Chapter 4 - The Midnight Warning
Clara backed away from Vivian, her heart pounding frantically against her ribs.
"Where is the doctor?" Clara demanded, refusing to roll up her sleeve.
Vivian laughed softly, stepping closer with the sterile needle gleaming in the dim light.
"My brother is busy preparing the laboratory equipment downstairs."
"I volunteered to draw the sample myself to ensure absolutely no contamination."
Clara knew if she allowed Vivian to take her blood, the results would be entirely manipulated.
She grabbed a heavy brass lamp from the bedside table and held it up like a weapon.
"Get out of my room, Vivian, or I will scream for Edward," Clara threatened fiercely.
Vivian’s cruel smile faded, replaced by a look of pure, unadulterated hatred.
"You always were a stubborn, pathetic nuisance," Vivian sneered, slowly lowering the needle.
She turned around and walked out of the room, slamming the heavy door violently behind her.
Clara collapsed onto the edge of the mattress, dropping the heavy lamp with shaking hands.
She waited in absolute silence until midnight, determined to escape the dangerous estate.
She slowly opened the bedroom window and climbed out onto the intricate stone balcony.
The cold night air whipped through her hair as she carefully descended the thick ivy trellis.
Her feet finally touched the soft grass of the sprawling backyard.
Suddenly, a massive hand clamped firmly over her mouth, pulling her into the deep shadows.
Clara struggled wildly, but her attacker was incredibly strong.
"Stop fighting, I am trying to help you," a deep, gruff voice whispered in her ear.
The man slowly released her mouth and stepped back into the moonlight.
It was Marcus, the massive head of Edward's private security team.
"You cannot leave the grounds, Clara, they have dogs patrolling the perimeter," Marcus warned.
"Vivian is going to fake the DNA test and have me arrested," Clara cried softly.
Marcus shook his head, pulling a small, leather-bound book from his tactical vest.
"Vivian is not the one you need to be terrified of tonight," Marcus stated grimly.
He handed the worn book to Clara, pointing at the faded gold letters on the cover.
"I found your hidden diary in the ashes of the fire a year ago, and I kept it safe."
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Clara opened the diary to the very last page, recognizing her own frantic handwriting.
The final entry read: "Edward knows I found out about his illegal accounts, and he is going to kill me tonight."
