Claire hesitated for a moment, but remembering the mention of "saving your father," she quickly opened the car door and got in.
The car was dimly lit, and Claire felt a strange, suffocating pressure. She glanced at the bodyguard in a sharp suit next to her. The suit looked ordinary but had an air of sophistication, especially with the intricate embroidery on the collar, clearly expensive.
"Are you really from the Gonzalez family?" Claire couldn't help but ask.
The bodyguard didn't answer, staring straight ahead.
Claire felt a wave of unease as she noticed the car heading into more remote areas.
Suddenly, the car made a sharp turn into a dark alley.
"Where are we going?" Claire asked, panic rising in her voice.
The bodyguard remained silent as the car stopped at the side entrance of a bar.
Claire recognized the place; she had been there once before.
She tried to open the door to escape, but the bodyguards grabbed her on either side, lifting her like a small child and carrying her into the bar. "Let me go! This is kidnapping!" Claire screamed, her voice drowned out by the loud music inside.
The bodyguards threw her onto a couch in a corner. Claire looked up to see a man staring coldly at her. "Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?" she demanded.
"Don't you remember me?" Dennis smirked, "Last time at the bar, you forced your way into my car and stole my necklace."
Claire froze, suddenly recalling the incident. Her hair had gotten tangled in a necklace, and in the scuffle with the bodyguards, she had accidentally taken the pendant with her.
She had thought it was a minor incident, never expecting it to lead to such trouble.
"I... I didn't mean to," Claire explained. "I lost the pendant later. It must have fallen somewhere."
"Lost it?" Dennis's eyes turned sharp. "Do you think I'll believe that? The pendant is very important to me. If you don't return it, your whole family will suffer."
Claire's heart tightened. She stared at Dennis, refusing to back down. "Release me and my father first, and then I'll tell you where the pendant is."
Dennis seemed surprised by her defiance. He paused, then sneered, "Fine, let's see if you have the guts."
He waved his hand, and the bodyguards released Claire.
Claire straightened her clothes, glared at Dennis, and walked out of the bar.
Back home, Claire and her mother, Sabrina, hugged tightly.
Sabrina had been too worried to eat, losing several pounds. Seeing her daughter safe, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Claire, your father..." Sabrina began, but Claire interrupted, "Mom, don't worry. Dad will be back soon."
Just then, they heard the sound of a key turning in the door.
Claire's heart leaped with joy, and she rushed to open the door.
Beck stood there, unharmed, with a smile on his face.
"Dad!" Claire cried, throwing herself into his arms.
The family hugged tightly, the warmth and happiness dispelling all their fears and anxieties.
Seeing Beck safe, Claire's tears flowed freely. She sobbed, "Dad, I'm sorry. I'll marry Otis. Please don't be mad at me."
Beck patted her back, sighing, "Sweetheart, the company is gone. There's no point in marrying him."
His eyes were filled with helplessness and exhaustion. "I just don't understand who we offended to end up like this."
Claire looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "Dad, it might be my fault, but I'll fix it."
"What? How is it your fault?" Beck and Sabrina exclaimed, looking at Claire in disbelief.
"I... I'm not sure," Claire said, her voice trembling. "I accidentally took a necklace when I was rushing to leave the country. I didn't realize it would cause so much trouble."
"What kind of necklace is worth so much?" Beck was shocked and fearful. The person behind this was clearly powerful, and their future looked bleak.
"What are you going to do?" Beck asked, his voice serious. "Where did you lose it?"
"I don't know," Claire said, guilt in her eyes. "But I've asked my friends abroad to look for it at the hotel. I hope they find it soon."
"You're tired. Go rest," Beck said.
Claire nodded, dragging her suitcase up the stairs. Suddenly, a black cat darted out, startling her.
She let go of the suitcase, which tumbled down the stairs. A round pendant slipped out from a gap in the zipper, bouncing into a corner under the stairs.
Claire picked up the cat, petting it for a while before putting it down. She hastily stuffed her clothes back into the suitcase and went to her room.
Just as she lay down, her phone rang. It was an unknown number.
Answering it, Claire felt a chill down her spine. It was Dennis.
His voice was cold and demanding, "Claire, where's my pendant?"
Claire's heart raced. She couldn't remember how she got the pendant or where it was.
"I... I haven't found it yet," she stammered.
Dennis's voice was icy, "Do you think this is a game?"
Claire shook her head, biting her lip. "No, I promise I'll return it..."
"Don't think you can negotiate with me. You have no leverage," Dennis said, his voice like ice. "Or I'll make sure your father spends his life in prison."
Claire's face paled. Beck was her only weakness. She couldn't let anything happen to him.
"Fine, for my family's safety, I can't give you the pendant now, but I promise to return it within a year."
She paused, then added, "In the meantime, I can be your maid, to ensure I won't run away."
Dennis raised an eyebrow, surprised by her offer.
He smirked, "A maid? Do you think that will make up for your mistake?"
"I know it won't," Claire said, her voice choked with emotion. "But I have no other choice."
Dennis felt a strange irritation. He was about to refuse but found himself agreeing, "Fine, I accept."
Claire's eyes lit up with surprise, "Really?"
"But I have conditions," Dennis said sternly. "You must be my personal maid, 24/7, no breaks, no pay, for a year."
Without hesitation, Claire agreed, "I accept!"