Chapter 109

Chapter 109

"No?" Oliver sneered, "You think you can hide it? Unless you really didn't do it. Clara, I'll find out. I'll get to the bottom of this! If you cheated, you'll regret it!"

His threat was vicious, and Clara's heart tightened, but she turned her head away defiantly, refusing to look at him.

As the tension between them reached a boiling point, the atmosphere in the living room was so heavy it felt like it could burst. Suddenly, the sound of a car engine shutting off and muffled, chaotic noises came from outside the villa.

Moments later, the butler rushed in, looking panicked. "Mr. Spencer, Mrs. Spencer, something terrible has happened! The Smith family... they brought Ms. Amara Spencer back!"

Before he could finish, two solemn-looking bodyguards in black suits entered, supporting a disheveled young woman. It was Amara.

Amara's eyes were unfocused, a foolish smile played on her lips, and she muttered incessantly, sometimes screaming, sometimes laughing. Her gaze wandered aimlessly around the living room until it landed on Clara.

Her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a bizarre clarity and deep-seated fear. She struggled, trying to lunge at Clara, her words garbled:

"Ghost... There's a ghost... It's here for revenge... not me... her... It's here for Clara! It's her... all her fault..."

Amara's voice was shrill and piercing, echoing through the empty living room like a curse.

Clara froze, her face turning even paler, almost translucent. She instinctively stepped back, trying to avoid Amara's piercing gaze.

Oliver watched Amara's deranged behavior, especially her words targeting Clara, his face darkening. The last shred of pity for Amara and trust in Clara shattered completely.

He turned to the two Smith family bodyguards, one of whom handed over a preliminary hospital diagnosis, briefly explaining Amara's condition and the doctor's assessment of her severe mental instability.

"She's gone mad... completely mad..." Oliver looked at the diagnosis, then at the still-struggling and crying Amara, a flicker of disgust and resolve in his eyes. "In this state, she's a liability at home! Get her out of here!"

"Mr. Spencer?"

"Contact the psychiatric hospital immediately! Send her there right away! The Spencer family can't afford this disgrace!" Oliver's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.

"No! Oliver! Don't!" Clara finally reacted, rushing forward to embrace Amara, but Oliver pushed her away.

"Amara is your daughter! She's sick, we should take care of her, not send her to a place like that!" Clara cried, grabbing Oliver's arm. "Please, don't send her away! I'll take care of her, I promise!"

"Promise?" Oliver shook her hand off with disgust, his eyes icy. "You can't even take care of yourself! A madwoman, a venomous woman! You've brought shame to the Spencer family!"

He pointed towards the door, shouting at Clara, "If you say one more word or try to stop me, get out of the Spencer family! I won't tolerate you here anymore!"

Clara stood frozen. She looked at Oliver's cold, merciless face, at Amara struggling like a rag doll in the bodyguards' grip, hearing her muttering "Clara... revenge...," a chilling fear spread through her body.

The living room was left with Amara's intermittent mad ramblings and Clara's silent despair. Outside, the Smith Villa's lights flickered, waiting for Catherine, unaware of the storm brewing.

The night was as dark as ink, thick and impenetrable.

The Spencer Villa was brightly lit, and the noise was barely audible through the thick walls and garden, like a pot of boiling murky water.

A nondescript black sedan was parked in the shadows at the street corner, the rear window slightly lowered. Catherine sat in the darkness, her fingers unconsciously tracing the cold edge of the window, her gaze calmly fixed on the lights.

Inside, a scene she had anticipated was unfolding.

The living room was in disarray.

Expensive antique vases were shattered, sofa cushions were askew, and the air was filled with Clara's hysterical cries and Oliver's suppressed, angry growls.

"Mad! You're truly mad! Oliver, you hit me for that fool?" Clara screamed in disbelief, clutching her slightly swollen cheek, her well-maintained face twisted with venomous rage.

Oliver's chest heaved, a vein throbbing at his temple. He looked at the tantrum-throwing Clara and then at the corner where Amara cowered, her eyes vacant and trembling. A wave of regret and frustration washed over him.

Just moments ago, Richard had sent someone to call off the engagement, with no room for negotiation. The reason? Amara's erratic behavior at the engagement party and subsequent embarrassing actions had disgraced the Smith family.

Richard!

The name was like a thorn, deeply embedded in Oliver's heart. He had thought that through Amara, he could attach the Spencer family to the Smith family, reviving their declining fortunes. He had even tolerated Clara's mistreatment of Catherine, sending her away early to avoid seeing her.

But now?

The Smith family was out of reach! All because of Clara and Amara's stupidity!

How could he have been so blind, believing Clara and thinking Amara was more valuable than the seemingly foolish Catherine? If Catherine had been the one to marry into the Smith family... even if she was a fool, the Smith family might have shown some leniency for old times' sake.

The more he thought, the angrier and more regretful he became. Years of suppression and scheming collapsed in an instant, leaving only frustration and misplaced anger.

"Shut up!" Oliver slammed the table, clattering the teacups. "Look at the daughter you raised! You've disgraced the Spencer family!"

His gaze cut towards Amara like a knife.

Amara flinched at his shout, curling up tighter, her eyes unfocused, starting to hum a thin, eerie tune:

"He followed her to school one day..."

"Which was against the rule..."

"It made the children laugh and play..."

"To see a lamb at school..."

She sang while drawing circles on the floor with her finger, a foolish yet terrified smile on her face.

Clara's face changed drastically, rushing to cover Amara's mouth. "Amara! Stop singing! Don't sing!"

That nursery rhyme! That damned nursery rhyme!