Mr Kingston, It's Too Late のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

The ride back to the penthouse was completely silent.Raphael didn't interrogate her anymore. He didn't ask about Daniel Hayes. Instead, he kept Claire’s hand firmly gripped in his own resting on his thigh, his thumb drawing slow, absent-minded circles on her skin.He looked exhausted. The adrenaline from his sudden trip to Ellis Designs was wearing off, and the physical reality of his fractured ribs and healing concussion was catching up to him.When the private elevator doors finally opened into the penthouse, Raphael let out a heavy sigh."I need to lie down," he admitted, his voice rough. He let go of her hand to rub his temples. "My head is pounding.""I'll get your medication," Claire said instantly, slipping her heels off in the foyer. "Go get in bed."Raphael leaned forward and kissed her forehead. It was a soft, lingering kiss. The absolute, blind trust was still right there in his dark eyes."I'll be in the bedroom," he murmured.Claire watched him walk down the long hallway

The top floor of Ellis Designs was dead silent on a Sunday.Claire sat in her massive leather chair, staring blankly at the dark screen of her computer. She hadn't turned it on. She hadn't looked at a single file. She had just been sitting there for three hours, staring at her own faint reflection in the monitor.The heavy glass door pushed open.Maya walked in, holding two steaming cups of coffee. She wore a pair of oversized sweatpants and a messy bun, looking completely miserable to be at the office on her day off."I brought espresso," Maya grumbled, setting a cup on Claire's desk. "And a loaded bagel. You look like a walking corpse, Boss.""I feel like one," Claire whispered, wrapping her cold hands around the warm paper cup.Maya slumped onto the sofa across from the desk. "I thought you were playing the happy housewife this weekend to keep the billionaire's brain intact. Why did you call me in for a fake emergency?"Claire closed her eyes. Her chest still ached from the look on

The private elevator doors opened into the penthouse. It was completely dark, save for the faint city lights spilling through the massive windows.Claire stepped out first, tossing her keys onto the console table. The metallic clatter echoed loudly in the quiet space.Raphael followed her inside. He moved slowly, his hand instinctively resting over his bruised ribs. He looked exhausted, but his dark eyes never left her."I'll order us some dinner," Raphael said, his voice soft in the quiet room. "You didn't eat anything at the office. Do you want Italian? Or that Thai place you love?"Claire kept her back to him. She slipped off her heels, the cold hardwood floor grounding her.Show him the cracks, Sophia’s voice whispered in her head. Prove you are untrustworthy."I'm not hungry," Claire said, keeping her tone completely flat.She didn't walk into the living room. She walked straight down the hallway, heading directly for the master bedroom.Raphael frowned, following close behind he

"He said what?"Daniel Hayes set his coffee cup down on Claire's desk so hard some of the brown liquid sloshed over the rim. He stared at her, completely floored.Claire rubbed her temples, leaning back in her heavy leather chair. "He said he’s going to fight for me. He told me he doesn't blame me for having feelings for you, because he pushed me away. And then he just... walked out of the kitchen."Daniel let out a long, heavy breath and sank onto the office sofa. He ran a hand through his hair, looking at her in sheer disbelief."I have to admit," Daniel said, shaking his head. "I thought the guy was just a ruthless, arrogant billionaire. But that? That is a terrifyingly smart move.""It's not a move, Daniel," Claire whispered, her chest tightening painfully. "He actually meant it. He looked me dead in the eye and took all the blame. I was ready for him to yell at me. I was ready for him to hand me a divorce lawyer’s card. But instead, he forgave me for an affair I didn't even have.

Claire stared at her phone screen as the call disconnected. Her heart was beating so fast she felt like she might pass out."Who was that?"Raphael’s deep voice made her jump. He was still standing in the doorway of the beautiful, custom-built home office, watching her closely.Claire quickly shoved her phone into her purse. "It was just Maya. A scheduling issue for tomorrow."Raphael looked at her. His dark eyes scanned her face, picking up every single ounce of panic she was trying to hide. He knew she was lying. She could see it in the slight tightening of his jaw.But true to his new promise, he didn't push. He didn't interrogate her."Okay," Raphael said softly. He took a step back into the hallway. "I'll let you get some sleep. Goodnight, Claire.""Goodnight," she whispered.Claire practically ran to the guest room and locked the door. She spent the entire night staring at the ceiling, dreading whatever trap Sophia was setting for her.At seven o'clock the next morning, a sleek