Chapter 544 - Call For Help

"Better. Now we have some peace."

Clara's hand trembled, raising it to cover her lips. She could feel her eyes sting. Her heart clenched as she absorbed what had just occurred.

She couldn't believe how this man just violated her as if it was nothing. A place so prestigious, he had tainted it! Clara's vision blurred as her anger turned into tears. The feeling of helplessness before this man and no one came to her aid, she could only tremble in fear.

"Ah?" Niko blinked his eyes innocently. "Wait, what? Why are you suddenly crying?" 

He asked, genuinely appalled at the sight of her. "Hey, I just tried to shut you up politely! You've been screaming nonsense, so I gotta do what I need to do!" 

Niko, for some reason, showed panic at the sight of the crying lady in front of him. Yet, Clara's tears rolled down her cheeks as she covered her lips, pressing her palm to resist the lingering touch of his lips.

"Hey," Niko's hand reached out to her, but Clara jolted back, shuddering in the overwhelming fear enveloping her entire being.

"Ah! Aren't you an actress? I heard from the conversation inside! Treat it as if you kissed your male lead, you'll feel better." Niko advised awkwardly as he raised his brows.

But her response was nothing but glares. Even though her eyes were streaming a river of tears, she still managed to glare as that was the only thing she could do at this moment. 

"Tsk," Suddenly, Niko clicked his tongue in annoyance as his temporary long patience expired. "Should I knock you out to shut you up?"

"That's even better." Clara barked through her gritted teeth as she mustered her wavering energy. "You could have just killed me!" 

She spat in disgust, wiping her lips as hard as she could, smudging her lipstick to her cheek. She didn't care anymore, nor did she have the energy to call someone for help. No one would come as the corridor had been empty — no one coming from the door they had exited from or entering from the opposite way.

"Is that what you wish for?" Niko's tone grew colder, his eyes glinting. "I told someone to clean up all the bothersome people and you're one of them. I'm just too lazy to do it one by one but if that's what you wish."

Niko took a step forward while she took a step back. After a beat, Clara suddenly sprinted. Sadly, Niko had predicted her move and caught her by the arm. 

He pulled her back while his other hand caught her neck. "This is what you want?" 

He asked, his tone devoid of emotion as his finger wrapped around her neck. It slowly tightened, causing her entire face to gradually turn red from the lack of air.

Clara groped her hand on the hand around her neck. Desperately, she struggled to fight for her life. Yet, the pair of hazel eyes staring at her dead in the eye crooked in amusement.

'He is sick!' Clara cried internally, seeing how rotten this man who was smiling while strangling someone. 

'I can't breathe… No, I don't want to die!' As she struggled, Clara hopelessly exclaimed inwardly. 

She didn't want to die just yet — just the very thought of dying frightened her out of her wits. Her life was perfect. She was happy despite all adversaries. She had a stable career, rising to fame quicker than anyone, and was madly in love.

Clara realized how wonderful her life had been until this moment. She was blessed, privileged. 

Would this come to an end? Too soon? 

In the hands of this lunatic?

Clara struggled even more, adrenaline rush kicking much stronger but to no avail. The man strangling her for his petty reason was way stronger than her. The longer she struggled, the more her vision began to blur more and more.

"N - no…" Under her remaining breath, Clara whispered before her hands that were struggling weakened. They dropped ever so slowly as her eyes grew heavier until they were half open.

Just as she was on a brink of losing her consciousness, Clara suddenly had a glimpse of light behind the man that unconsciously made her heart feel so relieved. It was as if her heart sensed that someone came to her rescue.

"*cough* cough*" 

Clara coughed and gasped for air in between. She collapsed to the floor. Her neck was free from danger, but the feeling of his hands around her neck etched in her heart and mind. She could still feel his hands wrapped around her even though he let her go.

"What the f*ck are you doing?" Zoey who was standing behind Niko balled her hand into a fist.

She didn't know what was going on, but Zoey had sharp instincts. The door was well-guarded from inside the event hall. Thus, Zoey figured those people were Niko's men and she had to use an extreme method to pass through.

Now, although she had already thought that something was up, the scene of Niko strangling Clara to death etched in her mind. For Pete's sake! Clara, although a very annoying character, Zoey didn't think she needed to die.

"Fulfilling her wish." Niko turned around, shrugging his shoulders indifferently with a knowing smile. 

"She said I should just kill her, so I, you know. I'm a simpleton and was trying to help her fulfill her wish!" 

Zoey scoffed in dismay hearing him justify his action. Right… how could she forget that Nikolai, despite his easy-going personality, was nothing but a crazy, remorseless person? 

His actions and decisions would always be justified just because what he says, he believed it. Everyone in the Silva Family could only condone his wicked methods just because he said so.

'He is Inigo's brother, after all.' Zoey muttered internally, staring at those hazel eyes that were very similar to those Inigo had -- the similar hazel eyes that she had her last memory with in her previous life.

Zoey shifted her gaze from Nikolai to Clara, who was on the floor. The poor Clara was still gasping for air, evidently traumatized from what had just occurred.

"You!" Zoey muttered while staring at the pitiful Clara. However, both Zoey and Niko knew she was talking to him. 

"Don't ever show your face to me.. You disgust me."