Chapter 41| Money or Love

[Police and ambulance sirens]

"Don't move!"

[Repetitive gunshots]

Clark's POV

I cried my heart out as I hugged Angela tightly. Seeing her naked due to being gang-raped with those devils makes my heart crushed into pieces. I shouted and cried in anger. Anger for the devils who did these inhumane things to her, anger for coming late, anger for not saving her as soon as possible, and anger for not being by her side all the time to protect her.

I promised her before that I will protect her at all costs. But at what happened I could say I failed.

This time, I couldn't see any but God. I looked outside the window just to see the dark gray sky. I kept on thinking about why he let these things happen to us. Why did he let these unfortunate things happen to Angela? Does she deserve to receive this unfortunate life? Does she?

"Please..."

"Why?" I asked in agony while crying, asking the father in heaven why this happened. Begging him to give me an answer to my questions so that I could breathe freely and my worries vanish away. I shut my eyes close in pain. I hugged Angela even more who now couldn't be able to move. She was just staring blankly in the air. It looked like her soul and sanity were taken away from her.

Police rushed into the room. They quickly approached our direction and took care of Angela. They laid her carefully on the stretcher and then got inside the ambulance. Bel and I were beside her to give her emotional support. Even though she didn't talk due to the extreme trauma she has received, I know our presence could somehow help her.

When we finally arrived at the hospital, the nurses and doctors assisted her quickly to give medical attention inside the emergency room. I left outside the room and sat for a while in the waiting area while praying that hopefully, Angela could conquer the pain and trauma.

"Coffee?"

I stopped thinking and got back to my senses after I heard a voice in front of me. I slowly opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was a hand holding a cup of coffee. I looked at the person who was holding the coffee. She was no other than Bel.

I took a deep breath and sighed before accepting the coffee in her hand. I rested my back on the waiting area's chair and stared deeply at the wall. Bel took a seat next to me then she lightly tapped my right shoulder with her left hand.

I glance at her just to see her with a reassuring smile on her face.

"I know Angela very well. She's tough. Trust me, Clark," she reassured me that makes the weight I have felt inside my chest get lighter somehow.

"Drink your coffee so you will relax. When you're relaxed, you can think straight, Clark. We need to be strong and to be sane for Angela. We need to be strong," she reminded. Tears escaped from my eyes. I quickly wiped it away using my free hand and then nodded to her suggestion.

"You're right... We need to be strong." I looked at Bel's face.

"For her," I added and a small smile curved on my lips. Bel smiled back at me then tapped my shoulder again before sipping her cup of coffee.

I took a deep breath and I sip mine. Then suddenly, I remembered about the investigation.

"How's the investigation?" I suddenly asked.

Bel lowered her gaze and thought deeply.

"The police got evidence that the club's license had already expired ten years ago but it still operates with the help of corrupt officials. They have now arrested those officials and the other person who has a connection to the club. They also got cocaine inside our boss's office with a worth of 1.3 million US dollars. They confiscated the drug. Then, the prostitutes got put under government programs to help them to make a new life. About the dead bodies, they found out the bullets were coming from the gun of our boss then, later on, he killed himself. They confirmed Angela was sexually abused," she stopped for a while just to take a deep breath.

"They already had my statement and it was already clear. The club finally closed," she explained.

"Those bastards deserved to die—" I stopped talking when my phone vibrated. I fished it out inside my pants pocket just to see my mom calling me.

"Mom..." I told Bel and motioned my phone to her. She just nodded.

I put down the coffee on the chair and then stood up. I walked about a meter away from Bel who was now enjoying her coffee. I answered the call.

"Yes, mom?"

"Go home. Right now."

I sighed at what I heard. I rested my left hand on my waist.

"Mom, I can't."

"Is it because of the prostitute, huh?"

I shut my eyes after hearing it. I was not surprised though. She had many connections to reach the news about what was happening to me.

"But—"

"Clark!!!" she shouted angrily.

I put away the phone against my ear. I let my ear rest for a second before putting it back again.

"Go home or else..." she threatened.

I combed my short hair using my free hand out of frustration. I knew my mom very well. This was a threat. She could do anything against me if I am going to disobey her this time.

"Alright, mom. I'll be there in half-hour," I answered in defeat before I ended the call.

With a down shoulder, I approached Bel to say goodbye. I gave her money for her food and also for the siblings in case I wouldn't be able to get back tonight. I hurriedly went to the parking lot and drove to our home.

****

"You made the right decision to come back home, Clark."

"I'll go back to the hospital after we talk, mom."

I approached her direction and then sat on the sofa, opposite her. We were in the living room. I could feel the atmosphere was not good. As I expected, her face turned sour.

"You'll not go back to the hospital, Clark."

"I need to, mom. Angela needs me."

She harshly stood up from her seat and looked at me with her death glare.

"Don't be stubborn!!! You'll marry Natasha! That's final! Forget that gold digger prostitute of yours!!!"

"She's not a gold digger!!!" I countered and furiously stood up from my seats. Remembering what's happening to Angela right now makes me boil into anger about what my mom said.

She took a step back while scanning my whole face in disbelief. She seemed surprised by my sudden reaction. Then, later on, her face turned into a serious facial expression. She looked into my eyes intently.

"Wealth or her?"

I felt there was an ice bucket poured on my head after hearing it. I looked at her with widened eyes.

"W-what?" I asked in disbelief.

"Wealth or her? Choose," she repeated with determination in her eyes.