Chapter 6 How Dare You Touch Clara

"You dare insult me?" Mandy pointed at Sylvia, voice shrill. "You're just a woman Mr. Fields dumped. How dare you act so high and mighty in front of me?"

Sylvia leaned back on the sofa, gazing at her lazily. "I don't know if I'm trash, but you're definitely a good dog. Barking so loud—afraid your master can't hear you?"

She snorted. "Don't worry. The whole world will know what a good dog you are."

"You!"

Mandy completely lost it. She grabbed a wine bottle from the table and hurled it toward Sylvia.

Sylvia was ready. She dodged sideways as the bottle grazed her cheek.

It exploded against the wall behind her, splashing dark red stains everywhere.

Paige shot to her feet. "Are you insane?"

Seeing she'd missed, Mandy lunged for Sylvia's hair. "Bitch! I'll teach you a lesson for Clara today!"

Sylvia's eyes turned cold. She caught Mandy's wrist and twisted hard.

Mandy screamed, her entire body slammed onto the table by Sylvia, face pressed against the cold glass, unable to move.

"It hurts! Let me go!"

Sylvia leaned down, close to her ear. "I didn't bother with you before because you weren't worth it. But things are different now. If you keep acting superior in front of me, don't blame me for what happens next."

"Sylvia, let me go!" Mandy cried out in pain, tears streaming down.

The commotion finally drew attention from others around them.

Nelson and Clara looked over.

Seeing Mandy pinned to the table, Clara's expression changed. She hurried over.

"Ms. Granger, Mandy, what's going on?"

Seeing Clara approach, Mandy immediately called for help. "Clara, save me! This bitch Sylvia is trying to kill me!"

Sylvia pressed down harder. Mandy screamed.

Clara's eyes reddened with urgency. "Ms. Granger, if you're angry, take it out on me. Don't involve innocent people."

"Take it out on you?" Sylvia smiled at her, released Mandy, and delivered a crisp slap across Clara's face.

The sharp sound echoed through the bar. Everyone around them froze.

Clara clutched her cheek, staring at Sylvia in disbelief as tears instantly flooded her eyes.

"Ms. Granger, you..."

Sylvia rubbed her wrist, turning to the grinning Paige. "First time I've heard such a request."

"Right?" Paige laughed heartily. "If you'd mentioned this kink earlier, Sylvia would've obliged sooner."

Sylvia smiled too. "Next time you have this need, feel free to find me. I'm happy to oblige anytime."

She even asked thoughtfully, "Enough? Or should I give you another slap?"

"Maybe one more?" Paige suggested with a laugh. "Otherwise it's asymmetrical. Looks awkward."

The two bantered back and forth, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Clara couldn't get a word in. Tears streamed down her face pitifully.

She turned to Nelson, voice choking. "Nelson..."

Nelson strode over. Seeing the handprint on her face, his expression darkened. "Sylvia, are you out of your mind?"

He glared at Sylvia, eyes stormy. "How dare you lay a hand on Clara!"

Sylvia met his gaze, spreading her hands innocently. "Isn't this what she requested? I'm just fulfilling her wishes. She should thank me."

She smiled at Clara. "Right, Ms. Johnson?"

Clara bit her lip, tears flowing freely. "Ms. Granger, that's not what I meant. I..."

"You, you, you—what?" Paige cut her off. "Crying all day long. Such bad luck! If you ask me, one slap from Sylvia is getting off easy."

"Hear that, Ms. Johnson?" Sylvia's eyes turned cold, warning. "Next time you provoke me, it won't be just a slap."

Clara flinched, shrinking back in fear.

Nelson wrapped his arm around her shoulders, looking at the mark on her face with heartache, jaw clenched tight.

"Apologize to Clara!"

Sylvia said, "Impossible."

Nelson laughed bitterly. "Sylvia, do you still not understand your situation? If you want to keep your position, apologize to Clara right now!"

Sylvia looked at Nelson and suddenly found it absurd.

This man was actually threatening her with work.

Did he think she still cared about that job?

If not for helping him, she would never have sat in an office every day processing tedious documents.

Or dealt with those hypocritical businessmen after hours!

Sylvia laughed softly. "Sorry to disappoint, but I've already resigned."

Nelson froze. "What did you say?"

"I've resigned. So you can't threaten me."

Nelson's face darkened completely.

He hadn't expected Sylvia to pull this move.

In his mind, Sylvia had always been the woman who revolved around him, doing whatever he said without resistance.

But now, she wasn't just resisting—she was doing it thoroughly.

Nelson's eyes narrowed. "You think resigning will let you escape me?"

"Sylvia, don't forget—most of your connections in the design world came from me. One word from me, and you'll never work in this industry again."

Sylvia nodded, expression sorrowful.

"Yes, my connections did come from you. But have you ever considered where your connections came from?"

"I earned them for you, one banquet at a time, one business dinner after another!" Sylvia's eyes welled up with tears. "All you've ever done is take from me!"

"My money, my connections, my time, my feelings—you took everything. But what have you ever given me?"

"You never even gave me basic respect!"

If she could go back, she would never have gotten involved with Nelson!

Nelson frowned. "Sylvia!"

"Let's just be strangers from now on." Sylvia wiped away her tears and grabbed Paige's hand. "Paige, let's go."

Paige glared at Nelson and Clara before following Sylvia out.

As they passed Nelson, Sylvia paused.

"Nelson, we're... done."

With that, she left without looking back.

Nelson stood there, watching Sylvia's retreating figure. He grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it on the floor.

Clara jumped, covering her mouth as tears rolled down. "Nelson..."

Nelson took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and turned to leave.

"Come on, Clara. I'll take you home."

Mandy, who'd been silent, looked at Clara cautiously. "Clara, I'm sorry. I just wanted to put her in her place. I didn't expect..."

Clara's eyes were red as she forced a smile. "It's fine. I don't blame you."

She turned, looking in the direction Sylvia had gone, a flash of malice in her eyes.

No one had ever dared to hit her before.

She wouldn't let Sylvia get away with this.

Clara lowered her eyes, her lashes hiding