Claire's POV “Thank you, Cowen, I'll take it from here” I said to Cowen as I reached out to get the two large brown paper bags from him. I had just returned from grocery shopping. The time was 08:02pm. After my conversation with Luke, Cowen and I went to the spa and I had forced him to get some manicure and pedicure the same way I had gotten. From the spa, we went to a boutique and I got clothes for the baby, Madam Desideria and myself. I got some jewelry and a Chanelle bag for Elyse, two Boss Hugo shirts for Don which I wasn't planning on giving him anytime soon until we settled the issue between us. I also got a jersey and matching shots for Romano. I noticed he loved wearing them whenever he was in the house. I didn't mind shopping that much whenever I got the chance to. Shopping was my hobby. “I'll carry them to the kitchen” “Trust me, I can handle it from here” I laughed “I insist, Ma'am” He smiled a toothless smile “Besides, you have three shopping bags in your hand alre
Salvatore's PovAll plans were falling into place. The dumb bitch was getting too friendly, easily convinced. I needed to claw her by the wrist of her arm, where escape would be the first thing she thinks of but cannot get. And I was getting teeny close to achieving that.If it took me millions to spend on her to keep my nice guy status, it was a spare change. Offering to take her for coffee was the first step, and then shopping - something she could hardly resist. She bought a lot of things but offered to pay for them, and I refused. She ended up getting things that I knew weren't for her use and paid with her card before I could argue. Don dared ravage my drugs!The billions spent on the drugs I planned to ship could break my net worth and I had lost my guard by not knowing Don would reach for it. He had the victory now mine was next.Oh, what I would do to Claire. The thoughts danced around my head waiting to be done. She would pay for a lot of his sins, her parents and Don's and
Claire's POV I couldn't stop smiling as I hung up the phone with Nick. It felt amazing to reconnect with my old friend. It's been a long time since we last saw each other. We had so much to catch up on. Where had he been? Was he in love now? Did he have a boyfriend already or was it just a train of fling after fling? There was so much to talk about. He called when I was in the kitchen doing the dishes. I had just finished eating my favorite dish and I was about to take a shower. Now I had to suspend that and fix something for Nick. I had to receive him in grand style. I quickly texted Nick my address, eager to see him soon. His visit would be a lovely surprise to brighten up my evening. I grabbed a packet of spaghetti from the cupboard and threw the strands into a pot. Pasta and meatballs were Nick’s favorite so I was just going to prepare that for him. I moved around the kitchen from one point to the other, picking ingredients and throwing them into the pot. I stirred and taste
Claire's PovHe was brutally injured. Why must anyone do this to a human? The flesh in his wounds oozed out blood. The doctor didn't arrive on time and I could not help but pace the room fearing it would be worse even with Luke calming me down.As the doctor packed up his medical supplies and bid us farewell, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. Nick's wounds were tended to, but I bet the emotional scars would take longer to heal."Thank you, doctor," I said. Nick's eyes lingered on mine, I could see the fear settled in his eyes. He must have been so terrified by the robbers who assaulted him. "I'll be here tomorrow," The doctor said and left."It's late, I need to go," Luke said, taking off the hood of his clothes from his head."Please, Claire, let him stay," Nick immediately jumped off his bed like he could stop Luke, but the pain held him back as he groaned falling back on the bed."He can't go back to that place, not after what happened." His eyes pleaded with me, and my heart ra
Don’s POV “Don?” Her jaw dropped as her eyes widened She hadn't expected me to show up, especially after our last heated argument. I was the last person she wanted to see. What was she thinking, letting another man into her space? The images from the cameras flashed in my mind – two people had come in, even three cause someone in a doctor's uniform followed suit.The first was a familiar face, Nick. He was rushed in by someone whose appearance disturbed me as he was wearing a hood and looked like he was deliberately avoiding the camera. The one time he pulled his hood off, he was behind the surveillance."Claire, what's going on here?" I demanded, my voice low, when she finally faced me.Claire, smiling at that stranger, touching her waist, burned me. The moment I saw them, I had taken my car keys and burst out of the house with Elyse and Romano asking where the fuck I was going. I kept watching the apartment camera from my car as I sped off the highway. It was just a two-hour jou
Don’s POV "None of you are picking up my calls," Elyse said on the other end. "You stormed out angrily…is everything okay with Claire"I wasn't surprised she asked about Claire instead of me, of course, she knew the only thing that could get me extremely worried was something happening to Claire."Claire is fine…we are all fine," I told her, my voice opposing my words."Don…take it easy on Claire, you know she's pregnant and…""I know…" I cut her shut. "But being pregnant didn't mean lurking around with other men and…""Claire would never do that, you should talk gently with her without accusing her" Elyse sounded like she had a deep frown on her face.They were inseparable, it was useless to defend myself. "I'll talk to you later…""No…" she insisted, but it was too late as I had hung up. My stomach rumbled just as soon as I ended the call. I stormed into the kitchen, my hunger and fatigue getting the better of me. Not like I was sure I was going to find food but I just went anyway.
Don's PovAs our lips met, the tension between us let loose. My hands roamed her body, relearning every curve as she repaid with her fingers tracing the lines of my face. We had been longing for each other for way too long and the kiss deepened.We broke apart, gasping for air. I carried her up on my waist, wrapping her in my arms. "I need you, Claire," I whispered, my voice husky with desire.She nodded, her eyes locked on mine. I carried her to our bedroom and laid her on the bed, Claire's hands reached for me. I pulled off my clothes, my eyes never leaving hers. "Make love to me, Don," Claire whispered, her voice shivering with desire as her hands wrapped around my neck.Our lips curled into each other once again as I hovered above her. And, tongues intertwined. Claire's fingers dug into my back, her nails tracing my ways of pleasure. Every touch, every kiss, every whisper was as passionate and special. No man could replace doing this to my wife. I would not take it, not stand i
Don's Pov Cowen walked into my domain - just a side of the diner that I had gotten extra comfortable in. He wore a serious look on his face. "Don. I've got something," Cowen said, handing over the bag. The small bag containing the camera tapes. I raised an eyebrow."Tapes from the cafe and mall. I think you'll find them interesting."My eyes widened. He had done the job real quick, just like I wanted it. I quickly inserted the first tape into the player. The coarse footage showed Luke entering the cafe with my wife, but the most interesting was his face was visible.Just like I predicted. This was all I needed."Is this...?" Cowen's voice trailed off.I nodded. "Luke, aka Salvatore. His face is on our database. It's a match." I turned over the laptop to Cowenas he checked Salvatore's file. I had requested that Romano send them to me this morning.My expression turned fierce. "I knew it. He's been trying to play us all along."However, there was more. The second tape showed Luke meeti
Romano's POV "And what the fuck is wrong with me going to my wife's party and kissing her?" Don bellowed.It was the next day, he wouldn't let me come into the room all through the night. I knew he had sneaked into that party and Claire was right."What is risky about showing my identity?""Because the news might get to a certain person who put you in this condition and you're not in the exact position to exert the revenge you want on him." I barked also.He was silent, for some while, before he finally opened his door. "Tell me all about this certain person? Is he a threat to my marriage?""Don, if you had enough rest like you were told, you probably would have remembered my now. Brad specifically said your memory would come in days, but you're stressing too much and making things worse."He paced the room for a minute and then turned back to me. "You're fucking my sister" he bellowed angrily, and that caught me unaware.He grabbed me by the trousers, almost squeezing my scrotum. "Do
Claire's PovDon!It was Don. No one else kissed like that, no one else gripped me in such a way. His scent, no one else had it. I was hallucinating, right? Don was dead. It has been months. I needed to get this off my mind. But no, I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, tonight wasn't the right time because I felt his body, his build, only one had that.I had just taken Davidson to the toilet and dropped him off with his Nanny when I was heading back inside for the birthday party. It was time I announced Don's death to his friends, but now my mind had been changed.I ran towards Romano when I saw him coming with Elyse. "Don" I panted. Elyse came over to my side, easing my breathing."What happened?" Romano asked."I saw Don. I met…I…it was Don…he kissed me. I recognize his smell, he's…Don""Claire, be calm," Elyse said. "You said you kissed who?" She asked with a little frown on her face like she couldn't believe what I said and was concluding I had made out with someone else."I promise
Don's Pov"You cannot go!" Romano yelled. He had been doing a lot of yelling lately and I didn't like it. "Don, look" his voice was back to normal and calm now. "No one can see you like this. I already informed you, your memory first before stepping out of here" he said."Why don't you just tell me what happened? I trust you.""Brad asked me not to. You need to remember yourself. You know all the details, the anger would be fueled in you if you remember yourself."What anger? Why did I need to be angry? Did something bad happen? He wouldn't tell me."It is my wife's birthday today. There is a party and you asked me not to go. I am not hurt anymore, I am healing from the wounds, what else is making me stay back? Claire would be delighted to see me!"All my efforts in convincing Romano proved futile. In minutes, he had dashed out of the house for Claire's party. I shared this treatment and hated that I couldn't see any of my family. I needed to remember something. To fucking remember w
Claire’s POV I sat in front of my mirror, doing my routine skin care as usual. A pregnant woman still had to look pretty and peng. Tomorrow is my birthday, by the way. Intermittently, I caressed my bump, feeling how rounded and big it was. I also couldn't wait for my baby boy to get here. My EDD was due anytime soon. I just hope it doesn't happen tomorrow. Just as I reached out to grab a pimple popper from the vanity table, my phone on the bed rang. That should be the baker. We had agreed that she should deliver the cake today so that there would be no unnecessary delay tomorrow. Only my hair stylist and makeup artist were going to come tomorrow as early as possible. By the way, the dress I was going to wear tomorrow was also ready. I couldn't wait. Before I could push the stool backwards and fetch my phone, the ringing was already exhausted. Fortunately, whoever the caller was called again and I picked up on the second ring. It was Davidson. “Hellooooo, Claire!” Her cheerful voic
Romano's POV I was back with Brad and we both watched and listened, waiting for Don to start talking. It seemed kind of difficult at first because it looked like he was putting a strain on his ability to remember but eventually, he began to talk. Brad stood nearby, concern written all over his face. “Take your time, Don. We’re here for you” He encouraged, his voice reassuring. I nodded in agreement, eager to hear him speak already, so we would know how far his recovery had gone. Don’s eyes closed for a while, then fluttered open some moments after. “I remember, Claire. She was my wife. I remember her scent. It was like….fresh flowers, maybe lilacs, or even lilies” He recalled. My heart swelled with emotion. He was indeed getting better. “Okay, what else do you remember?” I pressed, hoping to hasten his ability to respond He closed his eyes, trying to struggle. But Brad calmed him. "It's okay. Perhaps you remember something about a lodge?" He asked.He was stretching his memory
Don’s POV Darkness, light, darkness, and then light again. My eyes flickered open as I saw the ceiling of where I was. This wasn't anything like…Wait…The banging in my head and a buzz ringing in my ears and I had to lay back. There was an oxygen tank beside, it wasn't just that, a lot of other medical equipment followed.This wasn't our honeymoon, was it? I tried to search my memory for how I got here. The thing I could remember was a group of men attacking us on our way to the helicopter on the rooftop.Claire and I had planned to go for our honeymoon and, I was… attacked, shot in the arm. Claire had been bleedingI slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in the view of the room I was in. Everything was a blur. I had no idea where I was or how I got there. My mind was a complete blank.I tried to sit up, but dizziness washed over me again, forcing me back onto the pillow. I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm myself down.As I lay on the bed, feeling lifeless, I started to
Claire's POV "Why are you here?" I asked when I opened the door to my room. "How did you get in here Salvatore? How did you find me?"His eyes, were softer this time. "Somehow, I found you, Claire."My heart raced when he began to unbutton his shirt. "I was a fool to be upset with you. You did all you could to stay away from me and I have no judgements. I was wrong, Claire, I was."As he spiked, all I wanted to know was how he found me in the penthouse. Or was this the penthouse? As I turned back to look at where we were, the room changed - into Salvatore's room.I was confused… but Salvatore's voice brought me back. "I know you want me Claire" he had pulled his short this time. "And I want you too" he approached me, trailing his hand on my body.I was wearing my light nightwear. "Don't be scared, Claire* he said.In a swift move, Salvatore cocked my head to the angle he wanted and kissed me hard. Hard and rough. His tongue devoured mine, seeking authority. Surprisingly, I kissed ba
Claire's POV I knew Elyse suggesting that we should go to Romanthe's house to discuss a baby shower was a ploy to see her man.Getting to his entrance, I caught both of them giving each other a familiar look and a blush on Romano's face. His gaze met mine and I raised my eyebrows, not believing Romano could blush.He ushered us in without hesitation and offered us a glass of juice."So, what's the plan for the baby shower?" Romano asked."We were thinking of renting a multi-purpose hall," I said. "But then we thought, maybe it would be better to have it, at your house, Romano," I said, according to Elyse's idea."My house? Why's that?" Romano asked."Well, it's a family celebration, and we thought it would be more intimate and cozy at your house," Elyse said. "Plus, it's a lot safer than a public hall.""That makes sense," Romano said. "My house it is, then." Was he responding only because Elyse wanted it to?"Great," I said. "We can set up the backyard or the living room or whatever
Claire's POV"I'm so excited for the baby shower," Elyse said, looking up at me with a smile. "We need to start planning the details. What's your theme? Have you thought about games and food?"Elyse and I were resting on the couch in the penthouse, enjoying a lazy afternoon together. We'd just finished lunch, and Elyse couldn't get over her excitement about the baby shower I was planning.I laughed. "Slow down, Elyse. I've barely had time to think about it. But I do know I want something simple and intimate. Maybe just close friends and family."I was almost due…oh, I could feel this baby coming and I was excited at the thought of going into labor and birthing Don's son.Elyse nodded. "That sounds perfect. And I've already started thinking about baby names. I have a few favorites for a boy."I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What are they?"Elyse grinned "Well, I think 'Atticus' is a great name. Or maybe 'Ethan'?"I chuckled. "Those are both nice names. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. W