Her Anchorless Heart Finds Love

Calvin sneered. "Why wouldn't I dare? You used my card to buy a house. This house is mine! I can do whatever I want with it!"

"I didn't use your card! I bought this house myself!"

"You have money?" Calvin glared at her. "Your family went bankrupt long ago. Where would you get the money for a house? Even if you somehow had it, it would still be from the Bennett family!"

"Exactly. Claire, Calvin has treated you well all these years."

His friends chimed in one after another, while Iris wailed even louder. "Calvin, don't pressure Claire! She just wants to have a grand wedding!"

Before she could finish, Calvin drew a deep breath. "Fine, I won't smash it. But you're leaving. Now. Claire, my patience with you has run out."

"Calvin, this house is mine! I didn't use your credit card!"

"Throw her luggage out."

Calvin didn't even wait for a response. His friends immediately started tossing Claire's bags outside.

Watching her carefully packed home being destroyed piece by piece, Claire finally broke.

"Calvin! Stop! Or I'll call the police!"

"Police? Let's see if they dare to interfere!"

He was right. The Bennett family wielded immense power; even if the police came, they might not be able to touch him.

She could only watch as they threw all her belongings to the ground, and with it, the last shred of love she had for him vanished completely.

"And this!"

Iris grabbed her mother's photograph and hurled it against the wall.

Shards of glass and broken frames scattered across the floor. Claire's eyes turned red with fury as she clutched Iris by the throat.

"Who allowed you to touch my mom's photo?!"

"Cough! Cough! You're crazy—Calvin, help me!"

Iris gasped for air, turning to Calvin for rescue.

Without hesitation, Calvin shoved her away. "Claire, let go! Or I'll kill you!"

Claire's head slammed against the wall. Blood trickled down her forehead.

She met his furious gaze with an icy smile. “You'd better keep a close eye on your little mistress. Otherwise… I might just kill her too.”

“I've never seen anyone so heartless!” he snarled, pulling Iris protectively against him. “Claire, if you just leave Iris alone, I'll give you the title of my wife. But my life with her is none of your business. Get rid of those feelings that don't belong to you—otherwise, our friendship of over ten years is over.”

His friends shut the door behind them, took Claire's keys, and left in a loud, arrogant procession.

As they walked away, Iris flashed her a triumphant smirk.

Alone, Claire sank to her knees in the doorway, helplessly gathering the shattered pieces of her mother's photograph.

“Mom… I'm so sorry. My life is such a mess right now. But don't worry. Once I'm married, no one will ever bully me again.”

She picked up her scattered luggage and left the apartment.

A light rain fell from the overcast sky as she walked, watching people hurry past. She tried calling Grandpa George, but after several unanswered calls to the Bennett family, she had no choice but to spend the night sitting on the curb.

As darkness settled, she finally decided to look for a hotel.

But just a few steps away, a group of rough-looking men emerged from an alley.

Their eyes locked onto her.

“Well, look what we have here,” the leader said, his gaze sweeping over Claire's face and figure. “Not bad at all. Lost money tonight, but seems we might get lucky in other ways.”

They moved toward her. Without hesitation, Claire dropped her suitcase, clutched her mother's photo to her chest, and ran as fast as she could.

Wasn't today already bad enough? Why was this happening, too?

“Hey! She's running! After her!”

Their menacing shouts followed her through the rain. Claire ran desperately, the downpour soaking her hair and clothes.

A car sped toward her.

The screech of tires pierced the night before the impact sent her crashing violently to the ground.