Chapter 219
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Chapter 219
Charles stepped into the hotel lobby when Clara suddenly cling to his arm with a dramatic gasp.
She nearly toppled over, pretending to lose her balance.
“Ouch–I’m feeling a bit faint,” she murmured, batting her eyelashes. “My blood pressure just dropped out of nowhere. Can you help me? I promise it’ll only be a few minutes.”
Charles steadied her, concern tightening his features. “Are you okay?”
“It usually never happens,” Clara replied, leaning in closer
“Just give me a minute or two to rest.” She pressed herself against him as if she couldn’t stand on her own, making sure everyone in the room could see how intimately she was hanging on.
Sophia, standing a step away, rolled her eyes.
Clara saw that and pounced on the opportunity.
“Sophia, you said you needed to meet someone important about those connections you were making? Don’t let me keep you,” she cooed.
Sophia shrugged. “Sure, I’ll be upstairs in the banquet hall. Without further ado, she exited.
Clara didn’t even watch her go; she was far too busy tightening her grip on Charles’s arm, relishing the attention from onlookers who had started crowding around him.
He was from the Kingston family–big money, bigger status.
Clara, with a triumphant smirk, basked in the whispers.
She was putting on a show: leaning her head against Charles’s shoulder, tossing her hair, flashing sweet, doe- eyed smiles.
A few men ventured forward to chat her up, but she cut each one down with practiced flirt–and–dismiss. She knew the game: play hard to get and watch them chase.
Suddenly, an excited group of women fluttered in.
“Wow, that necklace is stunning!” one gasped.
“Where did you buy it?” another joined in.
“I’ve never seen anything so perfect,” someone else chimed in.
Clara’s face lit up. Nothing drew a crowd quite like jewelry. She pretended to protest, but practically sparkled with pride.
“This necklace? Oh, Charles gave it to me. It’s custom–made–there’s literally no other one in the world. As for the price… it’s really not that big of a deal. A million or two, tops.‘
Her feigned modesty only made the crowd buzz louder. 1
“A million or two, and you call that cheap?”
“Charles must think you’re pretty special if he’s dropping that kind of cash,” a woman sniffed, cle. envious.
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Chapter 219
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“It’s not even about the price how romantic for it to be one of a kind!”
Clara beamed from all the gushing.
She loved that surge of envy and admiration.
She was so preoccupied with playing the queen bee that she barely noticed the sudden commotion at the entrance.
A hush swept through the lobby like someone truly important had arrived.
Heads turned. Bella Kane strode in, surrounded by an entourage that parted the crowd for her like she was a superstar on the red carpet.
People clamored to greet her. This was Jericho Kane’s daughter–the Bella Kane.
Everyone flocked her way, and even the gathering around Charles and Clara dispersed.
Charles looked tempted to go over but stopped himself, glancing at the chaos. “Not worth fighting through that mob,” he muttered.
Clara, on the other hand, felt a pang of envy.
Bella Kane was the star of the day, overshadowing her big moment.
Clara couldn’t help but notice that Bella was glowering at the way she was latched onto Charles.
Bella stalked across the lobby and planted herself before them.
“Charles, I’ve been looking for you. Didn’t think I’d find you pinned under someone else’s claws.” Her voice was
ice.
Charles offered a polite nod. “Just got here, actually.”
Bella’s gaze dropped to Clara’s hands still clinging to Charles’s arm. “And who might this be?” she asked, her
tone curt.
Clara released Charles and stepped forward, all false politeness.
“I’m Clara Steel, Miss Kane. It’s an honor to finally meet you.” She extended a hand in greeting.
Bella didn’t take it. Her cold stare remained pinned on Clara. “Do you mind giving me a word with our mutual friend here–woman to woman?”
Charles caught the tension and quickly excused himself. “Sure. I… I’ll go find someone I know.”
Without missing a beat, Bella pivoted on her heel.
“Follow me.” She didn’t wait to see if Clara obeyed. She strode to a smaller private room, and Clara scrambled after her, heart pounding yet brimming with excitement.
A private audience with Bella Kane–something others could only fantasize about.
Clara was convinced this was her chance to forge a genuine bond. If she played her cards right, perhaps Bella would come to see her as a kindred spirit–maybe a sister.
And from there, her rise to the top would be unstoppable.
Bella spun around, eyes dark with contempt. “Those jewels are real nice. Where’d you snag them?”
Chapter 219
Clara, trying to keep her composure, flashed the most gracious smile she could manage.
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Charles gave them to me. Special order, so you won’t find another set like it anywhere. But if they catch your eye, “Miss Kane, I’d be happy to give it to you.”
“Give it to me?” Bella’s voice dropped, dangerously quiet. What am I, a beggar?”
Clara blanched. “No, of course not. I just- I only meant that”
The blow came out of nowhere. Bella snatched a decorative candlestick from a side table and cracked Clara across
the face.
The sound was sharp, echoing off the walls. Clara staggered back, hand flying to her cheek.
“Miss Kane–w–why?” Clara managed to stutter, tears of shock pricking her eyes.
Bella’s fury radiated off her in waves. “What’s your relationship with Charles? I’m not stupid. Nobody tosses around million–dollar gifts for ‘just a friend.‘ Spill it, or so help me, you’ll regret breathing by sunrise.”
Her lip curled in disgust. “And don’t pretend you don’t know he’s my fiancé.”
Clara’s heart nearly stopped.
She hadn’t realized Bella had a claim that solid–or that Bella would be so… violent. “Miss Kane, there must be a misunderstanding. There’s nothing between Charles and me–honestly!”
Without warning, Bella raised the candlestick again and slammed it into Clara’s temple.
Clara collapsed to her knees, dizzy with pain. Her ears rang, and her voice trembled. “Stop, please!”
Bella sneered. “You expect me to believe Charles hands out million–dollar necklaces to random groupies? You think I’m clueless? He’s mine, and so’s his money. You’re a nobody who sold yourself to him, you pathetic whore.”
She dared a glance up at the woman glaring down at her–the woman who, if the rumors were true, practically owned half the city through her father’s empire.
‘Beware of the flower that blooms too bright–for it drinks blood beneath the roots.‘
In that moment, Clara realized she was just a cheap sparkle in a bigger world of ruthless power, and Bella Kane wouldn’t hesitate to crush her like an insect.
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