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
113Cole tried to call Hunter but his phone was switched off. He drove back to the company and halted his car at the sight of a dreadful Reggie and his team pacing back and forth outside the building."Did Hunter come here?" Cole asked, turning Reggie's back stiff."He hasn't. But you accompanied him, right? We thought he's with you.""He was with me until mom gave him a verbal lashing. Then he left while I was still with her." Cole bit into his fist as he tried to brainstorm and guess where Hunter could be. Although they were best friends and knew each other inside out, the last few months were too much to handle. Had they been in college, Cole would have pointed out Hunter's whereabouts within five seconds. However, Hunter after marriage had become a difficult algebra equation. What he did and why he did, only Hunter knew."Sir didn't come here. Marvin and Hansel were stationed on the rear entrance gate in case sir wished to enter through the other gate. He wasn't seen there either
114Claire retired to her room with fatigue clinging to her like a heavy cloak. She eased into bed and slumped against the headboard. Trailing her hands down her head, she pressed the hair back and sighed wearily."What's happening with me lately? I'm worn out." She whispered and shut her eyes to meditate.However, the minute darkness expanded across her vision, the two most unfortunate and unforeseen events she witnessed recently played on the dark canvas. She jolted her lashes open, breathing ruggedly.Claire poured herself a glass of water. She was lost. Her senses were drained. She couldn't point out why she was present in both places where disaster was narrowly averted. Her heart picked up speed. She pressed a hand to her chest and took small sips of water.She wiped her lips and placed the glass back on the table. A yelp exploded from her mouth when she felt her phone vibrating under her butt."What does he want now?" Hunter was calling. Ferocious intensity crossed her feature
115Next day, Cole was in his studio, fully focused on the sculpture of a man patting the head of his small kid. The place was sun-drenched, filled with abundance of natural light pouring in through the massive windows that surrounded him from three sides. The one side of the wall was painted a crisp white, reflecting the radiant light. The floor was made of polished concrete, and around Cole's feet were patches of flattened clay, crushed under his steps as he frequently rounded the sculptor to mould it. His work station was in the center of the room where he was standing with sculpting tools cluttered around him. To his left were some half-finished projects, and beside it a desk with sketches he made on different colour and size of papers. Half of the wall was shelved and storage units lined the other half. They were laden with materials and supplies, from chisels and gouges to plaster and clay. Whereas a series of fully finished, drying, sculptures stood around him, watching him
116"Err, I'm not concerned or something. Just curious because he called really late at night you know." She quickly added to cover up her worries which actually made her eyes blaze."No, it's not the wound." Cole acted along. "It was mom.""She berated Hunter for divorcing you. You know, Claire, everyone has broken ties with him. Hunter's all alone after the divorce. Everyone is punishing him in their own ways. And mom," He blew out a breath to show his surprise. "She seriously bit into him.""She did? What did she day?" Claire stared in the plate of her food."A lot of things. I was too shocked to grasp everything. But I recall her comparing Hunter with a stray dog.""To a stray dog?" Claire's face was flustered, her striking blue eyes darkening in bewilderment.Cole nodded with a pout, "Yeah. She said something like... Like... I don't exactly remember... But she said the dogs on the streets are more loyal and honest. And that he's dead to her and Uncle Leon."The magic of his lies
117Claire's heartbeat was out of control and her mind fuzzy. She closed her eyes to avoid the chaos and damage her car was going to cause as she pressed her lips together to stop whimpering.She thought it was over. But just then she opened an eye into a slit to see the road clear. The traffic light had changed to green. There weren't many vehicles ahead of her. Thank goodness! She held the steering wheel and turned the car onto the road that led to the empty highway. A small amount of relief washed over her as she didn't have to worry about the damage her malfunctioning car would cause to other vehicles. Even if it crashed somewhere, it would be her alone getting hurt. That made bile to her throat. She didn't want to be hurt. With her heart pounding everywhere in her body, she tried to calm down and think."I need to call someone for help or else I'll injure myself severely. The car isn't stopping or slowing down. I need to call someone but who." She dreadfully bit her lips as her
118Claire's lips quivered with a relieved smile. She felt as if oxygen was blown into her screaming lungs. Right before they failed functioning like her car. She knew she was being stupid by looking in the rear view but she couldn't help it.Hunter was in an open jeep, which was being driven by Reggie, in the passenger's seat. He was half sitting and half leaning out as his sturdy hands held onto the frame of the windshield and the other on the back of his seat.Her eyebrows flew up to meet her hairline when she detected a caravan of six huge SUVs, all black, trailing after him. She wasn't dreaming when she caught sight of black commandos peeking out of the windows of each SUV, their faces masked. Hunter's come prepared. His face was contorted, his eyes focused on her car as he opened his mouth to yell a shaking command at her."Claire, look ahead!"His apprehensive voice snapped her gaze from the rear view. She fluttered her eyes like the wings of a bird in a cage as fear consumed
119"And you think I will leave without you?" Her eyes scorched ferociously.Claire thrusted her hand against his forearm and shook her skull sideways."You want to save my life while risking yours. That's not happening.""It's not that, Claire. I'm just going to do what is necessary.""Throwing yourself down the valley is not necessary, Hunter. You are not staying back. No. No way at all." She resiliently eyed him. "We both are jumping out together. That's my final decision.""It's not possible, Claire. Try to understand. The car is moving at a neck-breaking speed. Someone will have to hold the steering wheel to prevent the car from steering to prevent it from deviating."With a click of her tongue, Claire folded her hands, "We both will jump out together or none of us will."Hunter heaved tensely, "Claire, why are you arguing with me? I told you it's gonna be fine.""Besides, what makes you think I'm throwing myself with the car down the cliff? Gosh, you have become paranoid." He swi
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