Filed to story: Seventeen Heartbreaks: When Love Has No Voice
After a brief hesitation, she ventured a question, her voice barely a whisper.
“How much… How much did you pay them for me?”
Clayton pretended to ponder, as if performing a complex calculation, and then held up three fingers.
Caitlin gasped.
“Thirty thousand dollars?”
Clayton let out a harsh laugh.
“Thirty thousand? Do you think they’d risk their necks for a measly thirty grand? Their starting price was three million dollars.”
Caitlin’s eyes widened in disbelief. A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
“I never thought I’d be worth so much,” she murmured, the irony not lost on her. Three million dollars. That was her price. And yet, the loan she owed was a mere five hundred thousand.
The number echoed in her mind-three million. It felt like an insurmountable weight, suffocating her, crushing her spirit.
“So, what are you going to do with me now?” Caitlin finally asked, forcing her voice to remain steady.
Caitlin’s heart skipped a beat. If Clayton turned out to be a pervert, she would be trading one dangerous situation for another.
Clayton abruptly leaned closer, invading her personal space.
Caitlin’s body stiffened, her eyes widening with fear and apprehension.
But to her surprise, Clayton made no further advances. Instead, he reached over, opened the door beside her, and settled into his seat, closing his eyes as if preparing for a nap.
“You’re free to go. As for the money, I’m not in any rush to collect it, but I trust you have a good memory,” he said.
Clayton’s meaning was clear. He wasn’t demanding immediate repayment, but that didn’t mean the debt was forgiven. Caitlin was expected to remember this debt and the favor he had done for her. Should he ever call upon her, she would be obligated to find a way to repay him.
The weight of the debt still burdened Caitlin, but it was a vast improvement over the terror she had just endured.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Caitlin limped out of the car, eager to escape his presence.
Just then, a light rain began to fall, the cool drops a welcome relief on her skin. She stood there in the rain, a figure of defiance, her bright, clear eyes reflecting an indomitable spirit.
“Thank you,” Caitlin said sincerely, her voice filled with gratitude.
“Okay,” Clayton replied softly, his eyes following her as she limped away without a backward glance.
“Heartless girl,” Clayton muttered, watching her retreating figure.
“Leaving just like that. I was even going to have someone take her to the hospital.”
“She’s got quite the temper, just like Miss Nixon,” his assistant remarked.
Clayton’s eyes turned to ice.
“How dare you compare her to Leila?” he snapped.
“She’s nothing but a cheap imitation. Leila would never be such a pathetic mess.”
The assistant, seeing Clayton’s fury, wisely shut his mouth.
After a while, the assistant cautiously asked, “Mr. Morgan, should we take care of those guys? Make sure they don’t say anything?”
Clayton scoffed.
“No need. Those thugs have a long rap sheet. I’ve got enough dirt on them to keep them quiet.”
The assistant nodded.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Morgan. Miss Nixon will never find out you orchestrated today’s events.”
Clayton nodded, satisfied.
“I simply nudged things along. It’s Caitlin’s parents’ fault that she’s in this mess anyway,” he said casually.
“Exactly,” the assistant chimed in.
“If it weren’t for you, Caitlin would have been in real trouble. Those guys were serious about selling her off.”
Clayton chuckled.
“Let’s go,” he said, rubbing his temples.
Meanwhile, Caitlin finally made it back to her apartment, tears blurring her vision as she stared at the broken doorframe.
“Caitlin?” a voice called out.
Caitlin’s head shot up. She quickly wiped away her tears.
There was Leila, the person Caitlin had been desperately trying to reach, rushing toward her.
Leila had woken up from a long nap to find her phone filled with missed calls from Caitlin. She knew instantly that something was wrong. Luckily, she’d asked Trent to send someone to help Caitlin move the day before, so she knew where to find her.
Leila had rushed over, only to find Caitlin’s apartment trashed, the door broken, and Caitlin huddled on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Caitlin’s body was covered in cuts and bruises. It was a horrifying sight.
“Caitlin!” Leila gasped.
“What happened to you?”
Leila felt a surge of sympathy for Caitlin, wanting to touch her but afraid of hurting her.
“Caitlin? Can you hear me?” Leila called out softly.
Caitlin didn’t respond, and Leila’s worry grew.
Finally, Caitlin looked up. Her eyes were filled with a mix of emotions as she looked at Leila.
“I’m fine,” she mumbled..
Leila frowned.
“You don’t look fine at all,” she said sternly.
Caitlin gave a weak smile and shook her head. She tried to stand up, but her legs were wobbly.
“I’m okay. Really, don’t worry about me,” she insisted.
“Caitlin, if you don’t tell me the truth, I’m going to get angry,” Leila said seriously.
Caitlin didn’t know how to explain how she was feeling. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She didn’t want to see anyone.
Leila could see that Caitlin didn’t want to talk, so she didn’t push it. She took Caitlin to the hospital.
The doctor frowned when he saw Caitlin’s injuries.
“What happened here? Was this domestic violence? Family problems can be difficult, but it’s important to communicate.” He looked at Leila, his eyes filled with concern.
