Chapter 12: The Intruder
Chapter 12: The Intruder
Clara’s private estate was a heavily guarded villa on the outskirts of the city. Andrew managed to sneak past the outer perimeter by bribing a delivery driver.
He waited in the gardens, hiding near the glass greenhouse where Clara liked to sketch her designs late at night.
When Clara entered the greenhouse alone, holding a sketchbook, Andrew stepped out of the shadows.
"Clara," he whispered.
Clara didn't scream. She didn't even look startled. She slowly closed her sketchbook and turned to face him. "You’re trespassing, Andrew."
"I don't care," Andrew said, his eyes wild, tears streaming down his face. He fell to his knees before her, grabbing the hem of her casual silk robe. "Please, Clara. I beg you. Have mercy. My mother is an old woman. She won't survive prison. My father is talking about ending his life. I love you. I’ve always loved you. I made a mistake, I was weak under my mother’s influence, but you know who I really am!"
Clara looked down at him. She felt no anger anymore. Only a deep, profound disgust.
"I do know who you are, Andrew," she said softly. "You are a man who watched his mother tear a woman's dreams to pieces and told the victim to apologize. You are a man who only kneels when his wallet is empty."
She stepped back, pulling her robe from his grip.
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"And as for your mother... she didn't care about my feelings when she tore my dress. Why should I care about her freedom when the law tears her life apart?"
Security guards burst into the greenhouse, tackling Andrew to the ground. As they dragged him away, screaming her name, Clara picked up a wet cloth and wiped the spot on her robe where his hands had touched.
