Chapter 2 In a few minutes

Morning light began to creep through the slightly open curtains, illuminating the quiet room. Clara woke up with a heavy feeling in her chest, her eyes puffy from crying all night. Her body still ached, not only physically but also mentally. What happened last night continued to haunt her mind, making her feel trapped in a never-ending cycle of suffering. Beside him, Samuel began to stir. When he opened his eyes, flashes of that night’s events immediately flooded his mind. But there was no regret in his eyes—only a piercing coldness, as if what had happened was something trivial. Clara blinked, trying to hold back the tears that welled up again. But Samuel, without a shred of empathy, sat on the edge of the bed and stared at her with a sharp gaze. "Are you crying?" Samuel asked in a flat voice, almost without emotion. Clara didn't answer. She just lowered her head, her small hands tightly gripping the blanket covering her almost naked body. Samuel snorted softly, as if Clara's crying was annoying. "There's no point in crying, Clara. What happened last night... was just a mistake." Clara flinched at those words. In her eyes, last night's events were more than just a mistake—it was a terrible nightmare. But how could she resist Samuel, the man who had complete power and control over her life? "Please..." Clara whispered in a trembling voice, "don't tell anyone." Samuel stared at him sharply before nodding slowly. “Of course not. This will be our secret,” he said, his voice cold. “No one is allowed to know about this, understand?” Clara could only nod weakly, tears flowing down her cheeks again. Samuel stood up and walked to the bathroom without a word. The bathroom door closed with a loud thud, as if to confirm his indifference. In the bathroom, Samuel stood under the shower, trying to wash the remnants of last night off his body. He closed his eyes, letting the cold water run over his skin, but nothing could erase the image of Clara’s crying face from his mind. Even though he was a man known for his ruthlessness in business, there was something that made him feel uneasy this time—something that made his heart waver a little. However, when Samuel came out of the bathroom, all those doubts disappeared. His eyes turned cold once again when he saw Clara still lying on the bed, sobbing. He felt annoyed. "Why are you still here?" Samuel asked in a harsh and cold tone. Clara raised her head and looked at Samuel with tear-filled eyes. "Mr. Samuel... my clothes..." her voice was barely audible, "... are torn." Samuel rolled his eyes, then reluctantly walked to the wardrobe. He pulled out a long shirt and pants, then threw them on the bed, close to Clara. "Put this on," he said in a commanding tone, "and get out of this room." Clara took the clothes Samuel gave her with trembling hands. She knew there was no point in arguing or asking for more from a man who clearly didn't care about her feelings. As Clara slowly began to put on the clothes she had been given, Samuel looked away. His eyes were on the window, but his mind was blank, not wanting to think about what he had just done or what was going to happen next. In a few minutes, Clara finished dressing. Without looking back, she stood up with a trembling body and walked out of the room, leaving Samuel alone in the suddenly very cold room.