“Old man, if you drop dead, I’ll inherit the house right away,” I said with a laugh.
Hearing that, my dad nearly choked on his anger.
Fearing something worse might happen, the squad leader quickly had a few officers help my parents out for treatment.
“Mr. Miller, those are your parents. You’re a real piece of work,” Claire shouted angrily.
“Miss Hamilton, let’s go back inside and talk… romantically,” I said.
With a heavy heart, I slammed the door shut.
“Marry me.”
“Huh? Mr. Miller, even if that contract were real, we should at least get to know each other first, right?”
“If you won’t marry me, then we’ll make it irreversible tonight.”
I affected a roguish air and brushed her cheek with my fingers.
Frightened, Claire grabbed a high heel to hit me, and I snatched it away again.
On tiptoe, her pale feet trembled, leaving her at a loss.
I pretended to reach for the hem of her gown.
“Mr. Miller! That would be a felony!” she cried, voice breaking.
Seeing I’d scared her enough, I didn’t push further. “Miss Hamilton, as long as you do exactly as I say, I won’t hurt you.”
I dragged a chair to the door, guarding against a breach and keeping Claire in sight.
Time crawled by.
“What do you actually want?”
Noticing I still hadn’t acted, Claire shot me a wary look.
I didn’t answer. A suffocating silence fell.
There were still two hours left before the crime.
Online, countless commenters were cursing me.
“This scum even wished his parents dead. The sniper’s probably in position—put him down already!”
My information had been posted online, and soon my company called.
They said the company was being boycotted and, under pressure, they had to fire me.
Seeing that, Claire softened a little and whispered, “Let’s renegotiate the childhood engagement. But could you open the door or a window? I’m a woman—if people see me alone with you too long, my reputation will be ruined.”
I really couldn’t destroy her name.
But I also feared a sniper might take the shot the moment I opened anything.
Realizing I hadn’t harmed her, Claire kept talking. “I know you’re not a bad person. Let me go, okay? I won’t press charges. I’ll even give you some money.”
“And we really shouldn’t stay here.”
She truly was concerned about a woman’s reputation.
“How about this: agree to one thing for me, and I’ll let your grandmother come in,” I said after a moment’s thought. I needed her help.
“What do you want me to do?” Claire asked, incredulous.
I leaned close and whispered a few words in her ear.
“Huh? Okay,” she said readily.
But I caught a glint of cunning in her eyes.
This hothouse flower was a bit too transparent.
I gave a wry smile. “I’m holding you hostage. I know you won’t help me in good faith. It’s fine—you’ll agree later.”
She looked doubtful.
Claire’s grandmother was in her sixties, a bit frail with age.
When the door opened, I pulled Claire tightly into my arms.
Her body went stiff, but she cooperated, hiding in my embrace.
Soon, Mrs. Hamilton Sr. stepped in.
The squad leader—Captain Evans—watched me warily. “What will it take for you to let her go?”
“Captain, I won’t hurt them. I have my reasons,” I said with a bitter smile, quickly closing the door again.
Mrs. Hamilton Sr. sat beside Claire and urged me not to do anything foolish.
I didn’t respond.
