Any guesses what is coming up in the evening??? I'll give you a hint! It is........ I'll tell you in the next chapter;)
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
111A car was rapidly closing in on Claire, who was engrossed in hailing a taxi and completely unaware of the danger.With lightning-fast reflexes, Violet grabbed Claire's hand and pulled her to safety just in the nick of time. "What are you—" What was supposed to be an enraged exclamation burst out as a yelp from Claire's mouth. She watched the car crash into a light pole. Her hands absentmindedly went around Violet in the act of hugging her. She watched with bated breaths as a cloud of gray smoke emanated from the front part that was gruesomely crushed. Footsteps rushed towards them and as they both were watching, startled, the man from the car jumped out. He took a fleeting glance over his shoulder at Claire and Violet before bailing out. "Ma'am, are you alright?" Violet's driver stopped before them while sweeping an inspecting gaze over them. "Yes, we are. Go after that man." Hunter's mom said in a voice laced with panic as she pointed at the man taking a right turn into an a
112"Mom!" Hunter stormed into their family Villa with eyes desperately moving around the living hall.There was no sight of his mother and his heart was picking up speed. He recklessly moved about the house, checking his parents' bedroom, the kitchen and the library-- all the places her mother would spend her time in.His face was marred with apprehension even after he was informed that no harm had befallen his mother. She was fine, but not finding her anywhere increased his anxiety."Mom!" Hunter shouted for her while Cole came inside the house panting. "Where is she?""I wouldn't be screaming for her if I knew her whereabouts, Cole. Stop being a stupid bítch!" Hunter scorned and Cole's body froze in dismay.This was the first time he was seeing Hunter look so disturbed. It was literally showing on his face. Cole noticed as he clenched and unclenched his fist out of anxiety. The display of terror made him squeeze Hunter's shoulder."She must be around here."Hunter ignored his frie
236Claire was taken aback. She chuckled, realizing Tyler was siding with Hunter. She didn't call him out for defending Hunter and kept the conversation going. "Yeah, Zara and her leave... I know that. He was depressed by her departure." She said so flatly that Tyler couldn't help but wince. "God, I think I know why you're so pissed. You have two solid reasons. One is obviously Hunter's confession and second is Zara. You're holding those both against him to make him pay, aren't you?""It was never a secret!" "It wasn't, I know, but Claire..." Tyler heaved. "Well, as a person who was cheated and abandoned by his lover, I can understand both of your feelings. I know what it feels to know when your lover has betrayed you. And I also know what it feels like when they leave you without a proper closure.""So Claire..." Tyler stiffened his shoulders. "From a man's perspective, I don't think what Hunter did was wrong. I mean, it was wrong to you but as a man we don't have many ways to tak
235"Shít! I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't think it would tear. I'm sorry." Tyler spoke ruefully. He watched as Claire's face paled and some tears strolled out of her eyes. The room was engulfed by vulnerable silence again and the tension returned. Despite that Tyler smiled seeing her reaction. 'You're very lucky, Hunter. How much I wish Ezma felt this way after sleeping with you. But that bítch had no remorse on her face. She even seemed relaxed about getting rid of me.' He mused and tried to take the letter from her. He reached out for the two pieces of the paper. Claire gave him a warning look as if it was her heart he was asking for, not the letter. The cracks on her lips amazed him, prompting him to smile wider. 'Claire even wounded her mouth for kissing me. This is the love I desire in my life. On the other hand, I tasted ugly betrayal. Ezma hadn't even tried to cover herself when I found her naked in bed beside your sleeping figure, Hunter.' The faint ache in Tyler's chest fro
234Claire glanced at the clock in the room for the Nth time with her burning red eyes. Tears never stopped and no matter how much she tried to distract herself, she was thrown back into the setting at the tourist spot with Hunter on his knees in front of her while she arrogantly waited for him to apologize in the crowded place.She hadn't assumed Hunter would do it. He was a man who wore his pride as a crown and not once did he let him head lower. He was invincible and extremely powerful.Alas, she made it happen what even his powerful enemies couldn't do after spending millions of money. She brought him on his knees and even had a vlogger record his video. She was afraid to check the social media and all the comments on the posts regarding Hunter's apology making rounds online.Claire was hyperventilating as Hunter's images didn't let her relax. She tried to get some fresh air and walked towards the window. The winds were cold but she was still feeling suffocated. She tried to medit
233"But, baby, I am happy that I took it off, else it would have been sitting like a huge rock on my chest. I wanted you to know about those times so we could start afresh. My only mistake was that I shared it at the wrong time... And you were not ready for it. I shouldn't have—" "Cut to the chase, MacIntyre! Apology. I want your apology, not your boring 'I am guilty' speech." Claire raised an eye arrogantly while the crowd around her twisted their lips or showed their annoyance in different ways.My speech was touching them, possessing their hearts and Claire probably noticed that and cut in. Even the girl with the camera scowled but her face softened when she looked at me. She whispered something into the mic on her collar as I focused back on Claire. My eyebrows creased seeing her looking behind me with a red face as if she would burst into tears now. When I chanced a glance behind, my heart stopped beating and fear engulfed me. Bloody Murphy! What was he doing here? How did he
232Also, there's one thing I realized. She wanted this... But not with the man who cheated on her. I felt as though I was being ripped apart. I felt that it would have been better to come under a truck than be here in the car with Claire while she was cowering away from me. I can't describe how I felt as I moved away. I pulled my t-shirt back to wear it. Once it was on, I hesitated to make her look at me. Claire was staring in the space between her knees and chest as she sat with her arms locked around her knees. She was so pale that it ached to see her. The thought of touching her scared me as if I would hurt her with my touch. "What do you want me to do, Claire?" I sighed as I was totally blank.I haven't even started a day ago and it's already wearing me out. Will I ever seek her forgiveness? Seeing how she's shivering from my forced kiss, it seems like she was molested.Her pale face made me feel worse as her lips appeared swollen and assaulted. I stretched a hand out to make h
231Hunter's POV"HUNTERRRRRR!" A loud shriek left Claire's mouth before she leapt towards me.Her arms curled around my neck as she tugged me back, away from the line of the truck. We missed it by a few inches. The driver yelled at me from the side mirror, calling me an idiot, before he sighed in relief.Indeed, a dangerous accident was avoided by mere inches. Thanks to my Dove.I was on the ground, ice under my back. As much as I wanted to shift away to get rid of the frosty pangs I remained stock-still. A smile crept on my lips as I wrapped my arms around Claire who was on top of me.Her head was on my shoulder as her face stayed pressed in the crook of my neck. Her heavy exhalation sent a current to my dick as it compelled me to embrace her more tightly.I'm such a dick head. My stupid attempt overwhelmed her to an extent that left her trembling intensely. Her chest heaved against mine and her sobs rang in my ear like a loud clap of thunder."Dove," I hated to interrupt this momen
230Hunter's POV "I'm the one bleeding and it's your eyes that are shedding tears. Isn't it a little weird, Dove?" She froze, I saw her knuckles turn white from clenching her fingers too tight to keep her emotions in check. But she failed and it made my body hum in gratitude. It's a relief that her heart still cares even though her eyes show deep hatred. "Your curses... I've been thinking about them since you first cursed me, Dove. I won't hide how much it hurts to hear all those words. They make my heart bleed. I wonder if you are really so desperate to see my blood. But... Is this how it’ll be when I’m bleeding and suffering in torment?" I moved back so I could look at her face. My darling was glowing red. Her cute nose seemed like a cherry tomato while the rims around her eyes shimmered a pinkish red. Her wet lashes shadowed her admirable cheeks as her full lips quivered from each sob that left them. "Gosh, if this is how you're going to cry, I swear I'll throw myself under a t
229Hunter's POV Pain clawed through my chest as a smile of agony unrolled on my lips. My eyes weren't moist but the bite of her words made my eyes burn. So much hatred? This should not stun me, but damn, it did. It did more than I was capable of describing it in words. I gazed at her, trying to force a smile despite the deep pain in my chest. I reached out a hand to grab hers and put it back on my bleeding forearm. "Why wait for karma to do what you can do to me now, Dove?" I guided her long nails to my skin and made her scratch me. She gave me a look with her left brow going high, "Are you challenging me? I'm not the old Claire, Hunter MacIntyre. She was easy to fool and manipulate. Don't even dare to think that the thought of hurting you would cause my mind to spin.""All I'm trying to do is bring my old Claire back..." I kept the smile which I could see was aggravating her. "And if this is the only way... Then be it." Her nails pricked my skin enough to cause a burning sensati
228Hunter's PovMy heart swelled triple of its usual size and wanting to jump from my mouth into my hand so it could show to everyone how delighted I was! Yes, my nerves were dancing in happiness and my heart was too excited to contain this happiness.Claire was sitting next to me. It was like a dream come true. That night after she heard my confession and left me alone on the dark and lonely road, I thought it was over. I thought that she wouldn't spare me a single glance after that.But yesterday when she saw me, the relief and happiness was visible in her baby blue eyes. She was soothed but her anger didn't let her show it. And that slap, I won't deny that it didn't hurt me, but that slap was a way to show that she hated me a lot. But I know my Dove. She will never hate me.She had several reasons to hate and never see me again, and all those times she came running into my arms.So she's hardly angry at me. But if I make a little effort then I'm sure the ice around her heart will