Chapter 391: Make Him Pay

On the other end of the line, a gruff voice erupted, filled with anger. Claire’s heart raced as she clutched the phone tightly.

She asked, “Who the hell are you? What’s going on? What have you done to Antony?”

“Don’t worry about who I am. Just get the money and come over. I’m sending you the address now. You’ve got half an hour. If you’re not here in time, I swear I’ll make him pay!”

The man shouted a few more threats before abruptly hanging up. Moments later, Claire received a text with an address.

At first, she felt a wave of panic, but as she read the location, her anxiety eased a bit. It was at the intersection of two streets, suggesting that Antony had either gotten into a fight or been in a minor car accident. It didn’t seem too serious. But the man’s furious tone still gnawed at her, and she glanced at her own injuries.

Without a second thought, Claire threw on some clothes and headed to the address. What she found there, however, was beyond her worst fears.

Antony lay sprawled on the ground, disheveled and unkempt, his beard untrimmed and his clothes rumpled. He was clearly drunk, mumbling incoherently, and his arms and face were bruised, as if he had just been in a brawl. As she approached, Claire noticed a hulking figure looming over him, ready to strike.

“Stop!” Claire rushed forward. She could hardly believe her eyes. Just a few days ago, Antony had seemed fine, and now he looked like a shadow of himself.

As Claire crouched down beside him, Antony lay there, still reeling from his drunken stupor, muttering incoherently.

“Antony! What’s going on? Wake up!” She knelt beside him, shaking him gently.

“Who the hell are you? Leave me alone…” Antony mumbled, annoyed, swatting at her hands without opening his eyes. But when he finally did, his expression shifted from irritation to shock.

“C–Claire!”

It took him a moment to fully register her presence, but when he did, his eyes widened in disbelief, glistening with unshed tears.

“Antony, it’s me. What’s going on? What happened?” Claire asked, glancing at the burly man standing beside her.

“Is it really you? No, it can’t be. You died in that car accident. This must be a dream!” He stared at her, a smile breaking through as he instinctively began to pinch his own arm.

“Ouch!” He suddenly realized he was in pain, and the reality of the moment hit him like a freight train. The sudden sting of pain snapped him back to reality. Antony blinked, dazed, his mind struggling to process the sensation. He could feel pain again! It wasn’t a dream. Claire was alive!

Claire said, her voice shaking with emotion, “It’s not a dream! I’m really here! What happened to you? Please, tell me!”

Antony didn’t respond to her questions. Instead, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her in a fierce embrace. “Claire, thank God! You’re alive! You’re really alive!” His voice trembled as he spoke, his grip tightening around her.

“I’m back, Antony. I’m here. You…” Claire felt tears prick at her eyes, overwhelmed by his relief and affection.

Before she could finish her sentence, the man beside her yanked her forcefully away, pulling her out of Antony’s embrace.

He barked, pointing an accusing finger, “Hey, I told you to come over here to get me my money, not to watch you two lovebirds coo at each other! You! Do you even know your man just rammed right into my car?”

“This baby’s brand new, cost me over a million dollars! And look, no matter what, you’re paying me today. No 100 thousand dollars and neither of you is walking out of here!”

Antony rose to his feet, his gaze steady as he looked at the man. Without a second thought, he grabbed the man’s finger, which was pointing at Claire, and pushed it aside.

“Alright, I’ll give you 150 thousand dollars. Give me your bank account, and I’ll transfer it right now.”

The man glanced at Antony with a sneer, clearly unimpressed by his casual demeanor.

“Oh yeah? Sure. The bank account’s ready. Let’s see you cough up that 150 thousand dollars.”

In less than five seconds, under the man’s skeptical gaze, Antony completed the transfer.

“There, the money’s in your account. Come on, Claire, let’s go.” With that, Antony pulled Claire to her feet, and the two prepared to leave.

Unknown to them, all of this had been observed by a pair of eyes hidden within a surveillance camera mounted on a nearby streetlight.

“What a juicy little drama! Send this footage to Frederick. Oh, and keep a close eye on Antony and Claire for now. Every little scene needs to end up on Frederick’s desk.”

“That way, it’ll make her big debut all the more convenient. I’ve laid the groundwork; now it’s up to her to step into the spotlight. After all, the good life – luxury, comfort – it’s all earned, not given.”