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
181Claire crawled on her knees towards him. She wasn't thinking straight when she did it, but she lifted his face with her fingers and held him there. Their eyes bore into each other with the intensity of two vehicles crashing with a bang. Then slowly Tyler's eyebrows pinched as he lowered his eyes to her hand. The downward motion of his pupils led her focus to where she was holding him and felt her heart hitching in her chest. She was holding his nape while standing on her knees, hovering over his sitting figure. Claire quickly withdrew her hand and looked away. "What have I done to get this treatment?" Tyler stared at her. From where he was seeing her, she appeared enticing. Her dress was clinging to her skin. Anyone who saw her would have first seen the swell of her breasts, the curve of her waist, followed by the dip of her sexy hips. Her body was a masterpiece of curves. Her skin shimmered with a soft ethereal light even in the darkness like she had dusted her face with a t
182But seeing that her father was waiting for her, Claire ran to him. She snaked his waist by her arms and hugged him. "You didn't have to wait, dad. I would have managed." Mr. Argent caressed her hair, "It's a proud moment for a father to go back home with his daughter from the safe office building." Claire was flattered by his words. He hugged her again before they entered his car. The driver took the rear exit. It was not a surprise that cameramen and reporters crowded outside there too, but it wasn't as much as in the front. When they were happily out on the road, Dominic added, "You have no idea how much my employees admire you. Whenever I go out of my office to take a stroll, I hear them whispering about you." Claire suddenly grew nervous. She knew they whispered about her. Dominic saw through her emotions and pulled her in his arms. "And I've only heard good things, darling." He kissed on the top of her head. "Even today, they were talking about your endurance and how you
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 express
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
278Claire wasn't happy. Hunter did make mistakes, but that didn't make him a loser. A loser would never accept his mistake. A loser always avoids it and often others have to guilt-trip him to take responsibility for his actions. That, or he's blamed until he's forced to accept his mistakes. However, he would never willingly own up to them. Claire had a big lecture to give to him on this topic. She showed a phone sign with her finger as she put it near her ear, indicating that she was going to call him. But Hunter quickly shook his head and motioned down at the cardboard. Not many were left and Claire decided to stay. She probably read the worst ones, she deemed, as she folded her hands and waited for him to reveal the new messages. It read: On the other hand, you're so charming, honest, kind and considerate. Another one said: I'm nothing in front of you. Another one: Everyone loves you for who you are. As for me... He sighed self-loathingly as he revealed a new card: They can'
277Claire took a deep breath as she lifted her upper body by the midriff and took a glance towards the window. The curtains were drawn and a soft breeze was billowing it. Her heart pounded loudly as her face began to heat up.The sadness she was drowning in earlier got replaced by excitement and an utter sense of delight. Her body was alight with all sorts of gleeful emotions. She nervously swallowed as her nerves were getting the better of her. With slow and unrushed movements, Claire lifted the blanket from her body and rolled out of the bed. She took baby steps towards the window because the thrill of going there made her body jittery. The distance suddenly seemed too long.But when she reached there and drew the curtains apart and looked down— it was worth it!Her lips curled up and her cheeks numbed from all the heat she was feeling in her face. Claire was filled with uncontainable joy because HUNTER WAS STANDING DOWN THERE, outside her window.He waved a hand at her as his mout
276Claire shut the door with a bang and threw herself on bed, pulling the blanket over her. Her chest ached from trying to control her sobbing while her eyes flashed with the images of Scott's disgusted expressions. The pain she felt was unimaginable.They hurt more because they came from her only sibling— her protective sibling who had promised to burn the world to make her happy.She recalled Scott's desperation from months ago when she had discovered that she was pregnant. He was willing to give her baby the love of a father and take care of her the way she deserved as a pregnant lady. He never left her alone, always lingering around as if it was his responsibility to make sure she and the baby were fine.But the bitter words he said today, the anger he showed... It made her heart shatter into pieces.Claire covered her mouth to suppress her sobs. For her, it was a wonderful day today. She felt amazing when she shared her feelings with Hunter. She was thrilled beyond explanation w
275The way he spoke with authority made Claire's jaw tighten. It was as if he were the older sibling and she the younger one— not the other way around."Let go of my hand, Scott! I'm not in the mood to talk." Claire eyed him sternly. "Then make your mood, Claire. Because I'm not letting you go until we finish this conversation." Scott shrugged his shoulders uncaringly. He held her hand tightly and gave her a challenging look, making her seethe. "Stop being annoying, Scott. Let go." "Answer my questions first. Was Penny the only company you had or was there someone else too?" "You know the answer then why are you asking me!" Claire pulled her hand away. "I knew it! And I'm ashamed to call you my sister." Scott sniggered, making her eyes freeze in shock. Mr. Argent banged his hands on the table before he rose to his feet, "What the hell is going on here? What's with your attitude today, Scott. How dare you talk to your sister like that?" "Just the same way she dared to soil our
274Claire came home with bright pink cheeks and a smile that made her mother stop her in the main hall. She circled her while her curious eyes tried to find out the cause behind that blush."You are blushing, Claire." Andrea prodded a finger in her cheek."Am I? That's probably the heat of the day, mom. You see, it's so.... Dark outside like it's going to rain." Claire's voice lessened over the last sentence as she gazed out the huge sliding doors that led to the garden outside.The sky was gray and heavy and angry black clouds floated in it. She bit her lips embarrassed as she wondered what excuse to make to avoid her mom.Andrea laughed, "Oh, Claire, you're so transparent. It has nothing to do with the weather. You're thinking about him, aren't you?" "W-who?" "Don't play dumb, sweetie. I know exactly who I'm talking about." She paused for dramatic effect. "Tyler." Claire's jaw dropped. She stared at her mother as her heart pounded in her chest. She wondered why she was talking ab
273Hunter's POV She stopped just a hand's distance away and blinked her doey eyes at me, "I know we've been through so much, and our past is complicated. But I don't want to rush into anything this time. I want to love the good part we missed before. I want us to take our time, to enjoy each other's company, to fall in love all over again. I want you to make me feel special.""I want our second chance to be different. I want it to be about us, about our love, about our connection. I want it to be real, and true, and raw. I want us to be vulnerable, to be open, to be honest with each other. I want this time to be our time. Our time to love, to laugh, to live. Our time to be us." Her lips trembled. She was having a war with herself whether to tell it to me or not. She chose to do it anyway and risk it all... Because, by sharing her feelings with me, she was exposing how desperately she wanted me. "I want us to create new memories, to make new mistakes, to learn from each other all ov