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103"Hmm, interesting!"Hunter kept his face straight as he watched his doctor, aka one of his close friends, Caine, raising his eyes in amusement.He peeked over Hunter's shoulder at Claire who was sitting in the visitor's chair across from his desk. She was pretending to stay busy with her phone. But Caine can see the redness darkening in her cheeks. She was trying not to fluster as she sat rigidly in the chair.The fact that she accompanied Hunter to his doctor alone was surprising, talk less of her swollen lips. Caine's lips arched in a teasing grin as he brought his eyes to Hunter. He winked and whispered to him. "I thought Zara got you in her vice grip. But Claire's swollen lips and some of her gloss on your own says a whole different story. I like it!" "Check my wound." Hunter said in a faked steel voice as he didn't make any attempt to hide his smile. He purposely left his lips untouched. He had felt the smooth texture of her gloss on his lips right after they parted. Even
104Her heart thundered away in her chest, her hackles rising in delicious delight. Claire was supposed to hate this but all the more it made her feel good. She didn't know when it happened, but her fingers went in his hair. Her stomach fluttered and mouth sealed tightly to prevent a moan from escaping. She didn't want him to know that she was enjoying it. She didn't want him to realise that his touch still caused her system to go haywire. Few minutes later he stopped and joined their foreheads. They stayed in that moment, in that position as he arranged his breathing. Hunter's fingers shivered on her waist. She could feel it. Then as they pressed into her flesh, his face tilted to look into her gorgeous blue eyes. "Please kiss me, Claire." Claire shook her head in a no. "Please, I want to feel your lips moving against mine." She closed her eyes for his words were making her core shudder. This was his effect on her. Even though he didn't use any dirty words or acted dirty, her bod
105The happenings of the morning became a distant memory when Claire woke up. She was, for unknown reason, feeling happy and refreshed. She came down to the kitchen upon her mother, baking muffins. The warm aroma of chocolate was in the air. With the fragrance of muffins baking in the oven, and the pattering of rain outside, the environment transformed into the one Claire basked in. She was glowing as she requested her mother to let her help her. "Do you remember the baking contest I once had in school?" She asked Andrea while mixing a new batch of cake-mix in a bowl with a spatula. Andrea smiled in response, "In your seventh grade, right? How can I forget it. Your father and I both had arrived not aware of the other's possibility of coming. We both were busy and we both made time to come, much to each other's shock. Then he had to sit in the audience while I joined you in the contest. Clearly because I'm the best baker among us two." Andrea gave a smug raise to her eyebrow, showin
106The air became harsher and colder with passing seconds as she kept staring at his messages. For staring too long, her eyeballs ached. To relieve them of the pain, she deviated her gaze and found herself looking at his profile picture. It was the same picture of the front of their marital home that she likes during rain. The vast expanse splayed with grass, looking darker in shade under gray pouring clouds. The sky looking mysterious but worth admiring for hours. The tough iron gate that fenced and guarded the mansion from outside forces, standing like a lone warrior protecting its fortress from the enemies from breaking in. She was taken back to that balcony from where he had taken that picture. Her favorite place. Claire regarded the momos now becoming cold in blowing winds. Then at the circle that was the profile picture on the top left corner. She had enjoyed momos many times, in those two years of their marriage, on that balcony. Claire looked at the phone, another hard sh
107A current of exasperation zinged through Claire. She grit her teeth, anger burning deep in her belly.She harshly dropped the waffles beside her on the mattress and began typing.Claire: Why are you doing this? And what are you trying to imply by doing this? Whatever he was typing earlier stopped. Claire's skin singed with goosebumps as she stared at the messages.She didn't want to believe that he really sent her favorite food to her. That he knew about them. There was no way.In the two years of marriage, minus the two months of togetherness that he agreed to, he was never there in the relationship. He was never home. He never even tried to acknowledge her efforts, much less notice anything related to her.Frustration seeped through her bones because this was becoming repetitive. All these onset of emotions. All of this that he was doing to show how hard he was trying to woo her back. But the truth was, she was alone in the marriage for two fúcking years.Completely, brutally,
108Scott was in his brand new car, peeking out of the window at her. His face was warm with hope and a small smile tugging on his lips. A hesitant smile oozing with apology and desperation of getting back to talking terms with her. "I heard the guard calling a mechanic to take your car out for servicing. I can give you a ri—" "No thanks. I've booked a cab. And I would prefer to hail a cab daily than take help from anyone." She snapped coldly before he could finish. A painful look crossed his face. Scott hid it behind another smile and nodded, "Oh well, then, go safely. Do share the driver's details along with the car's number to me as you always do."Claire ignored him like he was not there. Seeing her indifference, Scott twisted his lips to suppress his anguish and drove away. His car looked like a fainting dot on the street when Claire regarded it. She was disoriented from pain, wondering, "I am sorry, Scott. I know you are trying hard to appease me. But I've been hurt too much
109Sweat broke out over her back, her chest convulsing and combusting as she gawked at his answer. She was right last night! She had known that she wasn't going to like his reply. She was glad she switched off on him. Hunter: While I thought I was still Zara's, I also observed you. What you liked to do. How you liked to do it. There was a gap of five minutes, as can be seen by the time taken to send the next messages. Certainly showing his time taken to recall it all.Hunter: There were times when you thought I wasn't home or I wouldn't come home when I was actually there. I would stand in the darkness like I was a part of it and watch you. Hunter: You will not believe me but I also know the divine face you make upon tasting the food you make, and the sound of your moan. A shiver she couldn't control passed through her. She pressed her lips together and read ahead. Hunter: I truly regret ruining our two years of marriage. I was an idiot. But that's no excuse. I should have been
110"How are you, sweetheart? I missed you so much."Claire immediately flinched back. Although her nerves were rattled, she couldn't forget the memory of that day coming to her mind. The memory where her dear mother-in-law had arrived at the hospital to see Zara than her even though it was her, who was married to her son, and it was she who starved herself to unconsciousness.Her blue eyes glistened with tears of anguish. Claire's mouth rose in a lopsided smile. A smile which was void of emotions."I'm doing good, Mrs. MacIntyre. How about you?"Violet stared at her with wavering eyes. She was frozen from hearing Claire address her with such indifference. She never heard anything beside 'Mom' from her before. Violet recognized this being her hurt speaking and broke into a remorseful smile."Fine. I'm fine.""Good to hear. Excuse me." Claire turned around to resume hailing a cab.There was nothing to talk to her about. She didn't feel anything but depressed around her. Violet was a sup
287"Hey—""H-Hunter..."Hunter sat up straight, his spine erect, and his face becoming white in shock as fear crept under his skin, listening to Claire's voice.He looked at the clock and gulped a shallow breath. It hadn't been more than an hour since he dropped Claire off to her home, and hearing her panic-stricken voice unsettled him."Dove, what's wrong? Is everything okay at home?" Hunter asked and bit his tongue to stop himself from saying— Did Scott do something again?He heard Claire's heavy breathing and immediately got up."Dove, say something!""H-Hunter... I... I..." Claire sobbed, causing his patience to near its end.At once he grabbed the keys to the bike he rode tonight."Don't worry, Dove, I'm coming over." He literally sprinted towards the door.His body was suddenly cold from terror as Claire's sob was making it worse. Hunter had come around the staircase. He was about to descend when he heard her sniff and ask him not to come.He stalled and stared at nothing in th
286Hunter stared at her, thrown off guard by her words. He reflected back on their meeting in the dark alley, and indeed what he realized made his mouth open a little. Mona hadn't looked like she intended to do anything physically with him. Her grin back then had been playful— one that of a naughty child who knew he was notorious for his mischief. "You can say that I was testing your loyalty towards Claire. I didn't intend to do anything mischievous, Hunter. But you see, Claire ruined everything when she interrupted." Her lips lifted in a sneer as she showed him her left cheek.There was a visible claw mark on her skin from Claire's nails. The scratch was swelling, its edges inflamed and red. Hunter felt bad for her. Now that he knew that Mona didn't mean to do anything condemning in the dark alley of the mall with him, he felt the need to apologize to her on behalf of Claire, but Mona beat him to it as tears flashed in her eyes."No, Hunter. I might want to see you with Claire and
285Hunter's body worked on its own. He felt like someone had trespassed into his territory and snatched one of his shirts that Mona was folding.He growled at her as his eyes seemed to darken even more. In the dim lights he came off as a hunter ready to tear his teeth into her skin and kill her. It wasn't a surprise that Mona was unaffected. She just rolled her eyes and lifted her finely manicured hand to blow over her nails."What the hell are you doing here? How did you come inside?" Hunter hissed."I was trying to be helpful as you can see." Mona said while casting a gaze around.Hunter's walk-in closet was a mess. It looked like a clothes manufacturing factory, unfolded shirts lying here and there, some trousers on the floor as if they were dropped just there after trying them on."I don't need your fucking help, alright! Just tell me why you are here and get the hell out." Hunter gritted out between his clenched teeth.Mona watched his knuckles whiten as he fisted on the shirt h
284"If you think that then I'm happy otherwise in my opinion, Reggie ruined everything I did." Hunter smiled a little awkwardly."That's because you're used to having everything done meticulously, Mr. Billionaire. But for normal people like us some mess and chaos is welcome.""Well then," Hunter sighed. "I'll have to make sure there's some chaos in our relationship."Claire chuckled. Later on, they hopped back on the bike and Claire was the one handling it. Hunter sat behind her, admiring her as she flawlessly rode the bike. There were no words exchanged until Claire stopped the bike on the street some yards away from her house.Hunter blinked his eyes as he looked around."Why here, Dove?""Scott's room's window." She pointed as from where they stood they could clearly see that Scott's room's lights were on."Oh." Hunter got down as he didn't need any further explanation.He wanted to drop her at the gate of her house and watch her go inside. But he deemed it was okay if they got dow
283"You'll never have to fight for any right when you're standing beside me. I'll always make sure you're respected and cherished more than I am. I'll also help you with your career, Dove. You can work at your father's or mine— wherever you're comfortable and I'd always come to pick you up so we can go home together." Hunter's voice was like warm honey, soothing and sweet. But Claire had more to acknowledge than just his heart-touching words. The surrounding was one of them. What had been a lake enveloped in a blanket of darkness was now glowing with golden lights. It felt as though the blanket was lifted off, revealing the beauty it had hidden underneath. "I'll always cherish you, love you and give you space. You will never have to question your worth or love for me.... Because I'll make sure I live up to your expectations." The pause he took allowed Claire to notice where they were standing— in the middle of a four post bamboo arch. There were colorful flowers and green leaves
282"Why are we here, Hunter? I don't have good memories attached to this place." Claire's voice was emotionless and a little hoarse."Do you trust me, Dove?" Hunter said over his shoulder.Claire didn't answer right away, and when she did... It was a small nod, although her eyes displayed her uncertainty."Then ask your heart to calm down. I won't do anything that would multiply your bad memories. Not on purpose!"Claire took a lingering gaze at him before she nodded again and carefully got down of the bike. She looked around into the dark as her heart kicked up a notch. All the excitement she had been feeling since the moment she saw Hunter had drained out of her. Her hands turned cold and she stuck closer to Hunter for his warmth. She ought to feel this way, after all, he's brought her to the place where she experienced her second heartbreak— The Lake.The sky was indigo overhead and the air was cool. The silhouettes of trees around made her jittery. Insects chirped menacingly and
281Although Dominic had been reluctant in the beginning, he told his wife that Hunter had called him a while before the dinner. He wanted to come to their mansion for some reason. Dominic revealed that Hunter prepared some kind of gift for their daughter, and needed his help to execute it. His request was to dim down the lights of the lamps around their garden so Hunter could have a dark set-up. And then the next thing that happened was that they heard commotion outside their window. Since their room was on the ground floor, they heard and saw everything. Hunter was in the garden, and he wasn't alone. His guards were there to help him whatever he planned to do for Claire. Dominic and Andrea also read the messages on the cardboards that Hunter held. One can say that Hunter's surprise proposal wasn't really a secret. His In-laws— correction, his ex-in-laws, who were about to become his in-laws again, had front-row seats to the whole thing.They read every message, saw every expressi
280"I know I was once the person Scott wanted to be like. But after what I did to you, his sister, he's lost all respect for me. I know he wouldn't hesitate to stab me the second he gets the opportunity." Hunter paused. "I don't consider that wrong because what I've done is enough reason for someone to put a blade through my heart.""Hunter!" Claire glared at him, but obviously it was so dark that he couldn't see it. But her hold around his neck, it indicated that she was disappointed. "I'm telling the truth, Claire. What do you think? That I'm only committing my mistakes in front of you. If that's what you think then you don't know me at all." The determination in his voice steeled her spine. "Fixing things with you was my first step toward fixing everything I destroyed." "Your forgiveness meant everything because if you could forgive me, then maybe the others would too. My goal is to make things right with everyone in your family, especially Scott."Claire's jaw unhinged. She was
279"Really?" He sounded playful.Claire hummed near his face and cupped his jaw, "I adore how you tackle challenges head-on and always come out on top." She paused, pecked him on the lips and added, "For me, you're a true champion and that's what captivated my heart.""You think too highly of me.""I just know that you're very skillful and...""And?" Hunter leaned in closer, depositing all his wait on her.Claire's lips tugged at the corners. An idea struck and she pushed him away. Hunter frowned at the loss of contact. But the push stirred his thoughts awake and he realized he was here on a mission. "You didn't answer my question!""What question?" Claire asked playfully."About being my girlfriend.""I'll think about it." She got out of his hold as she stifled her laughs.It was dark so she couldn't see his expression. But from what she knew about him, she knew he was boiling on the inside. Despite being one of the most successful men, he was grumpy and had very little to no pati