Chapter 17 - THE DESPERATE ACT
Seeing the police approach,
Arthur's sanity completely fractured under the weight of his defeat.
He lunged across the table,
grabbing a sharp letter opener from a desk organizer.
With a wild scream,
he grabbed Clara,
holding the blade against her throat as a human shield.
"Don't move!"
Arthur shouted at the police officers,
his eyes wide with manic desperation.
"Back off,
or I will slit her throat right here!"
The officers stopped immediately,
raising their hands to calm the erratic and dangerous man.
Clara whimpered slightly as the sharp metal pressed against her skin,
but she kept her eyes on Victoria.
"Let her go,
Arthur!"
Victoria pleaded,
stepping forward with her hands raised in peace.
"Your fight is with me,
not her!"
"You ruined everything,
Victoria!"
Arthur roared,
dragging Clara backward toward the large glass window.
"I should have killed you myself instead of relying on that idiot Julian!"
Clara took a deep breath,
remembering everything she had endured over the past forty-eight hours.
She was no longer the helpless maid;
she was a survivor who fought for justice.
Using her heel,
she stamped down hard on Arthur's foot with all her might.
Arthur yelled in pain,
his grip loosening around her neck for a split second.
Clara used the opportunity to elbow him sharply in the ribs,
breaking free from his hold.
She stumbled forward onto the carpeted floor,
away from the dangerous madman.
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Victoria rushed to pull Clara to safety,
shielding her from any further harm.
