Chapter 8
Before Clay could finish talking, a group of huge men dragged him away.
The sound of things being smashed mixed with his mother‘ s ear–piercing screams.
And just like that, the ridiculous scene came to an end.
Jewell and I were rushed to the hospital. After making sure Jewell had a nurse, Clifton stayed by my side the entire time.
His phone kept ringing, but he ignored. every single call. Eventually, he just put it on silent.
“I want to focus on you,” he said. “I don’t want anyone or anything interrupting us.”
“Mr. Danhauser, I’m sorry… I ruined the wedding,” I murmured.
He pretended to be annoyed, putting on a serious face. “What? Still calling me Mr.
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Danhauser?”
“Oh… Clifton,” I mumbled, still not used to calling him by his name.
“Lorraine, do you remember saving me seven years ago?” he asked.
“Huh?” I stared at him in confusion. But I couldn’t really remember what he was talking about.
He smiled and started talking about a car accident from seven years ago.
I had pulled him out of a wrecked car even though it could‘ ve exploded at any moment. I gave him CPR and called 911 for help.
At that point, his face had been covered in blood–I couldn’t even tell what he looked like. He was in so much pain that he couldn’t even speak.
I left right after the ambulance arrived.
“Lorraine, I’ve been looking for you ever since. But when I finally found you, you
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were already with Clay. I thought I’d missed my chance. I never imagined fate would bring us back together.”
He took my hand and pressed it against his cheek, his eyes soft, his voice even softer.
My face flushed, and I tried to pull my hand back, but he held on tighter.
“I promise, you won’t go through this for nothing. Take your time to recover. Once you‘ re better, we’ll have the wedding.”
The next morning, Clifton got a call. He said he needed to handle some family business and left.
Not long after, his older brother publicly announced that he was cutting all ties with his illegitimate son Clay.
Clay got beaten so badly he could barely walk. Dragging his half–broken body, he and his mom went to the Danhauser family villa and made a scene, but the bodyguards kicked them out before they even got to see
anyone.
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Gemima was Clifton’s eldest brother‘ s mistress. A few years ago, when Clifton’s sister–in–law passed away, Gemima thought she could finally step into the spotlight and become the wife. But Clifton’s father refused to let them through the door, no matter what.
Clay had been riding on his dad’s name to build his career, acting like he was the rightful young heir of the Danhausers. But in reality, he was just an illegitimate child, a secret they kept hidden. No wonder his dad never showed up at the wedding.
Pissing off Clifton meant pissing off the entire Danhausers. Even Clay’s dad stopped protecting him.
Clay’s dad pulled all his investments from Clay’s company, leaving him bankrupt overnight.
Gemima was so angry she landed in the hospital and stayed in the ICU for a few days before they moved her to a regular
room.
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Out of options, Clay camped outside the D. Corporation building, hoping to beg his dad for help. But his dad had already predicted this and left the country on a business trip, with no plans to come back anytime soon.
He tried taking on loans from his friends to start over, but they avoided him like the plague and no one would help him.
Even the villa he and his mom were living in was reclaimed by the Danhausers.
Homeless and desperate, he came to the hospital to beg me. He knelt so hard his forehead was bleeding, but I didn’t even let him in.
“Lorraine, Uncle Clifton’s going to throw me in jail! Please, I’m begging you talk to him for me! I don’t wanna go to jail! I can t! I really can’t!”
“I messed up, okay? But please forgive me and don’t hold it against me anymore. Help me out, and I’ll do whatever it takes
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to repay you! I’ll owe you my life, I swear!”
