Until I say otherwise

Clara looked behind her and was stunned by the person who had just spoken.

" What?! "Who the hell are you?" The agent was very mad at the person who just ruined his business.

"Who I am is not a problem, so let's forget about that," Judith said as she was crossing her arms in front of her chest.

" Three thousand eight hundred dollars for such an apartment when the lowest apartment is two thousand six hundred dollars per month, who do you think you are? An agent?.Tell me the name of your company.." she said, sounding furious while glaring at the man. If she hadn't seen this stupid woman entering a taxi when she was going back to the estate and followed her secretly, this good for nothing would have scammed her.

" Are you renting or not ?" His business had been ruined by the intruder, he was both angry and frustrated.

" Hump, people like you have no work to do but to sit around and extract money from people who know nothing about society. " The more she talked, the more her eyes scrutinizing Clara darkened .

'Isn't I the biggest joke? Even with all my miseries, I appeared to be naive in the eyes of a stranger.' Clara was furious and ashamed.

"Thanks for your help today "and she grabbed her suitcase and was about to leave.

" And where do you think you are going ? Better follow me now!" Judith ordered, grabbing Clara's hand. If it's not part of her work, why would she be wasting her time with someone like that?

" Let go of me!, " Clara yelled fiercely, forcefully yanking her hand from Judith's grib.

"Huh! Sorry dear but, there's no way for you to escape." she said with a sinister smirk.

Clara looked down and saw a familiar car parked at the other side of the street. She was shocked as the tinted windows of the car were rolled down and there it was in her nightmare, was sitting in the back seat smoking, and behind the car was the man she had just left, being beaten up by Tony.

" Come here! " Xavier gestured with his middle finger.

Left with no other options, Clara dragged her suitcase and walked towards the car.

" Save me madam, please save me " the agent pleaded when he saw Clara approaching them, but Tony grabbed a hand full of his hair and bashed his head on a near-by wall.

"ah! " he groaned loudly in pain.

" who are you ? Three thousand eight hundred dollars for an apartment, huh? "

bang! His head met the wall again.

" Ow! "Sorry Sir, two thousand six hundred dollars. Just forgive me and let me go, " the guy said. He, because of the painful impact of the beating, started reducing the price without being asked to.

Clara didn't have the luxury of watching all this, he tried to fool her anyway, so technically he deserved it.

Bang!

"Ow! two thousand dollars Sir"

Bang!

" One thousand dollars "

"Do you know who you offended "? Tony asked coldly.

BANG!!

"Ah..ah..ah!!" the man screamed again. This person was ruthless. He must have been a gangster, he was just the landlord's son who was addicted to gambling. When he saw Clara, he thought she was a big fish who he could extract money from to pay off his debt. If he had known earlier, he would have been honest with her. Now the weak woman happened to be a big boss.

" Please take the apartment for free, just let me live Sir " he proclaimed," is it not just an apartment? even if she wanted the house, he was ready to sign it out for free. If this continues, he will die without a grave.

" Shut up "

Tony gave him one final kick on his chest, before the car finally opened and Xavier slowly stepped down, he threw the burning cigarette on the man's hand and stepped on it.

The man who thought that the boss of the gangster had come to his aid became speechless and even forgot how to cry.

" Why? Do you think the wife of the president of the Rey group can't afford to buy a rundown building?"

Not only the man, everyone was all stunned. He only followed the order to teach this person a good lesson , thinking that it was because he dared to fool his madam. Unknownst to him, his boss was not only ruthless but shameless. He actually asked him to torture the guy because the amount he called was too small, the boss was really ruthless. Tony slowly acknowledged.

'The wife of president Reynold,who was also a member of Davis family, but she is not dressed like someone rich.'

" Next time INCREASE the amount."Xavier said, stressing the increase

"Yes sir."

" Scram! "

" Thank you sir , thank you boss. " the man said, running for his life.

" Come here! " he said coldly to Clara, who was still very astonished by his actions.

Tony tried to stop her but Judith held him back.

" Are you running because you are feeling guilty?You know very well who she was. That's why you befriended her. You brought her very close to me yet we were miles away, you suddenly stopped being scared of the bedside picture because you already knew she was alive. "

Clara was struck dumb listening to all his allegations. To him, everything was her fault.

" The person you love is back, isn't it reasonable for me to leave?" She retorted.

" Of course ,but you can't leave until I ask you to, "he replied.

" but you said you would take care of us ."

"Well ,I did say something like that, but until then you will continue playing whatever role you have to play until I say otherwise. Now get into the car and don't waste your time ". All this conversation was between them. The other people could not hear anything they were talking about because of the distance between them.

****

Clara lay still on her side of the bed,as she was busy thinking about her life. She could wait, but what about her baby could it? She placed her hand on her still flat stomach.

It's 5am. She was used to waking up by this time because of him. She thought their days would remain like that, but it was only her wishful thinking.

Thankfully, her phone chose this moment to ring, jolting her back from her thoughts , she reached out for the phone, but when she saw the caller's ID she tried to drop it but the cold voice of her husband came from behind.

" Answer it. "

" Hello, Clara, come to the shop. Let go pick flowers from the orphanage. " came Glory's ever cheerful voice .

" You see.." she wanted to decline her offer but the cold eyes of a certain person was enough for her to change her mind. "Okay " she reluctantly agreed .

" Clara, are you still in a bad mood " Glory asked, concerned about her friend.

" No, I am kind of okay now. " she faked a smile.

"Okay, see you later girly. "

" Where are you going? " Xavier asked. For the first time since they got married,he inquired about her whereabouts.

"We are going to the orphanage today." she answered, walking out on him.

Inside the dressing room, she sat on the floor crying silently while looking for something to wear.

***

" Good morning madam, please get inside the car. "Since she had saved Judith, Tony had been nice to her, she smiled back and was about to hop in when she noticed the man with a magazine in hand sitting casually at a corner , so she politely declined with the excuse that she already had a driver waiting for her.

Tony tried winking and making all sorts of silent gestures but she didn't take note and just left.

" Tony, she will take a taxi to the gate." Xavier said , understanding what he meant. Tony drove to the gate.

On getting to the gate, Clara saw that he had paid her driver, who was now leaving.

" Get into the car." Tony said again. This time Clara saw his signal and gentle sat beside Xavier.

" I thought the taxi was more comfortable, " he teased.

" You allowed me absolute freedom ", she shut him up with his promise. The ride became a quiet one. On their way she realized that they were actually heading to the shop. She tried stopping him, panicking, but he refused.

***

" Xavier, you are here? " Glory asked happily when she saw him, but a surprise look appeared on her face when she also saw Clara emerging from the car. Both of you come together ?

" Yes, I met her on the road. " he lied shamelessly when Clara didn't know what to say.

" Oh really , both of you were already running into each other when you just met," she said, nudging Clara on her shoulder before winking at her.

'Not only did we run into each other, we also shared the same bed,' Clara thought, inwardly cursing at the man.

" If you are set, let me drop you guys off "Xavier offered, smiling at Glory.

'Huh, he is also going, isn't he busy ?' Clara was surprised, but her friend was very happy as she dragged her into the car.

Clara wanted to sit at the front but Glory insisted she allow Xavier to sit there while they sat together at the back.

He immediately agreed, smiling.

During the drive she did her best to reply to Glory, putting on a fake smile until they arrived at the orphanage.

The ladies were surprised to see the Dean and all the children outside. He must have informed them that he was coming.

Seeing this, Clara was suddenly overwhelmed with maternal love. She was also going to have her own baby in nine months' time. She gently touched her stomach with a sweet smile but that little action didn't escape Tony's sharp eyes. He was shocked but quickly composed himself. Maybe it was not what he was thinking.

" Clara, let go see the flowers. " Glory dragged her along until they got to the garden where the cultivators were already waiting for them.

All of a sudden, a cold wind started blowing and even though she was putting on a long sleeve dress she still felt the chill. Clara shivered.

Xavier hurriedly removed his coat while scolding Glory , "it's almost winter. Why didn't you bring your coat along? You are really childish".

" No, Xavier, I am okay, I am actually hot-blooded. Why don't you give that to Clara instead because she easily catches a cold? "

"No ,no, I am okay " Clara tried to protest, but he muttered to her .

" Just play along already "

" Thank you sir " she managed to say, not daring to lock eyes with him.