Chapter 16
What happened?
Claude let out a bitter laugh. “Aaliyah’s gone, and I’ve been looking for her this whole time with no luck. The person who drove her away was Caroline-she was going after Aaliyah right under my nose, trying to stop her from coming back to me!”
This revelation shocked everyone. They never imagined Caroline could be that kind of person.
But if Claude didn’t want to divorce, why did he keep filing for it over and over, making Aaliyah beg until he was satisfied before withdrawing the papers?
Everyone exchanged glances, all thinking the same question, but Claude’s current state didn’t allow for much discussion. They could only offer him half-hearted
comfort.
In the end, Claude drank all the liquor by himself. He stumbled down the street, then rode back to the villa in his assistant’s car.
The destruction from that day had been cleaned up, but the room was still as empty as ever-no sign of anyone else, no Aaliyah. The room that had been torn apart so many times had long lost her warmth, and now there wasn’t even a strand of her hair to be found.
Claude walked in and sat on the edge of the bed, remembering so many things.
From the first time he got angry and Aaliyah started trying to please him, he became addicted to that feeling. Watching the person he loved bend over backwards just to make him smile fed his ego like nothing else.
Later, his demands became more and more excessive-he wanted to see just how far Aaliyah would go for him, how precious her love really was.
Even though he told himself every time not to go too far, whenever he saw Aaliyah, the darkness inside him took control. He wanted to see her kneel before him, wanted to see her jealous and possessive, even wanted to see her risk her life for him.
But now that Aaliyah had left this ridiculous game, he realized how pathetic his past actions had been.
If he could get another chance, he would never file for divorce again.
Claude sat by the bed all night. The next day, his assistant approached him.
“Mr. Preston, it’s been three days. Miss Ellis… if we don’t let her out soon, she won’t make it.”
Reminded of this, Claude remembered that Caroline was still locked in the isolation room. Thinking of her, a flash of disgust crossed his eyes. If she hadn’t been stirring up trouble behind the scenes, how could Aaliyah have been driven away!
Claude stood up, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
“Let’s go see her.”
They came to the isolation room, and the moment his assistant opened the door, screaming came from inside.
“I was wrong, I know I was wrong!”
“Don’t lock me up, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Caroline was curled up in the corner holding her head. The isolation room reeked, but she seemed oblivious to it, constantly muttering to herself.
After a while, she noticed there seemed to be light in front of her. Caroline looked up and saw the open door and Claude standing outside. Like she’d grabbed a lifeline, she rushed over and hugged his legs, crying pitifully.
“Claude, I know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have done that to Aaliyah. Please let me go, I really know I was wrong!”
She’d been in the isolation room for three days and nights, but it felt more terrifying than all her previous punishments combined. She cried and begged, her face covered in tears.
Looking at what had once been a pretty face, Claude felt only disgust. He kicked Caroline away.
“I already told you-your punishment doesn’t stop until Aaliyah gets back. You had the nerve to push Aaliyah into divorcing me, so now you can deal with the consequences.”
Chapter 16
He said this without any emotion, making Caroline look at him in disbelief.
After confirming that Claude had no pity for her whatsoever, she suddenly broke down.
She and Claude had been childhood friends, known each other since they were kids. She’d loved Claude longer than anyone else, so! this because of Aaliyah! Why was Claude looking at her that way!
Caroline forced a smile, her eyes full of grief.
‘Claude, do you really think this is all my fault?”
