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“Are you upset with me, Mommy?” Thalia asked her mother the moment the doors to the conference room closed. Claire carried Thalia and shook her head. She smiled gently at Thalia and replied, “No, I’m not. But I want you to listen to me and not trouble Aunt Quinn next time, ok?” Thalia nodded and wrapped her arms around Claire’s neck. Claire then glanced at Felix Brooks before announcing, “I won’t be joining you for lunch. I’ll have lunch with my daughter instead.” Felix Brooks smiled and nodded, “Sure, Miss Hamilton. Go ahead.” As she walked away, the people outside the conference room couldn’t help but be curious about Claire’s identity. She seemed to be close to the CEO. They wondered what their relationship was since he was able to overlook her rudeness. However, some of the old employees from the legal department recognised Claire since she used to visit the company a lot six years ago. A lady in her thirties suddenly said, “I was surprised to see that she’s our new L
“Claire… how long has it been, honey?” Claire’s breath caught in her throat when she heard the familiar voice on the phone. The voice belonged to none other than Roxanne Smith-Ford, Oliver’s mother. At her voice, Claire felt a sense of nostalgia. She had been practically raised by Oliver’s family. They were very kind to her. So, imagine her shock when her mother told her the secret that the Fords were hiding. “How are you… uh... Ma’am?” Claire said, biting her lip. She didn’t know how to address her. “Call me Aunt, the way you used to. Or Mom, hahaha,” Roxanne laughed on the phone. “Anyway, I was hoping to invite you to dinner tonight. I would have loved it if you came home but the Ford Paradise hotel is ok for now. What do you say?” “How did you know that I’m back?” Claire asked, her throat feeling parched. It felt strange that she hated this family now that she talked to Roxanne. How could such kind people be behind her father’s downfall? “Well, employees gossip a lot a
Oliver felt like a cat was clawing at his heart. It was so painful to have the woman you loved so close and not be able to talk to her, let alone embrace her. Twenty minutes had passed since the food was served and they were almost done with dinner. Claire treated him like empty air. It was like he didn’t exist in her eyes. Oliver had to watch as she politely replied to his parents while she gave him dirty looks here and there. ‘How can I make her forgive me?’ He thought, clutching the fork tightly. If he had superpowers, that platinum fork would have bent over in his hand. He had been upset and heartbroken when he heard she had a child with another man. The thought that she had given herself to someone else made his blood boil. However, that didn’t stop him from wanting her back. If not for the way he ended things six years ago, Claire wouldn't have sought solace in another man's arms. Oliver had no one to blame but himself. He was willing to fight hard to win her back and ac
Silence fell upon them after Claire replied rudely to him. Oliver clutched the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles becoming white from the sheer force in his grip. “Are you saying you want nothing to do with me?” Oliver asked, his voice low. “I only want us to have a work connection, nothing more,” Claire responded flatly, her voice sounding colder than a block of ice. Oliver didn’t reply. Deep down, he knew there was a long way before Claire could forgive him. After all, he did break her heart six years ago. “Where’s he? The father of your child…” Oliver asked as he held the steering wheel with one hand. His other hand went to his chin, stroking it. “You seem very interested in my personal life, Mr Ford. Why do you want to know where my man is?” Claire questioned, glancing at him and arching an eyebrow. “I want to know so that I can get rid of him,” Oliver remarked, a side smirk crossing his lips. Claire internally scoffed. It was typical behaviour of a Ford to use the
“Good morning, Mommy!” Claire was woken up by a sweet voice that echoed in her ears. She opened her eyes and smiled when they landed on her daughter, Thalia. The little girl was in pink pajamas while holding a teddy bear in her arms. Reaching over, Claire stroked Thalia’s hair, saying, “Good morning, my love.” Her heart swelled with happiness at the sight of her daughter. It hadn’t been easy to raise her alone at first but she got the hang of it at the end of the day. Thalia was the best thing that had ever happened to Claire. She may regret falling in love with Oliver, but she didn’t regret this princess that they created. “Grandma is making breakfast!” Thalia chirped. “What time are you going to work? Can I follow?” Claire chuckled. When she returned the previous night, she found Thalia sleeping. However, the nanny said she didn’t stop talking about her workplace and how nice it was. “Not today… it’s my first day and my boss wouldn’t like it if I brought my daughter,” Clai
Oliver Ford couldn’t help it. When he saw Claire in his office, he couldn’t help but recall the past. He had missed her so much. So, even though she was very angry, he boldly kissed her, wanting to taste her lips after so many years. His heart clenched as he sucked her lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth and kissing her dominantly. He wished he could kiss her forever. However, Claire bit him and rejected his advances. Her eyes and words were cold as ice as she glared at him, telling him she had a man. Oliver couldn’t accept it. He didn’t wait for her all this while for nothing. “Sir, you’re bleeding!” Thomas uttered the moment he entered the office. “Let me get a first-aid kit-” “Don’t. I’m fine,” Oliver responded as he grabbed some tissue from the coffee table in the visitor’s lounge and wiped his hand that he had punched through the table. The table was made of glass so it shattered the moment his fist connected with it. “Look into the man Claire keeps talki
“How did you get here?” Oliver asked the little girl in front of him. He looked behind her and noticed that no adult was following her. A sudden surge of protectiveness overcame him and he frowned. How could Claire let her daughter wander around alone at this time of the night? “My Aunt Quinn brought me to see Mommy,” Thalia replied, looking up at Oliver. The smell of dessert and pastries suddenly filled the air. Thalia sniffed and her stomach rumbled loudly. When Oliver realised where the sound was coming from, he chuckled and asked gently, “Are you hungry? You haven’t eaten anything?” Thalia shook her head and replied, “I wanted to wait for Mommy but she took too long.” “Come,” Oliver held out his hand. “How about I get you something to eat and then, we can go and see your Mommy? She’s busy right now, so let’s not disturb her.” A few minutes later, Oliver and Thalia were settled at one of the tables. Thalia had a glass of warm milk and dessert in front of her while Oliv
A WEEK LATER… It had been a while since Oliver saw Claire at the company. Noticing her hostility towards him, he decided to give her a few days of space to calm down. Now, he missed her and couldn’t help but want to see her so he left what he was doing in his office and went to the Legal department. When Oliver got to Claire’s office, he found her door slightly open. Walking in, he didn’t find her behind the huge desk. She was standing next to the large windows. However, something seemed off about her. It was only when he got closer that he realised what it was. She was smiling while in his company! How long had it been since he saw her smile for no reason? Ever since they met again, all Claire did was frown and snap at him. She only smiled when it came to her daughter. Seeing her smile her signature radiant smile, the sun illuminating her face through the window. She looked breathtaking. By far, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Oliver paused in his tracks when