61Zara's POV "I will be a queen and I will be a queen for Hunter that's for sure." I fumed. "Come on, baby, accept it. My boss doesn't want you." Enzo came behind me to hold my waist. "Shut up." I tried my best not to scratch his face as I got away from him. He wasn't very handsome. He wasn't very ugly either. "He ditched you but we won't. Your BBC men and I are always there for you." Indignation waltzed through me. I removed my slippers and charged them both at Enzo. They hit him on the face, causing him to fume. "Feeling insulted? That's not even close to what I feel." The lines on his face eased out. He came up to me and kissed my lips forcefully. When I tried to shove him away, he tossed me on the couch and lifted my dress to put my bare pussy on display. Since I was dreadful that Hunter was coming to meet me and I wasn't even close to fully dressed up, I only threw on a long dress and skipped my undergarments. Enzo took advantage of that and cupped my pussy. "It's bette
62Claire was focused on reading her old college projects. Now that she had only herself to proceed forward and begin her career, what could provide better motivation than her old projects. They were also retained by her college and kept for reference for other students.She also reconnected with a professor from college who admired her. An hour long conversation with him rekindled the fire within her. It was him who gave her a link to all the best projects done by the ex-students gathered in one place for reference.Claire also evaluated the works she had finished before she got married. As a civil engineer, she took part in creating five most known places in Bloomcrest and in three overseas locations so far. And then she was married to Hunter and gave up on work. Not that anyone knew her. For the world Claire was a princess born to her wealthy father. She was royalty with good looks and pleasant nature. They took her for a papa's princess who was best at getting dressed and flauntin
63Dominic saw the hesitation in her features and declined with a smile, "No, darling. But I will be there behind you to take your back if you need moral support." While checking the papers she gave him, he resumed, "My job was only to take care of the legal procedures to bring your company into existence for I know how strenuous it could be. Once I get you your commencement certificate, my part will be finished. And that's where yours will start." "You will have to go out and invite professionals to work with you. You will build your own R&D department, your own auditing team, your own designing team and gather your own employees who will work for you." Sweat beads began to form on Claire's forehead. To say she thought that everything was going to be served on a platter for her was wrong. Her father's words meant that she would have to put in efforts. Although the thought of facing people other than her family made adrenaline rush through her, she dipped her head in agreement. D
64As quickly as she burst into laughter, her expression faltered and face became dull. Old memories made her chest squeeze. There were many like Pavel who desired to take her out. But Claire being Claire, the lovesick devoted wife that she was, never took up on their invitations. She brushed their requests aside or left them unread and ignored. Two years ago when she was not still married, she refused to pay heed to these guys because mentally she had reserved herself for Hunter. From a young age onwards she had concluded in her mind that it would be Hunter, taking her first kiss and first time. Her mouth trembled in a remorseful smile. She wasted her teenage years and beginning of her adulthood for a man who treated her like a trashcan. This time, nevertheless, she was determined to not just go out with Pavel but also enjoy the evening. She asked him about the time as to when to meet and he texted: I'm on my way to your house. And I am wearing blue. How about we twin today? Not
65Hunter sat with a hard expression outside the operation theatre. His back was arched forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he ominously gazed at the wall across from him.Cole was unknowingly pissed by his expression. He had been noticing his best friend's body language and for some reason he seemed unperturbed. His girlfriend was attacked! Another man in his shoes would want to conduct restless searches to find out the person behind it. He would hiss and curse, make promises to find the culprit and get his woman the justice she deserved. But Hunter MacIntyre was unpredictably calm. Although his face was hard, it didn't amount to concern. There was no worry on his forehead nor any dark light for seeking revenge on his woman.What's more, he sat like he was a distant relative to Zara. A relative who was here to complete a formality. When it was beyond Cole's point of contemplation, he let out a grumble deep from his chest. He yanked Hunter by his shoulder so his face was para
66"You want to be with her again?" Cole raised an eyebrow before he exploded into peals of laughter.He was happy on the inside that Hunter finally realized his feelings. Still, he wanted to make him feel guilty for his deeds and continued to laugh out loud. He held his belly and shook his head. His laughter resonated in the air around them. Hunter's gaze blazed on his face. He fisted his hands on his sides while looking away. But Cole didn't stop. He laughed till his jaw and stomach ached. Then as he came to glance at his friend, his eyes sparked with malice and lips twisted. "Is this some kind of joke? Claire is not a toy, Hunter, that you can throw away and want it back when you see someone else playing with it."Hunter's gaze simmered with warning. The darkness in them served as a visual representation of his wrath. He hated the fact that Claire was compared to a toy. Cole was shaken for a second but he stood to his ground as someone had to give Hunter a reality check. Becaus
67It was a bad idea to go out with him. It was proved when they pulled over across from a pub where couples were shamelessly making out by the wall and on the ground. The area was dark and surrounded by trees and heart wrenching silence. Claire had sensed Pavel wasn't a good company for her long back. But only when he grazed her butt on their way inside the pub did she finally conclude that he was not just bad but rather a walking warehouse of red flags. "Claire, you haven't touched your drink yet. What are you thinking? Drink it." Pavel raised the glass to her lips. "Erm, yeah, I will. Give it to me." She had to insist to him for a while to let the glass be in her possession, and that she would drink it on her own. When Pavel shifted to the other side to talk to a man, Claire took a deep shaky breath as she stared at the drink in front of her. Something about it didn't make her feel right which is why it was sitting untouched on the table.This was like what? Third time, he was
68Her gaze was misted with tears that she blinked back. When she looked up, she saw the manager. His face was crossed with malevolent objectives. Behind him was another man. The bartender, from whom Pavel bought two drinks. One for himself and other for her. As she gathered her courage to look back, she saw Pavel's smirking face. "Thanks, buddies." He stopped right in front of Claire meanwhile his eyes glazed over her body like a magnifying glass on an invaluable fossil remains. "I knew she wouldn't be an easy target from the moment we stepped inside the pub. The way she looked around and pretended to be cool about everything made it obvious that she wouldn't fall for my niceness. So I had to do this."Pavel lifted her face by jerking his forefinger under her chin. His mouth upturned into a smitten grin as he licked his lips. "I've been after you for a while, Claire. You refused me in the past like I wasn't worth the hassle." He sneered before turning to his allies, the manager an
230Hunter's POV "I'm the one bleeding and it's your eyes that are shedding tears. Isn't it a little weird, Dove?" She froze, I saw her knuckles turn white from clenching her fingers too tight to keep her emotions in check. But she failed and it made my body hum in gratitude. It's a relief that her heart still cares even though her eyes show deep hatred. "Your curses... I've been thinking about them since you first cursed me, Dove. I won't hide how much it hurts to hear all those words. They make my heart bleed. I wonder if you are really so desperate to see my blood. But... Is this how it’ll be when I’m bleeding and suffering in torment?" I moved back so I could look at her face. My darling was glowing red. Her cute nose seemed like a cherry tomato while the rims around her eyes shimmered a pinkish red. Her wet lashes shadowed her admirable cheeks as her full lips quivered from each sob that left them. "Gosh, if this is how you're going to cry, I swear I'll throw myself under a t
229Hunter's POV Pain clawed through my chest as a smile of agony unrolled on my lips. My eyes weren't moist but the bite of her words made my eyes burn. So much hatred? This should not stun me, but damn, it did. It did more than I was capable of describing it in words. I gazed at her, trying to force a smile despite the deep pain in my chest. I reached out a hand to grab hers and put it back on my bleeding forearm. "Why wait for karma to do what you can do to me now, Dove?" I guided her long nails to my skin and made her scratch me. She gave me a look with her left brow going high, "Are you challenging me? I'm not the old Claire, Hunter MacIntyre. She was easy to fool and manipulate. Don't even dare to think that the thought of hurting you would cause my mind to spin.""All I'm trying to do is bring my old Claire back..." I kept the smile which I could see was aggravating her. "And if this is the only way... Then be it." Her nails pricked my skin enough to cause a burning sensati
228Hunter's PovMy heart swelled triple of its usual size and wanting to jump from my mouth into my hand so it could show to everyone how delighted I was! Yes, my nerves were dancing in happiness and my heart was too excited to contain this happiness.Claire was sitting next to me. It was like a dream come true. That night after she heard my confession and left me alone on the dark and lonely road, I thought it was over. I thought that she wouldn't spare me a single glance after that.But yesterday when she saw me, the relief and happiness was visible in her baby blue eyes. She was soothed but her anger didn't let her show it. And that slap, I won't deny that it didn't hurt me, but that slap was a way to show that she hated me a lot. But I know my Dove. She will never hate me.She had several reasons to hate and never see me again, and all those times she came running into my arms.So she's hardly angry at me. But if I make a little effort then I'm sure the ice around her heart will
227I darted towards my room. He held my wrist and stopped me. When he turned me to face him, my heart pounded because Hunter was standing right behind him. His legs staggered watching Tyler hold my hand. But he didn't stop closing in on us. "Dove," He began. "I'm really—""Dove! Is that your nickname? I never heard of it." Tyler cut Hunter with his remark. "I call her Dove because she has pretty big and beautiful eyes which resemble a Dove bird's. Why? Do you have a problem?" Hunter drawled as he aggressively leaned towards Tyler. I was afraid that Hunter might pick a fight with Tyler again, so I pulled the latter with me. "It's no point talking to him. Let's go out." I spoke, feeling disgusted in Hunter's presence. "I don't feel like eating in the house anymore, Tyler. Will you take me out?" "Why not?" He smiled and forwarded his hand to me. Hunter was glaring at Tyler and his hand. When I took his hand, a growl expelled from deep in his chest. We both treated him with ignora
226The jerk was taking pictures of me. I saw him move the phone in different angles to take different photos of me. The winds were favoring him because they blew my hair around, and I raised my hands to tame them. Some of the hair strands were stuck to my face and lips. I sighed as I sought after swiping them back. Hunter took more pictures, but there was no flash this time. Maybe he didn't want to attract the attention of the others on the table and shut the flash off. "Fine, I am sorry." Tyler said aloud while holding his ears. "No one can win an argument from you, Elder Mrs. Murphy. I surrender.""You better." Grandma humphed smugly. "Can we start eating, please. My stomach is churning in hunger!" "Sure, you can." Grandma Avery said and just then Hunter decided to appear. My skin rippled with goosebumps. His eyes were on me as he greeted Avery with a kiss on the cheek, "Hello, Avery, you're looking lovely today." "Hello, favorite person! You're just in time for breakfast. We
225Claire's POV "Ares, I'm on a mission concerning my life and death. My wife is mad at me and I have a competitor fighting with me over her. Do you have any idea how fragile the situation is? One wrong move on my part and I'll lose Claire forever. So please, it's a hearty request, please... Take care of the meetings all by yourself." There was a pause and my curiosity compelled me to tiptoe ahead and peek inside. A surge of emotions left me breathless as my eyes widened. Hunter was walking around with a towel around his hips. His hair was damp, showing that he just had a bath. His strong shiny back made my heart lurch. This man and his strong physique, I recall using vibrators in the beginning of my obsession after laying my gaze on him. I used to imagine those strong arms around my body as he... I shook my head to clear my head. Turning away, I hardened my heart again. That's true that he's a walking distraction, I won't give in to his attempts. He hurt and used me enough. "I
224Claire's POVMy toes curled, slowing my stride as I tried to step towards the bed. My heart had jumped into my throat as it contested with my rising emotions, making my breathing difficult. I stopped by the bed and stared at the surprise none other than Hunter would have prepared for me.My bed was decorated with rose petals, and amidst them sat a cute soft, white teddy bear holding a heart that read 'I'M SORRY' in bold and capital. He wasn't sitting there alone. He had a big bouquet of different shades of sunflowers set beside him and a tray of my favorite chocolates across from him. My fingers twitched as I grazed the head of the bear, my skin tingling with heat and anxiety.What was happening to me? Why was I feeling thrilled and touched by this gesture?It was nothing extraordinary, was it? Just an adulterer trying to right his wrongs. I shouldn't feel impressed. But that's where the problem lies! No matter how hard I tried to loathe him, he did something to weaken my resolve
223Closing his eyes, Hunter took ten deep breaths to stabilize his emotions."Calm down, Hunter. Calm down. Calm down for Claire. She doesn't want a brute for a husband. She wants a loving and understanding man. You can be that for her. You are already that man for her. Calm down. Think about Claire. Just you and her. Just you and her. Just you and her."While he attempted to make himself resurface from the dark abyss of indignation, the sound of the creaking door stiffened his body. He tried to think of himself in another scenario with Claire by her side.'I'm not letting you have the satisfaction to see me lose my shit, Murphy. Not again. Not again.' He told himself as footsteps drummed in his ears as Tyler walked in again.Hunter was bracing himself for another provoking statement from him when, "Hunter, son, are you okay?"He opened his eyes to see Avery looking at him with concern. She has a tray of food in her hands and contrition in her eyes! Contrition? Hunter blinked his la
222Hunter's heart slammed in his stomach as it throbbed everywhere in his body. His fingers curled and a tide of intense rage crashed within him. "Murphy, no." He shook his head in warning, his voice a low eerie snarl."No? Why no, Hunter? I gave you respite all these years. Don't you think it's time to pay back for your evil deeds done towards me. It's not like I'm doing it alone! Claire and I will do it together. This way you will only have to pay once for the crimes you committed towards two individuals separately. It's a favor done on you, isn't it?"Hunter fumed. His heaving chest indicated the kind of control he was having on himself. The pulse at his throat seemed to explode any time now, even then, it didn't stop Tyler from pushing his buttons further."I was silent all this while because I didn't want to disturb your married life. I'll be honest, you dazed me with your so-called picture perfect life. I thought you were happy and your wife whom I have never met before didn't