99Claire sat like a corpse herself as Kent drove in silence. He has been studying her features since the minute they left Hunter outside the restaurant. Claire was trembling, and though he blamed it on the heavy rain for drenching her, he knew what the real deal was. She never sat still for a long while in one position. Her fingers bit and banded around her arms, her feet were restlessly tapping as if she was unable to suppress feelings that she should otherwise let freely flow through her. Her Complexion grew waxen and salty torrent perpetually streamed down her face like she was regretting something she did or said. "Claire, are you okay?" Kent decided against his will and asked her. "Just take me home quicker." She assured him with her dipping head as she wiped her tears. The look of hurt on Hunter's face was flashing in her mind endlessly. She didn't like it one bit. But she did it to punish him. If not with actions, she could hurt him with words, couldn't she? It was nothin
100Using her trembling fingers, she typed. Claire: He is shot on his back. Take him to a hospital soon, Reggie. She was crying and sobbing simultaneously by the time she finished. Claire touched a hand to her heart and was dazed, listening to the beating of her heart. It was a mess. Her chest was shaking and her breathing was ragged. Just then Reggie called her. Since her fingers were twitching and typing was proving to be a difficult task, she picked the call even if she knew she would sound pathetic on the phone call. She put the phone to her ear and heard Reggie's panic-stricken voice, "Sir is shot? How? And when? He seemed completely fine to me when I visited him in his cabin ten minutes ago." "Are you saying that I am lying?" Claire's voice was heavy and shaky, but her undertone was packed with fury. "Obviously not, madam. But I can assure you he is okay. He's attending an online meeting now." A gasp shot out of Claire's mouth. More tears left her eyes as she knew what he
101'Reggie calling...'Claire frowned looking at the name. She wondered why he was calling her now. She had buried the emotions of the night with the night and welcomed the new morning with new hopes.Pulling the car over to the side, she heaved a breath. Even if she was afresh with new excitement for the new day, concern for Hunter remained etched in her chest. She couldn't draw it away. And Reggie's call doubled it."Hello?" She spoke in a monotonous tone after taking his call."Good morning, Madam," His tense voice sent her blood pumping.To increase her adrenaline, it started raining again and the pelting rain reminded her of the blood she had seen washing away with rain from Hunter's palm last night.Everything before her became a blur. Claire switched the vipers on and held the gear to brace herself to listen to Reggie further."I want to apologize beforehand for the inconvenience my call may have caused you, Madam, but sir left me no other option. He's turned deaf ears to my re
102The subtle rebuke in his voice caused her to clench her teeth. His indifferent behaviour took her back to the initial days of their marriage. Even the thoughts of facing the cold and ignorant Hunter shook her limbs. In reflex to the memories, Claire propelled her hands against his chest and roared, "How could you do this to me? I thought you married Zara after our divorce. The trauma of the same took my child's life. But from Reggie I get to know it never happened." "How could you do this to me, Hunter? I loved you. Even if you wanted to get rid of me to be with her, you could have just told the truth. My baby would have been with me then. I wouldn't have lost him." When she looked into his eyes she saw the control he was trying to keep on himself. The push stretched his muscles, reawakening the pain in his shoulder, thus moistening his eyes. But that was all... Moist eyes. He stood erect, his face red and eyes deeply staring into her soul. "And you believe him?" The hardness o
103"Hmm, interesting!"Hunter kept his face straight as he watched his doctor, aka one of his close friends, Caine, raising his eyes in amusement.He peeked over Hunter's shoulder at Claire who was sitting in the visitor's chair across from his desk. She was pretending to stay busy with her phone. But Caine can see the redness darkening in her cheeks. She was trying not to fluster as she sat rigidly in the chair.The fact that she accompanied Hunter to his doctor alone was surprising, talk less of her swollen lips. Caine's lips arched in a teasing grin as he brought his eyes to Hunter. He winked and whispered to him. "I thought Zara got you in her vice grip. But Claire's swollen lips and some of her gloss on your own says a whole different story. I like it!" "Check my wound." Hunter said in a faked steel voice as he didn't make any attempt to hide his smile. He purposely left his lips untouched. He had felt the smooth texture of her gloss on his lips right after they parted. Even
104Her heart thundered away in her chest, her hackles rising in delicious delight. Claire was supposed to hate this but all the more it made her feel good. She didn't know when it happened, but her fingers went in his hair. Her stomach fluttered and mouth sealed tightly to prevent a moan from escaping. She didn't want him to know that she was enjoying it. She didn't want him to realise that his touch still caused her system to go haywire. Few minutes later he stopped and joined their foreheads. They stayed in that moment, in that position as he arranged his breathing. Hunter's fingers shivered on her waist. She could feel it. Then as they pressed into her flesh, his face tilted to look into her gorgeous blue eyes. "Please kiss me, Claire." Claire shook her head in a no. "Please, I want to feel your lips moving against mine." She closed her eyes for his words were making her core shudder. This was his effect on her. Even though he didn't use any dirty words or acted dirty, her bod
105The happenings of the morning became a distant memory when Claire woke up. She was, for unknown reason, feeling happy and refreshed. She came down to the kitchen upon her mother, baking muffins. The warm aroma of chocolate was in the air. With the fragrance of muffins baking in the oven, and the pattering of rain outside, the environment transformed into the one Claire basked in. She was glowing as she requested her mother to let her help her. "Do you remember the baking contest I once had in school?" She asked Andrea while mixing a new batch of cake-mix in a bowl with a spatula. Andrea smiled in response, "In your seventh grade, right? How can I forget it. Your father and I both had arrived not aware of the other's possibility of coming. We both were busy and we both made time to come, much to each other's shock. Then he had to sit in the audience while I joined you in the contest. Clearly because I'm the best baker among us two." Andrea gave a smug raise to her eyebrow, showin
106The air became harsher and colder with passing seconds as she kept staring at his messages. For staring too long, her eyeballs ached. To relieve them of the pain, she deviated her gaze and found herself looking at his profile picture. It was the same picture of the front of their marital home that she likes during rain. The vast expanse splayed with grass, looking darker in shade under gray pouring clouds. The sky looking mysterious but worth admiring for hours. The tough iron gate that fenced and guarded the mansion from outside forces, standing like a lone warrior protecting its fortress from the enemies from breaking in. She was taken back to that balcony from where he had taken that picture. Her favorite place. Claire regarded the momos now becoming cold in blowing winds. Then at the circle that was the profile picture on the top left corner. She had enjoyed momos many times, in those two years of their marriage, on that balcony. Claire looked at the phone, another hard sh
234Claire glanced at the clock in the room for the Nth time with her burning red eyes. Tears never stopped and no matter how much she tried to distract herself, she was thrown back into the setting at the tourist spot with Hunter on his knees in front of her while she arrogantly waited for him to apologize in the crowded place.She hadn't assumed Hunter would do it. He was a man who wore his pride as a crown and not once did he let him head lower. He was invincible and extremely powerful.Alas, she made it happen what even his powerful enemies couldn't do after spending millions of money. She brought him on his knees and even had a vlogger record his video. She was afraid to check the social media and all the comments on the posts regarding Hunter's apology making rounds online.Claire was hyperventilating as Hunter's images didn't let her relax. She tried to get some fresh air and walked towards the window. The winds were cold but she was still feeling suffocated. She tried to medit
233"But, baby, I am happy that I took it off, else it would have been sitting like a huge rock on my chest. I wanted you to know about those times so we could start afresh. My only mistake was that I shared it at the wrong time... And you were not ready for it. I shouldn't have—" "Cut to the chase, MacIntyre! Apology. I want your apology, not your boring 'I am guilty' speech." Claire raised an eye arrogantly while the crowd around her twisted their lips or showed their annoyance in different ways.My speech was touching them, possessing their hearts and Claire probably noticed that and cut in. Even the girl with the camera scowled but her face softened when she looked at me. She whispered something into the mic on her collar as I focused back on Claire. My eyebrows creased seeing her looking behind me with a red face as if she would burst into tears now. When I chanced a glance behind, my heart stopped beating and fear engulfed me. Bloody Murphy! What was he doing here? How did he
232Also, there's one thing I realized. She wanted this... But not with the man who cheated on her. I felt as though I was being ripped apart. I felt that it would have been better to come under a truck than be here in the car with Claire while she was cowering away from me. I can't describe how I felt as I moved away. I pulled my t-shirt back to wear it. Once it was on, I hesitated to make her look at me. Claire was staring in the space between her knees and chest as she sat with her arms locked around her knees. She was so pale that it ached to see her. The thought of touching her scared me as if I would hurt her with my touch. "What do you want me to do, Claire?" I sighed as I was totally blank.I haven't even started a day ago and it's already wearing me out. Will I ever seek her forgiveness? Seeing how she's shivering from my forced kiss, it seems like she was molested.Her pale face made me feel worse as her lips appeared swollen and assaulted. I stretched a hand out to make h
231Hunter's POV"HUNTERRRRRR!" A loud shriek left Claire's mouth before she leapt towards me.Her arms curled around my neck as she tugged me back, away from the line of the truck. We missed it by a few inches. The driver yelled at me from the side mirror, calling me an idiot, before he sighed in relief.Indeed, a dangerous accident was avoided by mere inches. Thanks to my Dove.I was on the ground, ice under my back. As much as I wanted to shift away to get rid of the frosty pangs I remained stock-still. A smile crept on my lips as I wrapped my arms around Claire who was on top of me.Her head was on my shoulder as her face stayed pressed in the crook of my neck. Her heavy exhalation sent a current to my dick as it compelled me to embrace her more tightly.I'm such a dick head. My stupid attempt overwhelmed her to an extent that left her trembling intensely. Her chest heaved against mine and her sobs rang in my ear like a loud clap of thunder."Dove," I hated to interrupt this momen
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