25I looked back at her and then my hand. "That's okay. Just... Just wrap it up quickly." "But sir, stitches have—" "I'll do it myself then.""I'll... I'll do it." She held my hand tight as I tried to take it back. Stacy quietly cleaned my wound and covered it with a thick layer of ointment. She then wrapped it carefully. Not even two minutes passed since the bandage was changed and it was dark red again. Stacy stared at it helplessly. On her way out, she requested me to see a doctor again. I ignored her and focused back on the papers. I cleaned the blood on the desk with tissues and discarded them. When I held the files again, and took a pen to scribble my signature, my eyes stilled on the freshly wrapped gauze on my hand. How did I get it? It's quite surprising because it was done to punish my impulsiveness for raising my hand on my own wife. Yes, I punished myself. I literally shattered a glass in my hand until the broken pieces penetrated my flesh half inch deep. Ever sin
26 Hunter shook his head with a sigh. "I'm just tired. With Ares on leave, I'm finding work difficult." He lied even though his daughter Stacy has substituted him remarkably. The truth was that he didn't want Zara to know he was missing his wife. Ah! Now ex-wife. "If that's what you want me to believe..." Zara smiled softly, innocently that made Hunter chest constrict. "Then it's okay. I believe it." He kept staring at her for a while. She was so serene and innocent. He wondered how could god be merciless to make Zara fall in the hands of people like her in-laws and husband? Clearly, she didn't deserve whatever she went through. That being the case he wished to give her what her husband couldn't.... A happy life with a happy husband. However, now as he looked at her and thought about being a good husband to her, his thoughts went back to Claire. A happy life with a happy husband was what she also desired. Her eyes twinkled with light that reached his heart, causing it to ski
27(Five days later) Claire was glowing. Her cheeks were tinted red and a delightful smile danced on her lips. She was sitting in her room with her mother and Penelope, looking at the small sonography image in her hand."He's so tiny, mom? Like a small pea." She beamed while showing the picture to her mom.Andrea nodded and took the image from her, "He's lovely!"After a while Andrea left to bring something to eat for Claire who kept staring at the image.She had been doubtful about the health of the baby because she found it difficult to not feel depressed in these days. Hunter's thoughts were always accompanied with tears and a seething ache in her chest.Claire couldn't help but visit the doctor to check on the baby's condition. Moreover, she wanted to know how it was growing in her womb.So today, she consulted her mother's gynaecologist who conducted her sonography. She was elated to see the baby on screen. He was about one month and two weeks old. He was growing well.Though th
28"Hello," His voice made her heartbeat go mad.Claire pressed a hand to her chest. She drew the phone away from her ear and turned her face to take deep breaths. Her breaths were uneven just from hearing his voice."You don't have to do it, Claire. That man is a mother fucker. Don't take his call."She could hear Scott's words ringing in her ears. Those words he said before she defied him and everyone else to come down to the garden to talk to him."So you remember me." Claire said, intending for her words to come out mocking but she hated herself for how weak it sounded.Hunter didn't reply. She heard his breathing on the phone. His breathing. One of the best sounds in the world."How come you remember my number, Hunter? I thought you deleted it long back when I signed the divorce papers." She spoke again as he remained silent.So typical of him. She never liked his silent side. It irked her."Do I have something that is of importance to you?" She gulped a knot down her throat befo
29Hunter let go of the coat and faced Claire, making Zara's teeth grit together.He was in a state of shock, his eyebrows flew high as he stared at her. Hunter walked towards her. He wanted to open his mouth and speak but the bewilderment he felt at what he was seeing left him speechless.A hand of his lifted and cupped her cheek. He felt bones under his touch. Her skin was highly cold and to irk him, she was wearing a thin cropped shirt that exposed her belly. His teeth clenched and a muscle at his jaw quivered. "What the hell have you done to yourself?" He glared at her.It has only been seven days . Just seven days and she lost weight and looked like a woman under depression. "Yeah, right, I did this to myself." Claire smiled sarcastically, her eyes never leaving his. His touch made her uncomfortable. It was blazing and it gave rise to trembles in the pit of her stomach. Before it intensified and spread throughout her body, she stepped back. Hunter fisted his hand and pulled i
30"I told you not to mess with me. But no, you wanted to prove how courageous you are. What happened to that courage? It went down the drain, didn't it?" Claire kept looking at the document in front of her. Even if she had cunning things to say to Zara, it was pointless. The truth was, she had lost. She lost the battle she boastfully jumped in, hoping that she would win because she was the one who was married for two years to the man she was fighting for. It was him who made her lose. So it would be dumb to speak now. She quietly scribbled her signature on the document and dropped the pen on it. "Take my advice, Claire, now if you want to live a peaceful life then don't cross our path. Hunter and I are inseparable. You will only get disappointment and more defeat if you try your luck with my man again." My man? Claire was flummoxed to hear that. Before she reacted with words, both the official and Hunter returned. He looked between her and Zara grimly. As if trying to find wha
31 "There's no need for it. Besides, the ring is useless to her now. Don't think about it." Zara pretended to be sorrowful. She insisted on going after Claire a few times again as she knew Hunter wouldn't allow it. He left her sitting on a chair to make a call. Zara admired the ring he took from Claire with a sinister grin. "This ring costs fortunes. How could I leave it in Claire's possession?" Zara chuckled and kissed the ring as if it was hers. However, when she puts it on, it won't go beyond her middle phalanges no matter how many times she tried. She tried to push it past all tens of her fingers but it wouldn't move an inch beyond that. Perhaps, this was the justice of fate! She may have succeeded in getting her hands on Hunter. She couldn't succeed in taking Claire's place or possession as his wife. "You will fracture your fingers, Zara." Zara gasped at the sudden eruption of his voice. "Hunter, I... I think I've gained weight over the years." She foolishly said a
32Claire was staring at the ceiling, laying like a lifeless body. Her hands rested under her breasts on her ribs, her face drained of color and eyes red. She just emerged from the depths of darkness two minutes ago. She heard people talking outside the closed door of her ward. It grew into a high-pitched argument. She couldn't care less to respond to it though. She kept peering aimlessly at the white ceiling.Then the door parted and someone stepped in. The scent of the person was cognizant and it made her shoulders tremble. However, her face was hard as though it was carved from stone."Claire, you're awake?" The voice broke out, shocked and full of worry.The person walked closer and he hovered over her. Jittery arms enveloped her and sobs were heard beside her head."I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have cursed you. I'm sorry, Claire. I'm sooo fucking sorry."Although Claire's mouth twitched, no tear appeared in her eyes. There was no trace of moist