209Their lips were aligned on the same level, a few inches away. He eyed her darkly, warning her to drop the act."I'm dead serious, Claire. Tell me why are you here?" His hard voice made her face turn pale.But she maintained her friendly demeanor and said, "I could have gone away with Penny, my only friend. But you see she's dating Hunter's best friend Cole. So I am strangled. I really need a change in environment, Tyler, and I hoped that maybe I could count on you.""Despite the fact that I like you? What are you trying to do, Claire?" His face drew a little closer as he bared his teeth.Claire's stomach twisted into a knot. She could see Tyler was another danger she had come to encounter. The only thing different about him was that when she was enraged, like a gentleman he was calm and endured her angry lashing. But that didn't change the fact that he was dangerous.However, he didn't freak her out. Because he was the man who introduced light in her dark world when she needed it t
210It was already morning when Hunter returned back home. The morning sky was pale with no sight of sun and the atmosphere was shrouded in haze. Gray clouds floated overhead as a quiet, eerie stillness pervaded the morning air as if the fog had muffled all sound, leaving only a deep and foreboding silence.Cole, who had been waiting in Hunter's house for him, saw movements in his peripheral vision and rose desperately. He heaved a sigh of relief and walked over to Hunter."Where the hell have you been, jerk? I asked everyone I could to reach out to you." Cole said tightly as his eyes roved over Hunter's features.Seeing the dull look on Hunter's face, the redness under his eyes and how ghostly pale he looked, his eyes shot up in daze."Hunter, buddy..." Cole touched his arm and was bewildered to find him wet.The t-shirt appeared dry at first, but it was damp beneath his fingers... And he was cold. Cole dragged Hunter to the couch and made him settle down. He wasn't waiting in the hou
211Hunter stood motionless in the bathroom in front of the sink. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, right into his jet black eyes. A maelstrom of thoughts and emotions swirled in the dark pool of his eyes. Pain. Guilt. Desperation. Disgust at himself. Love for Claire. Above all... There was fright. Fright of losing Claire.Hunter tried to move but he found himself helplessly locked in his spot. His limbs seemed to have turned to stone, and his chest grew heavy like a dozen thick books were placed on it. Every breath he dragged was rugged... And deep. And shaky.When he blinked his eyes, tears escaped and strolled down his chiseled face. Hunter stared at the man he had become. A man full of flaws and lots of mistakes.Although he was still as handsome as he was before, he was a changed man now. He could feel emotions now. Emotions that clawed through him. Emotions that made his heart constrict. Emotions that made him realize what a loser he was starting to become in his pers
212Dominic's mouth twisted into a scowl. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it."Being the father of a daughter, I’m well aware of how society works! People smile at you. They show respect outwardly in front of your face. But they mock you the moment you turn around.” He paused. “This society is quick to tear you apart behind your back when your family problems become public."Dominic's eyes softened as his voice became small as he added, "I can’t bear the thought of them talking badly about my daughter when I’m not around, especially after everything she’s already been through.""The way you’re working so hard to win her back, society will view your desperation as devotion. They’ll praise you for returning after owning up to your mistakes. After all, a grieving husband coming back to his wife is a tale everyone loves." His eyes hardened as he looked back at Hunter. "You know what, Hunter, as men, we have this unspoken advantage that no matter what happens, we’re always giv
213"Oh my god! Look who we've got here!?" Grandma Avery yanked Claire in a hug that made her stumble. Claire smiled from ear to ear. She was not expecting this kind of excitement and welcome from the old lady. The last time she was here, she caused quite a stir, and even made the old grandma cry. She cursed Hunter for ruining her visit previously. But this time she was looking forward to having a good time, and even apologized to Avery for destroying her anniversary party. "Hello, grandma." Claire hugged her, feeling a little uncertain about how to greet her as the embarrassment from earlier reddened her face. "Such flat and dry hello?! Don't tell me you're mortified because of what happened on my anniversary party?" Claire nodded apologetically and Grandma Avery caressed her face. "Oh dear! I've forgotten that night a long time ago. I'd suggest you leave it in the past and move on." The happiness on her face warmed Claire's heart. She followed her inside the living room and ne
214"Just by looking in the eyes of a man, you get to know his feelings, Tyler. And I've seen he deeply loves Claire. It was there in his eyes. He's been remorseful and restless to be with her when he last came here." Tyler froze and turned around, astonished at his grandmother's words. "And if that wench has really played him, it would've only made his love and regret stronger. Hunter will not let go of her easily. He will win her back.""It's not that easy, grandma! Claire doesn't want him anymore." Tyler stated with a hint of distaste. Avery chuckled as she shook her head, "That's what she says... What you say isn't often what you really want, Tyler. She's just angry. She will go back to Hunter if he fights for her." "You're wrong, grandma. Claire's words and wants are alike. She doesn't want him. Hunter fúcked up badly this time." "We say a lot of things in anger. Are they what we often mean to say? No. That's just overlapping frustration we let out in a fit of rage. Claire's
215Avery stayed quiet. Her grandson was going on the wrong path, thinking extremely wrong things regarding his future. But she didn't speak this time. Tyler was enraged, and anything she said would come as an arrow to him. Later in the evening when Claire came out, she looked rather dull and sad. Avery was sitting on the couch trying to knit a muffler. She noticed Claire coming out and waved at her, but she didn't call for her as she found her appearance surprising. The air of tiredness clung to her. The glow that comes on a person after taking a nap doesn't look like that, do they? They look rejuvenated and fresh. "I'm here, darling." Avery finally spoke, calling Claire over. Claire walked towards her and sat beside her. Her smile was small but the curiosity in her eyes was intense, "What are you knitting?" "A muffler." Avery grinned as she resumed twisting and gliding the long needles around to create a beautiful pattern. "For who? This rather looks short in size so I assume i
216Claire stood like a statue as kisses were being showered along her neck and shoulder. She was turned around, and two onyx orbs which caught light from the streak of light creeping in from the clerestory window from behind Claire shone darkly.Her heart thrummed as she perused that handsome face with plump lips with a hint of smile. The long lashes roofing over his dark gaze cast shadow on his cheeks.Claire stared deep into those eyes and surprisingly they made her shiver. She was not expecting him to follow her and come here. Not after he had been quiet as a cave unvisited for a thousand years.No message, no hint, he gave her nothing. And yet, he was standing here in front of her.Before Claire could think further, the lights returned and Grandma Avery walked into her line of vision behind Hunter. A loud clap shattered Claire's trance before she heard grandma say."Oh my god! I wasn't expecting this." She interlaced her fingers and hugged them to her chest, her expression was on
240Bloomcrest,Cole scratched his head angrily as he blew out a breath."What the hell are these two up to? When did they go to RavenMoore?"He had his laptop in his lap, sitting in his apartment. He hadn't been able to connect with Hunter since that night he came back home to tell him that he made a huge mess. Cole was maddened that night. How could Hunter be so stupid?No guy in his sane mind would tell his woman about the times he tried to cheat on her. To say Hunter broke it on her when she was at her lowest point mentally. Claire's reaction was natural. In fact, she was very soft and leniently handling him.... At least, that's what it seemed unless he saw the images of her and Tyler kissing each other while Hunter was sitting on his knees in front of them. Claire was taking her revenge with a fervor. "Damn, this is not good. Claire is ruining her reputation because of this idiot!" Cole shook his head. He searched in depth and his jaw unhinged in a moment of disbelief. "Is th
239"Oh my..." Claire's mouth slackened as her eyes widened in pure shock.Her feed was full of posts worshipping Hunter and his attempt to apologize to her at the tourist spot. Fan edits were mind boggling. They made a crown on his head and captioned the picture with cheesy lines and dialogues from novels and series like he wasn't sitting on his knees apologizing to his ex-wife for cheating on her. They made it seem like he was saving the world by going on his knees.The more she scrolled, the more astonishing the edits became.Claire didn't even try to go near the comments section. Almost every second post was stuffed with thousands of comments. Had Hunter not been a celebrity billionaire, she would have assumed it was his PR doing this thing to elevate in the eyes of the society.But Hunter needed no such thing. People liked him for being himself, and Claire was aware that the only time he required his PR was to help him remove unnecessary rumors surrounding him for no reason.Whil
238Claire was unable to breath. Her skin was burning even though he wasn't touching her anywhere. Her brows furrowed. He. Wasn't. Touching. Her. Why? She gazed in his eyes and saw the answer. He was hurt. He. Was. Hurt. His hands trembled at his sides. Hunter had never wanted anything more than to touch her after he realized he loved her. However, last night was painful. He counted hours, his ears on high alert, hoping to hear any sound coming from her room. But all he heard was Tyler leave— three hours later. Hunter's teeth clenched recalling Tyler Murphy's parting remark. "It was fun, Claire! We should do it often."It's not like Hunter didn't know what they were doing, but Tyler making it obvious through his remark exhausted his remaining battery percent on love meter that he was left with. The somberness whipped into his features was the outcome of exhaustion he suffered last night. "We can continue this game in our country and I have a feeling you have a lot to catch up wi
237There was slight fog outside the window when Claire opened her eyes in the morning. She felt goosebumps on her bare arms and her feet stung the moment she put them on the floor. There was no sun out and the sky was gloomy just like her thoughts. Claire hugged her arms and let out a sigh. Her temples were throbbing. She hadn't gotten the best of sleep last night. Her mind was occupied by the event of the afternoon, Hunter's images making her mind numb. She cried even on her pillow after Tyler left. His company was soothing. He made her feel better, but when he stepped out of her room, the air had become tense and stuffy again. She spent most of the hours twisting from one side to another. She recalled it was during the lift of darkness when she drifted off to sleep. Claire looked at the clock on the wall. Not much time has passed since she slept. Just two hours. She was gazing out when something crept within her, making her lean on the sill of the window and look out to her righ
236Claire was taken aback. She chuckled, realizing Tyler was siding with Hunter. She didn't call him out for defending Hunter and kept the conversation going. "Yeah, Zara and her leave... I know that. He was depressed by her departure." She said so flatly that Tyler couldn't help but wince. "God, I think I know why you're so pissed. You have two solid reasons. One is obviously Hunter's confession and second is Zara. You're holding those both against him to make him pay, aren't you?""It was never a secret!" "It wasn't, I know, but Claire..." Tyler heaved. "Well, as a person who was cheated and abandoned by his lover, I can understand both of your feelings. I know what it feels to know when your lover has betrayed you. And I also know what it feels like when they leave you without a proper closure.""So Claire..." Tyler stiffened his shoulders. "From a man's perspective, I don't think what Hunter did was wrong. I mean, it was wrong to you but as a man we don't have many ways to take
235"Shít! I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't think it would tear. I'm sorry." Tyler spoke ruefully. He watched as Claire's face paled and some tears strolled out of her eyes. The room was engulfed by vulnerable silence again and the tension returned. Despite that Tyler smiled seeing her reaction. 'You're very lucky, Hunter. How much I wish Ezma felt this way after sleeping with you. But that bítch had no remorse on her face. She even seemed relaxed about getting rid of me.' He mused and tried to take the letter from her. He reached out for the two pieces of the paper. Claire gave him a warning look as if it was her heart he was asking for, not the letter. The cracks on her lips amazed him, prompting him to smile wider. 'Claire even wounded her mouth for kissing me. This is the love I desire in my life. On the other hand, I tasted ugly betrayal. Ezma hadn't even tried to cover herself when I found her naked in bed beside your sleeping figure, Hunter.' The faint ache in Tyler's chest from
234Claire glanced at the clock in the room for the Nth time with her burning red eyes. Tears never stopped and no matter how much she tried to distract herself, she was thrown back into the setting at the tourist spot with Hunter on his knees in front of her while she arrogantly waited for him to apologize in the crowded place.She hadn't assumed Hunter would do it. He was a man who wore his pride as a crown and not once did he let him head lower. He was invincible and extremely powerful.Alas, she made it happen what even his powerful enemies couldn't do after spending millions of money. She brought him on his knees and even had a vlogger record his video. She was afraid to check the social media and all the comments on the posts regarding Hunter's apology making rounds online.Claire was hyperventilating as Hunter's images didn't let her relax. She tried to get some fresh air and walked towards the window. The winds were cold but she was still feeling suffocated. She tried to medita
233"But, baby, I am happy that I took it off, else it would have been sitting like a huge rock on my chest. I wanted you to know about those times so we could start afresh. My only mistake was that I shared it at the wrong time... And you were not ready for it. I shouldn't have—" "Cut to the chase, MacIntyre! Apology. I want your apology, not your boring 'I am guilty' speech." Claire raised an eye arrogantly while the crowd around her twisted their lips or showed their annoyance in different ways.My speech was touching them, possessing their hearts and Claire probably noticed that and cut in. Even the girl with the camera scowled but her face softened when she looked at me. She whispered something into the mic on her collar as I focused back on Claire. My eyebrows creased seeing her looking behind me with a red face as if she would burst into tears now. When I chanced a glance behind, my heart stopped beating and fear engulfed me. Bloody Murphy! What was he doing here? How did he
232Also, there's one thing I realized. She wanted this... But not with the man who cheated on her. I felt as though I was being ripped apart. I felt that it would have been better to come under a truck than be here in the car with Claire while she was cowering away from me. I can't describe how I felt as I moved away. I pulled my t-shirt back to wear it. Once it was on, I hesitated to make her look at me. Claire was staring in the space between her knees and chest as she sat with her arms locked around her knees. She was so pale that it ached to see her. The thought of touching her scared me as if I would hurt her with my touch. "What do you want me to do, Claire?" I sighed as I was totally blank.I haven't even started a day ago and it's already wearing me out. Will I ever seek her forgiveness? Seeing how she's shivering from my forced kiss, it seems like she was molested.Her pale face made me feel worse as her lips appeared swollen and assaulted. I stretched a hand out to make h