Two Times the Charm (Clara and Emmett) novel Chapter 212

Right after Clara hung up the phone, she dialed Elio's number immediately. But, the phone kept ringing, with no one answering.

So, she sent him a text, then put her phone down and went back to work.

At lunchtime, Ricardo and Emmett strolled into the office together.

Ricardo dropped some documents on her desk and then left. Emmett, on the other hand, plopped right down on the sofa in her office. "Your old man did go to the casino."

Clara blinked, then lowered her head. Every time her dad was brought up, she felt a pang of guilt. In front of Emmett, she felt like she would ever feel ashamed because of her dad.

"I'm sorry about the trouble my dad's caused you."

"What are you apologizing for?" Emmett arched an eyebrow. "I didn't tell you all this to make a fuss. I'm trying to tell you... I had a buddy of mine keep your dad busy."

Clara looked at him, "Did he stir up trouble again?"

"No, I had my friend hold him there," Emmett smiled. "He likes the casino, right? Then I'll make sure he can never leave that casino for the rest of his life."

"What do you mean?"

"My friend fleeced him for $700,000 in just one morning, and he racked up a debt of $400,000! Your dad thought he could borrow money from you again, but my friend didn't allow it! He's making him work at the casino until he pays off this $3,000,000 debt."

Clara was shocked, "Make four hundred thousand dollars as a handyman?! He'll never pay that off in his lifetime!"

"Indeed, he won't! So, he won't disturb you anymore."

Looking at him, Clara felt a deep sense of gratitude.

"But you're already so busy every day, and you still have to worry about my problems..."

"Your problems are just small potatoes to me! Don't keep things from me because you're afraid of causing me trouble."

He wanted to be part of her heart, part of her world. Emmett knew she had grown accustomed to dealing with everything alone, always shouldering all problems by herself.

But now, things had changed. She had someone to lean on. Yet every time he saw her still taking everything on herself, his heart ached and was filled with anger.

He felt sorry for her, for all the years she had to endure alone, being bullied, to the point where her own father treated her so poorly.