4. Her Escape

"It is difficult but not impossible. I won't lose without trying." said Clare with determination and hatred hinting in her eyes.

"Mom just helps distract dad and the others. Everything else is easy as long as I can get out." Clare

"Okay, after lunch." Mrs. Lawson

The mother and daughter pair act as normally as possible to avoid Mr. Lawson suspiciously. Clare does not speak a word, and Mrs. Lawson looks worried. The lunch is quiet, everyone is having their own thousand thoughts.

After finishing, Mr. Lawson got an urgent call from his company that he needs to personally handle so he leaves in hurry not forgetting to give an order about keeping Clare in check in case she tries to escape.

'Knock knock', the knocking sound twice before Clare opened up as she poke her head out to see her mom standing there.

"Your dad goes to the company. Now the bodyguard" Mrs. Lawson whisper soundly as she glanced around

"What do we do?" Mrs. Lawson

Clare let out a sly grin as a plan popped up in her head. She whispers them to her mom.

Mrs. Lawson was walking down the stairs when a sudden loud thud alerted the two bodyguards coming running from the front door and the maid rushed from the kitchen. Mrs. Lawson was unconsciously lying on the ground beside the broken vest. They were all panicked as the bodyguard quickly ran to check on her condition.

Clare rushed from her room as she heard the noise "Quick, bring her to the hospital" she worryingly said

All bodyguards are quick into action as they start preparing and carrying Mrs. Lawson toward the car. Clare was about to get on too but the bodyguard stopped her.

"Our apologies young miss but you can't go out without Master's permission. We're going to take good care of Madam, please be at ease." Bodyguard

Clare silently stares at them as she states bluntly "Fine but if something happens to her I will kill you myself." 

They all give a respectful bow before driving out to the hospital. Clare walks back inside, up to her room, grabbing the bag , and comes back down. He observes the surroundings before sneakily walking toward the back door. To her luck it clear, her mom probably take care of all the maids as she was about to get out an old voice stop her, it was her nanny

"Be a safe young miss." said the Nanny with a sad smile

She is like the second mother to Clare, she is willing to help because she loves Clare as her own.

"Thank you, nan. Please take care of mom and dad for me. I will come back once everything is settled." Clare, her tone soften

She gives Clare a warm hug and smiles as she goes to the living hall to distract the two bodyguards in case something went wrong.

Clare successfully gets out of the manor, she jogged for a few minutes before turning the corner toward the waiting black Bugatti and its owner with a worried face running toward her.

"Are you alright? I was worried" Christ

"I'm fine" Clare

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Christ

"Yes!" Clare answered 

"Then let's go" Christ helped her in the car and they drove off. They departed from Las Vegas in the late afternoon and arrived at California six hours later. Their plan was to rest the night in California and fly to Rome the next morning. 

It was evening when Mr. Lawson sat in his office, his brow knitted together not with confusion but with anger, Mrs. Lawson was sitting silently on the nearby sofa. He knew that Clare had escaped, that his wife was involved in helping her to the extent of faking the fainting, and that the incident was part of the plan.

The loud footsteps echo throughout the manor, Mr. Lawson's furious face turns into fear and worry both for himself and his family especially his only daughter as he knows that the tyrant has arrived exactly on time to pick Clare up for vacation in Italy.

Just as he realizes,the knock comes on his office door and then the presence of a man in a sugar brown tuxedo with glasses enters.  He bow respectfully and state his voice with concern "Mr. Casper has arrived"

The three went to the living hall, there sat the glorious Casper and the mere sight of the tyrant made them tremble from the inside. 

"Mr. Casper," Mr. Lawson said, forcing a smile to hide the fear.

"Mr. Lawson," Morris formally returns the greeting as he continues "Where is Clare?"

"She-" Mr. Lawson was about to speak when his wife cut him off

"I think we should talk about things again. It is not right this way." Mrs. Lawson said with a serious tone but fear is clearly shown in her eyes. 

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Morris asks with a deep cold voice and the stare that pierce the couple's soul.

"Laura, what are you saying?" Mr. Lawson walks toward his wife as he gently wraps his arm to calm her.

"Our daughter ran away because of this engagement. You know she won't be willing yet you still agree. Do you still have a conscience as a father?" Mrs. Lawson said as tears started rolling down her eyes.

"..." Mr. Lawson was stunned into speechlessness, he does love his daughter, he loved her very much but he did it to protect her. Even if he helped her escape the result would be the same, Clare still ends up with Morris perhaps in the even worse situation.

Morris' deep chuckle pulls everyone back to reality "So she dared run away?" Morris' cold tone sent chills down the room. Lawson is trembling with helplessness, the little escape turns everything downhill. They can only pray for their daughter's safety and wish that the tyrant can be lenient. 

Mr. Lawson speaks up before everyone else does "Uh I will bring Clare back. She probably just has much to think about. Once she is better she will be back." 

"No need" Morris "I will bring her back myself"

Morris finishes his words, turns his back and walks out, giving no chance for the parents to find their daughter. 

The widely known title 'the Tyrant of the mafia world', Casper possesses extensive connections and control all over the place. His vast territory spans beyond finding a mere two people, especially when he is really keen for his beloved angel, his fianceé.

Morris approached the entrance of the car with a stern, cold expression on his face. He then ordered, "Find Clare and her little lover"

He proceeds to enter the car as the bodyguard quickly bow and quickly start the assigned task. 

"Don't let me catch you, angel, you will regret running away" Morris said with a smirk that doesn’t much like his fury eyes.