found it themselves. "Once you two get married, I'll be gone for good. So stop coming after me," she said. "And as for Clarence? He's all yours." Michelle scoffed. "I was prepared to let it go, but you made me change my mind." With that, she strode out of the restroom with her friends. Laura sensed that something was wrong and hurried to the door. It slammed shut with a sharp click, locking from the outside. She froze, her eyes widening, then slowly turned around. Six filthy, stinking men leered at her, their grins widening as they closed in. "Ms. Gibson wasn't lying—you're a real looker! Tonight's gonna be fun for us!" Laura's heart pounded so hard that it felt like it would burst from her chest. The men lunged at her like predators, grabbing and tearing at her clothes. She screamed and thrashed wildly, but her struggles were useless. "Get off me! You'll go to jail for this! Don't touch me!" Her screams grew more desperate as her skin was exposed and their filthy hands groped her. Waves of nausea hit her, and a burning pain flared in her stomach. "Someone! Help me!" Her vision blurred as one of the men straddled her, ready to have his way with her. At the last moment, the door slammed open with a deafening crash. Clarence's chest heaved as he threw a punch, sending the man on top of Laura sprawling to the ground. His eyes flashed with fury as he struck again and again, raining blows as if he wanted to finish the man for good.