[ Claire ] “Claire, don’t stress yourself. Tomorrow’s newspapers will bring you a good news but for now, I think you should see this.” Thomas, who sat beside I and Tristan in their living room, said.The questions of media kept stirring in my mind. How Tristan turned the table and portrayed my family as the villain along with Ryan Bale, it grew my anxiety to next level. How’d they react? They’d hate me even more?“Claire, are you okay?” Tristan’s soft voice brought me back on the earth and I stared down at the tablet. A famous news channel was telecasting the interview we gave to the media a while ago.“Umm, yeah. I am fine.” I forced a smile.“I don’t think you look fine from any angle. You are still pondering over the consequences of our announcement, right?” He raised his brow.“They’ll retaliate, Tristan. My family hates me already and how the media is criticizing them, it’ll only add fuel in the fire.” I said out my worries.“I’ll handle everything, Claire and you shouldn’t be f
[ Claire ]“Mr. Pierce, can we talk?” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt as I waited for his response. We hadn’t spoken to each other since Ryan left. Thomas and Travis were already asleep in their rooms.Tristan, who was about to move to his room, turned slightly to look at me.“I won’t respond until you stop addressing me formally, Claire.” He said, the displeasure was evident in his tone.“Tristan, can we talk for a moment?” I corrected myself and he nodded his head this time, gesturing me to follow him in his home bar.“What do you prefer?” He asked me.“Anything light, I am not in a mood to get drunk.” I told him and he made us a drink.“What do you want to talk about? It’s almost eleven in the night. I think you should rest because tomorrow is going to be a very long day for us.” He said giving me the drink.“I want to talk about tomorrow, Tristan. What plans do you have? You can share them with me because it is related to me and my life’s current problems.” I said.“You passed
[ Claire ]“This is too much, Tristan. I have my clothes and other stuffs back at my home. I’ll bring everything here once this matter cools down.” I said to Tristan while the maids kept countless shopping bags in my room. It felt awkward and unnecessary because I don’t want to give him an impression that I want to be depend on him financially.“Claire, you deserve everything and in a few hours you won’t be the same Claire Jones anymore. You’ll need these dresses, shoes and everything.” Tristan smiled.“Still, I don’t like extravagance. Money is hard earned. We should use it wisely.” I said quietly because I had been living on meagre income since my family doesn’t support my personal expanses so I know the value of money.“You have to resign from your current job at my company, Claire.” He said and I turned to face him. I was shocked, how did he know. I am a mere employee in his sub-branch where he never visits. I am practically a nobody.“How…how did you know?” I stuttered.“I know e
[ Claire ]“Don’t stress yourself too much, Claire. Like I said, everything will go according to the original plan.” Tristan’s voice again drew my attention on him who has been playing my knight in shining armour since we met.I turned to look at him, he as a constant smile playing on his handsome face.“Why are you doing all this for me, Tristan? We agreed to help each other, I admit but your efforts for me is more than I am giving you in return.” I asked him.“I am doing nothing, Claire. I agreed to play my part and I am only doing it, please, don’t misjudge my intentions. It’s pure business.” He assured me but his last line pinched me, strange.“Still, bringing my grandparents, all the way here and help them to settle comfortably, I think you’re troubling yourself for my fucked up life. I should be the one to take care of my grandparents.” I said, feeling ashamed.“My grandparents died when I was very young but I loved them so much and I still miss them. So, whatever I did for your
[ Claire ]“Are you kidding us, Grandpa? No, you can’t do this to me, I am your only grandson.” Caleb yelled as soon as grandfather revealed his new and revised will in front of everyone. I stood quietly in a corner since I had no role until it comes on me.“Caleb, I am not disowning you but you are not ready to lead the company.” Grandpa said very calmly.“Dad, this is unfair. We won’t accept this blasphemy. I can’t give this girl a single penny from this company.” My Dad pointed his finger at me accusingly, the hatred was fairy visible in his eyes for me.“Harris, I gave you multiple chances to rectify your mistakes but you didn’t learn. If I haven’t come here, I wouldn’t have known how you treated Claire. I trusted you and handed you the control of my company but you disappointed me.” Grandpa said to Dad with a shake of his head.“Dad, I have done everything to keep this company running. I admit we faced a few obstacles but I am doing my best to find investors to save us from more
[ Claire ]“Tristan, how do you know that Mia is pregnant?” I asked Tristan once we left the office building. my father wasn’t ready to believe that his ideal daughter did something like this so he left hurriedly to confront her.“I don’t boast unless I have concrete proofs, Claire. Ryan tricked her and as far as I know that bastard, he’ll use it against your family to blackmail them.” He said in a grim tone which pushed me into tension. My sister hates me as much as the others but she’s young and immature.“Mia’s name will be dragged into this mess and it’ll only bring her shame. Oh God! What she has done?” I ran my hands through my hairs.“You still care for those people who only hates you and wants you dead? How can you be this good to evil people, Claire?” He looked at me in disbelief.“I can’t think bad about someone but it doesn’t mean I have soft spot for them. They have hurt me beyond repair, Tristan. I want to move forward and save my company. That’s what my priority will be
[ Tristan ]“Dad, can I come in?” I knocked at the door of library where he spends most of his time if he isn’t playing with Travis. He was facing the fireplace, sitting on a rocking chair.“You should spend more time with Claire if you want her to regain her memories soon. It’s your chance, Tristan.” He said without looking at me, taking it as green signal, I walked inside.“Claire is in her room. It was a stressful day for her so I thought giving her some space would be a wise idea. Secondly, I don’t think it’s appropriate to invade her privacy because I am a stranger for her. I am afraid how she passed out in her panic yesterday. I can’t afford to lose her again, Dad. I have waited for five years, I can wait more.” I said, showing him my vulnerable side.“Bourbon or scotch?” He asked me for my preference but I snatched his glass.“Enough, you aren’t drinking anymore, Dad. For God’s sake, you’re going through treatment.” I reprimanded him.He smiled, “I’ll live for a short time, you
[ Tristan ]“Tell me, why did you call me at this hour? I can’t leave my house anytime. I have a wife now who is a curious cat. I don’t want her to suspect me because then, I’ll have no answer.” I scoffed at the person who stood in front of me with a long face.“Forgive me but do you have any other option? My own family will hunt me down if I meet you in broad daylight, Tristan and you know my father and his anger issues.” He said.I sighed and pinched my nose. He was right.“I am sorry, Caleb. You have to go through all this and I am extremely sorry for hitting you today.” I apologized to my only friend in this whole world who had supported me all these years.“It should be me who have to apologize to my sister for being a total ass towards her. I have hurt her beyond repair but I had no other choice. Our father would have locked her somewhere if I showed my concern for her. I hate him.” Caleb said with remorse.“You have been protecting her for years, Caleb and it shows your love fo