Chapter 16
She gestured weakly toward the shattered glass scattered across
the floor. “That was my tool.”
Cecily calmly picked up an alcohol swab, cleaned the blood from
the broken IV bottle, and tossed the swab neatly into the trash.
“What tool? It was just an accidentally broken bottle.”
Clarinda couldn’t help but chuckle, her lips utterly bloodless. “If
I killed someone, would you dispose of the weapon this calmly,
too?”
“No, I wouldn’t.””
After giving it some serious thought, Cecily replied, “I’d
probably deal with the body first.”
Clarinda felt a wave of speechlessness.
Who would’ve thought? When it came to covering tracks,
Cecily turned out to be so professional.
As it turned out, Cecily’s worries were unnecessary.
In the days that followed, no police ever came to the hospital
room–Adrienne never reported the incident.
Chapter 16
Rudolf stopped by to check on Clarinda whenever he had time.
He’d provide her special treatment every time.
During one of her follow–up examinations, the doctor remarked
with surprise, “You’re healing much faster than expected. Even
after such a serious fall, your recovery has been remarkable.
“You could be discharged in a few days. But that doesn’t mean
you’re fully healed. Avoid strenuous activity for now!”
Clarinda said, “Doctor, I’d like to be discharged tomorrow.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. I have something very important to do.”
Clifton had been her traditional medicine teacher for over a
decade, and both he and Juliette had always been nice to her.
She didn’t want to break her word to Clifton.
“Alright.”
The doctor examined the wound on her forehead and removed
the stitches. “It’s a good thing your hairline can cover this. Or
you might have been left with a visible scar.”
Only a female doctor would be so thoughtful.
Chapter 16.
Clarinda smiled, “It wouldn’t have mattered.”
She didn’t really care.
Besides, she was good at removing scars.
“It would have been such a pity.” The doctor raised her voice.
“You’re too pretty to be marred by a scar.”
“Exactly,” a nurse aside echoed with a smile.
“Hey, I’ve always been curious–your records say you’re married.
Where’s your husband? He hasn’t visited once all these days.
How could he be so careless?”
“My husband? He’s busy,” Clarinda replied with a chuckle.
He was busy comforting Adrienne.
He was busy taking care of his beloved.
A few days earlier, when Cecily brought her afternoon tea, she
began cursing Corbin the moment she entered the door.
The reason was simple.
She had just bumped into him, who was caring meticulously for
Adrienne in the VIP ward.
Chapter 16
Early the next morning, Clarinda smoothly completed all the
discharge procedures.
Worried about her condition, Rudolf texted, “Clara, do you
want me to pick you up from the hospital?”
“That won’t be necessary, Rudolf. Cecily will take me to the
airport,” she replied as she stepped into the elevator.
Just after entering the underground parking lot, she heard a
familiar voice coming from the fire escape.
It was Corbin on the phone.
“Maybe I just don’t know her well enough. What do you think?
It never crossed my mind that she would attack Adri.”
His friend said something on the other end of the line, and he explained, sounding troubled, “I know it’s somewhat unfair to
her, and I’ll make it up to her someday. But I won’t divorce her.”
His friend suddenly raised his voice. “Damn! Are you for real?
You won’t divorce her even though she smashed your beloved’s
head open?”
After a pause, he continued with a light chuckle, “Don’t tell me you’ve developed feelings for Clarinda.”
Chapter 16
“That’s nonsense,” Corbin replied, hesitating for a second as if
weighing his words.
“If I get a divorce at this juncture, Adri will be drowned in
gossip. Besides, we just went through a scandal. My family
would come after her.”
Clarinda let out a soundless, cold laugh at his righteous,
considerate tone.
She had always known why he refused to divorce her.
But hearing it straight from his lips still affected her more or
less.
Meanwhile, Corbin continued, “I promised Adri I’d protect her
my entire life.”
“That childhood promise?” His friend clicked his tongue.
“Give me a break. You only met her once when you were little,
OK? How can you even be sure she’s that same girl? What if
you’re mistaken? Anyway, same place tonight?”
“You guys have fun,” Corbin said flatly. “I’ll skip tonight.”
“Why? Are you celebrating your birthday with Adrienne?”
“With Clarinda. I asked the doctor and found out she specifically
Chapter 16
requested to be discharged today. I think she planned it around
my birthday. I’ll take her home later.”
As he said this, his voice was tinged with a faint smile. “She’s had
my gift ready for a long time. Tonight…”
Before he could finish, Clarinda saw Cecily’s car pull up slowly
outside the elevator lobby.
She turned without hesitation and walked away.
She’d never go home with Corbin again. Tonight, when he
opened that gift box, he would be alone–and all he would find
inside were the divorce papers.
That villa she once believed was her home had never been more
than a respectable cover for Corbin’s nasty intentions.
Once he opened the gift box, he’d know–she didn’t want him
anymore.
After Clarinda got into the car, Cecily gestured toward the back
seat. “I picked up all your things from Sarah. See if there’s
anything else you need.”
A suitcase and a backpack lay behind her.
Clarinda unzipped the backpack.
Chapter 16
Her documents and essentials were all inside.
She shook her head. “Everything’s here. Let’s head to the
airport.”
“Alright.”
Cecily nodded and gently pressed the accelerator.
As the car began to move, Clarinda found herself glancing back
toward the fire escape.
Lateefa Khanam is a spirited writer who finds freedom in horse riding. She cherishes her mare and the newborn foal, calling them her little happy family.
