Chapter 202
Chapter 202
Clayton stared at the knife, his entire body going cold. He had come to beg for a second chance, not to die..
People had always said Paul was crazy, but he never thought the guy was this unhinged:
“Scared?” Paul turned, one foot propped on the railing, his lit cigarette dangling precariously from his lips. Smoke curled into his narrowed eyes, obscuring whatever darkness lurked beneath.
A long ash clung to Clayton’s forgotten cigarette. It crumbled, searing his fingers, and he finally flinched back to reality. “Mr. Gibson, this joke isn’t funny He brushed off tiny bits of ash that had scattered onto his clothes from the wind.
He couldn’t even look at the knife, let alone carve out his heart for Audrey. He even took a step back, suddenly feeling afraid.
Paul’s smirk dripped contempt. He took one last drag, grinding the butt into the marble railing before flicking it toward a trash bin. Then, he snatched up the knife. “Tell you what, Clayton. If you’re truly remorseful, I’ll help you.”
“R–Really? You–Ah!” Clayton replied, but his volce died in his throat. His eyes widened in horror as he let out a sharp scream.
Paul moved fast and stabbed straight toward Clayton’s chest with brutal force. The blade went in deep, leaving only the handle sticking out.
Paul pressed forward, leveraging his equal height but superior strength against the exhausted Clayton, pinning him against the railing. His eyes burned with unflinching menace, lips curled in a bloodthirsty grin.
Clayton’s legs buckled, his body trembling all over uncontrollably. His face drained of color, eyes wide with terror, then dazed disbelief.
“Pathetic.” Paul raised the knife and stabbed a few more times.
Only then did Clayton realize that it was a retractable knife. Each “thrust” was a hollow click, the blade recoiling instantly. Paul just meant to scare the hell out of him. It was pure humiliation.
Paul straightened, smacked the knife’s hilt against the table, and the blade snapped back inside. He pocketed it, snorting, “You coward. You’re not even worth Audrey’s time.” A final spit of disgust, and he walked away.
The warm night air hit Clayton’s sweat–soaked back. He clutched his chest, gasping. A second later, and he had almost pissed himself in front of Paul. The shame would’ve destroyed him.
Back into the private room, Paul slipped into his seat as if nothing had happened just now. The group was wasted, except Audrey.
A waiter brought fruit. Paul picked up a piece of watermelon. “Calling it a night?”
“Alright.” Audrey’s fingers hovered over a lemon wedge, then switched last second to a piece of apple. “To mutual success.”
“Success,” Paul smiled.
As they left the private room, Audrey steadied Tiffany. Paul hauled two secretaries. As they passed the terrace, his gaze flicked sideways. The trash had taken itself out.
Outside The Grand Table, Tiffany wobbled but waved them off. “I’ll just take a cab. Don’t worry about me.”
“We’ll take one, too,” Dorothy and Paige mumbled, leaning on each other for support, clearly too drunk to walk straight.
Paul wasn’t convinced. He grabbed both of them by the shoulders. “Get in my car. I’ll drive you home.”
Chapter 202
Then, he turned to call Tiffany back, but she had already gotten into a taxi. He frowned, “Am I a monster? She ran off so fast
Audrey smiled, “Let her be.” Tiffany’s evasion was deliberate. She shared office gossip but never personal details, especially her address.
“And you…” Paul glanced around,
Audrey’s mysterious driver was usually lightning–fast. But after looking around carefully, Paul didn’t spot a driver or car.
“I’ll call a ride,” Audrey said, raising her phone..
Seeing no chance to meet the big shot, Paul sighed and got into his car, calling for a ride.
Audrey returned to The Grand Table to settle the bill. By the time she went out, Paul’s taillights were fading. She let out a soft hiccup and made her way toward the parking lot.
“Audrey.” Clayton suddenly stepped out from the shadows, blocking her path. “We need to talk. Seriously.”
Audrey instinctively stepped back and studied him. At first glance, she almost didn’t recognize the man standing before her.
It had only been a few days, but Clayton looked gaunt. His shirt hung loosely off his frame. He hadn’t bothered with cologne, only carried a sour smell of
sweat.
Audrey covered her nose. “You followed me?”
Clayton’s eyes raked over her with surprise and greed in them.
Audrey was different now. Her style was understated yet refined. She had a simple ponytail, revealing her slender neck, and her overall look somehow balanced between youthful charm and mature allure, irresistibly tempting.
Clayton felt a sudden lust in his body. He swallowed hard. “Audrey, you’re stunning now.”
Audrey’s nose wrinkled in disgust.
Clayton ignored her revulsion, his face splitting into a desperate grin. “I’ve done a lot of soul–searching. I was wrong. I wanted you to be independent and cling to me!
“Sorry. I was blind to Valerie’s schemes. That gold–digging, backstabbing, and-” He didn’t finish his words, the unspoken cheating.
“But I get it now,” he continued. “Give me one more chance. I’ll spend my whole life making it up to you. No more letting anyone disrespect you. I promise.”
Audrey’s gaze flicked to the SUV nearby. A sliver of floral dress peeked from behind it. She asked, feigning hesitation, “And Valerie?”
“I’ll divorce her,” Clayton said firmly. “Tomorrow! She scammed me and even tried to harm me. I’ll abandon that wicked woman.”
Audrey noticed the dress disappeared behind the car. Her voice turned icy. “Then come to me after the divorce. I won’t be a mistress.”
Clayton looked as if he had just been handed a golden promise. His smile widened, revealing wrinkles around his sunken eyes despite his thinning face. “You can count on it. I’ll divorce Valerie as soon as possible.”
Audrey thought, raising an eyebrow, ‘He’s calling her Valerie. No more Vally? Tsk, she really screwed him over. Perfect: They deserve each other.”
She waved him off, stepping past him.
Clayton, as if possessed by sudden courage, stretched out his arms and lunged to hug her from behind. “Audrey, I know you still love me
Sensing his movement, Audrey pivoted sharply, but Clayton anticipated it, throwing himself at her evasion.
10.40 Tue, 10 JUN
