Chapter 64: He Won’t Believe Her

Frederick! Harrison!

The moment Claire laid eyes on them, it felt as if the very air had been sucked from her lungs. Even in her wildest nightmares, she could never have imagined this moment. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as they rested on the door handle of the private room, her heart racing. Claire stood at the entrance, one foot poised to step forward, but she remained frozen in place.

“What’s going on? Is this how you serve guests at the underground Eclipse Nightclub?”

Frederick’s voice was low, but the weight of his words hit her like a freight train, the oppressive force of his presence suffocating.

“Since you have so many tricks up your sleeve, don’t let us down,” Harrison chimed in, raising his glass and swirling the liquid inside.

“Yes…” Claire managed to stammer, her scalp prickling with dread. A wave of vertigo washed over her as if she were teetering on the edge of a cliff, about to plunge into the abyss.

For the next three hours, Claire lost herself in the performance, drawing on every trick she had learned during her time at the nightclub. Like a well-oiled machine, she executed her tasks with mechanical precision, following the commands that had been drilled into her. At that moment, Claire realized she had no choice but to comply. Frederick and Harrison sat there, watching her every move, their eyes locked onto her as she twisted her body, flaunting herself in degrading poses. She poured drinks over her head, shedding her clothes until only scraps remained, barely covering her most intimate parts.

“Ha!” As the performance came to an end, Frederick suddenly laughed, flipping on the harsh lights in the room. He approached her, and the blinding brightness felt like a spotlight, exposing every shred of her dignity, shattering it into pieces on the floor. No, she had lost her dignity and self-respect the moment Anna had died four years ago. Now, all Claire wanted was to survive. She thought, “What does dignity matter? What does pride mean? Can they buy me another day of life?”

“Claire, is it really all about the money for you? Do you crave it that badly? Or do you just enjoy being used and tossed around by men?” Frederick stepped closer, pulling out a thick stack of cash and slapping it across her face. This afternoon, when Richard had delivered the evidence, Frederick had been in disbelief. But now, he was witnessing Claire’s depravity firsthand. The thought of her willingly coming to the underground club, eager to engage in such degrading acts, ignited a rage within him, bubbling like magma ready to erupt.

“What? Frederick, I just want to live! It’s you who…” Claire’s voice faltered as she processed his accusation. She thought, “What do you mean I love money or crave being used? You’re the one who sent me here! You’re the one who wants me to suffer!”

“Still trying to play the victim, huh? Claire, this is rich! I thought after four years in prison, you’d have learned to tone it down a bit. But it seems you’re still the same liar you were four years ago!” Frederick’s cold laughter cut her off, his words slicing through her like a knife. His mind was consumed by the memory of four years ago when Claire repeatedly denied any involvement in Anna’s death. But the truth was right there on his phone. Anna had sent him that damning message. To him, it was clear. Claire had lured Anna to the Red Sun Bar, leading to the horrific scene where Anna was raped and murdered by those thugs. Claire desperately tried to explain, but Frederick’s accusation choked off her words before they could escape her lips. She thought, “How could I have forgotten Anna? How could I have forgotten that Frederick would never believe me?”

“Harrison, this woman really is as deceitful and scheming as you said. Just like you suggested, take her to the arena,” Frederick declared. He was convinced that Claire’s lies had been exposed, and she had no more defenses left.

“No, not the arena… Frederick!” Claire’s head snapped up at the mention of the arena. Terrifying rumors about that place surged through her mind in a flood of panic.