All Chapters of MY FIRST LOVE: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

**On the Edge of Everything**The air was thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burning debris. Claire's vision blurred as she tried to steady herself after the explosion, her heart pounding in her chest. The docks had become a battlefield, the shouts of armed men echoing off the warehouses, gunfire punctuating the chaos. Ruiz was somewhere in the fray, and Claire could hear her yelling commands, though the words were muffled in the ringing aftermath of the blast.But none of it mattered right now. Standing before Claire was Mr. Grant, the man she had once trusted, now revealed as the orchestrator of this nightmare. His face was calm, collected even, as if this had all been part of some grand chess game that only he had been aware of. Flanking him were two men in dark tactical gear, their rifles aimed squarely at her.Grant’s cold gaze locked onto Claire as he stepped closer, his every move calculated and deliberate. “This didn’t have to end this way, Claire,” he said, his voice car

** The Price of Truth**The sunlight streamed through the hospital window, bathing the room in an eerie calm that contrasted sharply with the storm of uncertainty raging inside Claire’s mind. She lay quietly, the sterile white sheets pulled up to her chest, her body still healing from the wounds of the last battle. The fight had drained them all—physically, emotionally, financially. But as the light poured in, it felt like the world outside was moving on without them. Maybe they had exposed the truth, but the price for it was becoming unbearable.Ethan sat beside her, his face drawn and tired. He had been there every day since Claire had been admitted, watching over her like a sentinel. Lillian and Samuel were still staying with friends, trying to reclaim some semblance of normalcy, but Claire knew their hearts were still gripped with fear. Fear of what was still lurking around the corner.It had been days since the evidence was released. The media was still buzzing with the story—cor

**The Depths of the Web**Claire couldn’t shake the unease that had settled over her like a dark cloud. The air in the house felt heavier, the walls closer, as though their home—their sanctuary—was slowly turning into a cage. Despite Ethan’s assurances, and even Ruiz’s calm, professional approach, Claire felt it in her gut: they were far from safe.Days passed since the man in the suit had visited their doorstep, but the tension hadn’t eased. Every phone call made her jump, every knock on the door sent her heart racing. Lillian and Samuel had noticed too. Claire could see it in their eyes—eyes that had once been filled with the joy and innocence of childhood but now were clouded with fear and confusion.Ethan had spent hours on the phone with lawyers, trying to figure out how they could deal with this new threat. Ruiz was working her contacts, trying to uncover who was behind the mysterious man and his cryptic demand. But no answers came, and the weight of the unknown was suffocating.

** Ties That Bind**The hurried energy in the house was palpable. Every movement felt sharp, tense, as Claire and Ethan packed the last of their bags. The looming deadline of 24 hours gnawed at them, but there was a faint hope now—Michael’s contact had promised a way out. Two hours. They just had to hold it together until then.Claire moved from room to room, double-checking the essentials: birth certificates, passports, a handful of keepsakes that couldn’t be left behind. The weight of each step felt heavier than usual, as though the air had thickened around her, constricting her movements. She could feel the clock ticking in her head, like a countdown echoing in every corner of the house.Ethan had gone out to check the car, making sure that everything was ready in case they had to make a quick getaway. Meanwhile, Claire was finishing up in the kitchen, her hands shaking slightly as she zipped up the final bag.Just as she finished, she heard the faint sound of voices from upstairs.

**A Desperate Stand**The headlights from the approaching SUVs bore down on them like the eyes of a predator closing in for the kill. Claire’s pulse quickened as Michael stepped forward, his gun still raised, the barrel gleaming under the moonlight. The man in the suit, who had moments ago been so calm and confident, now took a step back, his eyes narrowing.“Michael,” the man hissed, his voice dripping with contempt. “You’ve really crossed a line this time.”Michael didn’t flinch. His voice was steady, his stance unwavering. “And you thought you’d get away with this, didn’t you, Derrick? You underestimated me. Again.”Claire’s mind spun. **Derrick.** The man in the suit had a name. For so long, he had been nothing more than a faceless menace, but now she could see the fear flickering in his eyes. Whatever power he wielded was crumbling in the face of Michael’s defiance.The two men who had grabbed Lillian and Ethan hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed now that Michael had ente