Too Late To Apologize, Mr. CEO のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

My stomach dropped. Someone was trying to kill Claire. They had already made two attempts and were probably planning their third right now. I don’t feel afraid very often. I’ve laughed off lawsuits, faced down investors threatening to pull out of multi-million dollar deals with a smile on my face. This was different. The thought that Claire might leave me permanently, might be gone, not just from our marriage, but from life, made my heart freeze in my chest. I held the door open for the detectives to exit Claire’s room. As I walked them out, I stuck my hands in my pockets to hide their trembling. “Please,” I said, keeping my voice steady with an effort. “Do everything you can to find the people after Claire. I’ve had private investigators looking into the car accident. I’ll have the files sent over as soon as possible. Any help I can give—anything—just ask.”Detective Lowinsky studied my face with eyes that had seen all kinds of human wickedness. I could see him thinking that the

I woke up back in my room at my parent’s house. The doctor was bending over me, listening to my bump with a stethoscope. He was our old family doctor, and he’d still make house calls as a favor to my parents. “Ah, you’re awake,” he said. “How are you feeling? Your parents were worried sick.”I glanced over at my parents, standing in the doorway. They didn’t look worried. They looked annoyed. Derek was sitting in my desk chair. “How’s the baby, Doc?” he asked.“The baby is doing well… I think,” the doctor replied, repositioning the stethoscope. “There’s some abnormality with the placenta…” He looked at me. “As you would know, if you’d waited for the test results to come back.” He put the stethoscope away. “But the baby is all right, as far as I can tell. I’d really recommend you get her to a hospital for a full workup.” “No!” my mother said, wringing her hands. “Think of the scandal! Everyone at the country club will be laughing and gossiping about me behind my back.”That was my mo

Derek’s hand shot out and caught my arm. “Claire, wait.” His grip wasn’t tight enough to hurt, but it stopped me in my tracks. I glared at him. His face was tense, jaw tight, brow furrowed as if asking for… understanding? He let me go and stepped back, hands raised. “Please. Just hear me out.” I took a deep breath, preparing myself for his excuse. Probably something detached and half-hearted, typical Derek. “Nothing happened with Savannah,” he blurted out.This was unusual.“She got drunk at the banquet and asked me to take her home,” he continued quickly. “That’s it. I didn’t even want to be there.”“I never asked,” I said. “I know,” he said. “I just didn’t want you thinking…” He reached out for me, but then pulled back his hand.I looked at him, eyebrows raised, waiting.“Thinking I was on a date with her or something,” he continued lamely.“Derek,” I said. “Whoever you date, or don’t date, is none of my business. We’re divorced.” He flinched. A tiny movement, barely perceptib

The lighthearted feeling continued through the next morning. I even invited the bodyguards in for coffee, but they said they were good. I did learn their names, though. Tweedledee was Rodrigo Garcia, and Tweedledum was Mark Davis. I was packing up for Ethan’s class when my phone buzzed. It was Adrian. “I’m waiting for you outside. Don’t rush.” Followed by a smiley face.I smiled back and hurried outside, still adjusting my coat. When I saw him waiting for me, leaning casually against his car, I paused to take in the view.He’d dressed up. Not a lot, but enough to be noticeable. A tailored shirt in a soft green that complemented his sandy hair, which was neatly styled. He straightened up when he saw me, and I caught a whiff of some clean-smelling cologne. “Hey,” he said, a warm, gentle smile spreading over his face. For some reason I blushed and couldn’t reply just then. He smiled even wider, ignoring my awkwardness and opening the passenger-side door for me. Before I could get

When I saw Adrian kissing Claire, something inside me snapped, so loudly everyone else should have heard it. The way he brushed her hair away from her face. Her shy smile. When had she last smiled at me like that? The way she leaned against him, and his hand cupped the back of her head. Every gesture just made me angrier, but I couldn’t look away. And I couldn’t control my expression. I’m sure my face was dark and congested with rage. I imagined my hands around Adrian’s neck, squeezing…“Ow! Derek! You’re hurting me!” Savannah’s voice snapped me out of my violent fantasy. “Shit! I’m sorry,” I said, letting go of her hand. “I didn’t mean to. Really.”She cradled it against her chest, rubbing the reddened skin. “You nearly broke my hand!” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re about to murder somebody.” She followed my gaze and saw Claire and Adrian. “Is that why you’re so riled up?” she said. “Don’t tell me you’re in love with your ex-wif