A Journey from Bitterness to Truth

When Matilda saw Horatio, her gut reaction was to boot him out. “What’s your game now, Horatio? Get the hell out of her place!”

Horatio pushed forward, his hands gripping her shoulders tightly. “Where is she? Tell me where Chloe’s hiding!”

Matilda sneered. “In your dreams, I’m not telling you anything.”

Horatio’s hand was raised to strike her, but he restrained himself. “Give me Chloe’s address. Or believe me, I can make your life a living hell.”

Matilda burst out laughing. She was curious to see just how far Horatio could go, thinking he was just bluffing with his threats.

Horatio, unfazed, dialed Chloe on his phone and spoke with a threatening calm. “Listen up, you’ve got ten minutes to show your face here, or else your little friend gets it!”

The response from the other end was fierce. “You bastard!” Chloe’s voice erupted through the phone. “What kind of man are you? Don’t you dare lay a finger on Matilda!”

With a snap of his fingers, several of Horatio’s goons dressed in black barged into the apartment. They pinned Matilda down on the carpeted floor, her body held tight as she struggled.

Horatio grabbed her chin, his smile cold.

“How about it, Chloe? Your friend’s quite easy on the eyes. Maybe I’ll give her a try?”

“You lay a hand on her, and I’ll kill you!” Chloe roared from the other line. “Come at me, Horatio! You’re not man enough to face me yourself, are you?”

Matilda, pinned to the ground, watched as Horatio sneered into the phone. “Your choice, Chloe. Get over here, or your BFF will pay the price. I’m a man of my word.”

Chloe’s response was to slam the phone down in a rage. Declan, who had been observing her meltdown with a grin, couldn’t help but comment. “Looks like Horatio’s desperate to drag you back, huh?” Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Chloe’s eyes were rimmed with red. “Mr. Yeager, I can’t stay here today. Matilda’s in trouble because of me…”

“He wouldn’t dare harm Matilda.” Declan leaned back lazily, eyes narrowing. “Horatio might be scum, but he’s got some limits. He wants you, Chloe, not your friend. He’s using Matilda as leverage.”

Chloe clutched her purse, ready to leave, but Declan’s volce dropped to an icy tone. “Are you defying me, Chloe?”

Her voice shaking, Chloe replied, “Even if Horatio wouldn’t actually hurt Matilda, I can’t stand by. He’s holding a knife to my weak spot, and I can’t be indifferent.”

“And so?” Declan sneered. “You’re just going to give in? Sleep with him?”

Chloe’s face drained of color. “Wasn’t it you who sent me to seduce…”

Declan cut‘ her off with a swift retort. “There’s a party tonight, and you’re coming with me. Drop the purse; if you walk out now, don’t bother coming back.”

Chloe’s eyes were bloodshot as she turned to Declan. “Are you really pushing me this far?”

Declan’s laugh was cruel. “Pushing you? Chloe, you flatter yourself.”

She was nothing more than a dog to him.

Shivering, her purse strap twisted in her grip, Chloe faced him. “I’m a person, Declan. A living, breathing person. I have things I care about!”

“Don’t make me eliminate you along with Matilda,” Declan warned with a tilt of his chin. “Sit down, make up, get dressed. We’re leaving at eleven sharp. I won’t repeat myself.”

அ

The purse finally dropped from Chloe’s shoulder, her face pale, eyes lost in despair. “Fine, Mr. Yeager.”

Meanwhile, Horatio waited impatiently in Chloe’s house with Matilda until eleven at night.

Finally breaking free from the thugs‘ hold, Matilda backed into a corner with a laugh. “Chloe’s not coming back, Horatio. You’ve lost.”

Pain flashed in Horatio’s eyes, but his voice was harsh. “That’s impossible! She wouldn’t just abandon me. Unless…”

Unless Declan had his claws in her.

The thought fueled Horatio’s rage. He grabbed Matilda’s chin. “Your dear friend left you high and dry. Doesn’t that hurt?”

Her laugh was hollow. “Why should I be sad? I’m happy for Chloe. She made the right choice not to be manipulated by you! But you, Horatio, you should be the one that’s hurting. Between you and me, it’s always been you that Chloe’s left high and dry.”