Chapter 5

Her palms grew damp with anxiety as she hesitated at the door. With a deep breath, she pushed it open, revealing the dimly lit room. Using her phone as a flashlight, she made her way to the desk, her eyes fixed on the drawer below. Finding the document she sought, she picked it up, puzzled by its easy accessibility. Her expression shifted—she realized what was going on. The lights flicked on suddenly, revealing Clark's presence. He was holding an identical looking document in his hands. "What are you searching for?" His voice cut through the silence, causing her to drop the document in surprise. As it fell, the file opened to reveal its emptiness, leaving Judy stunned. Clark's gaze bore into her, unreadable and intense. "Matthew put you up to this, didn't he?" Her heart raced at his revelation. How did he know? And why was he here waiting for her? As he advanced towards her, panic gripped her, each step feeling suffocating. Finally, he stood before her, his expression condescending. "You're bolder than I thought," he said. Judy wondered if he was mocking her or actually giving her a compliment. Her smile was forced— he didn't know that she had no choice in the matter. In the face of a clever man like him, she didn't try to explain herself. Any form of explanation would only feel like a cover-up, and would lead to more mistakes. The best thing she could do right now is stay quiet. But his tone shifted sharply. "I could report you for stealing confidential information from my family as my legal spouse. Then, you can rot in jail for the rest of your life." Fear shot through her as he reached for his phone. His threat left her speechless. What would happen to her grandmother if she went to jail? Clark's expression remained cold as he offered her a choice, his phone poised to dial. She couldn't hide her fear any longer. Would he really follow through? The man's expression, however, remained unchanged. "Now you're afraid?" She pursed her lips forcefully as the color drained from her face. But then, he took in her flustered demeanor and scoffed, "Do you want me to let you off the hook?" Hope flickered within her, but his mocking smile dashed it. "You're obedient to Matthew Blake. Why do whatever he says? Don't you realize this is illegal?" He continued, "Alright, since you follow orders so well, take off your clothes and pleasure me! Maybe I'll let you go if I end up in a good mood." Judy froze. In front of a powerful man like him, she felt as small and helpless as an ant, scrambling to survive. She shut her eyes aggressively. After reopening them, she started undressing with shaky hands. Clark was slightly taken aback. He tried to demean her like this on purpose. He hadn't expected her to actually go through with it. Very well, he might as well see how far she can go! Jacket… Shirt… Maybe God was on her side—she was about to take off her undergarments when his phone rang. "Everything has been arranged, Mr. Reid. Matthew Blake took the bait." It was a call from Jeremy. Clark gave him a brief sound of acknowledgement and hung up. He then turned to look at Judy who stood in front of him. Her thin body was trembling. Her bloodshot eyes were laced with vulnerability and despair as she tried her hardest to conceal it. He suddenly lost the urge to continue this. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed her. "Alright, your sour expression is irking me. Get out." Clark's sudden change of tone left her frozen in place. Her hands were still on her buttons. He prompted impatiently, "Why are you still standing there?" She suddenly became aware of what was happening. Was he actually… letting her go? Judy didn't dare to stay for even a moment longer. She immediately headed out. As she returned to her room, her uneasiness remained—she was terrified that the man would suddenly change his mind again. Finally, when there was no sign of him even as the clock struck twelve, her mind gradually eased.