Part 80

Claire walked into the Coskun building with her chin up. She was feeling well again and it was time to get back to work. After all, what was she supposed to do at home all day other than feel annoyed and make her think about things.

Yes, last night she had met the family of the man her mother had chosen and Abigail was right, the man her mother wanted to match her with was indeed handsome and even had a good temperament. He was polite and approachable. And his parents also seemed very polite. So, in conclusion, Claire would probably try and obey her mother's orders even if she did so half-heartedly.

Claire took the elevator and came out on the floor she was supposed to be on. The office was still quiet when she arrived as there were still fifteen minutes until the start time. She sat down in her cubicle, putting her bag in its usual place. When she saw the mug that she hadn't used in days, she was tempted to brew some coffee but then decided against it.

No, she was still recovering, so she had to maintain her diet. Even if she doesn't do it perfectly.

Claire turned on her computer, preparing to start a busy day after days away from it.

"Are you well?" Bella, who had just arrived, greeted Claire with a worried look. "Your face still looks pale, Claire. Are you sure it's okay to work? Why don't you use your leave?" She asked successively. Claire only responded by lifting the corner of her mouth and nodding. "How about dinner last night? Did everything go well?" Bella asked curiously.

Last night, after work Bella was going to visit Claire at her house but Bella was informed that Claire returned to her mother's house to attend a family dinner and told her about the arranged marriage plan that had been arranged by her mother briefly.

"Smoothly. He's a kind and polite man." Claire answered honestly.

"Then, your relationship with..." Bella was about to mention a name, but before it came out of her mouth, the figure was seen walking through their room.

Claire also looked in the same direction but instead of feeling longing, she felt anger stabbing her. Seeing Antony who walked with straight steps without once turning his gaze towards her made her hurt.

So, did their story end here? What that man said before, the sweet deeds he did, were all just talk? That man had already declared his withdrawal before even knowing what and who his opponent was.

"Who am I in a relationship with?" Claire asked curtly. She looked at Bella with a sharp gaze that instantly made Bella shut her mouth. "Is there any work I haven't finished?" Claire tried to turn her attention back to work.

"All your work has already been handled by us. So there's not too much for you to do." Bella said again. Shortly after, some employees of their division came in and asked how she was doing.

"You should treat me to a meal since I got some of your work done." Her teammate said teasingly.

"What do you want? Steak? Pasta? Which restaurant?" Claire challenged, which was answered by her friend's laughter.

Time passed as if nothing had happened. Claire went to lunch with Bella and she tried to leave the office earlier than her bosses.

In her remaining free time, Claire tries to reexamine her relationship with Antony. How quickly she was made to fall in love and how quickly her heart was broken by Antony. Really, Claire felt that she was very unlucky.

Or was this exactly what Antony had planned from the start? He was just challenging her, and after last night, he felt victorious because he knew she was willing to bend the knee before him.

Yes, Claire now looks like nothing more than a slut. But luckily, she hasn't yet given herself to Antony.

It was already five minutes to ten. Claire quickly put her things into the bag. She quickly printed out something from her printer, signed it and then folded it quickly. Before the end of her working hours, she was already walking towards her boss's room.

"Come in." Shelly ordered from inside. "Yes, Claire?" the woman asked in surprise.

"I'd like to hand this over." Claire said as she handed the folded letter to her superior.

"What is this?" asked Shelly in shock. She opened the letter and gasped when she saw what it contained. "Why?" she asked, looking at Claire in surprise.

"I just want to rest." Claire replied softly.

"But you can apply for a leave of absence, Claire. why would you have to resign?" Shelly asked, not understanding.

Claire only raised the corner of her mouth. "I plan to be a housewife after I get married, so there's no difference in doing this today or later." Claire answered as she was.

She was not lying. In fact, if her mother forced her to marry the man of her choice in the near future then surely Claire would have to come to the city where her husband lived?

"You want to get married? To whom?" Shelly asked again, surprised.

"Someone." Her answer was ambiguous. "I'll send you a special invitation later." Claire replied again. "I will only work until today. I can't work until my replacement is in place. As for the fine, I will pay it." Claire said firmly.

Shelly could only look at Claire silently. "I will discuss this with the HR department. You should rethink your resignation." she coaxed again.

But Claire had already thought about it very well. She wanted to end it all. She didn't want to see Antony at all costs. She wanted to stay away. If possible, she wanted to disappear.

But he kept it all in his head. She didn't want to mention it to Shelly or anyone else. Saying it would only embarrass herself.

"I can only say thank you for all the opportunities you have given me." She said earnestly. "I'll take my leave, ma'am." Claire said again as she retreated.

Shelly could only nod her head.

Claire returned to her cubicle only to turn off her computer and take her bag. Bella, who had also finished her work, seemed to be waiting for her to leave the office together.

"You brought a car?" Bella asked curiously.

Claire shook her head. "I'll take a taxi." She replied as she walked out of her cubicle towards the elevator.

"After work, where are you going?" Bella asked again, curious. "Do you want to have dinner together?" she asked again.

Claire shook her head. "I have no appetite." She said flatly. "Did you bring a car?" He asked back. Bella nodded her head. "How about hanging out?" She invited.

"Hanging out? Where?" asked Bella enthusiastically.

"Anywhere, I'm just too lazy to go home." Claire replied just as the elevator doors opened.

"Why, are you fighting with your mom again? Or with gladwin?"

Claire chuckled at that. She forgot that Bella had been her best friend. "Both." Claire replied with a chuckle.

"Alright, I understand." Bella said with her head nodding like a doll.

They walked to the parking lot where Bella's car was. "The online taxi is ready to take Miss Hampton wherever you want to go." She said in an exaggerated style. Claire could only laugh as she fastened her seatbelt.

"Next Saturday." That remark made Claire only look at her mother and sister with a pitiable look.

"Yes, next Saturday. Tomorrow my wife, children and I will return to our city. Next Friday we'll come here with the rest of the family to propose to Claire.

"Mom, but it's too fast." Claire whispered, more like a whimper.

"Too fast what do you mean? You're more than old enough to get married Claire, stop making excuses." Julie hissed sharply.

Claire looked at her two older brothers who were ignoring her.

"We will prepare everything, Sir. You just need to tell us how many families are coming. So that we can prepare everything better." Mrs. Julie answered in the affirmative.

"You can rest easy, ma'am. We won't be bringing many people. We will only bring fifteen people at most." Mr. Grint said again.

Julie nodded her head enthusiastically. Unlike Claire who could only squeeze her fingers anxiously.

The memory simply entered his mind. One week, that was all the time she had left. In the end, she would be bound to the man she didn't love. Or maybe she didn't love him yet.

Without Bella knowing, Claire wiped away her tears that had fallen and were swept away by the afternoon breeze.