CLAIREAsher held my hand the whole ride back home. We didn't even bother telling anyone goodbye. They didn't even know that we had left. Not to be a vindictive bitch, but I didn't care what anyone thought about me now. I wasn't bothered about what Gregory thought about me. I was simply relieved that I got the opportunity to get out of that place.Being around Regal and Annabelle made me choke with so many sensitive memories that there was a high possibility that I might explode on the spot. “You're tired,” Asher said the moment he got into the house. He crouched and undid the buckles of my shoes, and I automatically slipped out of the shoes. My legs felt relieved almost instantly. A small laugh escaped me when he automatically hoisted me up into his arms, bridal style. “What are you doing?” I asked, breathless with laughter. There was no need to ask any questions. I trusted him, but that didn't mean that I wasn't curious; I was curious to know what he was planning to do. “Just gi
CLAIREThe good news is, it wasn't Regal.The bad news is, it was even worse.The moment I opened the door and saw Annabelle standing there, her perfectly styled blonde waves catching the sunlight, I knew my day had taken a turn for the worse."Hi, Claire!" She chirped, her voice disgustingly sweet, like honey laced with arsenic. It was the kind of greeting you couldn’t outright ignore, no matter how much you wanted to. I forced my expression into something resembling neutral, though every instinct screamed to shut the door in her face."What are you doing here?" I asked, unable to keep the sharp edge out of my voice. My fingers gripped the door tighter.Annabelle, in all her unbothered glory, waltzed past me as though she owned the place, her designer heels clicking against the floor with a rhythm I already despised. She took a deliberate glance around the living room, her sharp gaze sizing up everything in sight."Nice place," she said, running a perfectly manicured finger along the
ASHER I walked into the house later than I’d intended. Dealing with Liah had drained me more than usual, her sharp comments and endless dramatics playing on repeat in my head. But the moment I stepped through the door, the scent of something warm and inviting wrapped around me, chasing away the irritation.It smelled like...rosemary and garlic. Claire was cooking. That wasn’t something I came home to often—she usually let the chef handle dinners. Curious, I dropped my briefcase by the door and headed toward the kitchen.When I stepped into the room, I froze.Claire stood at the counter, her back to me, carefully stirring something in a pot. Her hair, now a golden blonde, caught the light in soft waves that cascaded down her shoulders. She wore a fitted sweater and jeans that hugged her figure just right—casual but striking in a way that made my chest tighten."Hey," I said, leaning against the doorframe. I watched her turn toward me, and the look on her face was all kinds of surprise
CLAIRE I stared into the mirror. My lips were painted red, and I started a bit longer at the dark liner underneath my eyes. I looked nothing like the woman I was three years ago. There was this startling change, and I was caught in between being terrified by it or welcoming it. I closed my eyes and sighed.Gregory's place was the last place that I wanted knowing that Annabelle and her asshole of a husband were going to be there. Let's not even forget Liah. That woman has a way of showing up wherever Asher was, and for some reason, she didn't want to take the hint that Asher was a married man.Married to me. Mine. I didn't know any other way that I was going to stress it to her, but I wasn't even going to bother a lot. Asher doesn't indulge in her childish tantrums.I closed my eyes and sighed. I was definitely exhausted, but I was going to make out for dinner.Deciding that I'd had enough of being vain and admiring my reflection, I finally stood up. The door creaked open the moment
CLAIRE“You can't just come waltzing up in here, acting like you own the place. You're late,” Liah raised an eyebrow at me. She was usually one to cover her emotions, hiding her irritation with a smirk, but something was different about this time.Irritation, anger, and maybe if I look even more closely to identify the emotions in her eyes, then maybe even envy. I was loving the way she found it difficult to contain all of this. I was going to enjoy watching her squirm. Since when did you become so devious? I don't know. But I knew something about me was changing. I wasn't sure I felt the pressing need to please anyone anymore. “I'm not sure anyone made you the judge of that, Liah. Suffocate with your unnecessary observation,” the corners of my lips tilted a bit, and every inch of my words dripped with icy sarcasm like I intended. She looked stupefied but said nothing. Her face flushed a bright red as she looked away. Well, it looks like I won the first round. I resisted the urge
CLAIREAsher’s lips were relentless, tracing slow, heated paths down my neck while his hands roamed my body with purpose. My back pressed against the bedroom door, and I barely had the strength to breathe, let alone think. He kissed me like I was the only thing he’d ever need, and maybe that was the most disarming part of it all.“Dinner wasn’t so bad, right?” I murmured, breathless, as I tugged his shirt off his shoulders.“Terrible,” he said, voice low, before pulling me flush against him again.I laughed softly, but the sound dissolved when his fingers threaded through my hair, tugging just enough to make me gasp. My knees felt like they were about to give way. “Asher…”He leaned back, just enough to look at me. His dark eyes held that familiar spark—intense, unreadable. “You sure you’re okay?”I nodded quickly. Words weren’t coming to me, and even if they were, I wouldn’t know what to say. I just wanted him.As if he could read my thoughts, he scooped me into his arms, carrying me
CLAIREThe soft light of the early morning crept through the cracks in the blinds, spilling over the bed where Asher and I lay tangled in the sheets. The warmth of his body next to mine was a comfort I didn’t want to leave, not yet. I could hear his steady, calm breath that matched mine, but he was a bit rough. But that was the sound I needed to hear to be alright. I could stay locked in his arms for as long as I could. Suddenly, Asher stirred beside me, his hand gently running through my hair. A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I adjusted my position, tucking myself deeper into his side. Asher chuckled, the deep sound reverberating through my nerves and sending a pleasant shiver through me, settling on my clit. This man effortlessly did things to me. “Good morning,” he murmured, his voice still rough from sleep, as he shifted, pulling me closer, if that was even possible. I hummed in response, nuzzling my face into his chest, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. I wasn’t q
CLAIREI blinked at Annabelle, standing in the hallway like she owned the place. My fingers tightened on the edge of the door, and for a moment, I was too stunned to even find the right words. She looked as pristine as ever, her navy dress perfectly tailored, her makeup flawless, and her hair swept into an elegant chignon. Yet her presence felt invasive, like a storm cloud darkening a peaceful day. Annabelle was bad news. “What the fuck are you doing in my house?” I finally asked, my voice sharper than I had intended. “Annabelle?”“Hello, Claire.”“What the fuck are you doing in my house?” I finally asked, my voice sharper than I intended.Annabelle’s carefully constructed smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she smoothed it back into place. “Nice to meet you too.” “That is not an answer,” I glared at her.“Well, that’s not the warm welcome I was expecting,” she said lightly, as if my question had no weight. I crossed my arms, blocking her from stepping further inside.
CLAIRE I stared at my trembling hands. My eyes ached, and I ignored the stray tears that fell down my cheeks. I was angry, but at the same time I felt stupid. I don't know if it was supposed to make any sense, but I hoped that it did. It annoyed me that I was crying over the painful memories that I had tried to keep at bay for so long. It annoyed me that I couldn't keep it all locked in.I felt stupid for crying over people that didn't deserve it. For crying over Annabelle, over Regal, over the fact that I had wanted to forgive her if only she said something. Anything. It made me wonder if I even had any atom of love for myself. Sometimes I wished that it was different. That I didn't feel so much, that I didn’t have empathy. Asher stood in front of me. I was aware of the empty silence that lingered between the both of us but couldn't exactly bring myself to say anything. Maybe it was the ache in my chest. Maybe it was the heaviness that has chosen to remain in the pit of my stomach
CLAIRE “So when were you going to tell me that you dished out invitations without my permission?”Asher said casually as he took a sip of wine. I watched Liah pause for a moment as she turned towards him. They exchanged glances. I couldn't really read too much meaning into it. I was relieved that Asher was able to keep it together. He didn't act on the tension that lingered between him and Regal. And if things weren't according to plan, maybe an argument wouldn't commence. I was too quick to assume that I would be lucky. But it certainly wasn't wrong to hope that no drama would take place. “You didn't have a problem with me inviting people before?” Liah raised an eyebrow at him as she took time to chew on a piece of chicken tender. I noticed the subtle tilt of her chin. I noticed the way her gaze lingered on him a little longer than necessary. I noticed his sharp glare. “Stop diverting and answer my question,” he said. “I will, when you stop talking to me like a child,” she snappe
CLAIRE “Annabelle,” my lips were slightly parted in surprise. I blinked and opened my eyes again. Somehow I hoped that this would be a figment of my imagination. I hoped that this was simply a case of my anxiety hitting over the roof and I would just be imagining things, but when I opened them, she was still standing there looking at me. “You don't look so excited to see me, sis,” she grinned at me. Her eyes twinkled with something. I wasn't sure I wanted to know what it was or read any sort of meaning into it. It was the last thing that I wanted to do. Somehow the words were stuck at the back of my throat, and they wouldn't come out freely. Maybe it was my confusion, maybe it was the dreadful feeling in the pit of my tummy, but somehow, I couldn't get the words together. All I could think about was what she might be doing here. My gaze lingered on her ridiculously short dress and the glasses on top of her head. “What are you doing here?” Somehow I was finally able to gather the
CLAIRE I had no idea how long it took me to move. I had no idea how much time passed as I slept but the next time that I awoke, it was noon. I couldn't remember the last time that I slept into noon. When I turned to the side, Asher's bed space was no longer empty. He laid beside me, as naked as I was underneath the sheets. He was still fast asleep, his arms were still wounded around me like he had no intentions of letting me go even in his sleep. I had no intention of letting him go too. I closed my eyes and sighed. I was utterly and completely exhausted as I relaxed back into bed. I didn't have pressing deadlines to meet, I didn't have meetings to attend. Here. It was me and Asher. My mind traveled towards Liah but I didn't react to it in any way. I wouldn't let myself think of her. She had done enough damage with her scheme and I had let her. This time, I got to be the one to decide how I was going to react to her or whatever pathetic schemes she threw at me. Asher groaned slig
CLAIRE I was back here, back to feeling like my whole world was shattering before my eyes. I would have done anything and everything to escape the pain that I felt in the confines of my chest. I didn't want to be back here. Maybe inviting Liah to stay here was a big mistake. A mistake that I was already regretting. I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I raised my gaze to look at the clock. It was already five in the morning and I had barely gotten any sleep. I turned my head towards the side. I was taunted by Asher's empty bedside. There was nobody to warm me up. I couldn't smell him. My eyes watered with tears. The ache in my chest intensified. Maybe I should have believed him. He had done everything to prove that he loved me. And even when I thought he wouldn't stay. He did. So why wasn't I open enough to listen to his explanation? I got down from my bed. I considered looking for him in the guest room. I would tell how sorry I was. How I couldn't sleep alone. My hands were su
CLAIRE I noticed how tense Asher was when he returned. I wanted to say it was because he had no choice to be in the company of Liah but my guts kept telling me that something was wrong. “Are you okay?” I murmured as he approached me. I noticed how Liah walked closely behind him. He held my hand, I couldn't help but notice that he looked a little pale. I closed my eyes and sighed. I was utterly exhausted. I don't think that I had the stomach for more drama.“Thanks for letting your husband drive me around. How generous of you?” Liah smirked at me. I felt a slight tug in my chest coupled with the suspicion that was nibbling within me from the inside out. I remained silent. I had no idea what to reply to what she had just said.“I guess it's time for dinner?” She looked at me expectantly and I nodded in response. I waited until she disappeared into the house before I directed my gaze back at Asher. “I know this isn't your idea but you seem too quiet. Did something happen?” I looked
ASHERI watched as Liah pushed another bite of her croissant into her mouth, a smug smile spreading across her face. She was trying to get under my skin, to take me down memory lane and make me remember the past. But I wasn't having it."You know, Asher," she said, her voice husky, "I'll never forget that night we spent together at the beach. Do you remember it?"I raised an eyebrow, my expression neutral. "I'm married now, Liah. I don't dwell on the past."Liah's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "Oh, I'm sure Claire wouldn't mind if you reminisced about old times," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.I leaned back in my chair, my eyes never leaving hers. "Actually, Liah, Claire is the reason I'm not interested in revisiting the past. She's the one I'm committed to, and I don't have time for games like this."Liah's eyes narrowed, a flash of anger sparking in their depths. But she kept her cool, her smile never wavering. "You're really devote
ASHERAs soon as Liah left the room, Claire turned to me with a strange look on her face. "You should drive her," she said, her voice calm.I stared at her in confusion, wondering if she had finally lost her mind. "What? Why would I do that?" I asked, incredulous.Claire's expression didn't change, but I could sense a hint of something beneath the surface. "Just do it," she said, her voice firm.I shook my head, feeling a surge of frustration. "No way," I said, my voice firm. "I'm not going to drive her around just because you're saying it. I refuse to be in the same space with her for that long. Her presence irritates me, freaks me out. I hate being around her, and I'm not going to do it just because you’re asking me to."I couldn't believe Claire was even suggesting this. Didn't she know how much I despised Liah? Didn't she know how much Liah's presence affected me? I thought Claire knew better than that."Liah is toxic, Claire," I said, trying to reason with her. "She's poisonous,
CLAIREI woke up to the warmth of Asher's gaze on me. I smiled, feeling a flutter in my chest. "Good morning," I said, my voice husky from sleep.Asher's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back at me. "You're beautiful in the mornings," he said, his voice low and husky. "Your hair is a mess, and your eyes are still sleepy, but you're still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as Asher's words washed over me. I loved moments like these, just the two of us, basking in the warmth of our love.Just as we were having our own little moment, the door to our room burst open, and Liah strode in, a look of determination on her face."Oh..." she said, her voice trailing off as she took in the sight of Asher and me in bed together.I sat up, startled, pulling the covers up to my chest as Liah's sudden entrance caught me off guard. Asher and I were both naked under the sheets, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I tried to cover myself.Asher's face