Ouch, her words sting! I felt bad for Hunter. But it's only the top and the visible part of a glacier, isn't it? What's under the water is also what he deserves to get. His regret will show him many things... Including the fact that money can't buy you the woman you love. Haha. Btw guys, so many readers and yet the book doesn't have a rating:') Can you plz go to the blurb page and leave a review. I would appreciate it. I published this chapter before the target accomplishment. Can you reward me and the book for early update and leave a review? TIA xoxo
78With heart in her throat, Claire returned back to him."What did you say?" Her body was trembling.Considering how brokenly Hunter was gazing at her, she knew he wouldn't try to hold her. So she had to take the support of a motorbike beside her to stand still."You heard me the first time I said it." He said, grazing her face longingly."And how do you know that?""Maury told me."Claire squinted her eyes in doubt, "And how did you get acquainted with Maury?""I had him picked up from the club along with his two men. He confessed it in my custody."He said without remorse. But the darkness clouding in his eyes provided her answers of questions which wouldn't have come to the surface had he not revealed what he said previously."You followed me into the club?" She cringed."After I was told how dangerous the man and the place is.""So you accept that you've been stalking me."Hunter's jaw tightened, he gave her a look that made shivers erupt within her, "It's not wrong to protect th
79The cab stopped in front of black iron gates guarding a big villa. Mr. And Mrs. Murphy stayed here with their younger son. Although Claire wasn't sure, she guessed this is where Typer may stop by while he was here for work. That's if he was really here for work. The guard opened the small gate carved into the left huge gate for her. He didn't ask her who she was and why she was there since this was not the first time. She came here earlier to drop her brother at Shawn's. Everyone working on this estate knew her well. Hence, she made her ways inside the villa without so much as waiting to ask for permission. She was moving so confidently that she wasn't anxious of encountering Tia Murphy either. Claire came to the living room where Shawn was sitting with his mother. He was busy on his tab while his mother was knitting something like a baby sweater. For who it was Claire didn't bother as she knew the woman was a social butterfly with an army of friends. She went to kitty parties mor
80Back in the hospital,After Claire left, Zara took the elevator back to her floor. She walked with blood now soaking her gown till her knees. The wound no longer hurt. The pain no longer made her dizzy because her entire body was numb in anger and annoyance.The streams of tears remained on both her cheeks, her skin blanched, and the touch of innocence she carried on her face was replaced with fury a mad witch would have for losing the potion that keeps her young. "How could he? How dare he?" were the only words Zara continuously chanted as her memory burned with the images of Hunter smiling lovingly at Claire's retreating figure.The man looked infatuated. He was completely in Claire's grip. Love dripped from his dark eyes. Though there was no mark of brand on his body, should someone ask him who he belonged to then it would be Claire's name he'd take.In her angry state, Zara came to Enzo's room which was also on the same floor. Hunter had booked the entire floor for her, and sin
81Enzo was counting seconds. He had accepted that this was his end. This day was the last day of his life. He wished he had touched Zara better, and kissed her more passionately. That would have at least helped him die without remorse. Alas, he was going to lose his head for doing nothing... Yet doing everything to his boss' woman. As for Zara, she showed patience. She didn't jump to the conclusion that this was her last day. Rather she encouraged herself to get ready for a blissful life that was coming ahead after Claire's death. She believed in her luck, and her brilliant acting, as she ran towards Hunter while sobbing hard as if she was denied oxygen for a while. "Hunter, I'm glad you came!" Zara got out of Enzo's hold before their position made his mind jump onto any conclusion. She turned completely towards Hunter and made a run for him. Her colorless face and the tears in her eyes had distracted him already. Then whatever suspicion he may have developed subsided as he saw t
82Claire darted straight towards her room after coming back home. She removed her clothes near the bed and slipped under a hot shower. The tears coming out of her eyes battled with the heat she was feeling on her body from the contact of water. She pressed her hair back and took a deep breath. Her heart wasn't in any mood to calm down nor her body which was trembling from all the emotions coming on the surface. "Both of them are the same... Sick bastards!" She muttered before turning the water cold. Claire spent some time under the spray of cold water as her nerves relaxed. Crying also helped make her chest light and feel fresh. When she came out of the room in a robe, with her hair in a knot, Penny was sitting on her bed with her phone. She sensed Claire's presence and looked up with a smile. However, the smile died the minute she appraised Claire's red-rimmed eyes. "You cried in the shower, didn't you? That is why it took you twenty minutes." Penny dropped her phone on the mat
83"I so wanted to spend the night in your room and talk more, Claire. But the medicines are making me sleepy. We'll continue tomorrow." Penny offered an apologetic grin as she jumped down the window sill. "Take care of your hand. Don't sleep like a horse." Claire chuckled as she watched her friend sleepily strut out of her room. Once she was gone, Claire craned her neck to look outside. The sky was pitch black and gray clouds floating lazily. The air was too much to handle though she was wearing warm pajamas with a thick woolen cardigan over a full-sleeved top. It felt like ice knives on her skin. Claire rubbed her forearms, a small smile tucking at the corner of her lips as she noticed the drizzling drops. Under the lights radiating alongside the fence, she caught the sight of scattered rain drops. It was worth capturing on her phone. And also, she thought, it was time to slowly return to social media to rebuild her fan base. She would need it once her company was ready and she h
84She stopped just before she was about to hit send. And she stopped because it struck her that the view she devoured from the balcony attached with their bedroom, and the associated caption, wasn't the first time he texted her.In fact, there were more. More words he typed than he had ever told her in one day during their two years long marriage. Words that screamed emotions. Her heart thundered away in her chest, challenging the ones unfolding in the sky above. Hunter: Hey wifeyClaire's eyes frosted upon the first text he sent as the warmth began to leave her body and ice settled in. 'I'm not your wife.' She corrected it in her mind as she read further. Hunter: I know you are mad and you have every right to be. But can you plz listen to me? Don't reply if you don't want to. Justlet me convey what I feel for you.Hunter: And before I say it let me request you to not even think of blocking my number. I will keep buying new numbers to call you or simply make my tech guy unblock
85His eyes froze on her face. Was she the woman he spent two years with in their marital home? Claire MacIntyre, the woman that was his wife, never raised her voice on him. Talk less of talking like a woman full of venom. To say, she was not even sparing him a glance. His nerves pinched and his chest grew hollow. The heart he had developed after realizing her love was dying a slow death. "Giving up so easily? She's hardly cold whereas you have been everything a woman wouldn't want her husband to be." A tiny voice spoke in his mind. It rejuvenated his spirits and Hunter gave her a tender smile. His face was illuminated and it made her stomach do a somersault. She kept her hard face intact as Hunter wiggled his eyebrows. "I know in your chest is a heart that beats only for me. That being said, your hard looks won't do me any harm. If anything, it only makes me want to do everything impossible for you. Like plucking the brightest stars for you and adorn them on your head." Claire cr
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