Mr Kingston, It's Too Late のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

The sound of the thick paper tearing open echoed like a gunshot in the quiet penthouse.Claire stopped breathing. Her hands gripped the back of the velvet sofa so tightly her fingers went completely numb.Raphael slid the crisp white documents out of the envelope.Vivian stood beside him, a triumphant, vicious smirk on her perfectly painted lips. "Go ahead, Raphael. Read it out loud. Read what your perfect wife has been hiding."Raphael’s dark eyes moved to the top of the first page.Claire watched his face, waiting for the devastating realization. She waited for him to grab his head in pain. She waited for the psychological shock the doctor had warned her about.He stared at the bold letters at the top of the page.Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.The room was so quiet Claire could hear the frantic beating of her own heart.Raphael didn't say a word. He didn't gasp. His face didn't twist in agony. Instead, his expression went completely, terrifyingly blank. He slowly flipped to

The drive down the California coastline was supposed to be relaxing.For Claire, it felt like a hostage transfer.She sat in the passenger seat of the luxury SUV, staring out the window at the crashing ocean waves. Raphael was driving. He had flat-out refused to let the chauffeur take them, insisting that a husband should drive his wife on their anniversary trip. He drove with one hand casually resting on the bottom of the steering wheel, his other arm securely in its sling.He was being entirely too perfect."Are you cold?" Raphael asked, his deep voice breaking the silence. He didn't take his eyes off the winding coastal road. "I can turn the heat up.""I'm fine," Claire said stiffly."Are you hungry? I had Ethan pack the cooler in the back," Raphael continued smoothly. "There are chocolate-covered strawberries. The dark chocolate ones from that bakery downtown. And sparkling water. And those specific sea-salt chips you like."Claire slowly turned her head to look at him. "You had E

The private beach was breathtakingly beautiful, but the California wind was absolutely merciless.Claire walked along the shoreline, the damp sand sinking beneath her boots. The sky above the Pacific Ocean was a crisp, brilliant blue, but the air whipped against her face, carrying the freezing chill of the water. She rubbed her arms, suppressing a shiver.Instantly, a heavy, warm weight dropped over her shoulders.Claire stopped. She looked down and saw Raphael’s massive black coat draped perfectly around her. It was entirely too big, hanging past her knees, but it immediately enveloped her in his body heat and the expensive, intoxicating scent of cedar and bergamot.She turned to look at him. He was walking beside her in just his sweater, the wind ruffling his dark hair."You're going to freeze," Claire said, pulling the edges of the coat together despite her brain screaming at her to hand it back. "You have a healing concussion, Raphael. You need this more than I do.""I run hot," R

Sunlight peeked through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a warm glow across the king-sized bed.Claire woke up slowly. For the first time in an entire week, there was no immediate spike of adrenaline. There was no frantic mental check of her lies. The heavy, suffocating weight that had been sitting on her chest was completely gone.She rolled over.The right side of the mattress was empty. The sheets were cool to the touch.Claire sat up, rubbing her eyes. She grabbed her thick robe and walked out of the bedroom.The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the cabin. Raphael was standing in the kitchen, leaning against the marble counter. He was wearing dark sweatpants and a simple gray t-shirt. His sling was resting on the stool next to him.He had a phone pressed to his ear, his voice dropping into the low, commanding tone of the Kingston CEO."I don't care what the board thinks, Ethan," Raphael said coldly. "Strip her security clearance to the top floor. Change the vault codes

Claire zipped her small travel bag shut with a sharp, decisive pull.She turned around, placing her hands on her hips. "Are you going to stare at me the entire time I pack, or are you actually going to put your own clothes in a bag?"Raphael was leaning against the bedroom doorframe, a cup of coffee in his good hand. He was wearing his dark sweatpants and a simple black t-shirt, looking entirely too relaxed for a man who was supposed to be preparing for corporate warfare."I am packing," Raphael said, taking a slow sip of his coffee. "I'm packing mentally.""That is not a thing," Claire laughed, walking over to him. She took the coffee mug out of his hand and took a sip for herself. "You just threw a pair of socks into an empty duffel bag and called it a day.""I’m the CEO, sweetheart. I delegate," Raphael smirked, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement. "Besides, I like watching you walk around the room. You look happy."Claire paused, the coffee mug hovering near her lips.She reali