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
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