He Sold My Parents' Lives for Wealth

Chapter 5

Chris stood before her, quiet fury burning in his eyes, and advanced step by step.

Clara's foot slipped. The back of her head struck the rockery, and stars burst before her eyes.

"Why did you break Yara's bracelet?" Chris snarled, seizing her by the collar.

Clara clapped a hand to her stinging head, stunned. "What bracelet?"

"Stop pretending! You were the only one who went into the storage room today. Who else could it have been?"

Clara struggled to stand, her lips trembling. "I didn't do it. I never touched it!"

"Shut up! Your own son saw it! Do you think children lie? You're jealous that she wears gold and silver, but all of this is her father's money. What right do you have to be jealous?" Chris snapped in a low, cold voice. He clamped his hand around her throat and squeezed, his voice turning icy.

"Once, she defied her family to be with me. She built everything from nothing with me, and suffered more than you could imagine. Her father only accepted us after my company took off. You may dislike her, but you will not humiliate her!"

"Her father's money? Chris, you two have been wasting the hard-earned money I sent you for five years... and now you call me jealous?" Clara repeated numbly.

Chris's face darkened. "Your money? Clara, have you ever sent me a single cent? All these years, your messages only begged for money—said my mother needed three caregivers, that the restaurant was short on cash. When have I ever refused to send you money through Yara? We grew up together. I married you even when your parents died in debt. I don't understand when you became such a liar." He stepped closer, his eyes full of disgust.

Clara's mind went blank. Then she suddenly raised her head. "I never sent any messages asking for money! I never asked you for a penny! All these years, I kept the restaurant open. I was the one sending you money—"

Another brutal slap landed across her face. Chris's hand hovered in the air, his chest heaving. "You're still lying!"

One side of Clara's face swelled, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She opened her lips, ready to tell him about the receipts, about his mother's death, about every penny she had sent...

"Chris, the bracelet is just a thing. It's not worth losing your temper over a maid. As long as I have your love, I don't care about such things." Yara's voice came softly from behind them.

Chris turned to look at Yara, and his expression instantly softened. He bent and kissed her forehead. "You're a proper lady, with grace and class. Not like her, sharp-tongued, mean, and full of lies." He shot Clara a look of contempt.

Clara's chest tightened with pain as she watched.

"You're kind enough to forgive her, but she must still pay for what she's done." Chris said gently, releasing Yara.

Clara stared at him, speaking each word clearly. "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

Chris's face turned grim. "Still stubborn? You should learn what it feels like to lose something precious."

With that, he grabbed her by the collar, snatched the red string from her neck, and tore it away—

The jade pendant was ripped off. The string cut into her skin, leaving a burning line of pain.

Chris turned and held the pendant out to Yara. "It's the only thing she owns worth anything. Sell it and buy yourself a new bracelet. Fair enough?"

A triumphant glint flashed in Yara's eyes. "Chris, I knew you'd never let me be hurt."

Clara lunged forward and slapped Chris across the face as hard as she could. "This is the only thing my mother left me! Chris, how dare you!"

Chris's head snapped to the side. He stared at her in shock, at the woman gone wild with grief.

Yara trembled with rage. "Chris, is this how your maid behaves? A servant daring to hit her master?"

Chris's face flushed crimson. He looked at Clara, and the last warmth in his eyes died completely. "Mabel! This maid is insolent. Slap her! Don't stop until you've given her one hundred blows!" he shouted toward the house.

When the first blow landed, Clara's head whipped to the side, black spots swimming in her vision.

The second strike—blood trickled down her chin.

*****

She knelt on the ground, head bowed, watching her blood drip drop by drop into the cracks between the stones. Before her eyes flickered the memories of five long years.

He had stood between her and the thugs, bloodied but unyielding. "Don't be afraid, Clara. I'm here."

On their wedding night, he had held her hand and promised softly, "For my whole life, I will love only you."

The day he took their first son away, she had knelt sobbing, and he had sworn, "Wait for me."

She had waited. For five years. And this was what she got in return.

Only to be rewarded with this ultimate betrayal.