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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
120Hunter didn't stop himself when his mouth curled in a ferocious scowl. He grabbed Zara's arm and lightly shook her to reprimand her."Why the hell are you here, Zara?""I... I heard about the firing from Cole a-and... And couldn't stop myself from wanting to meet you. I'm sorry if I..." She trailed off. Zara made a dreadful face as if she was scared of Hunter's wrath and even lowered her skull to appear like she was hurt by his coldness. "You could have waited till I came back home, Zara! You destroyed our moment. God dammit!" Hunter heaved angrily as he ran a hand through his wet hair. “I had been chasing after Claire for weeks, and just when she was starting to warm up to me, you had to appear and make her go ten steps backward. You reversed all my efforts and progress.”"I... I am sorry but I..." Zara ran back to Cole and shed tears in front of him.Though Cole wasn't any closer to Zara, he didn't like the way she sobbed and asked him to take her back. He also recalled the wa
121"Fine, I will forgive you. But I have a condition," Zara eyed him narrowly as she pouted."Let's hear your condition then." Hunter nervously rubbed his nape. He had been trying to placate her for ten minutes. Zara couldn't drag it further. Who knows if he had a change of heart! She wasn't here to piss him off. Rather, she was here to make him see she was his right choice. "You will allow me to treat your wounds." She handed him a smile. She added, "Hunter, we couldn't be a couple. But we can be good friends. Best friends. I also want to pay you back in some way, in any way I could, for all you have done for me. I can't just take everything and give back nothing. You saved me from my in-laws and many other threats, Hunter. The least I can do is be your doctor and treat you.""If it will make you happy then be it. But Zara," Hunter heaved. "I hope you will respect my privacy. You know I am chasing Claire. I don't want her to misunderstand this as anything else.""Rest assured I w
122Claire's POVI stepped inside my father's house by Eleven. I was completely drenched and left a trail behind me like a snail when I walked in. My parents were sitting in the hall with worried pale faces. Scott was continuously dialling a number.I was heading for the stairs when, "Laire, oh darling! You are home finally." Mom rose to her feet hastily and sauntered towards me.She cupped my cheeks and kissed my full face. Her heavy breaths fanned my face. Seeing her snapped something within me. Tears welled up in my eyes and I wrapped my arms around her torso while she caressed my hair and held me by the shoulders with her cold and jittery fingers."Where were you, baby? You gave us all a heart attack. Your phone is unreachable and your secretary said you left earlier. Wh-why are you drenched? Wh-where's your car, baby?" Dad stammered towards the end as his concerned eyes raked over my face.The gentle touch of his hand on my head sent my emotions spiraling into chaos. I felt a lum
123Claire's POV "You know? H-how did you—" Another squeeze from her and I calmed down. Now it was starting to make sense. My mom came to my room and gave me all the time in the world so I would confide in her. She was encouraging me to trust her with my emotions. I wanted to reason out, give her some explanation because I had promised my family to never see Hunter again. To never let him influence my life ever again after the divorce. For them, I was moving ahead in my career without Hunter's shadow falling on me. They believed Hunter was out of my life for good. But they didn't know the secret of my life. The dirty secret I found both soothing and anguishing. Hunter's confession. Him still being a part of my life. Him still meeting me frequently although my family presumes he is non-existent in my life. I opened my mouth to confront her but she beat me to it. "Cole called your father after I brought you to your room. He told us about the malfunction and how Hunter risked his