Chapter 24 Clara then remembered that Chase had been her fatherâs attending physician. Without hesitation, she blurted out, âDr. Chase, my dad, heâs passed out.â
âStay calm. Weâre on our way.â
Half an hour later, Chase emerged from the emergency room, mask in hand, his eyes searching for Clara.
âHeâs out of immediate danger, but the outlook isnât great. His heart valve replacement from before wasnât maintained properly and itâs led to an infection. Weâll monitor him for a few days before deciding, but another operation might be necessary. Iâll consult with a few more specialists. Rest assured, Iâm on it.â
Claraâs complexion was ashen as she faced Chase. âThank you,â she managed to say, her voice trembling.
Chase let out a soft chuckle. âIâm a doctor. Itâs my duty to save lives and heal the sick. This has nothing to do with that jerk, so donât worry about it.â
Clara forced a weak smile. âI know, and I still appreciate what youâre doing.
âAll right then. If you want to thank me, treat me to dinner once your fatherâs better.â
âDeal.â
âJust make sure he stays calm. Any emotional stress wonât do him any good.â
Standing vigil by her fatherâs bedside, Claraâs expression was solemn. The sudden turn for the worse in her fatherâs health filled her with suspicion. In a hoarse whisper, she asked Anders, âDid my dad see someone before this happened?â
Anders furrowed his brow, looking at her. âWhen I arrived, Heidi had just left. I suspect she told your dad about your miscarriage.â
Claraâs fists clenched tightly, a fierce glint appearing in her normally beautiful eyes.
Her father had always cherished her like a treasure. On the same day, he had learned not only of her being framed by her family and becoming lanâs mistress for three years but also of the child she had lost. It was too much for him to bear.
Heidi must have calculated all of this, breaking the truth to her father and then presenting lan with a falsified report. She was trying to corner Clara with no way out.
In her mind, Clara silently recited Heidiâs name with resolve.
At the Midnight Bar, Heidi was riding high on victory. She had managed to turn lanâs feelings against Clara and worsen Claraâs fatherâs condition. Heidi had even sabotaged the Bell familyâs business deals.
Now, Clara certainly had no chance of turning things around. This was the fate of anyone who dared to compete with her for a man. Heidiâs eyes shone with ruthlessness, a scornful smile playing on her lips.
As Heidi sauntered into the restroom, she stumbled upon Clara, doubled over the sink, retching. With a click of her tongue, Heidi sneered, âOh, look at you, still playing the morning sickness card even with no baby. Too bad. even if you spill your guts out, lan wonât give a damn. Itâs your fault to get rid of his childâ
Clara had come to meet with clients in a bid to rescue her fatherâs company She hadnât expected them to be so callous, pressuring her to drink. To make matters worse, Clara had overheard a conversation lan was having in a private room, claiming he had never cared for her, describing her as nothing more than a sugar baby.
Already on edge, Clara now faced Heidiâs provocations, and her pentâup emotions exploded. Her eyes bloodshot, she faced Heidi with a fierce smirk. âIt was you who doctored the medical records, wasnât it? It was you who told my dad about my lost child, right?â
Heidi laughed dismissively. âThatâs right. I wanted lan to dump you, to leave you and your family in ruins. You 11:00 Chapter 24 overstepped, competing with me for a man. I gave you a chance to leave him, but you stubbornly ignored my advice. So, donât blame me for not playing nice.â
Heidi inched closer to Clara, her eyes shimmering with barely concealed triumph. Clara bit down hard, a cold smile spreading across her face.
âHeidi, didnât anyone ever tell you that what goes around, comes around?â
Chapter 25