Chapter 1

1

"You look amazing!" 

Hunter MacIntyre's compliment sent his wife, Claire's blood coursing in her veins like an awakened river.

"Thanks," She lowered her head while trying to hide her smile. 

Today was their second wedding anniversary. 

Claire was a lucky girl to marry the man she loved. She felt her nerves twisting in yummy delight. Her husband was a substitute to slow torture with that look of his. With that tailored suit clinging to his body, he forced eyes to take a look at him. 

Her gaze traveled to his brown, strong throat, then towards the deliciously straight mouth and up to his black eyes; dark and hooded and so full of secrets. They watched her intently causing her breathing to catch.

Hunter hugged her from the back and snuggled her bare shoulder. He enveloped her right in his hold, enjoying the feeling of her being in his arms. 

"I can't wait to tell the world that I am falling for my own wife." 

Today was their anniversary. And the day couldn't get any better. Claire woke up to witness Hunter kissing and sucking her nipples.

From the last few days, they have been extremely intimate. Hunter did things with her that she only read in books. They had a shower together and had a family brunch in his grandparent's house.

Well, until two months ago all of this seemed like a dream. Because Hunter didn't feel like he could love another woman while his heart belonged to someone else. 

But Claire asked for two months to fix their marriage. And luckily it worked out. It was no less than a fairy tale story. 

To say that everyone was happy for them would be an understatement. Both their families were in seventh heaven. From the moment they discovered that Hunter and Claire were working on their relationship, they couldn't contain their joy.

"Hunter," Claire bit back a moan while Hunter was ravishing her exposed skin.

"We need to leave. Everyone is waiting for us."

"Just five minutes, Laire." He mumbled, groping her breasts.

Her flesh buzzed under his touch. Claire adored a beautiful smile on her lips. She had longed for this attention from her husband.

A soft grin hung on her lips. Hunter has been her teenage crush. She was sitting on a swing in the park with a book when she first saw him eight years ago. 

Hunter MacIntyre has returned to Bloomcrest for the first time since his leave. He had been in Australia for his higher studies, and later on, he took over their foreign business and settled down in Australia. 

Claire was sweet sixteen back then. Her nerves had fluttered when her gaze landed on him. She had felt her stomach twirl wildly as he was strikingly similar in looks to the male character in the book she was reading. 

And instantly... She fell in love with him. 

It was love at first sight for her. 

Her cheeks flushed over the memories. It was no less than a fairy tale. 

After eight years of secretly liking him, when she got a proposal to marry him, she had been over the moon. 

"You can have me all night, Hunter. Let's just go now."

"Don't go back on your words later!" He said while arching an eyebrow.

Claire turned around to cup his face, "I promise, Mr. MacIntyre."

"Okay, then. Let's go." He grinned happily, his contentment obvious in his black orbs.

Hunter twined their fingers as they made their way out of their house. He opened the door for her. Helping her with her gown, he stole a kiss of her lips.

They drove quietly towards the party venue. Hunter already got three calls from his father, Leon, and a dozen messages from his mother, Violet. They were growing impatience with each passing second.

Beside him, Claire was busy on her phone in the car. Her parents and younger brother were chatting with her in their family group.

Her brother Scott texted: The paparazzi are here in huge numbers, Laire. Didn't know your husband was going to make it a grand celebration.

Her mother Andrea replied with an army of happy face emoji: Oh darling, I am soooo happy for you. It's finally happening.

Claire's face flushed. Everyone was aware of her crush on Hunter. When she got a marriage proposal from him, her parents were the first to disapprove of it. 

That's because before she met him, he was already dating someone. Alas, one day she left him to marry another. 

Hunter's past was not unknown to them. They have seen him go astray after getting ditched by the woman he loved. 

Her father, Dominic Argent, had been furious when the proposal came. He knew his daughter was being used because of the feelings she developed for the heir of MacIntyre empire. He knew Hunter meant to marry her for his convenience. 

However, today Dominic Argent was the happiest among those who wanted to see Claire and Hunter work on their marriage. He had a flair for photography. He was standing with the cameramen outside the hotel with his new camera to capture his daughter's best moment. 

Dominic sent a reply: I'm waiting with my new camera, baby. When are you going to come? 

Claire's lips curved. She sensed the car coming to a halt and looked up.

"We're here," Tingles shot up her spine.

This was a dream come true. The front of the hotel in which their marriage anniversary party was conducted was crowded with cameramen. They rushed towards their car at once when they detected them. 

"Ready," Hunter took her hand and kissed it.

He first got out and opened the door for her. As Claire stepped out, her face radiated with delight. She held onto Hunter's arm for support as he split a way out for them.

Cole, Hunter's best friend and Scott, her younger brother appeared to lend a helping hand. They surrounded Claire as they made their way further.

This was one of the most awaited anniversary celebrations because Hunter MacIntyre was a celebrity billionaire. He walked on ramps for famous brands occasionally and had an active social media presence which earned him the popularity he was trying to deal with now.

The world was cognizant of his love affair with a woman who left him heartbroken two years ago. Hence, Hunter and Claire's marriage news was the most trending topic of that time.

Now two years later, on the same date, they were trending again. This time for a different reason. 

A swarm of his admirers has gathered outside the hotel to celebrate the day with him. Some offered him flowers while some sent flying kisses in their way. 

"Hunter, you look breathtaking with Claire. Love your pair." Someone in the crowd shouted and earned a round of hooting. 

Claire was beetroot red. She knew the online masses of admirers liked her as his wife. She offered them smiles of gratitude as Hunter and the other men helped her cross the sea of cameramen. 

They were almost there. Just ten or fifteen steps more and they'd be inside. Nevertheless, Hunter suddenly froze. His hold on Claire's waist loosened. 

"Hunter," Claire lifted her eyes to see him. 

Her heart skipped beating as she watched his face look ghostly white. His mouth trembled and a hint of longing swam in his eyes.

Claire noticed he was looking in a direction with a fixed gaze. She sought after following his gaze and her body numbed. Her heart soared up to her throat as her eyes stung with forming tears. 

"Claire, what's wrong?! Move." Cole yelled in her ear. 

But she was too shocked to make a move. 

"Hunter, move dumbass! Or your admirers will press us to death." Cole shook his shoulder but to no avail. 

"What the hell is wrong with..." He looked in the direction Claire and Hunter were looking and his words faded out. 

"Bloody Christ! That's Zara!" It left Cole's mouth as he raised his hands to hold his hair. 

His words acted like a wake up bell for Hunter. He jolted back to his senses and took a deep breath. 

Zara was standing some distance away. She was clad in a black knee-length dress. There was a touch of sadness on her face and her eyes red-rimmed. Even then her posture held remarkable elegance, and her enticing beauty couldn't be matched with. 

"Zara," Hunter muttered the name while pushing Claire out of his way. 

He might not be in his senses because his push propelled her straight into a flashing camera. Claire winced as it hit her in the mouth. 

"Claire," Her brother held her by the shoulders and pulled her to his chest. 

The corner of her mouth was bleeding. However, she was too numb to feel anything. She stood there like a lifeless statue as she watched her husband rushing past the people holding cameras towards Zara, his obsessively loved ex-girlfriend. 

He got to her in no time and held both her hands. Claire could see his shoulders trembling. Her chest became heavy as Hunter— her husband who claimed to announce it to the world today that he belonged to her— pressed both her hands to his mouth. 

Claire couldn't hear him but she was certain he was mumbling her name and I love yous to her. While she stood, teetering back and forth in the swarm of crowd, Hunter put a hand around his ex-girlfriend's head and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. 

Tbc...