All Chapters of 365 Days With A Billionaire : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The quiet of their apartment felt heavier than ever as Claire sat in the living room, absentmindedly tracing the edges of a book on the coffee table.Vladimir had been distant, even though they had just shared a tender moment, kissing her as if it was the last time. There was an aching tenderness in the way his lips met hers, but the kiss ended too soon, leaving her feeling both cherished and forsaken.She had noticed the subtle changes in him—the way he sometimes pulled away after they made love, or how his touch lingered with an intensity that felt more like desperation than affection. It was as if he was trying to fill some void, some empty space within himself, but Claire couldn’t shake the feeling that she was just a stand-in.The absence of Grace, though not spoken of, seemed to cast an ever-present shadow in their relationship.Claire's thoughts swirled in her head. Is he really here with me, or am I just someone to distract him from the past?As she stared out of the window, wa

The morning light peeked through the curtains, soft and lazy, casting a warm glow across the apartment. The air still had a bite to it, a lingering chill that made the bed feel even more inviting. Claire and Vladimir lay just a few inches apart, neither of them moving, as if the calm of the morning had settled in them too. It wasn’t the tense quiet that used to fill the space, but something different—something easier, more at home. Vladimir was the first to stir, his hand reaching for the edge of the blanket. His fingers brushed against Claire’s, just enough to stir her from her thoughts. She blinked slowly, then turned her head to look at him. There was no rush today. He smiled at her, his voice still thick with sle

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, soft and golden, but Claire barely noticed. She sat at the edge of the bed, tracing invisible patterns on the sheets, her mind tangled in knots. Last night had been… perfect, hadn’t it? Every little detail—the quiet clink of dishes, the warmth of Vladimir’s hands, the gentle way he had held her—was etched into her memory. But now, sitting alone in the lingering calm of the apartment, a strange unease crept over her. Her chest felt tight, her stomach churned—not from hunger, but from a restless, quiet panic she couldn’t name.Vladimir stirred behind her, stretching and rubbing his eyes, a soft yawn escaping him. “Morning,” he said, his voice warm and husky from sleep. “Coffee?”Claire nodded, managing a small, polite smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She followed him to the kitchen, keeping a careful distance, and watched him move around with the same fluidity she had admired so many times before. Normally, this would have been comforting

Vladimir had never been good at sitting still when his heart ached, but the past three years had tested every ounce of his patience, every shred of restraint he possessed. Claire. The name echoed in his mind like a bell he couldn’t stop hearing, a constant reminder of what he had lost. He had tried to move on, truly he had. Work had been a distraction, flights across continents had offered brief escapes, and yet every night, when the city lights of Dubai flickered outside his window, he found himself staring at the ceiling, imagining her somewhere far away—alone, scared, and perhaps even angry at him. Grace’s shadow had never truly left him, though he had tried to convince himself it had. She had always been there, subtly weaving herself into his world, testing boundaries, planting seeds

The forest air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Claire had decided to take Alex for a walk down the winding trail behind their cabin. It was their daily ritual, a small escape from the walls of the house, a chance for Alex to run free and for Claire to breathe in the quiet that she had fought so hard to maintain. Alex darted ahead, his laughter echoing between the trees. “Mommy! Catch me!” he shouted, spinning around with his little arms outstretched. Claire smiled, her heart swelling. This life, however small and secluded, was hers to protect, hers to nurture. It had been three years of careful rebuilding, and she wasn’t about to let anything—anyone—disrupt it. Yet, as she walked, a feeling of unease settled over her. It had started when Peter had