Thanks for giving me time. Appreciate it 🥹🥹🥹 It was the kind of writer's block where I was totally surprised but I'm through it finally 😇😇 More chapters on the way 🥰
340The smile from Tiffany's face fell while the women around her went rigid."Oh, I just adore how you're always so… humble, Claire. Not many women could survive doing nothing all day while their husband works hard all day— Oops, ex-husband in your case. You haven't asked for any alimony, have you?" Tiffany said with disdain and the women around her laughed."Why would she ask any alimony when the man is willing to throw himself back at her feet? She must be enjoying everything without having to worry about marriage again. Right, Claire." Someone remarked and Claire rolled her eyes feeling amused."You're absolutely right. I'm enjoying it just like all of you enjoy sinking your claws into men who are already taken." Claire's words made all of them falter. They stiffened slightly but kept smiling."You’ve got jokes, C
339Next day,Claire registered Hunter being very quiet during breakfast. He didn't eat much either. Just a piece of toast, and a few bites of Omelette. Claire took his leftovers as her own breakfast after he excused himself and went upstairs.She followed him after her breakfast and noticed him trying to put a shirt on. She slipped behind him and lent a helping hand. Hunter didn't react. On other occasions, he would have pulled her in the front and tried to kiss him (like he did in the last week and she barely got out of his grip) but today he was absorbed in a deep thought."You look distracted. Everything okay at work?" She asked while buttoning his shirt. Hunter's eyes immediately came to her face. He smiled teasingly as if saying: Didn’t think you’d notice that."Nothing's okay at work, actually. It's a mess and I don't know how to handle this while I'm here like this." He pointed at his helplessness and the fact he was still not allowed to resume work like before. "I heard you
338"What's going on here?" Claire barged in, bellowing on top of her voice.Dora wanted to say something. She had just parted her soft lips but Claire wrenched her away from Hunter and pushed her towards the door."Get out of here.""But, I wasn't—""I said, GET OUT!" Claire roared like a megaphone.Dora cowered back, her eyes widening as dread crossed her innocent features, "I... Hunter—""GET OUT OF MY HOUSE NOW!" Claire grasped her elbow and dragged her all the way down to the large doors.She shoved Dora out where she stumbled and came to a halt. Dora balanced herself a few inches before the stairs, else she would have flattened on her butt and hurt herself. She still tried to explain something but Claire shut the doors on her face before she snapped at her, "I don't want you anywhere around my house. Don't you dare come back if you love your pretty face!"Claire wasn't done yet. She charged up the flight of stairs and back inside Hunter's room. He was leaning against the balcony
337The delivery person continued to look at her expectantly, hoping that he would get an answer from her that would let him transfer the boxes inside the house and then install the bed wherever it was needed. Except that Claire didn't know how to react. She just stood there, eyes wide, and mind flooding with recollection of her last conversation with Hunter about the bed. 'No, he didn't just...' She gulped hard as her eyes flickered rapidly. "Is it the delivery guy from IKEA?" Came Hunter's voice from behind her before she prepared herself to say anything. "Yes, it is.I believe he’s mixed up the location." Thea replied as she moved away to let Hunter peek out the half opened door. "He's on the right address." Hunter said as he stood behind Claire, deliberately pressing himself into her back. "But, sir, a new bed? In our house? I don't understand it." Thea muttered. "It's for me. My current bed is very uncomfortable.... And smelly!" Claire took a deep breath at his choice of wo
336Claire felt the strings of her heart tug and stretch taut. She could feel herself getting lost again. Lost in the depth of his feelings. Lost in the labyrinth of his intense gaze. Hunter wasn't just looking at her, he was pulling her in like a magnet. He was compelling her to let herself loose in his arms again, and let him do what he wished to do with her.With a jolt, she broke free from his grip. Not again. She told herself. She wasn't going to leave herself at his mercy. She's done it thrice and got hurt each time.Moving away, Claire tucked her hair behind her ears and brushed past him to create distance."Where are my bags?" She asked to change the topic.Hunter stared at her for a good minute before he frowned, "Bags? What bags?"Claire gave him a stern look in return as she folded her hands."You sent Reggie to get my st
335Claire's hands trembled on the handle of the door as she gazed out of the window at the looming mansion that had once been the house of her dreams. She swallowed past the knot forming in her throat as she held herself together. She didn't want to do this. She hadn't done this ever since she left this house after signing the divorce papers. And yet, after all these months, after all the determination and resolution— she was standing here, watching the house while trying not to cry. She came out of the car with Hunter following after her. He was still dressed in his suit, but the doctors had placed his arm in a sling. Since his body was far from recovery and the gunshot wound was very much fresh, sudden activity could worsen the injury. Also, after being unconscious for four days, he wasn't strong enough to carry himself without support. Hence, the sling was meant to stabilize him and ease the pressure on his chest.Anyway, when Hunter noticed her shoulders shaking and tears in h