Chapter 148: Sarah Appears

Chapter 148: Sarah Appears

"Ms. Thorne, you—what are you doing here?" Ronin froze.

Sarah hadn't come to the company in years. Her sudden appearance was no coincidence.

Was she here to settle scores with Claire?

If she came in person, Sarah must be furious!

Ronin's vicious gaze swept across Claire's face as he cursed inwardly. If only Claire had authorized the payment yesterday, his grand scheme would've succeeded.

Damn it. In the end, Claire had ruined everything.

His grip on his phone tightened, a calculating gleam flashing in his eyes.

Still, he had his doctored recording. Even if he couldn't get the money, he could at least earn a reputation for loyalty in front of Sarah.

He immediately plastered on an ingratiating smile and limped toward Sarah.

"Ms. Thorne, you didn't need to come in person. One phone call, and I would've had security throw her out."

Sarah wore a custom dress and carried an expensive handbag, her demeanor elegant and refined.

A hint of disgust flickered in her eyes as she said coolly, "Throw who out?"

Ronin paused briefly, then deepened his smile and said obsequiously, "You're absolutely right, Ms. Thorne. Some people are so foolish they'd dare steal Ms. Montague's boyfriend. Just throwing her out would be too easy on her."

"Ms. Thorne, you must be tired from the trip. Please, have a seat. What would you like to drink?"

Claire watched Ronin fawn over Sarah like he was a clown in a circus act.

Seeing Claire standing motionless, Ronin barked, "Claire, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and give Ms. Thorne your seat!"

Claire stood up, her tone warm. "Mom, would you like to sit here or on the couch?"

Ronin's face went blank, as if struck by lightning. He stared at Claire, his bulging eyes looking ready to pop out of their sockets.

Sarah acted as if she hadn't heard, her gaze fixed on Claire. "Sweetheart, I'm a little thirsty."

Claire pulled a bottle of water she usually drank from the cabinet, walked over, and took Sarah's hand as they sat down on the couch together.

She opened the bottle and handed it to Sarah, then turned to look at Ronin.

Seeing his somewhat terrifying expression, she sneered. "What's wrong, Mr. Sterling? Having a seizure?"

Ronin looked as if he'd been shattered by thunder, his eyes unmoving.

Mom?

Sweetheart?

They were closer than a biological mother and daughter?

What was their relationship?

Ronin felt like he'd fallen off a cliff, plummeting into an abyss. After a long moment, consciousness seemed to return, and his eyes moved slightly.

His face was rigid and twisted.

"Ms. Thorne, I—" He felt he should say something.

But once he opened his mouth, he realized his throat was tight, dry, and scratchy.

Not only that, his mind was completely blank. He didn't know what he could say, or what to say at all.

Sarah took a sip of water, took the cap from Claire's hand, screwed it back on, and set it aside.

She glanced at Ronin with disgust. "Don't say anything. Save it for the police."

The trust she'd once placed in this man had turned into double the revulsion.

Ronin's shoulders slumped as he shuffled toward the couch. "Ms. Thorne, you—you have to let me explain."

"Explain what?" Sarah dropped her refined demeanor, adopting a stern expression.

"That you didn't embezzle company money?"

"Or that you didn't harass female coworkers?"

"Ms. Thorne, I was wrong." Ronin's knees buckled, and he dropped to the floor in front of Sarah.

There was no room left for him to argue.

Claire called Sarah 'Mom,' and Sarah called Claire 'sweetheart.' Whatever their relationship, it meant they were incredibly close.

He'd discussed his money-grabbing schemes with Claire face-to-face, and even the factory incidents—Sarah probably knew everything.

"Ms. Thorne, I truly know I was wrong. For the sake of how I've worked for you since graduating college, please forgive me this once. I'll pay back every cent."

Ronin played the sentiment card, hoping for mercy.

"If it were just about money, I really could let you off." Sarah thought of what Ronin had done, and her chest heaved with anger.

"But you're utterly depraved. You forced young women into prostitution, and you nearly killed my daughter. You deserve to die!"

"I didn't." Ronin denied it flatly. "Ms. Thorne, I really didn't."

Ronin clung to Sarah like a lifeline, crawling forward on his knees, sobbing. "Ms. Thorne, you have to believe me. I really didn't. I only took money—I didn't do anything else."

Seeing his refusal to admit anything, Claire stood and walked to the desk, picking up her phone.

"Listen to this." Claire played a recording.

It was something Zoe had sent her that morning.

Zoe: "Ronin, did you take your vitamins today? You're on fire."

Ronin: "For a man, money is the best aphrodisiac."

Zoe: "What windfall did you come into now?"

Ronin: "I just got Claire to sign a contract."

Zoe: "So you really are planning to kill her?"

Ronin: "She's not stupid or greedy—how else could I succeed?"

Zoe: "Then you should thank God she didn't die in that car accident."

Ronin: "Exactly. God is on my side."

Zoe: "Speaking of the accident, I heard her imply she suspected you."

Ronin: "No need to suspect. It was me. But she has no proof."

Claire stopped the recording, her expression mocking. "Is this enough to convict you?"

"Bitch!" Ronin roared, lunging up from the floor and reaching for Claire's phone.

Regret consumed him.

Yesterday, thinking he'd run off after this final score, he'd been so elated he'd let his guard down.

That damn whore had betrayed him!

Seeing Ronin lunge for her phone, trying to destroy the evidence, Claire raised her leg and kicked him square in the stomach.

Though Claire was a woman, she'd had combat training. Her kick sent Ronin—despite being a well-built man—stumbling backward several steps before he landed on his rear.

Sarah, seeing Ronin's sudden viciousness, was shaken.

She quickly made a call. "Vincent, why aren't the police here yet?"

After hitting the ground, the malice in Ronin's eyes intensified. He scrambled to his feet, bellowing, "Go to hell!"

As he shouted, he charged at Claire, a folding knife suddenly in his hand.

"Sweetheart!" Sarah's voice trembled with fear as she stepped forward, placing herself between Claire and Ronin.

Claire had known Ronin was dangerous, but she hadn't expected him to carry a folding knife.

She could've handled Ronin easily on her own.

But Sarah suddenly blocking her path left her no room to maneuver.

And Ronin was already right in front of them, the knife's tip only ten feet from Sarah's body.