"Stop it! You!" Isaac took a step forward and stopped the men.
The pills and water were almost stuffed into their mouth and as they suddenly stopped, the water was splashed onto the two women's clothes.
They stopped and Isaac sent them back.
Valerie and Ashlee collapsed onto the ground with great fear.
Darren was surprised yet also confused why Horace would ask his men to stop.
And he didn't think too much and untied Ashlee. With one hand supporting her and another supporting Valerie, he helped the two stand up.
"Darren!" Ashlee sensed that she was saved. She pressed her head on Darren's chest and burst into tears.
Valerie also began to sob. She was so scared. She was almost drugged and raped and if it was known to someone else, she would have been ruined. Glenn might abandon her and drive her out of the family.
Clara was also stunned. She had no idea what happened to Horace. What made him change his mind? What happened? Or did he forgive her in a moment of sympathy?
No emotion was written on Horace's dark face. He turned to Clara and suddenly whispered to her in an apologetical voice, "Sorry, I'm afraid that I couldn't do this to Ashlee anymore."
Why did Horace let them go that easily?
Clara was quite confused why the phone call would make Horace decide to stop the punishment. It wasn't like him.
Horace also noticed the confusion on her face. But he couldn't torture Ashlee anymore.
He took Clara's hand and said, "I'll explain to you later, Clara."
Horace was also shocked as he heard the information from Isaac. It had never occurred to him that it was Ashlee.
Horace said to Isaac, "Let them go. And you should stay here taking care of Clara. Find me in the hospital after you sent her back home."
Hearing that, Darren quickly took Ashlee and Valerie away.
Horace also followed them and left.
It was quite cold in this freezer room. Horace left Clara alone here, which made Clara feel even colder.
Horace even abandoned her here and left here with Ashlee.
Isaac said to Clara, "Let's go, Mrs. Kirkland. I will send you home."
Clara nodded.
On their way back home, Clara asked Isaac, "What happened? Why did Horace change his mind?"
"That's because…" Isaac said with hesitation, "I think maybe you'd better ask Mr. Kirkland."
Now Clara knew that it might have something to do with Horace's past and it was inappropriate for her to ask more.
Though she didn't want to witness Ashlee being tortured, she was still eager to know what happened to Horace.
The idea kept haunting her in her mind.
Would Horace dump her just like what Darren did?
It was indeed a ridiculous idea. But she cared about Horace so much. She had already lost Darren and she wouldn't let her Horace be stolen again.
Now Clara was staying at home alone. Horace didn't call her and she had no idea when he would come back.
"Horace…"
"Ashlee…"
Darren saw Clara have something to say and then said, "Shall we have a talk in my office?"
Clara followed Darren into his office.
Darren poured Clara a cup of latte, her favorite, and said, "I remember you love latte."
Clara nodded, "I'm surprised that you still remember."
"I never forget it."
When they were still impecunious college students, Darren had taken her to a coffee shop and bought her a cup of coffee. Darren just sat there with a smile on his face watching her drinking the coffee.
He told Clara that he would build her a large coffee house and collect all kinds of coffee in that for her to drink.
By then she thought it was a mere joke. But now she knew that Darren was actually capable of doing so.
To not let herself indulge in the past, Clara quickly changed the topic, "By the way, where is Ashlee and Valerie now? And what about Horace?"
Darren said, "Just clam down, okay? Have a cup of coffee and I'll answer your question one by one."
Clara was not in the mood to drink coffee. But she didn't want to refuse Darren's kindness and took a sip.
Darren said, "Horace had sent Valerie abroad to an underdeveloped country so that she wouldn't bother you anymore. She had ruined herself. Horace would ensure that she wouldn't live a happy life in her declining years."
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