130Claire couldn't help but feel adrenaline rush through her veins. She clutched the counter at her back to keep standing as she furrowed her brows accusingly at Hunter."So you are rejecting my efforts and food again?!""Hell, no. That's not what I meant and you know that." She saw Hunter's body stiffen.She knew why he was saying that and it caused her all the way more pain. That's because she was willing to give him a chance. Willing to answer his stubbornness with a yes. Willing to take a step towards him and acknowledge his persistence.Hunter's efforts to prove his love for her had been more powerful than his efforts to ignore her. And he also confronted her that he was not really as ignorant as she thought he was. She loved his efforts. She loved how he followed her.It was a dream come too. She found it embarrassing and contradicting the determinations she had made after signing the divorce papers (that she would never look back at him and their past) but how could she not loo
131Her body wanted to reciprocate. To give back the warmth to him and leave hints to him. To make it obvious that she was willing to give him a chance. "I hate to say this but I believe you. In fact, I believed it the first time you told me." "Claire, I..." Hunter was speechless. "You do? You really do? I mean, I thought it would take forever to convince you. I thought I would... God, I can't breathe properly. Please, just tell me this is not a joke. You know that I love you, right? You really believe me, don't you? Is this a dream? Because..." He wiped a hand on his face, "What I did can't be forgotten so easily. Tell me this is not a dream. Tell me do you... Do you really believe me?" "Yes, I believe you. Yes, I believe that you love me more than I ever thought you would." Claire said with a smile amidst her tears. Hunter sat back on his feet, his hands suspending to his sides exhaustedly. He closed his eyes with a deep sigh, conveying his relief and sentiments, as drops of te
132When Claire had seen Hunter sitting awake on her bed, her heart had raced fervently through the corridors of her chest. This was after ages Hunter visited her room and this was his second time. The first time he came, it was after their marriage to bring Claire to meet her parents as part of a tradition Claire's family followed. But after that, he had made it clear that he was not going to fabricate more lies than what they were telling each other's parents about their marriage. He had given her the notion that from then onwards she was supposed to come up with excuses for him. He didn't care and he didn't seem to regret it. But when she'd seen Hunter sitting on the bed, she remembered how he climbed up to her room to meet her. He didn't intend it, even then by doing that— that too in the condition which Caine termed as 'Fatal' as his indefinable perspiration suggested— he managed to crawl to the corner in her heart that she had promised never to let him enter again. Her mouth
133"I promised Claire I would come with your reports the minute I am free." Caine spoke while looking up at the sky as it grew darker and darker, though it was still the afternoon. "My reports. What kind of reports?" Hunter's forehead creased in confusion. "The reports of your blood test." Despite Zara's wincing Caine raised her. He banded a hand around her waist while Hunter felt himself fall deeper in confusion. "What kind of blood test? I don't remember giving you any blood samples.""You were too drowsy to remember." Claire jumped in.Her gaze stung at the sight of Caine holding Zara. He was a nice man and his hands performed life saving miracles. It was a shame that such hands had to hold a woman who could be identified as dirt and trash given her dupery.It was difficult not to sound angry but Claire managed to narrate everything to Hunter that she noticed happening to him from the moment he climbed to her bedroom."Your perspiration didn't look normal and thus I requested
134The sky darkened outside the mansion. Raindrops came down like bullets firing from above. They were of the size of a coin and they beat against the windows of the mansion harshly. The sound sent pangs of frustration course through Claire's body. She tamped down her urge of yanking Zara's hair to make her speak."We don't have all day, Zara Levine."Hunter bit onto his bottom lip. He could understand Claire's desperation to expose Zara. Not that she was wrong on her part. The reports screamed the truth. Hunter was drugged with sexual stimulants. It made him wonder what would have happened if he hadn't left his house that night.Then his eyes shifted to Zara who was sobbing and hugging her arms helplessly. She was there in his room that night. After giving him the tea, Zara entered the restroom. She was right there. What if she had come out before he exited? Hunter didn't even want to think about the consequences.He would have lost Claire forever. The only thing that was keeping t
135"My mind is spinning just from thinking how can someone be so paranoid? I get it Zara's arrival has undoubtedly set off a chain reaction and impacted many lives, it is important to understand that no one deserves to be pushed to such limits that they are forced to take life endangering steps."Caine rubbed his eyebrows to ease the pain that's started to throb there and sighed defeatedly. He cringed as he added. "As a doctor, it's disheartening to witness how someone's harsh comments can plant seeds of self-loathing and doubt in a person's mind. Your allegations are sufficient to trigger depression, Claire. But trust me, Zara's intention was not to put distance between you two. She really wanted to help Hunter."Silence settled within the room. Zara inwardly swirled in delight. She thanked Caine for doing the majority of the work and pretended to hyperventilate.'I wasn't expecting that, Caine. Good job! I'm flattered. I might let you fuck me once or twice for helping me. Otherwise
136"Who asked you to come with Zara to discuss the useless report?" A vein popped on the side of his thick neck as he approached him intimidatingly. Caine lifted his torso off the wet ground to spit blood out as he pressed a hand to his mouth. "You could have told me everything in person and I would have dealt with it. Why make a show of it?!" Hunter kicked him in the stomach. Caine spit more blood out. When Hunter pulled his leg back to kick him again, he looked up with eyes clouded furiously. The hard look on his face dared Hunter to kick him. He wouldn't have expected that but Hunter did kick him again. That was it. Caine's patience reached its breaking point, and like a damn bursting open, his fury spilled. Getting up on his feet, he delivered a punch to Hunter's mouth."She has driven you crazy, Hunter! You are crossing your limits for that woman." He screamed.The rain came down on them harshly. Hearing Caine call Claire 'that woman' intensified his frustration. Hunter poun
137Silence prevailed between them. Hunter's face remained dark and dull. He darted a tongue out to lick his lips and then shook his head in response."To be honest with you, I felt the same way when Claire cornered Zara today. In fact there's something I want to tell you that I noticed." Hunter's eyes were grim with rings of sadness around his dark irises as though he wasn't happy talking about this. "You're making my hair rise. Don't build suspense and tell me already." Cole leaned forward curiously. Hunter looked at the deep wrinkles on his fingers. They were cold and coldness was languidly taking over his whole frame. He didn't complain of the low heat in the car and shared the menacing thing he witnessed in Claire's house. "When Caine was defending Zara and criticizing Claire for accusing her, I caught a glimpse of Zara's reaction. I mean, her head was down and her hair was covering her face, but I could have sworn I saw a sly smirk on her lips. It seemed like she was taking p
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