Clark, fully aware of the situation, asked Bradley directly, "Are you asking me to lie, Mr. Bradley?"
In response, Bradley slid a bank card over to Clark, lightly tapped its surface, and retorted coldly, "You're not willing to?"
"Not everything can be solved with money in this world," Clark replied, gazing at Bradley, who now felt like a stranger. At that moment, Esther's words from the car came rushing back to him.
She had questioned whether Bradley was behind everything.
While Clark was hesitant to believe that his savior's grandson was capable of such actions and that Bradley, whom he had seen grow up, could act this way, the sight of the bank card made him pause.
Was the past Bradley the real Bradley?
Bradley reclined in his leather chair with a disdainful expression as he looked at Clark. "My marriage to her was Grandpa's decision."
Shaking his head, Clark said firmly, "If Mr. Thomas were still alive and saw how you treat Esther, he'd hope you two get a divorce!"
Bradley's icy stare remained focused on the distant door. "Clark! You still have time to reconsider before I leave this office."
Clark smiled, shook his head, and stated, "I don't need to."
Indeed, he didn't need to.
"I can't possibly commit such a heartless act, whether under duress or temptation."
Clark turned and left with determined strides. Upon reaching the office door, he glanced back at Bradley, who exuded an air of solitude, and offered a well-meaning reminder, "I don't know your reasons for not divorcing Esther, whether it's love or hatred. But I do know that if anything happens to Esther, there will be no hope left for reconciliation between you two."
With those words, Clark left briskly.
Bradley stared at the discarded bank card with a mocking and contemptuous smile.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Husband Wants Me Dead (Esther and Bradley)
don't read at all. horrible story, makes me sick....