139Hunter stared at the mansion, standing the harsh beating of millions of raindrops falling down on it. His eyes stopped on the window of Claire's room. The curtains were drawn, the lights off. It wasn't so late in the night and everything that happened today wasn't simple enough to put it behind one's back and have an early night.He could imagine Claire sitting somewhere in the dim space with something bringing back memories and tears. He hated his mind for the picture but then it metamorphosed into Claire having blood all over her face, her eyes lifeless, and her chest unmoving. He was taken to that street on which his mother was said to have that close call with the car.Shaking his head agitatedly, Hunter gulped a long breath hungrily. Claire was fine. The car hadn't been able to harm her. But it didn't do anything good to relax his tangled nerves. Because then he remembered the car failure she had.It all made sense, and it affected his breathing."Your mom told me that the ca
140Claire sat in the living hall with a pillow in her lap. Her eyes were swollen and lips pouted in returning aggression. Once again she was made to look like a fool. Like a jealous person.She stared at her chipped nails as she tried to come out of that event. Alas, her mind was stuck in it. She had the evidence, she had the perfect chance to reveal Zara's face. But thanks to Caine's outburst. It almost looked like a spell was cast on him. Zara's bewitching spell.While she tried to not cry again, her head turned around. She blinked her eyes as they focused on a silhouette standing at the doorstep. It was very much like.... Hunter. Her wrath returned with a vengeance. Claire got up and stormed towards him.She wasn't a lover of darkness but this man catapulted her completely into it since he came back to her life after the divorce. So much so that she was forced to embrace it till she felt good. "What the hell are you doing here? The guards..." Her eyes became hard as she hissed un
141She watched with bated breaths as he combed his fingers through his hair. His bunched shoulders didn't make her feel good. They watered her eyes. Made her chest feel heavy.He hadn't come here to take those insults and then leave her alone, had he?Claire clenched her jaw to keep her whimpers in. She observed when he flexed his shoulders before stepping away. He didn't utter a word as he started treading towards the wide open door.With her fingers biting uneasily on the back of the couch, she twisted herself to look at him. Hunter stood there. He just stood there, looking out. Then his hands unzipped the jacket he was wearing. He reached in the inside pocket and pulled something out.Claire's eyes furrowed in disappointment and rising tension."Is that a packet of cigarettes?" She asked herself.Her doubt was confirmed when he lit it and put it to his mouth. Taking a heavy drag on his cigarette, he exhaled a cloud of smoke. Claire felt about to burst from rage. She got up on her c
142My love, When you almost said it in the morning that you want to give me another chance I was awestruck. I wasn't able to breathe because I know what I've done is irredeemable. And when Caine and others came, I became pale. I thought you wouldn't want to look at my face. But you, my love, always enchant me with your unforeseen actions. The fact that you considered giving me another chance is enough to fall at your feet and cry for my mistakes. I know I wasn't the most attentive or romantic partner, but I promise to do it all for you. My love for you is indestructible from now on. Even if you have changed your mind after the morning incident, I will not complain. I will never stop loving you. No matter what your decision is about us, I will always do these little gestures and try to bring a smile to your face. Even if you want to move on with someone else (I hope you don't because I will not let that happen), I will love you and you alone.I miss you in our house, baby. I am liv
143Claire's skin burned with goosebumps. Butterflies went crazy in her stomach. She grinned in the dark while an obvious pink tint colored her cheeks."What?!" She exclaimed."I... I mean..." It broke his trance of craving, causing him to look everywhere else around her face but her face. "I mean to say you are wet. Maybe I can help you wipe your legs. I didn't mean—""Is Hunter I'm-the-fearless MacIntyre flushed?" Claire prodded a finger in the hard plain of his chest."What, no! Why would you get that idea? I am not..." He heaved deeply, and it showed that he was nervous. "Flushed.""Yes, you are." Claire persisted.She closed the gap between them, and stood on the tip of her toes. Her free hand clutched his neck so she could bring his head a little downward as she whispered."You want me... But you're scared to admit it aloud."Hunter's heart raced at an inhumane rate. He took some deep breaths to control his physical reaction and closed his eyes."I do. There's no denying that.
144A series of slow, shivery kisses began from under her ear lobe down to her collar bone. Hunter licked her skin as his hands cupped her breasts tightly. He kneaded them softly, squeezing them in his palms and lightly stroking around her areola. Claire bit onto her bottom lip while her eyelids came down. Her head fell back on his shoulder as strong pleasure ran through her bloodstream. She moaned into him, her hands going around his. She gripped the back of his hands and pressed them on her bosoms. The heat of his palm felt good, almost velvety on her aching nipples. She undid his hands so she could guide his fingers to touch her pebbled nipples. To her disappointment, Hunter spun her around. He breathed heavily against her mouth as his hands cupped her ass. He squeezed her flesh in an agonizing hold, causing her to open her mouth on a ragged breath. "I did that to your ass many times. And..." He finally took hold of her nipples and twisted them without a hint of mercy."Aah!" Sh
145"What?" Claire raised a demanding eyebrow while feigning oblivion. "Why are you gazing at me like that?" It was Hunter's turn to raise an eyebrow, except that it was more to tease her. "Gazing at you like what?" Her cheeks flamed a surprisingly lovely shade of red as she softly answered, "You're gazing at me like the bird that gazes at the moon all night in memories of its partner.”"Oh, that's how I am gazing at you? I thought it's more like a predatory gaze after..." He took a deliberate pause to elevate her excitement and pleasurable fear. "After what we did on the stairs."Claire's stomach recoiled in sweet pleasure. Her core thrummed, compelling her to clench her thighs together to keep them from shuddering. After their hot, unforeseen makeout on the staircase, she got changed into an atrociously short nightgown. It ended just above her hips and on the front, just enough to hide them from his eyes. Not that it was useful because it was thin— like tissue-thin, and one which
146Although her heart warned her not to take this any further, the influence of the devil made her mind bloom with an evil idea. She offered him a wicked smirk and cócked her brows."Do you really want to know?""I've never been more eager to know something!" He was quick with his response.Claire lifted her shoulders in an indifferent shrug, "Okay, if you're so eager then let me tell you."She excused herself to go upstairs to her room. Hunter's heart danced with a reckless abandon. He crossed his fingers and prayed for it to be a souvenir or something like that that she preserved. It could be a rose he gave her— not that he recalled giving her one willingly— that she put in her diary. Or a handkerchief— Which again, he did not remember giving her ever— with dried blood patch, that he may have offered to tie around her bleeding palm.His lips thinned and the feeling of excitement diminished to the one of regret and self-loathing. There was not even a single good thing he recalled doi
261She took Claire's hand and stroked the back, "Well, I was one of those who had problems with your wedding with Hunter. I didn't like him. But over the months since your divorce, I have seen many changes in him. His love is genuine, Claire. The man didn't hesitate to kneel in a crowded place to please you, do you really think he would go back on his promises after doing so much for you?"Penny looked at her expectantly, hoping her words would have an effect. Claire only looked away and it blossomed her resentment."I haven't seen a dumber woman in my life!" Penny rose to her feet. "Hunter's literally crawling on a minefield to get to you and your stubbornness is one step away from making him explode with one of the mines. You will lose him forever if you don't stop it, Claire."Penny sauntered to the door, her feet thudding loudly on the tiled floor."Perhaps you want to see his body in a coffin to realize what you're doing to him and yourself.” Claire gasped at her words, her feat
260Penny didn't waver, "Girl, Hunter's character is deeper and darker than silent mysterious waters in the ocean. The last time Tia insulted you in the old Murphy Mansion during Grandma Avery's anniversary, Hunter burned her favorite car in revenge and in warning to stay away from you... And we saw how he pummeled Tyler for being around you.""H-he burned her car!!!" "Yeah, Cole told me. Anyway, do you think that after Tyler and you kissed, he saw him leaving your room and believing that you two had séx while he was in the next room, after Tia raised a knife on you to harm you, after bleeding for you… After all this— will he really stay quiet?"Claire recoiled in shock, wrapping her arms around her legs. She felt cold from all the assessment Penny made her do. "I... I'm speechless." "The answer to my question is— No, Hunter won't stay quiet. He's plotting his plan in silence and when it is the right time, he will unleash his attack on the Murphys.""....""Btw," Penny moved closer
259She knew she started off ridiculously. But it was her jumbled up emotions. Firstly, Hunter was annoying her. And then she saw Penny after such a long time. The friend within her, who had missed her other half— her bestie, was reawakened.The first glance Claire had taken at Penny after stepping inside the house was enough to realize that— had she been by her side wherever she wasn't, she might have prevented her from committing some of the mistakes she now regretted. The kiss with Tyler, for instance."You can stay here if you like. I'll just go up and..." Claire's tear-stricken voice came out slow and hoarse. "Take a shower! I also need to take care of this thing and figure out how to cover it."Claire started walking away when Penny asked, "What is that by the way?" "Oh, this is nothing. Someone just pressed a knife to my throat in the parking lot." Penny's blood ran cold. She immediately held Claire's hand to stop her. "Are you serious?" She lifted her chin a bit to see her
258"You have no idea what I want with you and how desperate I'm to have that. I've made mistakes, Claire, and I'm about to clear them up and make everything better. You just need to be a little soft and let me in." He spoke resignedly. "Be a little soft and let you in?" Claire growled angrily as she threw daggers at him. "You say things that hurt and then you disappear for days. Then you show up only when you hear I've been troubled. How is this going to make anything better? You don't keep your word and only act when it's convenient for you.” "I didn't disappear! I was just— wait!" Hunter fluttered his eyelids as a smirk unfurled on his lips. "Did you just say that I said things that hurt? By that, are you referring to what I said at the airport— about letting you go? Did that scare you, Dove? Did you really think I will not show you my face again? Damn, did you really think I was going to give up on us?"Crimson colored her cheeks as she redirected her gaze outside. Her eyes wide
257Claire sat heaving angrily beside Hunter. Her hands were folded under her breasts and she glared out without caring to fasten the seat belt. Hunter noticed it and said, "Claire, buckle up your seat belt."He was ignored brutally. He sighed as he tried again. This time Claire snapped her head towards him like a Python warning humans to leave it alone if they didn't want a painful bite."Fine, I'll do it for you."Hunter unclasped his own seat belt to come and help her. However, she thrusted a hand at his shoulder to keep him away."Touch me and you'll be dead meat!""I won't, now do it. We don't have time to waste, Claire. I told you I have a meeting!" He eyed the belt."It's none of my concern whether you have a meeting or not. I didn't ask you to drop me home. Now bear with it.""Claire..." Hunter sighed as he peered at her with a ‘what am I going to with you’ yet loving gaze. Claire fumed and looked out of the window. She wouldn't be acting this way if it wasn't for what she h
256“No thanks, sheriff. Just take my statement and I'll get going.” Claire spoke, but the sheriff insisted she take the almonds first. He was acting weird. He was being extraordinarily friendly and dusted the chair before she sat down too. She heaved because she knew the root cause. Although she was the daughter of a well-respected man in the country, she was being well-treated because of her connection with Hunter.Through her the Sheriff wanted to impress Hunter. Quelling down her frustration, she glared at Alexa... The culprit behind all this. Alexa shrugged with an apologetic look as she tried to speak with the sheriff. "Sir, we were at Paragon Mall shopping... And our friend was just attacked in the parking lot. Someone put a knife to her throat."Yara stood behind Claire, holding her shoulders. She nodded her head to confirm Alexa was telling the truth before she removed Claire's hair out of her shoulder and neck. "See here. It's not big but it could have been dangerous."
255 "What do I want?" The man chuckled behind the mask. He trailed the tip of the knife on Claire's jaw and pierced the tip back on the pulse at her throat. She gasped and shivered as the man laughed. "It's not about what I want— it's about what they want... And they want to see her bleed." Claire gulped, listening to the man carefully. She was in tears, her nerves were frayed, but she could infer someone had sent the man to scare her. Yes, it was supposed to scare her because the man had enough time to kill her but he hadn't.He was taking his time to frighten the girls. His hold on the knife didn't indicate that he meant to slit her throat. It was a facade. "Who is it? Who wants my blood?" Claire asked and the man was taken aback. "I was warned about that mouth of yours!" He sniggered. "They weren't wrong." "Who is it? Is it... Zara?" Claire guessed and the man froze. He stared at her, and those eyes looked familiar. She was thinking where she saw them when the man shook her
254Two days later,"Do you really think this suits me? I... Don't really like the... Color! It looks dull on me." Her voice wavered with doubt as she peered at herself in the mirror."You are looking like a glass of hot chocolate! Trust me, every other woman at the party is going to be jealous of you, Claire. Just choose this dress!" Yara exclaimed with glimmering eyes. The girls have come to a mall to buy dresses for themselves for an informal party organized by Prince Rashid. Although the official gathering to introduce projects was postponed to the end of this month, he expressed his desire to meet and greet everyone in person to know everyone better before getting down to the real business. He was being charitable too given he sent out gift cards and opportunities to women to shop from famous brands for the party. The men were sent tailored suits to choose from, and the party was held at the biggest banquet hall in Bloomcrest— White Pearl. It was not usually available for book
253Rashid stood beside his wife as he smiled at Hunter. A hand going around Kareena, he kissed her hair and admired his daughter giggling in his friend's arms. While Hunter was fidgeting with her, she seemed happy. "Her name is Nour, the light of our eyes." Rashid said. Hunter's body was alight with emotions that brought tears to his eyes. A baby... He was holding a baby! The feeling of having a bundle of joy in arms, at first, brought sadness and a reminder of the baby he and Claire lost. Wouldn't he have been this big— in Claire's belly? As he looked at Nour, the feelings in his heart were replaced with happiness and warmth. He forgot about his grief and hesitantly lifted a finger to caress her chubby cheek. "Hey, baby." Hunter whispered and Nour gave out a squeal of joy at him. "She's only that happy around her father, Hunter. She cries in other men's arms. But it looks like she likes you." Kareena stated as she came closer to touch the head of her daughter. The minute she