“Don’t do it!” Clara shouted at Horace.
Horace went through all the trouble to bring Solrace back to life. How could he simply hand it over to someone else?
Horace ignored Clara’s words, turned to the kidnapper, and said, “Impossible.”
Horace made it clear to the kidnappers.
They didn’t really want to kill Clara and blow things up. They just wanted money and an apology.
“Fine. Then, we want one million dollars and your apology. You have to kneel in front of us and apologize.”
Investing in Solrace cost them their life savings and ruined their families. It was not enough to just get some money from him.
Hearing that, Horace pondered for a moment. He couldn’t choose between his dignity and his influence in the business world. They were both a weighty part of his life.
“No. Don’t do it. I beg of you.”
Clara burst out crying as she heard the conditions brought up by the kidnapper.
Horace had always been a proud man. She couldn’t let Horace do that for her.
“Shut up. Horace Kirkland, if you don’t do it, I’ll kill your wife right now.”
The kidnapper was aggravated. He raised the gun and directly put it against Clara’s forehead.
If Horace didn’t act now, he might just pull the trigger.
Seeing that Clara’s life was on the line,
Horace didn’t dare to take any risk.
He couldn’t imagine what his life would be like if the love of his life died right in front of him.
At the thought of this, he knelt down in front of everyone without hesitating.
Throughout his life, Horace had only knelt down before his own grandfather. But now, he was kneeling in front of some other guy.
He felt extremely humiliated. But when he saw the kidnapper turn the guy away, he was relieved.
It was so close.
If he didn’t do that, he might really lose Clara.
Clara was bawling her eyes out right now. She had never seen such a proud man like Horace kneeling and imploring in front of anyone.
She felt achingly guilty because Horace did that to save her.
“It’s all my fault. Had I been more careful, I wouldn’t have been kidnapped, and Horace wouldn’t have to do this.” She thought.
Clara staggered to Horace’s side and helped him up.
Horace made Clara stand behind him, kicked the gloating kidnapper directly in the face, and then snatched the gun.
But Horace and Clara were still outnumbered. They were facing twenty kidnappers, among whom five of them were holding guns in their hands.
Horace was a practitioner of judo. Before the five could react, he threw them to the ground.
Then, he took Clara out of there.
They were safe now.
Horace started the car and stepped on the accelerator. They drove on for twenty minutes. After making sure that the kidnappers weren’t after them anymore, Horace pulled over.
Just when Clara was about to ask Horace what was wrong, she noticed the bright red stain on his sleeve.
Horace was injured.
Clara checked the wound on his arm. It was still bleeding.
“I’ll drive. We’ll get to the hospital in no time.”
Having said that, Clara changed seats with Horace and started the car again.
“I’m okay as long as you are safe.”
This was the last sentence he said when he was pushed into the ER and the first thing he uttered after he rescued Clara.
Clara watched as the door to the ER slammed shut, and immediately collapsed to the ground out of exhaustion.
Things that happened lately really sapped the last bit of her energy. But she had to stay strong for Horace right now.
Although he was being treated by medical professionals right now, she still couldn’t help but feel worried.
However, there was nothing she could do except for waiting.
After Clara had been waiting for what felt like a few days, the door of the ER was finally opened.
Clara rushed forward.
“Doctor, how is he doing?”
The doctor was her last hope. She hurriedly grabbed the doctor’s hand and asked about Horace’s current condition.
Horace was like this because of her. She wouldn’t allow anything to happen to him now.
“The patient was shot in the arm. He is now out of danger. Just make sure he gets tons of rest.”
Except for the gunshot wound, he didn’t get injured elsewhere. He might have to face amputation if they got to the hospital one minute late.
“Great. Thank you.” Knowing that Horace was okay, Clara heaved a sigh of relief. It looked like the odds were in their favor.
Minutes later, the nurse carried Horace out of the ER.
Clara didn’t know what to do now, so she followed them. She caught a glimpse of Horace’s pale face. Her heart ached for him.
None of this would have happened if she had trusted Horace. The guilt was eating Clara up from inside. She wished there was something she could do to make it up to him, but there was simply nothing she could do.
Horace was still lying on the hospital bed right now, unconscious.
“Follow me to pay the medical bills and pick up the prescription for the patient.” The nurse turned to Clara, naturally assuming that she was Horace’s family.
Clara glanced at Horace. She didn’t feel easy about leaving Horace alone in the ward. The nurse sensed Clara’s concern and added, “Don’t worry. My coworker will take care of him. Just come with me for a second.”
Only after knowing that the other nurse would stay there to look after Horace did Clara left the ward reluctantly.
She quickly whipped through all the formalities. When she got the prescriptions and was about to return to the ward, she saw a familiar face.
It was Isaac.
Just when Clara was wondering why he was there, it suddenly struck her that Isaac’s girlfriend was working in this hospital as a nurse.
“Mrs. Kirkland? What are you doing here?”
Isaac asked, looking concerned, obviously surprised by Clara’s presence.
He had a bad hunch.
“Horace was injured and is now hospitalized,” Clara looked worriedly in the direction of Horace’s ward as she answered.
“Which room is Mr. Kirkland in? Can I go see him with you?”
Isaac asked, knowing that Clara was probably worried sick right now. However, Clara was a little hesitant.