173"Aaahh! Aaah! Aaahhhhh!!!" Eyes stared in horror as Jack's pênis started burning. Zara was numb. She couldn't feel her body at all. Her nerves were tangled up, her hands now resting in her lap weakly. She had no strength left in her to function mindfully. Her mind was clouded with fear, her eyes with tears. She was feeling hot all over as though it was her vagína set on fire. "Aaah! Aaahh! Stop it! Stop it!" Jack's scream shook her. Her blood turned icy as she watched the man want to twist and get free. But Hunter's guards- let's edit it! Hunter's 'loyal' guards held the man down quite aggressively. It was as if they knew the shots. Their expressions were ghostly blank.... Like it was normal for them. The way they grasped Jack's limb, it wasn't the first time they were using this strength against a struggling man. Against a man put on fire. But there was something about their stilled gazes. It showed cold astonishment as if this was the first time they were watching a pênis b
174"What the fuck! How dare you hit me, you son of a bitch!" Zara bellowed, suddenly entranced and vexed for being slapped by Hunter.It was as if the wild side of her, which had been sleeping, was stirred to life. Hunter smirked seeing this side of her, "Good. This is the Zara I wished to see.""Keep her awake while I talk to you, alright!"Zara scoffed at his audacity. She bared her teeth with a mad smile as she hissed, "Just who do you think you are ordering around, bastard?"Hunter wasn't unfazed by her totally new version. The cunningness in her features and the evil lift of her lips when she spoke rather amused him. He was compelled to praise her acting skills. She had done great while suppressing her real character behind that innocent facade. Not everyone succeeded in doing that. Not in front of a fucking businessman whose work involved observing people diligently before signing a deal with them. Zara did. She not only lied to him about her real character, but also flipped
175Zara smiled in response, her frustration obvious in her clenched jaw. She eased it with a smile and nodded. But her calm demeanor grated on Hunter's nerves. He wanted to destroy her except that there was one more question he needed answer for. Zara beat him to it, and what she said rattled his insides as his anger cracked. "That doesn't mean I didn't try to kill her." Hunter's eyes froze on her, his heart stopped for a beat and shock hit him. "What do you mean?" "What I mean is," She removed her hair from her shoulder as she smirked. "I tried to kill her and I would have succeeded if you didn't interrupt, Hunter." Memories from the car accident he saved Claire from rushed to his mind. His back straightened painfully as he glowered at her. The happenings of that night tiptoed in his mind. The fear in Claire's eyes, the tears, the colorless appearance of her face, the twitching of her fingers, the tremors in her limbs... everything about her had assaulted him back then. He w
176"I don't trust that woman anymore, Reggie. In spite of being in pain she can get away with it because she knows how to take care of it. Don't underestimate her skills. Just do as I say and stop worrying about me." Hunter drawled after turning around.His white skin made him look pitiful. Reggie wanted to say that the others could take care of Zara. But the slump in Hunter's shoulders specified his weariness. He needed time alone to sort his emotions... And to compose his guilty conscience."Okay. But keep your GPS on. I want to be able to know where you are once I've taken care of her."Hunter only walked into the elevator as he controlled his eyes. The door shut with a ding and the moment it started its way down, tears strolled out of his eyes. He felt fúcked up. His heart wouldn't stop hammering in his chest.As Hunter struggled to go back to his car, his phone vibrated in his pocket. When he fetched it, the name flashing on the screen assaulted him. He pressed his lips together
177The air around Claire became stuffy and pressed down on her. She felt like she was caged in a small room, leaving her breathless. Sweat trailed the side of her face and fell on her collarbone as her hands twitched.The television was glowing with the clip of Zara being dragged on a stretcher into an ambulance. She was draped in a white robe and around her abdomen, the white sheet that was covering her was red. She was bleeding and screaming. Amidst the hustle of desperate cameramen and bustle of reporters trying to cover the news for their channels, Zara's ear-splitting screams could be heard.She was in dire pain. Considering how she was wriggling to get up and even managed to lift her torso off while two female cops tried to tame her, it looked like a level of hell was broken loose on her.However, that was not why her heart suddenly jumped into her throat and thudded there. It was the shape of a familiar man she caught in the extreme left corner of the frame of the captured cli
178Unfortunately, his phone was switched off. Claire went to the washroom with a frown. She finished her morning routine with a sour mood and when she came down to breakfast, all eyes settled on her including the maids'. They were ogling at her as if she had grown another head.Of everyone's behavior, Scott's looked a little too expressive and annoyed. He had a broken plate on the table and everything around it scattered haphazardly. She imagined him striking the surface in a fit of rage over Zara's news.After all, his sister had been right all along and still she suffered. Zara's revelation proved her innocence and told the world how unfair things have been towards her. Claire had an urge to hug her brother and kiss him on his cheek. The attention, nevertheless, was making her uncomfortable. Maybe next time, she mulled as she came towards the table. "Morning," Claire's voice was a whisper. "I have an early meeting. I'll leave first."She lied because she couldn't stand all their st
179"That man has hurt you enough. I won't allow him to come near you again. You will find a better guy. One who will love you doubtlessly and who won't leave you for a wretched ex-girlfriend." Scott looked at her sharply. "I want to be with him. Just him." Claire folded her hands as she gave him a look. "No, absolutely not." Scott rasped indignantly. "Why not? I still have feelings for him." Scott unbuckled his seat belt so he could sit facing her, "Because he broke your heart, sis. He left you for his ex, remember? You deserve so much better than someone who'd do that." "What if I want to forgive him? What if it was a gruesome mistake and he repents his actions? We both saw the news the other night. What if he was tricked into divorcing me?" Claire was seriously annoyed and argued back loudly even though she knew that it was her life and Scott or anyone else's view really didn't matter. She had only asked him that question out of stupidity. She could just forget it and move on
180Claire's heart galloped in her chest like a rare stallion with hunters after him. She did not know why she felt this way. She looked up from her feet at the broad back of the man concerning her, feeling her skin tingle. Tyler was standing near the number pad. With his one hand in the pocket and another holding his cellphone, he looked casual. As if the woman standing behind him at a few steps distant wasn't the one he had claimed to like some months ago. Claire slumped against the mirror wall, having the same feeling she had in the car. The elevator was making its way up at a snail's speed. Tyler was occupied by his phone but his ignorance bothered her. She clenched her jaw and huffed, looking down at her feet again. Suddenly, there was a loud boom and the metal cabinet ground to a screeching halt. "W-what happened?" Claire held her hands out to her side to clutch the elevator walls to stand still, her voice shaking. She looked around as the lights started flickering. After a
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