Silent Dreams Never Die — Author: John Miller 404
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer’s Begs
Chapter 404 Blackmail
“Claire? Are you going to answer me or not?”
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“Claire, don’t act all innocent now. There’s nothing of yours I haven’t seen or touched. Why play the victim?”
“Who do you think would want
think would want you after me, anyway?”
“Claire, are you ignoring me? Can’t you say something?”
“Listen, you’d better not even think about going to the police. If you do, I’ll send the videos of us in bed to your parents, your sister–everyone you know. Let’s see how your sweet, innocent daytime persona holds up when they all hear how you sound at night.”
The last message had a short video file attached below it.
There was no question what it contained.
Claire didn’t have the courage to open it. The hands holding her phone began to shake violently.
Scarlett noticed immediately and moved closer, wrapping a supportive arm around her shoulders. “Claire, what is it?”
Claire slowly stood, leaning heavily on Scarlett. Her voice was a raw whisper. “Scarlett… I can’t report it. I won’t go to the police.”
If those videos ever got out, Claire knew she would never be able to face anyone again.
Once on her feet, she began shuffling toward her bedroom.
Felix sensed the drastic shift and spoke up quickly, “Ms. Wright, are you really going to let the person who assaulted you walk away?”
Hearing this, Claire flinched as if struck. “No one assaulted me!” she cried out, her voice cracking. “No one did!”
After the outburst, she continued her slow retreat to her room.
“Ms. Wright,” Felix pressed, his tone urgent but calm, “if he’s threatening you, that only adds to the severity of his crimes. It’s coercion.”
Claire shook her head, tears now streaming silently down her cheeks. “I’m not reporting it. I’m
not.”
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Chapter 404 Blackmail
With that, she disappeared into her bedroom and shut the door.
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Scarlett turned to Felix with an apologetic look. “Mr. Wilson, let me go talk to her. I’m sorry you came all this way.”
Felix gave an understanding nod. “Of course.”
Inside the bedroom, Scarlett found Claire slumped on the floor beside the bed, her body wracked with silent, heaving sobs.
Scarlett knelt down and placed a gentle hand on her back. “Claire, what did he say?”
Claire lifted her head, her eyes swollen and rimmed with a frightening red. “He’s a monster, Scarlett,” she whispered, the words thick with tears. “He took videos… of us… without me knowing. He’s threatening to send them to my family if I go to the police.”
Scarlett felt a cold wave of shock and disgust. For a moment, she was speechless.
After collecting herself, she asked softly, “Claire, are you sure you can just let this go? Let him win?”
Claire threw her arms around Scarlett, burying her face in her shoulder. “I need to think,” she choked out between sobs. “Please, just give me a little time to think.”
Scarlett didn’t push. She simply held her friend, offering the quiet solidarity of her
But in her heart, Scarlett feared she knew how this would end.
presence.
Claire’s parents were deeply concerned with social standing and appearance. If those videos were leaked, they would likely blame Claire for the scandal, not support her through it.
For years, Claire had worked tirelessly building her online brand, creating content to prove to her parents that she was successful and independent.
But in their eyes, being a social media influencer wasn’t a “real” career. No matter how much money she made or how many gifts she bought them, they never saw her work as legitimate.
Her relationship with them was already fragile. If Elias released those videos, it would shatter what little ground she had left.
Scarlett understood why Claire was hesitating.
Claire cried until she was utterly spent, finally falling into a fitful sleep with her head on Scarlett’s shoulder.
Scarlett sat motionless for a long time. When Claire’s breathing finally deepened into sleep, she carefully shifted her friend’s head onto a pillow and stood up.
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Making sure not to wake her, Scarlett slipped out of the room.
In the living room, Zachary, Damian, and Felix all looked at her with expectant, worried faces.
Scarlett’s throat was dry. She poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the counter and drank it before addressing Zachary. “We need to give her a little more time. She needs to process this.”
Zachary’s concern was etched deeply on his face. “How is she, really?”
Scarlett just shook her head, unable to find the right words.
That simple gesture was answer enough–Claire was not okay.
Zachary looked pained, helpless in the face of a situation where comfort seemed impossible.
Damian had been watching Scarlett intently. Seeing the profound exhaustion in her posture, he felt a sharp pang of sympathy.
After a moment’s hesitation, he walked over to her. “Come with me,” he said quietly.
Scarlett looked up, confused. “Where?”
“To the hospital,” Damian said. “Come with me to see my mother.”
Scarlett flustered, her brow furrowing. “I can’t. I need to be here for Claire.”
Seeing her immediate refusal, Damian gently took her hand. “Zachary and Felix are both here. Claire will be safe. You look like you’re about to collapse yourself.” His voice was soft but insistent. “Just for a little while.”
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