It was an emotional chapter, wasn't it? Poor Claire lost not only her marriage but also her baby. What else will fate bring for her now? Drop your comments and do follow us for more updates on the book.
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
33 Hunter's heart stopped beating. He was expressionless, thus no one can understand what was happening within. While in reality, he felt like he would never be able to breathe normally again. On the outside, Andrea and Scott saw a man unsympathetically looking at his ex-wife. They saw no remorse, no pain, no affliction for losing his child, talk less of feeling anything for her. "MacIntyre, I will kill you!" A sudden rush of anger lit Scott's eyes. He left Claire's hand and rose to his feet. He curled his fingers, all set to effuse his anger on this man who was also behind Claire's current condition. Scott was about to jump on him and rip his face when his father and a cluster of doctors and nurses walked in. Dominic came between his Ex-son-in-law and son. His hands automatically went on both their chests, keeping them apart. "What is going on here? Haven't we strictly said that only one relative will be inside the ward with the patient? She merely survived a close call wi
34Inside the ward, Claire shook the hazy veil of slumber, feeling a throbbing pain in her left hand. A nurse was massaging her wrist which was swollen from the needle. The nurse smiled before she pointed to her side. "You are lucky to have a brother like him, ma'am. He has not left your side ever since we admitted you to this ward." An appreciative smile made its way on Claire's lips as she cast her gaze towards her left. Scott was snoring with his head on the edge of the bed while holding her hand. How badly she wished to stroke his hair. "Ah!" Claire winced in pain as the nurse applied too much pressure on her hand. It jerked Scott awake. He hastily got up and snatched her hand out the nurses hold as he threw spears of indignation at her. "What the hell are you trying to do?" "Erm, I'm sorry, sir. I was massaging her hand." "I'll do it. You're not required here. Get out."Claire eyed her brother as he came to the other side and resumed the work the nurse was supposed to do
35Penelope stared at her face as she decided not to tell her about Hunter and his presence in the hospital. Her first intention after entering Claire's room was to tell her about her ex-husband being in the waiting lounge. He refused to leave. When he entered the elevator after leaving Claire's room in the afternoon, all of them were so relieved that he left for good. Except that, Hunter went to sit in the waiting lounge. He was keeping his promise. He was willing to wait unless Claire decided to meet him. "Hunter MacIntyre and his sluttish wife will pay. I will not let them be at peace." Two days to that conversation, and it still haunted Penelope. "I have asked the company to take back the stuff I bought from them." Scott's words broke her trance. He was talking about the furniture and crib he had ordered for Claire's baby. Claire was being discharged today. So Scott made sure that things were taken care of before she stepped out of the hospital. "That's good. The crib and a
36Cole suppressed a gnawing desire to connect his fist with Hunter's handsome face. Even in this situation, where he was punishable for so many wrongs he did towards his wife, he was acting arrogantly. If audacity was to have a face, Hunter's would be printed in the dictionary for visuals. He set his anger towards this walking example of shamelessness and audacity aside and got a hold of his phone. Cole searched for Penelope's number. Her name itself left a bitter taste in his mouth. He cringed when he realized he was really going to call her. He thought about all the profanities he would receive just for calling that mad woman before he dialled her number. Cole only had Penelope's number because once Claire lost her phone during a girl's trip to Greece, and she shared her friend's number to him to forward to Hunter as he was busy in a meeting, and who else, other than Cole, would have done it on time for her? Although he and Penelope never agreed on anything, he never found a s
37Hunter stood stock-still. He watched as her lips twisted and she eyed him like he was a filthy, disgusting creature."You have lost every right to touch me, Mr. MacIntyre."Her tone threw him off his composure. He took a step back and lowered his hand. While he fisted his fingers as he couldn't feel her skin, she looked in his eyes with a hardness he was not used to seeing coming from her."Why are you here, Hunter? What made you waste five precious days of your life like that? I'm shocked to see you here honestly. Shouldn't you be in bed with your new wife, enjoying your time with her?" Hunter ignored her piercing tone and regarded her again.She appeared more miserable than before. It was as if in these five days she lost more weight of hers.When his eyes came back to her face, she gave him a lopsided sarcastic smirk, "Not so pretty compared to your new hot wife?""Will you keep your mouth shut for a while, Claire MacIntyre!" Hunter grumbled as he came forward to seeth in her fa
38 Her phone froze for a few minutes as the notifications loaded. She had about two hundred thousand plus notifications, which were multiplying with passing seconds, and about five thousand plus messages in her Dms. The latter were alone from the people who followed her. Then there was double of that in her requests. Claire went to the recent comments she received on the last picture she had shared. It was of herself and Hunter kissing. She made this post in the morning on their anniversary day. Her eyes filled with tears but she didn't let them fall. She read some of the comments and clutched her heart as they were so heartfelt. "I came to know about Claire when she got married to Hunter. Wasn't really her fan because I liked Hunter better with the true love of his life, which was Zara. But seeing what happened with Claire over the days I can't help but shift into team Claire. Lots of love and support to you Claire. Do not think you are alone in this phase. We are there with yo
39Flashback cont'd... "But where do we find such a guy?" As Scott released his tee, Shawn blew a sigh of relief and threw the leftover content of his glass in his mouth, feeling blessed that his words were not taken offensively. "Who is better and hotter than Hunter MacIntyre in Bloomcrest?" Scott began to brainstorm."Who will make my sister slick wet and leave her weak in the knees?" Shawn rubbed his mane, "Erm, he should also be the definition of tall, dark, and handsome since your sister is no less than an epitome of gorgeousness. She makes heads turn around wherever she goes. He should be equal if not more.""Hmm, the definition of tall, dark and handsome. Equal if not more." "Where will we find such a man?" Scott closed his eyes as he suppressed the need to scream. "There is only one man with such features... And my sister just got divorced from him."Shawn ordered new drinks for them. When they arrived, he lifted the skewer from it and sucked it."Keep thinking, my frien
261She took Claire's hand and stroked the back, "Well, I was one of those who had problems with your wedding with Hunter. I didn't like him. But over the months since your divorce, I have seen many changes in him. His love is genuine, Claire. The man didn't hesitate to kneel in a crowded place to please you, do you really think he would go back on his promises after doing so much for you?"Penny looked at her expectantly, hoping her words would have an effect. Claire only looked away and it blossomed her resentment."I haven't seen a dumber woman in my life!" Penny rose to her feet. "Hunter's literally crawling on a minefield to get to you and your stubbornness is one step away from making him explode with one of the mines. You will lose him forever if you don't stop it, Claire."Penny sauntered to the door, her feet thudding loudly on the tiled floor."Perhaps you want to see his body in a coffin to realize what you're doing to him and yourself.” Claire gasped at her words, her feat
260Penny didn't waver, "Girl, Hunter's character is deeper and darker than silent mysterious waters in the ocean. The last time Tia insulted you in the old Murphy Mansion during Grandma Avery's anniversary, Hunter burned her favorite car in revenge and in warning to stay away from you... And we saw how he pummeled Tyler for being around you.""H-he burned her car!!!" "Yeah, Cole told me. Anyway, do you think that after Tyler and you kissed, he saw him leaving your room and believing that you two had séx while he was in the next room, after Tia raised a knife on you to harm you, after bleeding for you… After all this— will he really stay quiet?"Claire recoiled in shock, wrapping her arms around her legs. She felt cold from all the assessment Penny made her do. "I... I'm speechless." "The answer to my question is— No, Hunter won't stay quiet. He's plotting his plan in silence and when it is the right time, he will unleash his attack on the Murphys.""....""Btw," Penny moved closer
259She knew she started off ridiculously. But it was her jumbled up emotions. Firstly, Hunter was annoying her. And then she saw Penny after such a long time. The friend within her, who had missed her other half— her bestie, was reawakened.The first glance Claire had taken at Penny after stepping inside the house was enough to realize that— had she been by her side wherever she wasn't, she might have prevented her from committing some of the mistakes she now regretted. The kiss with Tyler, for instance."You can stay here if you like. I'll just go up and..." Claire's tear-stricken voice came out slow and hoarse. "Take a shower! I also need to take care of this thing and figure out how to cover it."Claire started walking away when Penny asked, "What is that by the way?" "Oh, this is nothing. Someone just pressed a knife to my throat in the parking lot." Penny's blood ran cold. She immediately held Claire's hand to stop her. "Are you serious?" She lifted her chin a bit to see her
258"You have no idea what I want with you and how desperate I'm to have that. I've made mistakes, Claire, and I'm about to clear them up and make everything better. You just need to be a little soft and let me in." He spoke resignedly. "Be a little soft and let you in?" Claire growled angrily as she threw daggers at him. "You say things that hurt and then you disappear for days. Then you show up only when you hear I've been troubled. How is this going to make anything better? You don't keep your word and only act when it's convenient for you.” "I didn't disappear! I was just— wait!" Hunter fluttered his eyelids as a smirk unfurled on his lips. "Did you just say that I said things that hurt? By that, are you referring to what I said at the airport— about letting you go? Did that scare you, Dove? Did you really think I will not show you my face again? Damn, did you really think I was going to give up on us?"Crimson colored her cheeks as she redirected her gaze outside. Her eyes wide
257Claire sat heaving angrily beside Hunter. Her hands were folded under her breasts and she glared out without caring to fasten the seat belt. Hunter noticed it and said, "Claire, buckle up your seat belt."He was ignored brutally. He sighed as he tried again. This time Claire snapped her head towards him like a Python warning humans to leave it alone if they didn't want a painful bite."Fine, I'll do it for you."Hunter unclasped his own seat belt to come and help her. However, she thrusted a hand at his shoulder to keep him away."Touch me and you'll be dead meat!""I won't, now do it. We don't have time to waste, Claire. I told you I have a meeting!" He eyed the belt."It's none of my concern whether you have a meeting or not. I didn't ask you to drop me home. Now bear with it.""Claire..." Hunter sighed as he peered at her with a ‘what am I going to with you’ yet loving gaze. Claire fumed and looked out of the window. She wouldn't be acting this way if it wasn't for what she h
256“No thanks, sheriff. Just take my statement and I'll get going.” Claire spoke, but the sheriff insisted she take the almonds first. He was acting weird. He was being extraordinarily friendly and dusted the chair before she sat down too. She heaved because she knew the root cause. Although she was the daughter of a well-respected man in the country, she was being well-treated because of her connection with Hunter.Through her the Sheriff wanted to impress Hunter. Quelling down her frustration, she glared at Alexa... The culprit behind all this. Alexa shrugged with an apologetic look as she tried to speak with the sheriff. "Sir, we were at Paragon Mall shopping... And our friend was just attacked in the parking lot. Someone put a knife to her throat."Yara stood behind Claire, holding her shoulders. She nodded her head to confirm Alexa was telling the truth before she removed Claire's hair out of her shoulder and neck. "See here. It's not big but it could have been dangerous."
255 "What do I want?" The man chuckled behind the mask. He trailed the tip of the knife on Claire's jaw and pierced the tip back on the pulse at her throat. She gasped and shivered as the man laughed. "It's not about what I want— it's about what they want... And they want to see her bleed." Claire gulped, listening to the man carefully. She was in tears, her nerves were frayed, but she could infer someone had sent the man to scare her. Yes, it was supposed to scare her because the man had enough time to kill her but he hadn't.He was taking his time to frighten the girls. His hold on the knife didn't indicate that he meant to slit her throat. It was a facade. "Who is it? Who wants my blood?" Claire asked and the man was taken aback. "I was warned about that mouth of yours!" He sniggered. "They weren't wrong." "Who is it? Is it... Zara?" Claire guessed and the man froze. He stared at her, and those eyes looked familiar. She was thinking where she saw them when the man shook her
254Two days later,"Do you really think this suits me? I... Don't really like the... Color! It looks dull on me." Her voice wavered with doubt as she peered at herself in the mirror."You are looking like a glass of hot chocolate! Trust me, every other woman at the party is going to be jealous of you, Claire. Just choose this dress!" Yara exclaimed with glimmering eyes. The girls have come to a mall to buy dresses for themselves for an informal party organized by Prince Rashid. Although the official gathering to introduce projects was postponed to the end of this month, he expressed his desire to meet and greet everyone in person to know everyone better before getting down to the real business. He was being charitable too given he sent out gift cards and opportunities to women to shop from famous brands for the party. The men were sent tailored suits to choose from, and the party was held at the biggest banquet hall in Bloomcrest— White Pearl. It was not usually available for book
253Rashid stood beside his wife as he smiled at Hunter. A hand going around Kareena, he kissed her hair and admired his daughter giggling in his friend's arms. While Hunter was fidgeting with her, she seemed happy. "Her name is Nour, the light of our eyes." Rashid said. Hunter's body was alight with emotions that brought tears to his eyes. A baby... He was holding a baby! The feeling of having a bundle of joy in arms, at first, brought sadness and a reminder of the baby he and Claire lost. Wouldn't he have been this big— in Claire's belly? As he looked at Nour, the feelings in his heart were replaced with happiness and warmth. He forgot about his grief and hesitantly lifted a finger to caress her chubby cheek. "Hey, baby." Hunter whispered and Nour gave out a squeal of joy at him. "She's only that happy around her father, Hunter. She cries in other men's arms. But it looks like she likes you." Kareena stated as she came closer to touch the head of her daughter. The minute she