2
Claire felt exposed to danger. Like a baby bird left in the open. She dragged shallow breaths as she watched her husband hug his ex-girlfriend possessively. He whispered something in Zara's ear, making her eyes water.
He wiped them with his hand. By this time, all the cameramen focused on them. Gasps erupted around Claire as Hunter's admirers began to gossip about it.
"Oh goodness! Isn't that Zara Levine, Hunter's ex-girlfriend?"
"Christ, she looks more beautiful than before!"
"Look at Hunter's expression. He's all desperate around her. Damn, he's kissing her!"
"They look so good together. But I pity Claire. She must have waited for today wholeheartedly and it had to be ruined like this. Her husband is kissing his ex-girlfriend in front of her. That's insane!"
"But why is Zara back? She was married to another man, wasn't she? What's this now?"
All the remarks around her made her body heavy. Claire was rooted in her spot.
"Claire, let's go inside." Her brother tried to pull her.
However, Claire stood still, right where Hunter left her. Her eyes remained affixed on him and Zara. He was literally worshipping her.
Cameramen surrounded them. The light from the flash caused Zara to cover her eyes. She seemed perturbed by their sudden presence around her and trembled.
Hunter saw her discomfort and pulled her in his arms. That moment, Clair felt a barbed knife cutting through her heart. She was seeing her husband protecting another woman right in front of her.
Since there were journalists too, they began to ask jarring questions to Zara. Hunter couldn't stand them coming at her. He pulled Zara closer and pushed the cameramen and journalists with a hand while with another he kept her close to his heart like a precious jewel.
"Get away," He cut through the crowd of people, approaching Claire.
Claire's breaths hitched when he was right in front of her. She opened her mouth to talk to him. Much to her agitation, he pushed her away too and made a way to his car that they had used to come here.
Hunter helped Zara into the front seat where Claire was sitting not five minutes ago. He buckled her seatbelt. And while Claire was watching him, he hopped behind the steering wheel and took Zara away from the chaos of the evening.
Later that night,
Claire was sitting like a lifeless doll on the floor in the middle of the hall that was booked for their anniversary party. The cake was turning stale on the table in front of her as her eyes gawked at it.
Indeed, she was living a fairy tale life. But one where she got to experience love of the man she loved just for two months.
"Claire, baby, are you listening? Let's go home, baby. It's useless to wait here." Dominic tried to get his daughter's attention.
"Claire," Dominic controlled his tears as he shook her again. "Let's go, baby. He's not going to come."
Hunter's parents, grandparents, close relatives and friends were all here. They looked down at the floor as embarrassment flushed their faces.
The hall was eerily silent. All the guests invited for the celebration were gone. Even the cluster of waiters the hotel had appointed for the party signed off. Only the Argent and MacIntyre family stayed back since Claire refused to move an inch.
Dominic hissed indignantly. He wished to pull his daughter by her arm and take her away. Nevertheless, he looked away as it would shatter her heart more.
Claire was going through the toughest time of her life. She was abandoned by her husband on the day that was going to mark a new beginning for them. Her heart was tender and bleeding from a heartbreak. By forcing her against her will, Dominic didn't want to make it harder for her.
He resorted to coax her with warmth.
"Baby,"
He heaved a sigh as Claire finally responded. She lifted her wet lashes.
"Let's go back home, honeybun. It's over."
Claire shook her head, "Hunter will come. He promised to tell the world that we're one. He promised to move on with me. I can't leave without him, dad. Hunter will come for me."
Her mother-in-law, Violet MacIntyre, pressed a hand to her mouth to suppress her sobs. She was fond of Claire. Seeing her in this state made her heart surge.
She turned to her husband, Leon MacIntyre, throwing her head on his shoulder to cry. She loathed her son for leaving Claire broken.
Seeing the elders in a state of depression, Cole walked forward. He had been quiet because he didn't know how to deal with this situation.
Hunter seemed so happy about their anniversary. He planned every detail together with Cole. It was unbelievable that he just left with his ex-girlfriend as if this day and the moment meant nothing to him.
His nerves were on fire. Anger was gnawing at his heart. Nevertheless, he kept his disappointment towards his friend aside and sat on his haunches before Claire.
Cole wiped his thumb across her tinted cheeks. Dark flush has suffused her skin from constant wailing.
"You look pathetic when you cry, rabbit!" He tried to escalate her mood using her nickname.
"Come on, get up. We'll buy your favorite ice cream on the way home."
No matter what he said or did, Claire didn't budge. Her heart was sprinkled with kerosene and set on fire by her very own husband. She wasn't going to leave unless he explained his actions to her.
Claire shook her head, "I'm not going from here. Hunter will come. H-he promised me..."
She repeated the same words again. Her broken voice pinched like sharp shards of broken glass in everyone's heart who saw her. They wished to soothe her. But her pain was immense. It couldn't be taken care of.
Her mother-in-law was done seeing her like that. She pulled away from her husband and made a beeline towards Claire. Sitting down, she held her cheeks.
"Claire, Darling, you..."
"She's better off without your pleasantries, Mrs. MacIntyre." Claire's father held her hand.
Violet's tear-filled eyes pleaded with him. She may be the mother of the heartless man who left Claire in this condition. But she was not her enemy. Violet was as disappointed as everyone else for the deed of her son.
She was actually ashamed.
It was the shame of being the mother of the man who publicly insulted his wife on their anniversary that kept her quiet throughout the night. However, she couldn't see her daughter-in-law in this state.
Claire was traumatized because of her son. If an apology from her would make Claire move from her place then she was willing to do it.
"Mr. Argent, I am as hurt as you are. Claire is my daughter-in-law and I care about her health. Let me talk to her." She tried to coax him through.
"Care about her? Haha, none of you ever cared about her, Mrs. MacIntyre. If you did then your son wouldn't have left my daughter like this."
Dominic bit back a cry. Claire's dress for today's function was pure white. She looked like a lovely bride. Except that, she looked like a bride left at the altar.
"Look at my daughter. She's not in her right mind. It's all because of your son." He thinned his lips in remorse as Claire was continuously mumbling the same thing over and over again.
Violet helplessly stared at Claire before she moved back.
What made it worse was the cut on Claire's lip. The cut stood out so gruesomely on her pallid face that the eyes that watched her blurred with tears.
Dominic sat beside his daughter. He cleansed her face with his handkerchief gently. He kissed her forehead and stroked her cheek as he tried to persuade her to leave with him again.
"N-no... I am not... I am not leaving," Claire's eyes flickered.
She profusely perspired. Her father wiped his hankerchief on her face again while holding back his tears.
"Claire, please, don't do this to yourself. You're waiting on the wrong man. Why can't you see he never loved you!"
The problem lied with Hunter. He was at fault, and Claire didn't deserve to suffer because of him.
Although she was fulfilling her duties wholeheartedly, he didn't even try to pretend that he cared. He was just... Plain rude and brute to her. What he did today was too much.
What was the point in staying with a man like that?!
"Hunter promised, dad. He promised..." Claire stubbornly nodded her head. "He promised to..." Her voice lowered into a barely audible whisper as she collapsed in her father's arms, blacking out.
Tbc...
3 When Claire shook the hazy veil of darkness and came to the surface, the first face she saw was of her mother. Andrea's eyes were red and cheeks flushed. She was in the same dress she donned for Claire and Hunter's wedding anniversary. It was visible just by looking at her that she didn't leave her daughter's side even for one second. "Laire, baby," Andrea impatiently leaned towards her daughter and cupped her face. A tear of relief trickled from her left eye. She kissed her forehead and immediately looked over her shoulder to shout, "Claire is awake, Dominic!" She turned to her daughter again. She removed hair from her eyes and smiled, "How are you feeling now, honey?" She touched her swollen lip gently. Claire just stared back. Her mother's tears made her remember her own. Then it returned to her mind like a slow memory returning to a person suffering with amnesia. Pain, hot and raw, settled in her chest. Claire recalled how her husband left her outside the hotel they
4 "Ever since I gained maturity I have loved you. I kept myself pure so you would be the one taking me. I dressed myself as per your liking so you would look at me. I even turned down offers of marriage from compatible men because I was enchanted by you. After all the sacrifices I made for you, this is what you give me?" She grasped his collars, shaking him. Her streaming eyes made his face seem blurry. "For two years I endured your ill-treatment and invested my time to make you happy. I would make food each day even though you left it to turn cold. I didn't complain when you came home late and retired to bed without even taking a glance at me even if I was wide awake and talking to you." "You forgot my birthdays, let alone wish me. You ignored my parents on family dinners. But I was still happy because you were with me all this while. I took your cold treatment with a smile. Despite all this, all that I wished for was to see you smile. You want to know why?" Hunter's eyes remaine
5 Her heart was crushed into a pulp under the weight of those words. Wiping her tears, Claire lifted her face. She held her head high as she gave him a tight smile with a challenging gaze. "Then let me tell you, Mr. Hunter MacIntyre, I will also fight for what is mine. You are mine. I'm not letting any widowed whore have my husband." Hunter opened his mouth. But before he snapped at her, she whirled around and went up the stairs to their bedroom. A drumbeat of madness pounded at the back of Hunter's eyes. He fisted his hands while following after her. Hunter caught Claire right outside the bedroom. He pinned her to the wall and leaned in, whispering right before her lips. "Since when I became yours, huh? As far as I can remember you have always been at my mercy." Hunter hoped to intimidate her. But he should have known that by leaving her outside their anniversary party's venue he made her bones persistent and determination of stone. He killed her emotions. "You became min
6Cole's mouth fell agape in sheer astonishment. This definitely has to be a doppelganger of Claire.Otherwise his best friend's wife was timid and mute. She barely opened her mouth to speak. And even if she was slandered, she found it was better to meet them with silence than to retort."What? Is something on my face?" Claire asked with a grin.Cole nodded his head as he confessed, "You have become fierce. I like this side of you.""Thanks. I had to become outspoken for the sake of my marriage. I have to save Hunter and my relation, Cole. And I will need your help with it.""I am always here for you two, Claire. Just let me know how I can help." He liked her spirit."Okay, listen to me," She held his gaze. "I want to gather information on Zara. Cole, I feel that her return is deliberate and that her husband's death is not natural."Cole's back stiffened. His eyebrows knitted together as he suppressed himself from looking disappointed. "I get your point about saving your marriage, Cl
7The cameras flashed just as Claire crossed the gate and came to this side to meet the waiting crowd of journalists. "Mrs. MacIntyre or Miss Argent? Which one do you prefer?" Irritated by the question, Claire forced her lips to curve. Her grin carried a hint of mockery as she faced the cameras before holding the gaze of the journalist who asked her the question."What should I call you- a journalist or a woman with impaired eyesight? Or rather... a brainless journalist with impaired eyesight? Which one do you prefer?"Her Savage reply made the woman chuckle sheepishly in embarrassment. The others stared at Claire with an impressed glance as she never spoke like this before.It seemed that the kitten had transformed her claws finally."Do you see this sparkling big diamond? This shows that I am married. Hence I will prefer Mrs. MacIntyre now and for the rest of my life." Someone from the mass of journalists clapped in amusement. The lady mouthed a small apology while another person
8Dusk hung over Bloomcrest while the winds rolled over calmly. In her Villa, Claire worked tirelessly in the kitchen. She was preparing food for Hunter. There was a cheerful smile on her face as though she was very happy in her marriage.Thea was helping in the kitchen. She took the dishes to the dining table as they were filled with a new dish by Claire. As she returned after her fourth round, she nervously pinched her fingers and spoke in a hushed tone. "Madam, I don't think Mr. MacIntyre will return home today. S-so I'm afraid all this food you're making is going to go wasted." "I left a message to Hunter in the evening to come home soon for dinner. He might have seen it and will be here anytime now." Claire said confidently. Beside her Thea made a pitiful face as she thought, 'You're dreaming with open eyes, madam. Your husband is gone. He's not yours any more. Why can't you see it?' "Can you pass me the ketchup please?" Claire asked. Thea remained quiet and helped the lady o
9Hunter stared at her last message with cold eyes. 'Playing stubborn? I like it.' He mumbled while putting a hand under his head. He was in the penthouse on the sofa in the living room, staring at the door of the room Zara was in. Although he insisted on sleeping in bed with her and cuddling her, she refused him without blinking an eye. Zara claimed that she was a widow and Hunter was a married man. A married man with a loving and dedicated wife. It would not be appropriate to sleep with him while his wife was waiting for him in their house. Though the flames of need to be held tight were evident in her eyes, she suggested maintaining space. This was one of the qualities in Zara that Hunter was crazy about.She sacrificed her life and love for others. She prioritized others' feelings over hers. She didn't give herself the attention and praise she deserved. All her life, she thought about others. Then why shouldn't Hunter thrive to give her a deserving happy life? She deserved to
10Hunter didn't have to ask about his wife at the reception. A doctor who noticed him entering inside, who was talking to a nurse, left his conversation incomplete to escort the heir of MacIntyre empire to his wife's ward.Obviously Claire had to be taken to the VIP floor and kept in the biggest ward. As Hunter walked nearer to her, his body started growing sweaty and heart thundered in his chest.This feeling was equivalent to feeling the soul leaving one's body. What amazed him more was the fact that he was feeling this way for his wife who he was desperately trying to dispose of to be with his real lover.'What the hell!' A lump formed in his throat as he heard himself swearing in shock.In front of him were Thea and Cole sitting on a bench. While the old woman was rubbing and squeezing her hands in nervousness, his best friend sat emotionlessly staring at his shoes. However, they had one thing in common. Blood.Both of their clothes were stained with blood as though they were pla
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 an
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
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
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'