บททั้งหมดของ The Wife He Chose Too Late: บทที่ 51 - บทที่ 60

Claire's POVDamien reached the car before I did and opened the passenger door, resting one hand against the roof while stepping aside to give me room.It was a sleek black sedan, elegant enough to look as though it belonged outside a luxury hotel rather than in a hospital parking lot. I studied it for a moment, searching for even the smallest spark of recognition, but nothing came. It was just another object from a life that belonged to someone I couldn't remember."Take your time," Damien said gently.I looked from the car to him. "I've ridden in this before?"A small smile touched his lips. "Almost every day."I looked back inside, hoping that sitting in it might stir something. "It doesn't feel familiar.""I didn't expect it to."There wasn't disappointment in his voice, only quiet acceptance. He wasn't waiting for miracles anymore. He seemed content to let me discover things at my own pace, and somehow that made climbing into the unfamiliar car a little easier.I lowered myself c

Claire's POV I wandered away from the kitchen, my eyes taking in every corner of the penthouse. The more I looked, the less it felt like a stranger's home and not because I remembered it but because it was impossible not to notice that someone had cared deeply about this place.There was no clutter and no wasted space. Everything had a purpose and yet nothing felt cold. My attention was drawn to a long bookshelf built into the wall beside the living room. Rows of books filled every shelf some looked brand new and others had worn spines and folded corners.I smiled. "I read this much?"Damien joined me, stopping a comfortable distance away. "You did."I ran my finger along the spines. "Business." I pulled out one book. "Psychology." Another. "History." Another. "I'm all over the place."He chuckled. "You always said limiting yourself to one genre was boring.""I sound opinionated.""You were.""I think I still am.""I think so too."I slid the last book back into place before somethin

Claire's POVI followed Damien across the hallway, and when he reached the second bedroom, he opened the door before quietly stepping aside instead of walking in ahead of me. It was such a small gesture, but I noticed it immediately. He wasn't leading me into the room. He was giving me the chance to make the first step myself, as though he understood that even something as ordinary as crossing a doorway might feel overwhelming today.I walked inside slowly, letting my eyes adjust as soft afternoon sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room was smaller than the one we'd just left, but it didn't feel like an afterthought. It felt warm and peaceful, with pale wooden floors, crisp white bedding and simple furniture that somehow made the space feel inviting instead of empty. Nothing about it was extravagant. It looked like a room someone had prepared with care rather than expense.My attention drifted to the bedside table, and a smile tugged at my lips before I even rea

Claire’s POVBy the time we finally admitted defeat, the kitchen looked considerably better than it had twenty minutes earlier, even if breakfast itself had never stood much of a chance.The burnt toast had disappeared into the rubbish bin, the frying pan that had stubbornly refused to surrender its eggs was soaking in the sink, and every window had been opened just enough to chase away the last traces of smoke. Neither of us had managed to produce anything that resembled a proper cooked breakfast, so we'd settled for something much safer.Fresh fruit had been sliced onto a platter in the middle of the island, bowls of yogurt and cereal sat beside it, and a carton of orange juice waited between two coffee mugs.Well, one proper mug of coffee the other still looked capable of removing rust from old machinery. I pointed at it as I pulled out one of the stools and sat down."I'm making one of our new household rules."Damien looked up from the fruit he was arranging onto his plate and sm

Claire's POVBy the following Tuesday morning, I had already changed my outfit twice.I stood in front of the bedroom mirror, smoothing imaginary wrinkles from the pale blue blouse Olivia had bought for me only days earlier before letting out a quiet sigh."I've officially run out of reasons to change."The words were spoken mostly to myself, but they carried through the open bedroom door.A moment later, Damien appeared in the hallway.He had exchanged his usual charcoal business suit for dark trousers and a navy sweater, looking far less like the CEO of a billion-dollar company and more like a man trying very hard not to make someone else nervous."You look beautiful."I looked down at myself. "I'm wearing jeans."His smile deepened. "I noticed.""I've changed twice already.""I noticed that too."I folded my arms, unable to stop myself from smiling. "I don't even know why I'm nervous."His expression softened immediately. "I think I do."I looked at him."Today feels important."I