Lahat ng Kabanata ng Regretting Divorce: Kabanata 111 - Kabanata 120

111A car was rapidly closing in on Claire, who was engrossed in hailing a taxi and completely unaware of the danger.With lightning-fast reflexes, Violet grabbed Claire's hand and pulled her to safety just in the nick of time. "What are you—" What was supposed to be an enraged exclamation burst out as a yelp from Claire's mouth. She watched the car crash into a light pole. Her hands absentmindedly went around Violet in the act of hugging her. She watched with bated breaths as a cloud of gray smoke emanated from the front part that was gruesomely crushed. Footsteps rushed towards them and as they both were watching, startled, the man from the car jumped out. He took a fleeting glance over his shoulder at Claire and Violet before bailing out. "Ma'am, are you alright?" Violet's driver stopped before them while sweeping an inspecting gaze over them. "Yes, we are. Go after that man." Hunter's mom said in a voice laced with panic as she pointed at the man taking a right turn into an a

113Cole tried to call Hunter but his phone was switched off. He drove back to the company and halted his car at the sight of a dreadful Reggie and his team pacing back and forth outside the building."Did Hunter come here?" Cole asked, turning Reggie's back stiff."He hasn't. But you accompanied him, right? We thought he's with you.""He was with me until mom gave him a verbal lashing. Then he left while I was still with her." Cole bit into his fist as he tried to brainstorm and guess where Hunter could be. Although they were best friends and knew each other inside out, the last few months were too much to handle. Had they been in college, Cole would have pointed out Hunter's whereabouts within five seconds. However, Hunter after marriage had become a difficult algebra equation. What he did and why he did, only Hunter knew."Sir didn't come here. Marvin and Hansel were stationed on the rear entrance gate in case sir wished to enter through the other gate. He wasn't seen there either

115Next day, Cole was in his studio, fully focused on the sculpture of a man patting the head of his small kid. The place was sun-drenched, filled with abundance of natural light pouring in through the massive windows that surrounded him from three sides. The one side of the wall was painted a crisp white, reflecting the radiant light. The floor was made of polished concrete, and around Cole's feet were patches of flattened clay, crushed under his steps as he frequently rounded the sculptor to mould it. His work station was in the center of the room where he was standing with sculpting tools cluttered around him. To his left were some half-finished projects, and beside it a desk with sketches he made on different colour and size of papers. Half of the wall was shelved and storage units lined the other half. They were laden with materials and supplies, from chisels and gouges to plaster and clay. Whereas a series of fully finished, drying, sculptures stood around him, watching him

117Claire's heartbeat was out of control and her mind fuzzy. She closed her eyes to avoid the chaos and damage her car was going to cause as she pressed her lips together to stop whimpering.She thought it was over. But just then she opened an eye into a slit to see the road clear. The traffic light had changed to green. There weren't many vehicles ahead of her. Thank goodness! She held the steering wheel and turned the car onto the road that led to the empty highway. A small amount of relief washed over her as she didn't have to worry about the damage her malfunctioning car would cause to other vehicles. Even if it crashed somewhere, it would be her alone getting hurt. That made bile to her throat. She didn't want to be hurt. With her heart pounding everywhere in her body, she tried to calm down and think."I need to call someone for help or else I'll injure myself severely. The car isn't stopping or slowing down. I need to call someone but who." She dreadfully bit her lips as her

119"And you think I will leave without you?" Her eyes scorched ferociously.Claire thrusted her hand against his forearm and shook her skull sideways."You want to save my life while risking yours. That's not happening.""It's not that, Claire. I'm just going to do what is necessary.""Throwing yourself down the valley is not necessary, Hunter. You are not staying back. No. No way at all." She resiliently eyed him. "We both are jumping out together. That's my final decision.""It's not possible, Claire. Try to understand. The car is moving at a neck-breaking speed. Someone will have to hold the steering wheel to prevent the car from steering to prevent it from deviating."With a click of her tongue, Claire folded her hands, "We both will jump out together or none of us will."Hunter heaved tensely, "Claire, why are you arguing with me? I told you it's gonna be fine.""Besides, what makes you think I'm throwing myself with the car down the cliff? Gosh, you have become paranoid." He swi