Poor Hunter. He thinks Claire and Tyler are… But it's good to see he's not willing to give up. Isn't that a good trait in a man? One who trusts you. But trust is why Claire is punishing him. What should be Hunter next move: A) Beat Tyler for sleeping with his Dove B) Think they both are even now since Claire thinks he cheated on her so vice versa. C) Kill them both and move on D) Author, kill off all of them and finish the damn story, you're dragging it!!! Don't forget to vote xoxo
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 right
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 wit
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.While
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
241Night has settled in. The fog was billowing like aurora lights in the air, outside Claire's window. She sighed lazily as she slumped back in the chair, removing her hands from the window sill to comb her hair back.She spent the whole day after that encounter with Hunter in her room. Claire didn't dare leave the space she had grown comfortable in. She feared crossing paths with her ex-husband again... Worried that his captivating looks might draw her back into his arms.She didn't want that. Even if her heart and body were against her thoughts and wanted nothing more than melting in his arms, she didn't want that.She was looking outside boringly when her stomach churned. Touching a hand on her belly, Claire pouted.Grandma Avery had surprisingly disappeared since morning, Claire couldn't bring herself to go in the kitchen and ask for some food. She guessed that the reason for the old woman's vanishing was her. Her kiss with her grandson, and the hurt it might have brought to the o
242Claire sat quietly. She wanted to cover her ears so she wouldn't hear grandma extol her arrogant ex-husband. Anyway, she endured it with a straight face. "I haven't visited Bloomcrest in a while but I have many friends there. To be blunt, I have many eyes and ears to see and hear for me. They told me Hunter's appearance after your divorce and one of them claimed that Hunter was resorting after bringing you back. That was quick. As a woman who was oppressed by her husband all her life, I felt inclined to see Hunter redeeming himself for you." Grandma paused for a break. "And I really admired Hunter.... Way before he started having a problem with my grandson. He made me realize not all men are the same. Some own up to their mistakes and want to make amends. That's the reason why I decided to play cupid in your lives, Claire." "But what you're doing now...." Grandma eyed Claire disapprovingly. "I think it's a bit too much. In fact, it's a lot. You're being unfair to him and yourse
243"I want to see that bitch now!" Those words swept over Claire like hot water, scalding her skin with goosebumps. It was followed by a monstrous growl, one that seemed to make every object in the hall shake in its intensity. Then words, like the striking of dangerously sharpened katana, were delivered by none other than a fuming Hunter. "Avery, either you put a leash on her corrupted mouth or I strangle her throat unless she's dead!" Hunter threateningly stepped towards the person in question who scoffed uncaringly."First you put a leash on your fúcking mouth, MacIntyre. You're talking to my mom. Be respectful... Or else," Tyler came to view. Claire watched him put a hand on Hunter's chest and thrust him back. Hunter didn't budge though. He stood on his spot, his back to Claire. But it wasn't difficult to envision his facial expression. Claire knew how he looked when he was super mad. She could see his jaw ticking as he tried to keep his fury in control. His dark eyes growing d
244Claire shuddered helplessly as she awaited the pain of stabbing. She was never stabbed before, but she was well cognizant of the pain of cutting herself in the kitchen.When she was still Hunter's wife and resorted to impressing him with her cooking skills, she had small accidents in the kitchen every second day. Even if the cut was small and the bleeding wasn't worrisome, the pain it brought would be dizzying. However, she was growing impatient, standing prepared to feel the pain anywhere on her body, yet it never came. When she cracked an eye open to see why Tia Murphy hadn't yet stabbed her, tears gushed out and relief she wasn't supposed to feel in this circumstance hit her in waves. Loud gasp left her mouth as she lifted her face, stunned, shivering in shock and love blooming for Hunter in her chest, her eyes glistening with tears, fingers twitching while her heart somersaulted. How would she feel the pain from the stab when he was holding the knife in his tight grip! Clai
287"Hey—""H-Hunter..."Hunter sat up straight, his spine erect, and his face becoming white in shock as fear crept under his skin, listening to Claire's voice.He looked at the clock and gulped a shallow breath. It hadn't been more than an hour since he dropped Claire off to her home, and hearing her panic-stricken voice unsettled him."Dove, what's wrong? Is everything okay at home?" Hunter asked and bit his tongue to stop himself from saying— Did Scott do something again?He heard Claire's heavy breathing and immediately got up."Dove, say something!""H-Hunter... I... I..." Claire sobbed, causing his patience to near its end.At once he grabbed the keys to the bike he rode tonight."Don't worry, Dove, I'm coming over." He literally sprinted towards the door.His body was suddenly cold from terror as Claire's sob was making it worse. Hunter had come around the staircase. He was about to descend when he heard her sniff and ask him not to come.He stalled and stared at nothing in th
286Hunter stared at her, thrown off guard by her words. He reflected back on their meeting in the dark alley, and indeed what he realized made his mouth open a little. Mona hadn't looked like she intended to do anything physically with him. Her grin back then had been playful— one that of a naughty child who knew he was notorious for his mischief. "You can say that I was testing your loyalty towards Claire. I didn't intend to do anything mischievous, Hunter. But you see, Claire ruined everything when she interrupted." Her lips lifted in a sneer as she showed him her left cheek.There was a visible claw mark on her skin from Claire's nails. The scratch was swelling, its edges inflamed and red. Hunter felt bad for her. Now that he knew that Mona didn't mean to do anything condemning in the dark alley of the mall with him, he felt the need to apologize to her on behalf of Claire, but Mona beat him to it as tears flashed in her eyes."No, Hunter. I might want to see you with Claire and
285Hunter's body worked on its own. He felt like someone had trespassed into his territory and snatched one of his shirts that Mona was folding.He growled at her as his eyes seemed to darken even more. In the dim lights he came off as a hunter ready to tear his teeth into her skin and kill her. It wasn't a surprise that Mona was unaffected. She just rolled her eyes and lifted her finely manicured hand to blow over her nails."What the hell are you doing here? How did you come inside?" Hunter hissed."I was trying to be helpful as you can see." Mona said while casting a gaze around.Hunter's walk-in closet was a mess. It looked like a clothes manufacturing factory, unfolded shirts lying here and there, some trousers on the floor as if they were dropped just there after trying them on."I don't need your fucking help, alright! Just tell me why you are here and get the hell out." Hunter gritted out between his clenched teeth.Mona watched his knuckles whiten as he fisted on the shirt h
284"If you think that then I'm happy otherwise in my opinion, Reggie ruined everything I did." Hunter smiled a little awkwardly."That's because you're used to having everything done meticulously, Mr. Billionaire. But for normal people like us some mess and chaos is welcome.""Well then," Hunter sighed. "I'll have to make sure there's some chaos in our relationship."Claire chuckled. Later on, they hopped back on the bike and Claire was the one handling it. Hunter sat behind her, admiring her as she flawlessly rode the bike. There were no words exchanged until Claire stopped the bike on the street some yards away from her house.Hunter blinked his eyes as he looked around."Why here, Dove?""Scott's room's window." She pointed as from where they stood they could clearly see that Scott's room's lights were on."Oh." Hunter got down as he didn't need any further explanation.He wanted to drop her at the gate of her house and watch her go inside. But he deemed it was okay if they got dow
283"You'll never have to fight for any right when you're standing beside me. I'll always make sure you're respected and cherished more than I am. I'll also help you with your career, Dove. You can work at your father's or mine— wherever you're comfortable and I'd always come to pick you up so we can go home together." Hunter's voice was like warm honey, soothing and sweet. But Claire had more to acknowledge than just his heart-touching words. The surrounding was one of them. What had been a lake enveloped in a blanket of darkness was now glowing with golden lights. It felt as though the blanket was lifted off, revealing the beauty it had hidden underneath. "I'll always cherish you, love you and give you space. You will never have to question your worth or love for me.... Because I'll make sure I live up to your expectations." The pause he took allowed Claire to notice where they were standing— in the middle of a four post bamboo arch. There were colorful flowers and green leaves
282"Why are we here, Hunter? I don't have good memories attached to this place." Claire's voice was emotionless and a little hoarse."Do you trust me, Dove?" Hunter said over his shoulder.Claire didn't answer right away, and when she did... It was a small nod, although her eyes displayed her uncertainty."Then ask your heart to calm down. I won't do anything that would multiply your bad memories. Not on purpose!"Claire took a lingering gaze at him before she nodded again and carefully got down of the bike. She looked around into the dark as her heart kicked up a notch. All the excitement she had been feeling since the moment she saw Hunter had drained out of her. Her hands turned cold and she stuck closer to Hunter for his warmth. She ought to feel this way, after all, he's brought her to the place where she experienced her second heartbreak— The Lake.The sky was indigo overhead and the air was cool. The silhouettes of trees around made her jittery. Insects chirped menacingly and
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 expressi
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