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
183"Sir is..." Reggie trailed off, making her breaths hitch. "Fine, although we are trying to get him out of his bedroom. He hasn't stepped out since that night." Claire's chest shivered. She pressed lips to suppress a cry of worry as she told Reggie, "Please, get him to switch his phone on. Maybe I can help a little." "I'm afraid I can't do that even if I want to. He has broken his phone and a lot of things in his bedroom." "I hope he's fine." Claire gasped while raising a hand to place it on her chest. "I can't comment on that, madam." Claire's heart throbbed in her ears. She was freaking out like she hasn't ever before. "Is he... Is he injured?" She pressed a hand to her mouth. "Umm..." Reggie took his time. "I would be in trouble if I told you this, but I would feel worse if I didn't, madam. Sir rendered deep cuts on his right hand from smashing a glass in a tight grip. He muttered that it was his punishment for slapping you."That disclosure sliced through her heart like
184Tyler's mouth dropped as he gaped at her saying those words. "Good friends? I never said we could not be good friends. But even to be friends, you have to communicate. But you didn't, Claire. You left me hanging like it didn't matter." "I..." She stared at him in disbelief. "I seriously don't know what you're saying, Tyler. When did I not communicate?" "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Claire. The flowers, the message, my feelings... complete radio silence." He stepped closer. Claire shifted away uncomfortably, "I really don't know what you're saying. I really don't. What flowers?" "WHAT FLOWERS?" He laughed frustratedly. "Are you joking with me? You can't really forget it. I sent you fucking flowers with a note in it, Claire. It was on the very day I told you that I like you. Do you remember anything?" Claire reeled back to that day. She had been shaken to her core when he said he liked her. Tyler had come to her life like a creak providing light in a closed dark ca
185Claire's heart stopped beating as everything around her began to throb. The corner of her eyes pained and blurred out her peripheral vision. It was as if all her focus was directed to the man in the center of her vision and white blinking dots squirmed on the corner. "You are joking with me, right?" Her tone was bled dry of emotions, her baritone hoarse like she would cry any moment now. However, Tyler's serious face and how still he was sitting, looking at her reaction to the news suggested that he wasn't. He wouldn't joke with her about such a sensitive topic. Ezma had been everything to him. His first love. He was still stuck on her, and definitely, he wouldn't joke like this and humiliate himself as well. "T-this can't... This... I..." Claire couldn't form a comprehensible sentence as her lungs were aching for oxygen.She felt her fingers turning cold and the tips burned like she dipped them in ice. The back of her neck pricked with a stinging sensation while her forehead b
186"There comes my hero! You're just in time, Tye. I was about to serve lasagna to everyone." Tia Murphy glowed joyfully upon seeing her son. She came over to him and hugged him. Tyler hugged back with a sigh and a small smile. His mother was a little... Overbearing. But she loved him like her precious diamonds. He chuckled because his comparison was inaccurate. Tia loved him more than diamonds. He knew that because once he and Shawn pulled a prank on her. It was around the time when he was a teenager and Shawn was younger. They fake called her as a kidnapper and lied that Tyler was taken down. The price for saving his life was in billions. She hadn't hesitated to sell her diamonds worth billions. It was intimated to them by their father, who was involved in the prank with the boys. He was at the house with his wife when the call came. John Murphy had witnessed her cry and sob as she frantically stuffed her jewelry in a bag to take them to sell. He had been amused too, because he k
187"Tye! Are you okay, sweetheart?" Tia rose from the corner of the couch and hurried at Tyler who was choking on his food."Here, drink water." Tia helped him take gulps of water as she rubbed his back.While she attended to Tyler, Shawn covered his mouth to hide his laugh."What the hell did you do to my baby, you little demon?" Tia scolded Shawn."I didn't do anything. Ask your twenty-nine year old baby if you don't believe me... Which I know you don't!" Shawn made a face.Tia was about to give him a piece of her mind when Tyler held her hand. “I'm fine, mom.” He kissed her knuckles and coaxed her to go back to her place. “You were leaving, weren't you? Why are you sitting here still? Go join the dirty bikers club and soil our name.” Tia glared at her younger one. Shawn rolled his eyes, “I changed my mind, mom. My brother can't carry the burden of our business alone on his shoulders. I'm staying back so I can help him carry the load.”“You will join the business only when you'r
230Hunter's POV "I'm the one bleeding and it's your eyes that are shedding tears. Isn't it a little weird, Dove?" She froze, I saw her knuckles turn white from clenching her fingers too tight to keep her emotions in check. But she failed and it made my body hum in gratitude. It's a relief that her heart still cares even though her eyes show deep hatred. "Your curses... I've been thinking about them since you first cursed me, Dove. I won't hide how much it hurts to hear all those words. They make my heart bleed. I wonder if you are really so desperate to see my blood. But... Is this how it’ll be when I’m bleeding and suffering in torment?" I moved back so I could look at her face. My darling was glowing red. Her cute nose seemed like a cherry tomato while the rims around her eyes shimmered a pinkish red. Her wet lashes shadowed her admirable cheeks as her full lips quivered from each sob that left them. "Gosh, if this is how you're going to cry, I swear I'll throw myself under a t
229Hunter's POV Pain clawed through my chest as a smile of agony unrolled on my lips. My eyes weren't moist but the bite of her words made my eyes burn. So much hatred? This should not stun me, but damn, it did. It did more than I was capable of describing it in words. I gazed at her, trying to force a smile despite the deep pain in my chest. I reached out a hand to grab hers and put it back on my bleeding forearm. "Why wait for karma to do what you can do to me now, Dove?" I guided her long nails to my skin and made her scratch me. She gave me a look with her left brow going high, "Are you challenging me? I'm not the old Claire, Hunter MacIntyre. She was easy to fool and manipulate. Don't even dare to think that the thought of hurting you would cause my mind to spin.""All I'm trying to do is bring my old Claire back..." I kept the smile which I could see was aggravating her. "And if this is the only way... Then be it." Her nails pricked my skin enough to cause a burning sensati
228Hunter's PovMy heart swelled triple of its usual size and wanting to jump from my mouth into my hand so it could show to everyone how delighted I was! Yes, my nerves were dancing in happiness and my heart was too excited to contain this happiness.Claire was sitting next to me. It was like a dream come true. That night after she heard my confession and left me alone on the dark and lonely road, I thought it was over. I thought that she wouldn't spare me a single glance after that.But yesterday when she saw me, the relief and happiness was visible in her baby blue eyes. She was soothed but her anger didn't let her show it. And that slap, I won't deny that it didn't hurt me, but that slap was a way to show that she hated me a lot. But I know my Dove. She will never hate me.She had several reasons to hate and never see me again, and all those times she came running into my arms.So she's hardly angry at me. But if I make a little effort then I'm sure the ice around her heart will
227I darted towards my room. He held my wrist and stopped me. When he turned me to face him, my heart pounded because Hunter was standing right behind him. His legs staggered watching Tyler hold my hand. But he didn't stop closing in on us. "Dove," He began. "I'm really—""Dove! Is that your nickname? I never heard of it." Tyler cut Hunter with his remark. "I call her Dove because she has pretty big and beautiful eyes which resemble a Dove bird's. Why? Do you have a problem?" Hunter drawled as he aggressively leaned towards Tyler. I was afraid that Hunter might pick a fight with Tyler again, so I pulled the latter with me. "It's no point talking to him. Let's go out." I spoke, feeling disgusted in Hunter's presence. "I don't feel like eating in the house anymore, Tyler. Will you take me out?" "Why not?" He smiled and forwarded his hand to me. Hunter was glaring at Tyler and his hand. When I took his hand, a growl expelled from deep in his chest. We both treated him with ignora
226The jerk was taking pictures of me. I saw him move the phone in different angles to take different photos of me. The winds were favoring him because they blew my hair around, and I raised my hands to tame them. Some of the hair strands were stuck to my face and lips. I sighed as I sought after swiping them back. Hunter took more pictures, but there was no flash this time. Maybe he didn't want to attract the attention of the others on the table and shut the flash off. "Fine, I am sorry." Tyler said aloud while holding his ears. "No one can win an argument from you, Elder Mrs. Murphy. I surrender.""You better." Grandma humphed smugly. "Can we start eating, please. My stomach is churning in hunger!" "Sure, you can." Grandma Avery said and just then Hunter decided to appear. My skin rippled with goosebumps. His eyes were on me as he greeted Avery with a kiss on the cheek, "Hello, Avery, you're looking lovely today." "Hello, favorite person! You're just in time for breakfast. We
225Claire's POV "Ares, I'm on a mission concerning my life and death. My wife is mad at me and I have a competitor fighting with me over her. Do you have any idea how fragile the situation is? One wrong move on my part and I'll lose Claire forever. So please, it's a hearty request, please... Take care of the meetings all by yourself." There was a pause and my curiosity compelled me to tiptoe ahead and peek inside. A surge of emotions left me breathless as my eyes widened. Hunter was walking around with a towel around his hips. His hair was damp, showing that he just had a bath. His strong shiny back made my heart lurch. This man and his strong physique, I recall using vibrators in the beginning of my obsession after laying my gaze on him. I used to imagine those strong arms around my body as he... I shook my head to clear my head. Turning away, I hardened my heart again. That's true that he's a walking distraction, I won't give in to his attempts. He hurt and used me enough. "I
224Claire's POVMy toes curled, slowing my stride as I tried to step towards the bed. My heart had jumped into my throat as it contested with my rising emotions, making my breathing difficult. I stopped by the bed and stared at the surprise none other than Hunter would have prepared for me.My bed was decorated with rose petals, and amidst them sat a cute soft, white teddy bear holding a heart that read 'I'M SORRY' in bold and capital. He wasn't sitting there alone. He had a big bouquet of different shades of sunflowers set beside him and a tray of my favorite chocolates across from him. My fingers twitched as I grazed the head of the bear, my skin tingling with heat and anxiety.What was happening to me? Why was I feeling thrilled and touched by this gesture?It was nothing extraordinary, was it? Just an adulterer trying to right his wrongs. I shouldn't feel impressed. But that's where the problem lies! No matter how hard I tried to loathe him, he did something to weaken my resolve
223Closing his eyes, Hunter took ten deep breaths to stabilize his emotions."Calm down, Hunter. Calm down. Calm down for Claire. She doesn't want a brute for a husband. She wants a loving and understanding man. You can be that for her. You are already that man for her. Calm down. Think about Claire. Just you and her. Just you and her. Just you and her."While he attempted to make himself resurface from the dark abyss of indignation, the sound of the creaking door stiffened his body. He tried to think of himself in another scenario with Claire by her side.'I'm not letting you have the satisfaction to see me lose my shit, Murphy. Not again. Not again.' He told himself as footsteps drummed in his ears as Tyler walked in again.Hunter was bracing himself for another provoking statement from him when, "Hunter, son, are you okay?"He opened his eyes to see Avery looking at him with concern. She has a tray of food in her hands and contrition in her eyes! Contrition? Hunter blinked his la
222Hunter's heart slammed in his stomach as it throbbed everywhere in his body. His fingers curled and a tide of intense rage crashed within him. "Murphy, no." He shook his head in warning, his voice a low eerie snarl."No? Why no, Hunter? I gave you respite all these years. Don't you think it's time to pay back for your evil deeds done towards me. It's not like I'm doing it alone! Claire and I will do it together. This way you will only have to pay once for the crimes you committed towards two individuals separately. It's a favor done on you, isn't it?"Hunter fumed. His heaving chest indicated the kind of control he was having on himself. The pulse at his throat seemed to explode any time now, even then, it didn't stop Tyler from pushing his buttons further."I was silent all this while because I didn't want to disturb your married life. I'll be honest, you dazed me with your so-called picture perfect life. I thought you were happy and your wife whom I have never met before didn't