9
Hunter stared at her last message with cold eyes.
'Playing stubborn? I like it.' He mumbled while putting a hand under his head.
He was in the penthouse on the sofa in the living room, staring at the door of the room Zara was in. Although he insisted on sleeping in bed with her and cuddling her, she refused him without blinking an eye.
Zara claimed that she was a widow and Hunter was a married man. A married man with a loving and dedicated wife. It would not be appropriate to sleep with him while his wife was waiting for him in their house.
Though the flames of need to be held tight were evident in her eyes, she suggested maintaining space. This was one of the qualities in Zara that Hunter was crazy about.
She sacrificed her life and love for others. She prioritized others' feelings over hers. She didn't give herself the attention and praise she deserved.
All her life, she thought about others. Then why shouldn't Hunter thrive to give her a deserving happy life? She deserved to be Mrs. MacIntyre and be the woman cooking food for him in their house.
Nevertheless, Claire has developed thick skin. It was going to take time to get under her skin and force her to leave him
His jaw clenched as he glared at his phone.
'Let's see how long can you persist with your charade of being a patient wife.'
Hunter didn't go to their house the following afternoon for lunch. In fact, he didn't even think about going there for five days straight. And whatever messages and calls he received from Claire were ignored.
On the sixth day, he finally decided to not look at the messages either. They piled up to hundred plus unread messages from Claire. By the time it was the eighth day, there were about two hundred and fifty missed calls and two hundred plus messages.
The strange thing was that Claire never left him a voicemail.
Hunter would go to work from the penthouse, and return back to penthouse from work... Where he would revel in helping Zara in the kitchen.
Although she insisted on going back to her in-laws daily, one or the other way he deflected her mind.
On the tenth day, he was amazed to see that the messages had stopped coming from Claire. No missed calls either.
'Perhaps she realized it's a waste of time.' He smirked to himself.
Hunter was in the elevator of his office building on his way to the lobby, to call it a day. He scrolled through his social media carelessly while going down. He was reading a certain post when his screen lit up with Thea's name flashing on it.
Furrowing his brows he thought, 'Not so smart, Claire. You really think I will answer Thea's call. I know it's you on the other side.'
He ignored it and went back to wasting his time on the internet. Thea called again. And again and again. When he noticed that she was typing something to him on W******p, he immediately put his phone on flight mode and pocketed it.
His driver took him to the hotel where Zara was waiting for him in his penthouse. She looked a little off.
"Hey, baby," He kissed her on the lips much to her hesitation.
"How many times have I told you not to do that, Hunter? Do you realize how immoral it is? You're cheating on your wife." He ignored her words and pulled her in his lap as he fell on the sofa.
Their eyes were locked together and breathing in sync. Hunter was about to kiss her again when his phone interfered.
It was his second phone where he got business related calls from his PA and managers. Sometimes from his friends who had his second number.
"Son of a bitch," He growled as he saw the caller ID.
It was Cole.
Hunter's expressions changed into a one full of bewilderment.
This is because since he decided to worship Zara and consider his lawfully wedded wife non-existent, Cole was the first of the few people to condemn him. He refused to speak to him properly.
And although they were partners in a non-profit organisation they started together for the welfare of the people and faced each other on a daily basis during meetings, Cole treated him with indignation and negligence.
"To what does this heartless dickhead owe the pleasure of receiving this call from you, Sir Wordsmith?” Hunter taunted using harsh words that Cole hissed at him ten days ago in the office.
"You're still a heartless dickhead, Hunter MacIntyre." Cole seethed.
His voice was hoarse.
Hunter heaved angrily, "Then disconnect the call. I am certain you don't want to waste your time on this heartless dickhead."
Just then Cole growled deep from his chest. A laughter was heard on the phone before Hunter heard.
"I honestly think I should steal your wife and take her away with me."
Irritation flashed in Hunter's dark gaze. He tightened his hold on the phone as an unknown feeling consumed him after listening to that.
"Because it's clear as day light that you don't give a fuck about her."
"What I do with my wife is none of your business."
"Sure it is not but it's me who is approached every time she gets into trouble. So yeah, to some extent, what you do with your wife is my fucking business."
The word trouble blared a warning bell in his head. Suddenly Hunter was wary. He slipped Zara on the couch beside him as he leaned forward with forehead creasing.
"Since you contacted my private number you better come to the point. If you don't have any valid reason then I'm hanging up." Hunter ambled to the window overlooking the beautiful night view of Bloomcrest while loosening his tie.
"You did not go home for ten days, Hunter. Do you know what that has led your wife to do?"
Hunter remained silent. However, when Cole's next words came in, he felt his heart dropping to the floor as his dark orbs twinkled with slight apprehension.
"She starved herself. Claire is admitted to hospital." Cole paused.
"I know it's not important for you so you can just stay where you are. But as your best friend I'll take care of your wife for you." He hung up, leaving Hunter with sweat beading his forehead.
"What was it, darling?" Zara hugged him from the back.
In the last ten days, her closeness with Hunter increased. They have not slept together yet. But they were in that phase of their life where physical touch was not considered cheating even if he was still married to another woman.
Although Zara kept saying words like… ‘It's not appropriate!’ ‘You are a married and committed man.’ ‘I recently lost my husband. I shouldn't do this.’, and she anyway ended up in his arms.
Hunter took a look at Zara's face. What stunned him was the fact that he could see Claire's teary face in place of hers. It made him thrust himself away.
"Zara, I will be right back."
"Hunter, wai... Damn it!" Zara slapped the couch frustratedly.
She wondered what was the case before she decided to follow after him stealthily. She was rendered motionless when Hunter's car stopped in front of the biggest and most expensive hospital in Bloomcrest.
Watching him exit his car quite disturbed, Zara curled her fingers around her skirt, fisting the cloth in an angry hold. She paid the cab and entered the hospital to make inquiries.
It didn't take her long to comprehend what was happening.
'Playing cleverly to make Hunter notice you, Claire, huh? Nice try. But he's my puppet and I'm the unbeatable player. These acts are childish. Just wait and watch what I do.' Zara spoke to herself and quietly slipped out of the hospital without getting noticed.
Tbc...
What trick zara will play now?
Looks like Hunter has some soft corner (maybe feelings for his wife!) will he notice is soon?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
334"Let go, Claire. I have so much work pending." Hunter said. "Drop this stubborn act and listen to the doctors, Hunter. You are not completely healed." She caught him glaring at her with obvious irritation.She ignored it and motioned him to walk back inside. "Why should I listen to you when you've been ignoring me all this time? I'm fine... And I listened to the doctors! I can leave here. It's you who should stop pretending like nothing happened, Claire. Your plan is blown." He smirked while the doctor who had mistakenly blurted that he could leave flushed in remorse."You thought you could fool me into staying here? Too bad that the doctors can't lie that professionally."Cole and Claire shared a look of defeat. Over these days, they had also reconciled with an inevitable conversation and a hug. Cole apologized for being cold to her and Claire shared her feelings with him. Towards the end they decided to work together and try to keep Hunter in the hospital for as long as it was
333Claire's eyes darkened in rage. She sometimes hated herself for loving this man so much. He had no nice trait if she looked closer. He was stubborn. He was grumpy. He took everyone for granted!Tamping down her frustration, Claire trudged towards the bed and appraised his face with not even a sliver of mercy."What did you do to your mother? Why was she crying outside?""Mom was crying?" Hunter was taken aback. He tried to sit up and Claire just watched him. She didn't even try to come and help him."I did nothing.""You sure... Or is it just that you don't realize it? Like you always don't." She spat outrageously."Mom wanted to stay here. I just asked dad to stop her. She doesn't need to tire herself after me. That's all that happened."Claire gave him a look between disgust and disbelief. She seethed and averted her gaze before she exploded. He was not in the condition to take her verbal abuse. And she sure as hell did not intend to give him a reason to use her actions made in
332Claire had been sleeping in Hunter's car in the parking lot all night.After she had fed him last night, she came down to sit where she had spent four days in the hospital while he was unconscious. She didn't know where else to go nor did she wish to go back to his ward.Sure, the couch installed in the corner of his room appeared cozy and fluffy; it would have seemed that she'd forgiven him if she stayed. She can't leave either because her heart wouldn't allow her to.Hence, she came to the lounge and plopped down on the bench. It was raining again. The winds, though, were quite harsher and colder tonight. Claire was hugging her shoulders when Reggie came and forcefully took her to the parking lot.He opened the car for her, pushed the seats back in the back (for they were adjustable) and created a make-do bed for her."Sir would kill me if I let you spe