Chapter 93: Who hired you?

Siena felt the murderous glint in Clara’s eyes, and for the first time, her confidence wavered.

A chill ran down her spine. She hurriedly shoved Flint forward.

"What are you waiting for? Grab her!"

Although her voice trembled slightly, she refused to back down.

Flint looked at Siena in surprise before gritting his teeth and charging toward Clara.

"Don’t blame us for this!" He lunged, trying to grab her arms.

Clara’s expression remained calm.

"You really don’t learn."

Before Flint could touch her—

Bang!

Her knee shot upward, landing squarely between his legs.

"AAARGH!"

Flint’s face instantly turned pale.

His eyes widened before he dropped to his knees, clutching himself in agony.

"T-That’s... cheating..." he whimpered, tears welling up in his eyes.

Marcus instinctively took a step back.

Even Siena stood frozen, staring at Flint with her mouth hanging open.

Clara calmly dusted off her sleeves.

"I warned you."

"I don’t repeat myself."

Marcus suddenly roared and charged again.

This time, Clara met him head-on.

She sidestepped his punch and drove her elbow into his chest before spinning and landing a sharp kick against his ribs.

Marcus crashed into the alley wall with a painful groan.

Seeing both boys defeated so easily, Siena finally snapped.

"You useless idiots!"

With an angry scream, she rushed at Clara herself, wildly swinging her handbag.

Clara dodged the first swing and caught Siena’s wrist.

But at that exact moment, Marcus, still gritting through the pain, lunged from behind.

His arms wrapped tightly around Clara’s shoulders, pinning her in place.

"Got you!" Marcus shouted triumphantly.

Clara struggled, but his grip was surprisingly firm.

Siena’s fear instantly disappeared.

A twisted smile spread across her face before she burst into manic laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"So what if you know how to fight? In the end, you’re still caught!"

She slowly walked toward Clara, her eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.

"Now... It’s my turn."

Siena’s face twisted with malice.

"Hold her still."

She raised her phone, switched on the camera, and sneered.

"Now tear off her clothes. Let’s make this whore famous."

Clara’s jaw clenched.

She struggled against Marcus’ grip, but his arms held her firmly in place.

Siena pointed the camera straight at her face, a triumphant smile spreading across her lips.

"Go on," she urged.

Flint smirked despite the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"This is what you get for kicking me."

He stepped forward and reached for Clara’s shirt, ready to rip it apart.

Just before his hand touched the fabric—

"Take one more step..."

"...and I’ll hand this entire recording over to the police."

A calm but commanding voice echoed through the alley.

Everyone froze.

They turned toward the entrance of the alley.

A young man stood there, holding up his phone.

Alex looked at the three of them with a blank expression.

"I’ve recorded everything."

He casually waved his phone.

"And before you ask... yes, I’m already calling the police."

Those simple words were enough to drain every bit of color from their faces.

Marcus immediately released Clara.

She stumbled forward and dropped to one knee, breathing heavily as she caught herself against the ground.

Flint stared at Alex’s phone in horror.

"You... you recorded everything?"

Alex shrugged.

"I arrived just in time."

Flint’s composure instantly crumbled.

He spun toward Siena with an angry glare.

"This is all your fault!"

"You were the one who dragged us here to get revenge on her."

"Now we’re all going to get arrested because of you!"

Siena’s eyes widened.

"What are you talking about? We can still—"

"I’m done!"

Marcus interrupted her.

"I may get into fights, but I’m not ruining my future over this."

Without another word, he turned around and ran.

Flint hesitated for only a second before following him.

"Marcus! Wait for me!"

Within moments, both boys had disappeared from the alley.

"Flint!" Siena shouted after him in disbelief. "Don’t leave me here!"

Neither of them looked back.

For the first time, Siena truly panicked. She slowly turned toward Clara and watched her, who had already stood up.

She wasn’t saying a single word. She simply stared at Siena with an icy glare that sent chills racing down her spine.

Then Siena noticed Alex walking toward them. Panic took over.

With a frightened scream, she turned on her heels and sprinted out of the alley as fast as she could.

Silence returned.

Only Clara’s uneven breathing echoed through the narrow passage.

Alex dropped everything and rushed toward Clara. "Are you okay?" he asked, kneeling beside her.

Clara slowly looked up, her eyes clouded with uncertainty.

"Did... did you really record everything?"

She already knew what the answer could mean. If he had recorded the incident, Siena and her friends would be questioned—but so would she. The last thing Clara wanted was to become the center of attention.

Alex blinked in surprise before shaking his head.

"No." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I heard people shouting and came to see what was happening. When I got here, they were bullying you. I only pretended to record them so they’d panic and leave you alone."

For a moment, Clara simply stared at him.

Alex had been trying to befriend her for weeks, always greeting her with an easy smile despite being ignored time and again. She had kept her distance, convinced that trusting people would only end in disappointment.

Yet today, something inside her shifted.

No one had ever stepped in to protect her except her mother. But Alex hadn’t hesitated for even a second. He had walked straight into a dangerous situation without caring what might happen to him, simply because he wanted to help her.

A strange warmth spread through her chest, melting a small part of the wall she had built around her heart.

It was the beginning of the days when Clara slowly started believing that everything Alex did for her came from genuine love.

Only for that belief to be shattered years later.

[Present]

Clara looked down at the men sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain, completely unaware that someone was watching her from a distance.

Ignoring their cries, she strode forward, grabbed one of them by the collar, and yanked him up just enough to meet her cold, piercing gaze.

"Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice low but firm.

The man’s face twisted in pain as he avoided her eyes, refusing to answer.

Clara tightened her grip, her expression turning even colder.

"I’m only going to ask once," she said. "Who hired you?"