Claudia POV
I couldn't help but scoff at that statement, "You mean the bloodline of a man whom I supported for years, only for him to betray me by cheating on me with my abusive half-sister?"
Back then, he was nothing but a 'businessman' who constantly failed his ventures, so I buried my dream of becoming a neurosurgeon and chose to be a General Practitioner, working in three clinics at once just to make ends meet while supporting his business.
To think about it again, I was so foolish for doing charity work for this ungrateful scumbag.
That statement seemed to hurt his ego, and his gaze darkened instantly, "You supported me for four years, but I supported you back for six years. I think I've paid back all my debt to you, Claudia."
"And since I am now a successful man, I deserve more than just an infertile bitch who tries to rule over me—an alpha male who should at least have two women at my disposal," Miles said with a straight face, as if he hadn't just uttered something ridiculous. "Clarissa will be my main wife as she can bear me a son, while you are my new fuckmaid."
"Your what? What on earth is that!" I snapped at him.
"It's a maid he can fuck, duh," Clarissa interrupted with rolled eyes. "So all you need to do is clean the house, look after the kids and then spread your legs and bend yourself over whenever MY husband feels like giving you his time."
I couldn't believe that Miles would agree with this nonsensical plan that Clarissa had. Back then, I married Miles because he was a lovable dork who loved me wholeheartedly. I thought such a simple man wouldn't hurt me, so I sacrificed everything to support him with the goal of having a good life as I left my past behind.
But he betrayed me so terribly!
"If you don't love me anymore, then just divorce me! No need to harm Aurora like this. She has done nothing wrong!"
"That's also what I'm about to do, Claudia," Miles said as he slid a paper into the hole under the glass. It was a divorce document. I glanced through it and my mouth fell open. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to state these terms.
"You've got two choices, Claudia: either you give up all your assets to Clarissa and become my fuckmaid, or - "
"Divorce." Clarissa completed his sentence smugly. "But once you sign that divorce document, you'll be left rotting in jail with nothing to your name."
I didn't know what kind of expression I made right now, but Clarissa seemed satisfied with my reaction, "Of course, if you agree to give up everything and become a fuckmaid for the family, Miles and I will help you get out of this situation by taking back the report and saying that there's a misunderstanding and it's all an accident."
Those choices were like the same poison to me. If I degraded myself to become his fuckmaid, then I'd have nowhere to go, and there was no guarantee that I could protect Aurora.
But if I agreed to a divorce, then I'd rot in jail, and I still wouldn't be able to protect Aurora!
I was on the verge of breaking down, but tried my best to stand my ground. I crumpled the divorce paper and snarled at him, "Then you can take this divorce paper, and shove it right up your hairy ass, you scum! I'll prove my innocence and save my daughter!"
"And you—" I glared at Clarissa, who was grinning the whole time. "You can fuck off with his two-inch dick! You've ruined my marriage, what more do you want?"
Miles' hands were trembling, and there was cold sweat on his temple. I knew that was the sign of his nervousness rising. But I didn't understand how the hell he had the strength to get up and say, "Well, you'll realize your situation later. In the end, you'll come crawling back to me, begging to become my fuckmaid."
Meanwhile, Clarissa faked a yawn and handed the box in front of me, "Whatever, sis. I'm just here to accompany him and deliver you this box. You should check it now, since it's about your beloved daughter."
Miles turned around first and left, while Clarissa stayed, waiting for me to open the box. At first, I didn't want to check it, knowing it was probably something to anger me even more.
But she mentioned Aurora, and my anxiety and curiosity got the better of me.
So I opened the box, and checked what was inside.
In that split second, everything became a blur. I saw the shredded pieces of Aurora's favorite elephant doll, its face mutilated and stuffing falling out of it. Next to it was a curling iron, and the scar on my underarm immediately began to throb with phantom pain. Clarissa had loved to brand my skin with it when she was younger.
My head jerked back at her and I yelled, my breath coming out in panicked gasps, "What are you going to do with my daughter!?"
Clarissa didn't answer except by showing me an even more malicious grin.
"Clarissa! Don't you dare touch my daughter! This is between us!" I yelled while slamming the glass partition that separated us, then Clarissa finally reacted by showing a look of distress and called the warden.
"Officer! Please help me! My unstable sister is going to attack me!"
The officers came in a hurry and held both my hands while I struggled to break free to reach Clarissa. Unfortunately, these officers were far stronger, and they dragged me away from Clarissa.
"Arrghh! Let me go!" I yelled as I was dragged further and further from the grinning Clarissa. "You bitch! I will fucking kill you if you dare to touch my daughter! I will—"
SLAM!
***
The morning finally came, and the officers escorted me to the psychiatrist's office while my hands were cuffed.
I sat inside the office, while the officers guarded the door outside. My little outburst had not endeared me to them. I fidgeted anxiously, but I made myself calm down. All I had to do was prove I was a sane individual who would never harm a child, and they would have to let me see Aurora. I was quite confident that I could convince the psychiatrist of my sanity.
The door was pushed open after some time, and my eyes widened instantly when I saw the "psychiatrist" who would review my case.
The moment I met his serpentine green eyes, my heart started beating like a war drum.
Suddenly, I knew my chances of seeing Aurora had plummeted significantly.
The corner of his lips curled up when he saw me. His voice was deep yet mellow, like coffee drizzled with honey.
"Aren't I in luck today?" he said. "To have the scum woman who left me as my new patient."
I said nothing, frozen in place.
This man… was none other than my ex—the one I broke up with before I got together with Miles.
He sat across from me and pinned me with his deep green eyes.
"It's been a long time, Claudia. How has my older brother been treating you so far?"
And he was also Miles' stepbrother.