Chapter 76: Fears Her Death

A man yanked Claire from the underground boxing ring and dragged her into a narrow alley. There, he pressed her against the wall, his demeanor menacing. Claire was caught off guard, feeling like a deer in headlights. It was clear he had been waiting for this moment, as if he knew all about her and Frederick.

“Who are you? Why are you asking about Frederick? Who is Frederick?”

After a moment of panic, Claire forced herself to stay calm, shifting from resistance to inquiry.

“Right? If she were really Frederick’s girl, there’s no way she’d be hanging out in a dump like this.”

One voice murmured, “A guy like Frederick? If she were really his woman, there’s no way she’d be seen in a place like this.”

Another voice quickly chimed in, “Yeah, you’re right. Makes perfect sense.”

It was only then that Claire realized there were two men behind her. They released their grip, and a wave of relief washed over her.

“Just messing with you, Claire. We’re drow… de… underground boxing scene, just like you.”

“We saw Frederick save you yesterday, and we made a bet, so here’s a thousand dollars.”

“Ha! What a score!” Claire exclaimed, “You helped me win, anyway!”

Claire blinked in disbelief.

“Wait, what? You guys scared the life out of me! I thought you were some thugs!” She chuckled, brushing off the tension. After all, she’d be working alongside them, and she couldn’t afford to make enemies, especially when money was tight.

But Claire hadn’t realized that it was indeed Frederick who had saved her. She hadn’t been aware of anything while she was unconscious.

Curious, Claire asked the two men what had happened the day before. As they recounted the events, her heart skipped a beat. The love she had harbored for Frederick since childhood was not something that could be easily forgotten.

“Wait, so it really was Frederick who saved me?” Claire thought, her mind racing. But then, a wave of self-doubt washed over her. She thought, “How ridiculous am I? Frederick probably fears my death more than anything; if I’m gone, who will shield Caroline?”

“Claire! There you are!”

A voice broke her thoughts, and she turned to see Felix approaching.

“Mr. Dent, I was just looking for you! I know I have a match this afternoon, and I’d like to know who my opponent is so I can prepare,” Claire said, eager to get the details.

“Sure thing! I’ll have someone show you the fighter’s profile shortly,” Felix replied, his demeanor noticeably warmer than the day before. Maybe it was because Frederick had saved her.

“Hey, you! Take Claire to check out the fighter’s information for this afternoon’s match,” Felix called to a nearby man.

“Got it! Let’s go.”

The man nodded, leading Claire through the Black Horse Underground Boxing Ring. He showed her around and introduced her to the fighter she’d be facing later.

After reviewing the details, Claire felt a sense of relief. Her opponent was a rookie, someone who had only fought a few matches and didn’t seem too formidable. She even watched some footage and realized she had nothing to worry about.

But just as Claire emerged from the restroom, she had the unsettling feeling that someone was following her. She immediately recalled the two men who had dragged her into the alley. Their claim of having a bet seemed off from the start. Claire pretended not to notice and quickened her pace, keeping her head down as she subtly checked behind her. Sure enough, there was someone following her.