Don’t Fall for the Billionaire Lover

"I'm not afraid of you-not even a bit!" Chloe had already braced herself for the worst. The worst meant death. And if death was the price, so be it.

Connor finally managed to wriggle free from the ropes. He crawled over to Chloe's side and, using every ounce of strength he had left, propped himself up against the table and stood tall. His eyes were fierce, blazing with determination. "If you want to get to her, you'll have to go through me first," he declared, placing himself protectively in front of Chloe.

The scene struck a chord with Claire, stirring something deep within her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she clapped her hands slowly. "How touching, truly heart-wrenching," she murmured. "We used to be like that... but why did no one ever pity me?"

Lost in a whirlwind of memories, Claire recalled how Hank had once stood by her side, just as Connor was doing now. But Hank had met a gruesome end-his throat was slit, and he was ultimately decapitated. The memory of his handsome face, left almost unrecognizable, haunted her. It was the cruelty of it all that had driven Claire to madness. Why did fate have to be so brutal to her?

Claire believed that fate had left her this child as a means for her to exact her revenge. Rising from her seat, she walked over and gestured to the mercenaries. Two of them grabbed Connor, and a brutal beating ensued. Connor was soon left battered, unable to fight back.

Chloe watched in horror as Connor lay curled up on the floor, receiving blow after blow. Her spirit was close to breaking. "Stop it, please, stop it!" she screamed until her voice was raw. Connor, lying on the ground, used what little strength he had to hold Chloe's hand, enduring the pain in silence.

Even Barrett, watching from the sidelines, found it hard to bear. "Ms. Claire, maybe it's best to just put them out of their misery, spare yourself this unpleasantness," he suggested, genuinely pained by the scene.

Claire's voice was cold as ice. "Since when do you call the shots around here?" she snapped. "If you feel sorry for them, why don't you take their place?" Barrett immediately fell silent, stepping back into the shadows.

Connor was beaten so badly he coughed up blood, yet he didn't utter a word. He just kept holding Chloe's hand tightly. Chloe, tears streaming down her face, clenched her teeth. "Conner, tell me how to make apple pie she whispered, desperately clinging to a semblance of

normalcy.

Connor, his voice barely a whisper, began to speak with effort. "Two pounds of apples... peel and core them... add sugar... cook until the sugar melts... pour in the apples. add water... don't forget the

cinnamon..." Every woples

seemed to

take a monumental effort, squeezed out between gasps.

Watching them discuss an apple pie recipe in such a dire situation made Claire feel completely sidelined. They appeared genuinely unafraid, as if they could brush off the specter of death itself. To Claire, their defiance was infuriating.

Suddenly, Claire snapped. "What are you all standing around for?" she barked. A hulking mercenary stepped over to Chloe and, with

swift motion, tore her dress. It

Ret

was

still the white wedding gown from

before. Chloe didn't fight back; she

just closed her eyes tightly andnoveldrama

gritted her teeth.

Connor's eyes flew open. He crawled to Claire, grabbing at her clothes. "Mom! I'm begging you! Please, let her go!"