I thought i posted this chap in the evening before I went down with fever:') One of you just mentioned it to me so I'm here to upload this chapter. Ps. There may/may not be a new chapter tomorrow coz my back is numb with pain and to make it worse I have a fever! My only reason to upload this chap was because I didn't wanna disappoint some of you who think the updates are irregular since this month;) Hope you appreciate my efforts and make sure to leave a review on the blurb page. U can also share the book to show love~ Lysm!
90"Hell! I wanted to listen more." She sucked in a breath and kicked her right foot angrily. Eavesdropping on Hunter's conversation had surprisingly reduced her pain. Though the sporadic bursts of currents she felt in her arm persisted, the pain overall had become tolerable. That realization made Penelope climb down the steps and make her way out. She hailed a cab and came back home. Her mind was occupied by Hunter's conversation with his guards that she couldn't silence. Even if Penelope endeavoured to distract her mind to do something else, it jumped back to the memory in the hospital near the elevator chambers. By the time evening crept in, pain in her head became more intense than the one in her hand. She felt an urge to reduce it by sharing what she heard in the hospital with someone.Alas, there was no one who she could discuss Hunter MacIntyre and his unfiltered confession with. Everyone else beside Claire despised him in the Argent family. They would pay to see him sufferin
91"Yeah!!!" Penny went wide-eyed at Claire's accuracy. "And you thought I'd skip my dinner if I heard about him?" Claire blew out a breath in incredulity for Penny shrunk back like she was afraid that Hunter's topic will affect her friend. "Come on, Penny, you need to get it straight that it's over. I have moved on.""I don't care if he plays a caretaker for that slút or feeds her with his own hands. My heart has hardened. It doesn't ache over their mention any more. It's just... Just..." Claire didn't know how to describe the hollow feeling she felt over Hunter's mention. "It's hard to explain but, Penny," She inhaled sharply. "Stop worrying about me. It doesn't hurt any more. I'm fine.""Oh wait, wait, wait," Her eyes narrowed accusingly. "Is it because of Hunter you didn't let me come with you?" Penelope's bad habit of biting and nibbling her lips on getting caught was on projection. "Oh hell, you are ridiculous, Penny! Of all people I didn't expect you to treat me like a child
92Two days flew by since Penelope shared Hunter and Reggie's conversation with Claire. No matter how hard she tried, the words remained as freshly echoing in her mind as if it was said not two minutes ago. She behaved normally around her family like she was happy and unfazed but in isolation her heartstrings tugged a little in memory of Hunter and how those words may have sounded in his voice. Currently she was sitting in her father's study alone. Dominic had sent out for her. But when she arrived, he was not there. So she decided to wait in his comforting workspace that was also going to be her own workspace soon. Since Claire savored the environment in her father's study room, he merrily invited her to share it with him. It was a small sanctuary of peace and backed with the latest technology. It was designed in a way that whenever a person walked inside, the sensors would go on and start playing fine meditation or other related music to promote engaging working environment. The
93Exhilarated and thrilled, Claire boastfully raised her invisible collars, "Soon, sir. And you will be the first one to know." Then she threw her head back, bursting in a fit of laughter. Her father joined her. Later on Claire spent long dedicated hours in her father's company as he gave her some life-changing advices. She noted them and accepted references he made of experienced people, who he thought could give her some insightful knowledge on how to start her company. After all, it's not a cake walk to begin a new company and succeed with it too. One needs advice and stories of success and perseverance to strengthen their spirits. The road to success is never straight. It is full of obstacles and bumps one has to avoid and tackle to reach the destination. For the upcoming five days, she was occupied in conducting and attending meetings with people Dominic referred to. She was utterly indebted to him provided that through his reference she was able to build connections and re
94The lines of exhaustion and dark circles under their eyes spoke of their struggles in their previous working environment. Jasmine Burlow, who worked for a successful company, had a fever when she came to attend the meeting that day in the coffee shop. She had even cried because her old company was oppressing her with loaded work. Since Claire promised to give her a peaceful work culture as their team was going to be of limited number of professionals, with no impending work pressure, Jasmine caught the opportunity with her teeth and was the first one to come to office when the location was shared on their chatting group. "If you are in with a partnership with TNR company, raise your hands."Kent opted to vote by hand and no one voted in favor of working with TNR except for him. "You guys are ridiculously crazy!" He let out an indignant sigh and departed. The team watched him with shock as he almost slammed the door. The silence that followed left Jasmine with a ghostly white fa
95"Do you remember Professor Feanis who taught us Engineering Material?" Kent's face was aglow with nostalgia as he sipped from the glass of his wine. "That professor with a black birthmark on his left cheek? Who will forget him. He taught less and conducted tests more." Claire said with flickering lashes as she expressed her distaste over remembering him. She rolled some noodles around the fork and lifted it to her mouth. Then she gave an amused tilt to her eyebrows and said with a grin, "But you were his favorite! In fact, you were every professor's favorite. Mr. Topper!" Kent responded to her with a small laugh while Claire rolled her eyes. She raised another bite of Scallion oil noodles and moaned. The food was good and as they relieved old college memories, it tasted even better. They had crashed into a traditional Chinese restaurant where the seating arrangement was made on the cushioned floor with a circular table between them. The walls were painted soft green, and mounted
96Claire closed her eyes in reflex as his hand stretched out. The memory of that day in hospital when he had slapped her consumed her being. She thought he was going to do the same so to prepare herself for the following pain, she stiffened her body and waited for it. Much to her shock, his smothering fingers banded around her elbow and peeled her off Kent's body. His roughness snapped her eyelids apart. Her gaze fell on his face and the stony look left her muscles twitching. Claire couldn't protest him because of her shock as he pulled her behind his back and gripped the front of Kent's shirt. Yanking him near his face, Hunter growled. "Keep your distance from her. Next time I see you within a five-metres radius of her, you will be a charred meat." He rumbled and let go.The moment was thick with tension and both Claire and Kent were in a state of daze. They were still trying to compose from the shock of Hunter's unexpected arrival, talk less of responding to his dark threats.The
97They were so lost in each other's company that they forgot the surroundings existed. Kent existed. They failed to see him approaching them and even his thudding footsteps went unheard. It was when he tugged Claire at his side by her arm did then Hunter was shaken out of the cobweb of his trance. He didn't get a chance to rumble in protest as Kent arched his chin up, grazed him with a challenging stare and mocked, "Last time I checked you both were controversially separated. And if my memory is not weak then it was because of a home wrecker lover of yours, isn't it?" "So, Mister, don't you dare do that in my presence again." Kent gave a light shake to his head as he bore his cold eyes into Hunter's murderous ones. He protectively reached a hand at his back to touch Claire's hand. "Leave Claire alone. Or you will curse your stars for getting a beating from a man with a lower status."Claire's lower jaw went slack in a moment of disbelief. Kent was really calling for the grim reaper
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 express
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'
277Claire took a deep breath as she lifted her upper body by the midriff and took a glance towards the window. The curtains were drawn and a soft breeze was billowing it. Her heart pounded loudly as her face began to heat up.The sadness she was drowning in earlier got replaced by excitement and an utter sense of delight. Her body was alight with all sorts of gleeful emotions. She nervously swallowed as her nerves were getting the better of her. With slow and unrushed movements, Claire lifted the blanket from her body and rolled out of the bed. She took baby steps towards the window because the thrill of going there made her body jittery. The distance suddenly seemed too long.But when she reached there and drew the curtains apart and looked down— it was worth it!Her lips curled up and her cheeks numbed from all the heat she was feeling in her face. Claire was filled with uncontainable joy because HUNTER WAS STANDING DOWN THERE, outside her window.He waved a hand at her as his mout
276Claire shut the door with a bang and threw herself on bed, pulling the blanket over her. Her chest ached from trying to control her sobbing while her eyes flashed with the images of Scott's disgusted expressions. The pain she felt was unimaginable.They hurt more because they came from her only sibling— her protective sibling who had promised to burn the world to make her happy.She recalled Scott's desperation from months ago when she had discovered that she was pregnant. He was willing to give her baby the love of a father and take care of her the way she deserved as a pregnant lady. He never left her alone, always lingering around as if it was his responsibility to make sure she and the baby were fine.But the bitter words he said today, the anger he showed... It made her heart shatter into pieces.Claire covered her mouth to suppress her sobs. For her, it was a wonderful day today. She felt amazing when she shared her feelings with Hunter. She was thrilled beyond explanation w
275The way he spoke with authority made Claire's jaw tighten. It was as if he were the older sibling and she the younger one— not the other way around."Let go of my hand, Scott! I'm not in the mood to talk." Claire eyed him sternly. "Then make your mood, Claire. Because I'm not letting you go until we finish this conversation." Scott shrugged his shoulders uncaringly. He held her hand tightly and gave her a challenging look, making her seethe. "Stop being annoying, Scott. Let go." "Answer my questions first. Was Penny the only company you had or was there someone else too?" "You know the answer then why are you asking me!" Claire pulled her hand away. "I knew it! And I'm ashamed to call you my sister." Scott sniggered, making her eyes freeze in shock. Mr. Argent banged his hands on the table before he rose to his feet, "What the hell is going on here? What's with your attitude today, Scott. How dare you talk to your sister like that?" "Just the same way she dared to soil our
274Claire came home with bright pink cheeks and a smile that made her mother stop her in the main hall. She circled her while her curious eyes tried to find out the cause behind that blush."You are blushing, Claire." Andrea prodded a finger in her cheek."Am I? That's probably the heat of the day, mom. You see, it's so.... Dark outside like it's going to rain." Claire's voice lessened over the last sentence as she gazed out the huge sliding doors that led to the garden outside.The sky was gray and heavy and angry black clouds floated in it. She bit her lips embarrassed as she wondered what excuse to make to avoid her mom.Andrea laughed, "Oh, Claire, you're so transparent. It has nothing to do with the weather. You're thinking about him, aren't you?" "W-who?" "Don't play dumb, sweetie. I know exactly who I'm talking about." She paused for dramatic effect. "Tyler." Claire's jaw dropped. She stared at her mother as her heart pounded in her chest. She wondered why she was talking ab
273Hunter's POV She stopped just a hand's distance away and blinked her doey eyes at me, "I know we've been through so much, and our past is complicated. But I don't want to rush into anything this time. I want to love the good part we missed before. I want us to take our time, to enjoy each other's company, to fall in love all over again. I want you to make me feel special.""I want our second chance to be different. I want it to be about us, about our love, about our connection. I want it to be real, and true, and raw. I want us to be vulnerable, to be open, to be honest with each other. I want this time to be our time. Our time to love, to laugh, to live. Our time to be us." Her lips trembled. She was having a war with herself whether to tell it to me or not. She chose to do it anyway and risk it all... Because, by sharing her feelings with me, she was exposing how desperately she wanted me. "I want us to create new memories, to make new mistakes, to learn from each other all ov