Part 66

Antony left Altezza after a tough conversation regarding his request for an extension of his stay in Kansas.

Yes, he begged Altezza to give him a little more time. Whether or not Claire wanted him to, it was clear that he should not give up before trying.

This wasn't about reputation.

It's also not about Flavia's desire for Claire to be her stepmother.

It's about Antony, who wants Claire by his side for the rest of his life.

Antony doesn't care if Claire rejects him. At least, he should try first to convince her to accept him.

Antony didn't care if what Gladwin said would come true. That Antony would have to confront Gladwin's mother and Claire. As long as Claire was by his side. As long as she said 'Yes'. He would fight-for her happiness-even if he had to be hated by his own mother-in-law.

Love is blind. Antony knew that. But this was where the struggle was.

He stepped on the gas deeper and drove faster. There was only one goal. Claire.

Antony walked half-run towards Claire's room. The hallways he walked through were already partially dark and deserted. The time on his watch read ten o'clock at night. It was obvious that most of the patients were already asleep. So were their guards.

Antony continued walking towards Claire's VVIP room. He knocked on the door, but received no answer. He guessed that Gladwin had also fallen asleep so he ventured to open the door and enter the room. However, he was surprised that the room was empty and there was no sign of Claire as the girl's blanket seemed to be lying at the end of the bed.

Antony looked around the room and saw bottles of drinks and some food on the nightstand beside the bed.

"Claire?" he called out. Antony walked towards the bathroom, expecting Claire to be there. But the bathroom was open and Claire wasn't there either.

Panicking, Antony ran from the room to the duty nurse's desk. Unfortunately, when asked, the two nurses on duty said they were unaware of Claire's departure.

Antony wanted to be angry, but couldn't do anything about it since they were probably checking on another patient when Claire left. As a result, he ran back to search, hoping that he could find Claire as soon as possible. Because he knew, Claire's condition hadn't really improved.

After almost five minutes of searching, Antony finally saw her. Claire was walking slowly while pushing the IV pole with her left hand. Her hair tied in a ponytail occasionally flew in the wind and Claire adjusted the position of her outerwear with her free right hand.

Antony wanted to call out to her, but chose to restrain himself. He took a deep breath to stabilize his breathing and chose to follow the girl a few steps behind.

Antony saw Claire turn toward the garden. Then sat down on one of the long chairs there. The girl stretched her legs forward before leaning her back against the back of the chair and looking up.

Antony only watched the girl's expression from afar. Antony didn't know what the girl was looking for up there in the sky. Was she really watching the sky, or was she just daydreaming? Moreover, when Antony looked up, he did not find anything beautiful that could attract his attention. Instead, the beautiful sight seemed to be taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. As if by doing so it could release something quietly.

Antony ventured to walk over. It was enough for him to give Claire some time alone. In his heart, he hoped she wouldn't reject his presence.

"Something bothering you?" He asked curiously.

The girl's back instantly stiffened. Her beautiful head turned and looked up to stare directly at Antony's face.

Before Claire could answer his question, Antony had already filled the empty seat. Sitting in the same position as Claire had done before and looking up at the dark sky above.

"What's there? I can't see anything." he commented.

Claire smiled. Leaning back again and again raising her head to look at the sky above.

"I don't know." She replied softly. "I was wondering too. What's there." She continued.

Antony turned his head. Got up and straightened his back. "There's nothing to see there." He replied. He straightened his sitting position and chose to face Claire's direction. "Why did you leave the room alone? Where is Gladwin?" He asked curiously. Claire also straightened her seat. Her gaze was fixed on Antony.

"What are you doing here, sir?" She asked back.

Antony shrugged his shoulders. "To see my lady?" he asked. Claire was wide-eyed for a moment and then chuckled.

"Who? Me?" she asked incredulously. Antony nodded. His left hand reached out and fixed the position of Claire's hair that had slipped out of its bun. "Since when?"

Antony shrugged. "I thought since yesterday?" he asked hesitantly. "I took that kiss as a yes."

"A yes to what?"

"Yes to you accepting me." Antony continued. The man's hand was still playing with Claire's hair which was moving again to block her face due to the wind. "Isn't it cold here? You shouldn't have left the room." Antony reprimanded as he saw Claire shivering.

"It's cold, but it's better." Claire replied softly. She looked down and tightened her outerwear.

"What's wrong with the room?" Antony asked worriedly.

Claire raised the corner of her mouth and nodded slowly. "Hmm..." she replied.

"Should we move to another hospital?" Antony offered. Claire looked up, staring at Antony who was staring back at her, waiting for an answer. He then chuckled. "Why are you laughing?" she asked confused.

"A hospital, no matter where it is, no matter how expensive it is, still won't make a sick person comfortable." Claire replied matter-of-factly. Antony just nodded in understanding.

"Do you want something? Do you want to eat something?" He finally chose to change the subject. But Claire shook her head again.

"Why did you come back, sir?" Antony winced as Claire went back into her old-fashioned mode.

"Didn't I answer your question earlier?" Antony reminded.

Claire shook her head. "That's not it." She replied. She looked at Antony intently. "I heard everything you guys talked about. You and Gladwin." Claire said honestly. Antony was momentarily stunned. Then he smiled. "Why did you come back here?"

"Why? You expect me to just back out, heh?" challenged Antony.

"I don't know." Claire replied listlessly.

Antony inched closer. At first he expected Claire to move away and give him some distance, but she did not. Then Antony ventured to grab the girl's right hand and clasped it.

"I already said that I like you." He began. "And I want to fight for it." He continued as he squeezed Claire's hand tighter. "Although to be honest, until now I had my doubts."

"Doubt?" Claire frowned.

"I don't know if I have the right to fight for you, while I myself am not sure about how you feel."

Claire looked at the man's large hand that was wrapped around hers. The warmth Antony gave her seemed to flow through her entire body.

"Suppose, I told you that I don't like you?" she asked softly.

"I would have refused." Antony replied firmly. Claire looked up and looked directly into the man's golden eyes. He smiled gently. "I know that you already like me, though perhaps not as much as I do." He replied confidently. "Because if you didn't like me, you would refuse when I touch you like this." Antony squeezed Claire's hand a little firmly. Claire looked down again. Staring at her hand that was drowned by the man's hand. "You will also let go when I do this." Antony intertwined the fingers of his large left hand with Claire's long-fingered right hand. "And you will also let go of my hand when I do this." Antony lifted Claire's hand and gently kissed the back of her hand.

Claire stared at the man silently. "I know you like me. Even if it's not much." The man repeated his words again.

Claire bit her lower lip. Her eyes suddenly glazed over. It made Antony panic and inch closer.

"Claire..." the man called out. His fingers that were intertwined earlier were now untied. He put his arm around Claire's shoulders and hugged her gently. "Why? What's wrong?" he asked softly.

Claire did not reject the touch. Instead, she chose to rest her head on Antony's chest which again oozed warmth. She unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Antony rubbed Claire's arm with his left hand. While his right hand grabbed Claire's left hand and rubbed her back so gently. Trying to avoid the IV needle attached there.

"I don't know if I deserve this." Claire said softly.

"Deserve what?"

Claire shrugged. "Everything. This sense of comfort. This care. This tenderness." She said.

Antony chuckled at that. "Of course it's worth it. As long as you get all this from me. Not from anyone else." Antony replied firmly. Claire chuckled. "I don't know if what Gladwin said was true or just a threat. I was skeptical at first." Antony said honestly. His hand that was hugging Claire now moved slowly to rub the girl's arm. Hoping to alleviate the coldness that the girl was feeling. "I thought, should I fight for everything when I don't know how you feel? But now, I think I should fight for you." He replied with a shrug.

Claire made some distance. She sat up straight so that Antony could not help but let go of her embrace. They looked at each other. Confirming each other. "Whether or not what Gladwin said about your mother is true. I'll deal with it as long as you accept me. Because everything I stand for is only about you. Claire."

Antony raised his left hand again. The back of his fingers brushed Claire's cheek and jaw gently. Claire didn't resist. Because it was obvious that she liked the man's touch.

"You, Claire. The girl my daughter wants to be her surrogate mother. And the woman I want to accompany me until I grow old." He said soulfully. "You just take it easy. I'm the type of person who will finish what I've started." He replied casually.

"Sir?"

"And I told you that you should change your nickname to me." Claire frowned. "Honey? Love? My look?"

Claire spluttered. But then chuckled. "Or start calling me by my name." Antony asked with a serious expression.

"Antony." Claire complied with Antony's request. Antony smiled at that.

"Yes, my Claire." He replied which again made Claire chuckle. "Aren't you cold?" Antony asked again to which Claire replied with a shake of her head. "My hug warmed you up? Made you comfortable?" Claire nodded her head. Antony chuckled again. "Apparently, a Claire can be this submissive. She looks so fierce on the outside." Antony commented.

"As if you're not fussy enough. You look so cold on the outside." Antony laughed again. His large body shook from the effects of his loud laughter. But Claire didn't mind. She was comfortable with it.

"That's called maintaining an image." Joked the man still with his laughter.