Oh no! What's going to happen now? Claire is in danger. Will Hunter be able to save her? Next chapter target: 10 comments. Trust me u don't wanna miss it~ Ps. My trip has officially begun;) Excited to have some fun with my family. Your updates will be as usual. A little delay is expected though due to network issue.
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
69Claire never presumed she would feel this relieved in Tyler's arms. She clutched his coat at his back tightly and pressed her face on his shoulder. She gritted her teeth to keep her sobs in because no matter what, she didn't want to appear this weak in his arms.Unfortunately, the terror running with her blood in her body was intense. She had contemplated worse things happening to her. And why? Because she acted on impulse after seeing her ex-husband on the television with his new wife.Once again Hunter MacIntyre managed to make her fall into a pit of traumatising problems. She may get out of here with no scratch, thanks to Tyler for that, but the scar it carved on her mind would stay for days. Maybe weeks. "Claire," Tyler's comforting voice made her trembling stop. It also reminded her that he was not the man she should get this comfort from. Irrespective of how safe she felt in his arms, it was risky and a bad idea. Just like coming here with Pavel had been a bad idea. She c
70Cole followed Hunter closely with bated breath. A tiny voice in his mind asked him to prevent his best friend given everything about him screamed sinful intentions. His eyes were shadowed with ferocity and the chips of black in his pupils darkened. "They might have given a slip, Hunter. I'm certain they witnessed Murphy beating Pavel Maury to unconsciousness." Cole tried to create deviation. "They wouldn't wait for you to hunt them down, would they?" "Your certainty has nothing to do with my purpose. And just so you know, my guards haven't seen them going out of the pub. They're still inside, hiding somewhere." Hunter took long measured steps into the dark and isolated part of the pub that wasn't open for anyone except the staff. “And I don't give two fucks why and how Murphy beat Pavel Maury. I'm not going to let him go easily… that's for sure.” He crossed a corridor or two and arrived at a dead end. Cole halted before he bumped into Hunter's back. "Oh, so they're hiding in t
71Tyler's mouth curved up as he focused on the driving."I'm not here to fight your crazy ex-husband. Don't worry." He said as if he read her mind.His words didn't settle her restlessness. If anything, it increased her anxiety.Claire appraised the cuts and bruises on his face. It reminded her of Hunter's fury. He did that in RavenMoore. What would he do if he was made aware that Tyler has come to his country? Claire didn't want to think. She didn't want to see any more blood of either Tyler or Hunter being shed by one another. "Go back," She said while looking at him seriously. "I'm here for business purposes, Claire. I can't go even if I want to." Tyler offered without looking up. "Your ex-husband has been a sore sight for my eyes. Do you think I have any patience to tolerate him? You can relax. I have no desire to initiate a fight." "But what happened in RavenMoore...." She breathed deeply. "It must be shameful for you. You were beaten in your own country right in your own f
72In the hospital,Zara emerged from the darkness of induced slumber with a flickering gaze. She kept them close for a while to relax the back of her eyes then undid them again. She looked around and a feeling of disappointment crept into her being given her side was empty.There was a single nurse examining her daily report. She noticed the movement on the pillow and tore her gaze off the notepad. A warm smile touched her lips. "How are you feeling, ma'am?" The nurse asked, coming closer. Zara's chest bubbled with pounding anger. She looked about the room again as though whatever she was desiring to catch sight of will appear. However, she was met with silence and white walls. The stools placed on both sides of the bed seemed to have never been occupied, and not even the scent she thought she would wake up to inhaling was breathable in the air.The nurse had kept the pad by Zara's foot on the bed. She was unclasping the strings on the front of her gown to appraise her wound. The la
73Hunter took the lift to go downstairs and hid behind a wall to peek inside the casualty room. The lounge was occupied by some visitors, and amidst them, sat Claire with Penelope Baker, her annoying friend.Claire made a cringe face while helping hold Penelope's hand which she seemed to have hurt in some way."Why do you even attempt to ride a bike when you can't balance it? I have never seen such a stupid person in my life, Penny." Claire ranted. "This is your fifth time fracturing a part of your body in a year after falling from a bike. Why don't you just drop your determination? You can't ride a motorbike and that's it! That's the truth. Embrace it." Penelope made a crying face. Her hand was looking swollen and the side of her wrist was scraped with dried up blood. But Hunter hardly paid any attention or pitied the brunette beauty. His eyes were affixed on Claire's beautiful face. She wore a baby pink top with black short skirt. It was not revealing but something about it made H
74Claire was rooted into her spot, her heart picking up crazy speed. She didn't try to hide the color whipping into her cheeks or how her breathing doubled. She crossed her hands on her chest and stared at him. The back of her eyes were dry. She was thankful. She had shed more tears on this man compared to what he deserved. She focused on his face. It was not a stoic mask. His jaw was tensely clenched, his eyes looking at her with emotions she didn't want to acknowledge. There was something about his lips that suggested he had a shit load of stuff to tell her, but that he was quiet as though it was not the right time.He was still. Too still, like a predator indolently waiting to pounce. His dark eyes increased the level of adrenaline in her body. The silence in the cabin caused her back to soak with sweat. Though her face was hardened, her body was discreetly mourning over the fact that this gorgeous man, sitting across from her in a chair that wasn't his, was once hers. He had a
75 Her throat contracted with nerves, and she felt herself drowning, choking. Tears trickled out of her eyes. The fact that Hunter was literally behaving like they were one body with two souls made her knees buckle.She was not going to fall though. He had her tightly held after all. So tightly held as if she was his safe haven. As if she were his anchor, and god forbid if he let loose, then not only will he drown but also won't have the strength to come up on the surface as though the currents in the ocean were powerful. Claire quietly lowered her trembling face. She caught only the sight of his ear and the skin around it. He seemed to have rested himself at peace. Fully relieved... Like there was no better place than her embrace. She could feel his soft and unrushed breathing. The warmth of it. Her neck numbed under the warmth of his hot breaths. She couldn't see it but she could bet that his eyes were close. He could fall asleep in that position, with her in his arms, standing
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