Chapter 20
The smell of disinfectant sting Clifford’s nostrils. He opened his eyes to see a stark white
ceiling. When he tried to move his fingers, he felt excruciating pain shoot through his entire body.
“You’re awake, I see.”
Lorenzo was sitting by his bedside, slowly peeling an apple. His eyes seemed to reflect the cold glint of the fruit knife in his hand.
“You seem to be a very lucky man, considering that even such an intense fire didn’t kill you.”
Clifford’s throat was dry. “Where’s Beth?”
“She’s taking care of Magnus in the ward next door,” replied Lorenzo, smiling sharply. “I deliberately started a fire, then drugged the both of you so that your limbs would be so weak that you couldn’t run away. Beth immediately decided to save Magnus.”
The strip of apple peel snapped off and fell into the trash can in front of Lorenzo.
“You should’ve seen how nervous she was,” Lorenzo continued casually. “She stayed by Magnus‘ side the entire night, her eyes swollen from crying.”
Every word out of his mouth was like a dull knife slowly hacking away at Clifford’s heart.
He recalled Lilibeth’s indifferent gaze when she had looked at him and the way she had left without a backward glance during the fire.
She really had fallen for someone else, and the realization left him breathless.
“Why?” he asked hoarsely. “Why did you do that?”
Lorenzo slammed the fruit knife on the bedside table with a loud thump before standing up abruptly, anger flaring in his eyes. “Why? Because I wanted you to have a taste of what it’s like to be abandoned, of course!”
He punched Clifford in the face, instantly drawing blood from the corner of the latter’s mouth.
“I want you to fucking die, Clifford Sinclair! When Beth first called me, crying, I thought that she only did it in a moment of anger! Who would’ve thought that—”
He cut himself off and grabbed Clifford by the collar, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.
“You stood by and watched as Tiffany smashed Lilibeth’s head with two bottles, cut off her hair, and slapped her a hundred times! You even made her watch as you did those things in the meditation room with that damned doll….
“Do you think you’re the only one with a sister? have one too!”
He punched Clifford again, looking so angry that his eyes were practically bulging out of his
head.
Clifford’s vision darkened, but he didn’t put up a fight.
Lorenzo continued to rant. “Which older sibling wouldn’t treasure their younger sister? The Sinclair family might run a successful business but our family isn’t inferior by any means! I treated you like a brother, but you treated my sister like trash!”
He punched Clifford over and over again, only letting up when doctors and nurses rushed in to restrain him. He unclenched his fists, breathing heavily, and straightened his messy suit.
Then, he looked down at Clifford condescendingly and sneered. “What else do you have to say for yourself?”
Clifford slowly closed his eyes, still bleeding from the corner of his mouth.
“Nothing. It’s my fault,” he said very softly. “If you can persuade Beth to go back with me after you’re done beating me up-
Lorenzo kicked over the IV stand. “In your fucking dreams! Magnus has liked her for ten years, while you mistreated her for six years! You should be glad that Magnus has no idea what happened! If he knew how you treated Beth, he would react more hysterically than me! In fact, he’d just kill you!
“I’d rather let her marry a dog than let her be with you again! I’m so glad that she’s with Magnus now. As for you, I hope you’ll remain alone forever and lose everyone you
Clifford gripped the sheets tightly and rasped, “I won’t give up.”
“Feel free to try,” Lorenzo said with a sneer.
love!”
He turned to leave, but then he seemned to think of something and turned back to say, “Oh, right. I swapped your crazy sister’s suitor for someone else. He’s a 50–year–old man who killed three of his former wives.”
He smiled cruelly. “I gave up the rights to the Norsten project for the sake of this marriage. Your parents are very satisfied with the exchange. She’s just their adopted daughter, after all. Why wouldn’t they make full use of their cards?”
Lorenzo watched in satisfaction as Clifford’s face drained of all color and arched an eyebrow at him. “What? Did she not call you? The wedding was held the day before yesterday.”
He sneered and slammed the door on his way out.
Clifford lay on his hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. He suddenly started laughing.
This was his retribution.
His phone suddenly vibrated, and Tiffany’s name appeared on the screen.
Choo
When he picked up, he heard her heart–rending cries through the phone. “Cliff! Save me! I don’t know what got into Dad and Mom, but they suddenly lost their minds and wanted to marry me off to an old man!
“I wanted to call you, but they wouldn’t let me contact you! After I married him, that old pervert… H–He… had his way with me the entire night. I only just got my hands on a phone so that I could call you.
“I’m really scared. I regret my decision now. I really, really regret it. I love you, Cliff. You’re the person I love, so please don’t abandon me. Please save me…”
Clifford listened quietly before saying softly, “Tiff, I once taught you that you have to pay the price if you do something wrong, remember?”
