19

Having worked with Clarence for a long time, Joseph’s earlier that day's actions were obviously... Though some things are better left unsaid or undone, he believed he could give it a shot. He didn't dare imagine the motive behind it.

Clarence looked at Stella for a long while, and then something clicked. He didn't own the child, no matter how pathetic she attempted to be. An adopted kid wasn't deserving of sympathy!

He had his face fixed on his. "What are you saying?"

"N-nothing, shall we go on?"

"Yes." Joseph recognized Clarence didn't want her to be perceived as weak by other men; whether or not she kept the child was another story.

"Please put her on the stretcher as quickly as possible. Next, take her to the physician's office."

"Yes!"

Joseph and Clarence were the only ones remaining in the room when she was carried away.

Joseph hesitated for a long moment, staring at Clarence’s back. Then he cleared his throat gently. "Mr. Conrad, do you want me to push you down to the waiting room?"

"Okay."

*****

Thirteen minutes later, Dr. Drew left the operating room. He dabbed at the chilly perspiration on his brow.

"Is it done?" Clarence’s eyes grew narrow.

Dr. Drew nervously stood in front of the men. "Mr. Conrad, there's something you should know before I complete the abortion."

Joseph, who was behind Kennedy, shot back. "Just be direct. There's no reason to skirt the issues."

"She has a very thin uterine wall. She will suffer severe bleeding and lose a lot of blood if we make her get an abortion." Dr. Drew hesitated, understanding that Mr. Conrad was a very demanding individual. As a result, he shuddered while speaking. "Should you choose to have surgery, you will have to sign a release releasing the hospital and me from liability in the event that something goes wrong, and recognizing that I have fully described the risks to you. But I do hope you will consider it carefully before deciding whether or not to continue the operation."

Clarence scowled. "Massive hemorrhage?"

Drew, the doctor, nodded.

Clarence’s gut knotted up on itself. "Is she going to die?"

With a little cough, Dr. Drew avoided looking directly at Clarence. "It will be very dangerous."

For a brief moment, the whole room was silent. Clarence saw that the woman in front of him was crying and pleading, and that she was attempting to shield Stella’s child.

"I beg you..."

His lips clenched into a tiny line, and his fingers trembled. "Dr. Drew, are you unaware of Mr. Conrad’s character? Still, you're wasting our time by asking us this? This procedure ought to-"

Clarence cut Joseph off before he could say another word. "Stop it."

Joseph was taken aback and gave him a disbelieving look. "Mr. Con?"

What was the purpose of this? Joseph was not understanding!

...

It seemed like Stella had slept for a long time. She had a nightmare. She begged Riley Red, her closest friend, to get an abortion certificate made. Clarence found the fake later, when she was being dragged to the hospital against her will to get an abortion.

"Ah!" As soon as she woke up from the bed, she let out a loud cry. In a cold sweat, she reached out a subconscious hand to feel her lower tummy. She realized it was daytime when she looked around.

Everything about the scene felt familiar. Clarence room was it. She leaped off the bed as her memories began to return gradually. Was the infant still present?

"What are you shouting for?" She was frozen in her tracks by a chilly voice calling from behind her. When she spun around, she witnessed Joseph pushing Clarence into the space.

She grabbed the pillow next to her and tossed it at Clarence because she was unable to contain her rage.

"Asshole!" Clarence inhaled deeply. Joseph pushed the cushion that was coming in to one side.

"Stella, are you crazy!"

“Clarence , what a monster you are! How could you be so unkind? Return my child to me." She had lost all self-control. She stepped forward and snatched his collar from his shirt. Tears were streaming from her eyes.

"Who are you calling a monster?" Clarence answered coolly, his expression expressionless.

Her eyes were wet as she gazed at him.

"Let go." He said

She bit her lower lip and kept staring at him, unwilling to let go.

"Ms. Radomil, just act appropriately! Give Mr. Conrad up!" In response, Joseph became enraged.

“They're lot more sympathetic than you are, in comparison to an animal. You're wicked in addition to being cold-blooded."

"Oh, really?" Clarence scoffed. "Is that how you really see me?"

She didn't say anything, just kept staring at him with red eyes. Her eyes filled with tears. For so long, she had been hanging on to avoid crying in front of him.

"Very good." Clarence pinched her chin and gripped her wrist.

"Monstrous? Are even animals more kind than I am? Hehe! Joseph, leave now."

"Huh?" Joseph looked shocked. Why is he requesting that I leave? Joseph was curious, but Clarence’s intimidating atmosphere made it obvious that he wasn't to be asked any questions.

Joseph hastily bowed and then hurried out of the room. After he left, she tried to get away from Clarence right away. "What are you doing, let go of me!"

His grip strength was more than sufficient to overcome the woman in front of him, despite the fact that his legs weren't functioning properly. He then pulled her into his arms and encircled her waist with them. He also gave her chin a pinch.

Without warning, his lips, which were thin, chilly, and dry, brushed against hers. She was dumbfounded and just stared. How is he doing this?

When her lips began to hurt, she finally realized what was going on. The atmosphere was so icy that he could barely concentrate on anything other than how heavy her breath felt.

This sensation is strong and in charge. She was lost in thought. The man in front of her was Clarence . So how, when she saw the man in the automobile a month ago, did he make her feel so familiar?

Despite the passage of a great deal of time, she still remembered the man as being powerful and controlling. She had nearly forgotten everything else, including the sound of the man's words. The automobile plate had escaped her notice. If she had, maybe she might discover why she was pregnant in the first place—the man from that devoted night?

Her bottom lip seemed enlarged. As she came to, she saw that Clarence was still giving her a melancholy look.

He withdrew and touched her waist to the back of her neck, speaking in a deep, brooding tone. "Mrs. Conrad , you dare to be distracted while kissing me?"

The small discomfort in his grip made her scream. "Y-you, don't you hate me?"

She looked into his hate-filled eyes and stammered.

"Yes, to despise or belittle you. It's not the same. It appears that you have a very bad memory, Mrs. Conrad." He planted another kiss on her lips with a snarl. She fought to move him away.

He caught her waist again and held her tightly in his arms. He mumbled something menacing to her while they were kissing. "Since l'm a monster, i’ll live up to the title then."

His hand began to pull her garments up, and a warm palm touched her back while she remained startled.

Her horrified eyes grew wider. "Don't touch me!" She gave him a lipbite. Hard. Her lips were coated with a metallic taste and the stench of blood filled the room.