Part 96

But then Claire tried to clear her mind. She refused to believe that her mother could be so cruel to her; if that were the case, Claire might end up resenting her mother for the rest of her life.

Disloyal? She didn't care about that word.

Her face was already free of makeup, and her hair had been released from the beautiful tiara she had worn earlier. Now, the makeup artists helped Claire start to unbutton the lovely gown she had worn, which had so many buttons down the back.

Once everything was removed, Claire opened her suitcase, searching for clothes. She decided to clean herself up in the bathroom that was in the dressing room.

Feeling refreshed after showering and washing her hair, Claire put on the clothes she had chosen: a pair of jeans and a loose shirt instead of the dress Antony had picked out for her to wear on their honeymoon, which they were supposed to take right after the reception she was now reluctant to attend.

No, she wouldn't just surrender herself to her husband after his ex-wife had suddenly appeared before her. Not until all of Antony's issues with his former spouse were resolved.

What about Flavia? That question suddenly flashed through her mind.

Claire froze in the cold bathroom. Had Flavia met the woman who had given birth to her? What was the girl's reaction upon seeing her biological mother? Did she still hope Claire would be her mother, or had she changed her mind and wanted her father to get back together with the woman who had birthed her?

If that were the case, it would be better to cancel the wedding as soon as possible.

Claire stuffed her dirty underwear into a separate bag that also held her toiletries. She exited the bathroom and was quite surprised to find Antony there.

The man looked disheveled. His hair was messy, and Claire could tell it had been ruffled countless times due to his frustration. The last suit jacket he had worn was gone, leaving him in a white long-sleeve shirt with several buttons undone. One word could describe Antony at that moment: chaotic. And unfortunately, he still looked sexy.

"Darling, we need to talk." Antony instantly stood up and walked toward Claire. His voice was soft, and his face wore a pleading expression.

"Speak," Claire replied flatly.

But she took a step back from her husband. She didn't want Antony's touch to dissolve her anger. Especially since they were now alone in the room, it was fine for them to discuss anything they wanted.

"But before that, I want to ask, how did Anastasia manage to come to our wedding? Did you invite her?" Claire asked with an accusatory tone.

Antony looked at Claire and then nodded slowly. "Actually, it wasn't me who invited her." He rushed to explain when he saw the disappointment in Claire's expression. "I handed over the entire guest list to the PR department and my mother. Since Anastasia is a brand ambassador for our company, it wouldn't be appropriate for her to be excluded."

Claire scoffed as she looked at the man who was now her husband, her gaze revealing emotions Antony couldn't decipher.

"So, business matters were involved in our wedding too?" she asked skeptically. "Oh, I forgot that you're a businessman who 'also' has to consider the opinions of others and the company's reputation." Claire's words dripped with sarcasm. "I didn't realize inviting your 'ex' was necessary to maintain your company's image. Were there any other 'exes' of yours among the guests?" she asked, her tone mocking.

Antony raised an eyebrow at her response. Claire had shifted into her formal mode, which meant her emotions had reached a boiling point.

"Darling, please listen to me," Antony pleaded again. He reached out for Claire, but once again, she moved further away from him.

"I've been listening to you, Sir," Claire interjected. It was clear that she was determined to keep her distance from Antony.

Antony slumped his shoulders in defeat. "I don't know how Flavia's mother ended up here," he said sincerely. He truly had no idea about that; it was a fact, not an excuse. "I haven't communicated with her in over a decade. Not with my mother, either. But as for me personally, I've never spoken to her, not even about Flavia."

Claire raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on her lips. "Really? Then how is it that she just 'happened' to show up here with your other 'ex'? Perhaps, aside from me, you've also mentioned 'her' to your beloved 'ex'?" Claire emphasized certain words, her tone sharp.

"For God's sake, the only person I've ever talked about Flavia's mother with is you, darling. I've never mentioned her to anyone else."

Claire shook her head, frustration boiling inside her. "Just go, finish whatever unfinished business you have. If it hasn't been resolved yet, don't you dare come to see me," she said, stepping away from Antony.

He reached for her, but she roughly pushed his hand away. As she opened the door, she found Gladwin standing in the doorway. He leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, one leg bent at the knee.

Before Claire had taken a shower, she had asked her twin brother to wait for her because she wanted to leave. She wanted to run away.

"We're leaving," Claire said to Gladwin, who merely shrugged in response.

Gladwin straightened up and grabbed the bag from Claire's hand. The bag that was supposed to accompany them on their honeymoon. A bag that was meant to usher them into the happiness they had envisioned during their vacation. But now, it served as a witness to how desperately Claire wanted to distance herself from Antony at that moment.

"Darling," Antony called out in frustration, but Claire didn't turn back. She continued walking toward the hotel's back exit, hoping to leave without drawing attention to herself.

Fuming, Antony kicked the door of their room with such force that one of its hinges came loose.

"Damn it!" he shouted loudly.

Still seething with anger, Antony strode out, heading in the opposite direction from where Claire had gone.

It wasn't that he didn't want to chase after Claire and persuade her to stay. It was just that she wasn't the type of woman who would easily succumb to sweet talk. Claire was too strong-willed for that.

Ignoring the hotel staff who were starting to clean up the remnants of the celebration that had sparked this chaos between him and Claire, he headed to his car. He pulled out his phone and dialed a name.

"Where has she been taken?" he asked, his voice cold.

After receiving the answer, Antony sped off in his car, the engine roaring as he drove away at high speed, determined to find Claire before it was too late.