Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Divorcee Who Ruled Their Hearts : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Hearing the man she loved call her ugly, Vanessa's expression snapped from nervous hope straight into fury. She glared at him, teeth clenched. "So I'm ugly, and that little tramp Claire is the pretty one? That's really where we're at?" "Lucas, I've loved you for years. Why won't you even look at me?" She still couldn't wrap her head around it the man who'd never once shown interest in any woman had somehow fallen for someone as reckless as Claire Bennett. She'd done her homework. Every detail she'd dug up had only deepened her contempt. This is who he chose over me? The thought sat like acid in her chest like she wasn't even worth as much as a woman with a scattered, complicated personal life. "I heard she's your girlfriend now." "What exactly does she have that I don't?" "Even if she's prettier can someone like her actually do anything for your career? Your empire?" "She can't. I can." "Lucas, I would give up everything for you. Why can't you see that?" "Why wo

Julian smiled, his mouth curving into something warm. "Baby's right."He hit the gas, and the Ghost shot forward like it had somewhere urgent to be.Claire wrapped her arms around his waist, laughing into the rush of it.At the next red light, he leaned over and kissed her again quick, unhurried, easy.Claire's cheeks flushed, her whole face softening.Julian looked at her, something warm and unguarded settling into his expression."Be on your best behavior with Grandfather, okay?"She nestled closer, nodding with an easy smile. "Okay."She trailed her fingers lightly along the line of his stomach through his shirt, feeling the muscle tense beneath her touch.Julian's breath caught. He reached over and cupped the back of her head."That's my girl."They shared another slow kiss right there at the light.Ten minutes later, they pulled up outside the city's most exclusive image consultancy.The moment Claire stepped out of the car, a team of staff descended, ushering both of them straig

Julian knew perfectly well that Claire came from an ordinary background, nothing close to the elite social circles his family moved through.His parents wouldn't approve. The rest of the Ashford family certainly wouldn't either.None of that changed anything for him.He wasn't about to let anyone look down on a woman he'd chosen not even if she'd walked in off the street with nothing to her name.Julian led Claire through the crowd, introducing her to the family elders one by one, and she handled every introduction with easy grace.She was articulate, striking, and clearly won over most of the room within minutes.Her calm, easy smile put people at ease everywhere she went."Julian, your girlfriend is absolutely stunning. When do we get to celebrate the wedding?""No surprise, really a family like yours attracts nothing less than the best."The compliments rolled in one after another.Julian found himself grinning at every one of them, clearly pleased.Claire took it all in stride, un

Amid a chorus of teasing from the other guests, Julian steered Claire out of the banquet hall.The rain hadn't let up outside.He held the umbrella carefully over her, keeping her close and shielded from the drizzle.As they crossed toward the car, Julian's possessiveness had clearly reached its peak.He glanced down at her, something dark simmering behind his eyes."Your uncle looked at you very strangely tonight.""Are you upset?" Claire asked, blinking up at him with wide, innocent eyes.Something about that look softened him instantly.He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, voice low. "Baby. Keep some distance from him going forward."Claire settled into the passenger seat with a faint smile, saying nothing.Distance, huh. Given everything that had already happened between her and Damian, that request felt a little late.She had no intention of writing off a man as compelling as Damian Ashford just because Julian asked nicely.She'd always had this effect on men it wasn't somethi

Julian felt Claire press against him, soft and warm, carrying that same faint, familiar scent that always did something to his focus. Something shifted in his expression, his gaze going momentarily hazy. He brushed a hand over her hair, then wrapped an arm firmly around her waist, voice low and doting. "Don't worry. She won't lay a finger on you while I'm here." Bianca, standing off to the side, watched the two of them wrapped around each other, fury climbing straight to her head. She pointed a finger at Claire, who peeked out from Julian's arms with a raised eyebrow, and completely abandoned whatever polish she'd walked in with. "You little! I haven't even done anything yet, and you're already playing the victim!" "Don't think you can hide behind Julian and act smug with me!" She didn't actually dare touch Claire outright not while they were all out here together, and certainly not if it meant Julian sending her packing on the spot. But she had absolutely no intention of