The Winter He Fell for the Wife He Lost のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

Lucas walked over to Claire and Diane in full view of the two men and everyone else in the restaurant. He brought them back to the table.“My family hasn’t finished eating,” he said with a small smile. “We can talk later.”The two men took the hint. They stood and excused themselves.“I’m sorry, Lucas,” Claire said. “We interrupted your meeting.”“They interrupted our dinner.”Claire knew that wasn’t how it had happened.After they finished eating, Lucas told her to take Diane back upstairs. He joined the two men at their table, and soon all three were deep in conversation.—In Riverton, Nathan still couldn’t reach Claire. He was starting to worry.He contacted friends in the southwest and asked them to check with the police, hospitals, and traffic authorities. Had anything happened to his wife or mother-in-law?Every answer came back clear. He felt a little better.After work, he went straight upstairs at the Brooks family home without eating dinner. He kept making calls,

Claire hung up without a second thought.But when she got back to the suite, she saw that Nathan had already deposited $50,000 into her bank account.She transferred it straight back.Nathan stared at the returned payment, his expression unreadable.It was almost funny. Claire had her mother with her. If she wouldn’t rely on him, who could she rely on? Herself?He could wait and see how long her pride lasted.Once she ran out of money, she’d understand.—Nathan had just left a multidisciplinary conference about a rare case. He was scheduled to lead the surgery.Cameron fell into step beside him. “Claire and her mother are in Linden Valley, aren’t they? They must be stranded in all this rain.”“Yes.”Cameron smiled. “Is she making room for Lily now that Lily’s back?”Nathan turned toward him, his face cold.“The patient is five years old. The tumor is ten and a half centimeters across, extending from the cerebral cortex toward the brainstem. We’re estimating fourteen hours

“David said Claire’s mother fell ill in Linden Valley,” Peter said. “She was in the hospital for days.”“She was hospitalized?” Nathan frowned.Peter looked at him. “Claire didn’t tell you? Call her on video. I’d like to see how they’re both doing.”Margaret tried to steer the conversation away from Claire. At least Claire had shown some sense by keeping the news to herself.“Dad, call her after dinner. Lily and Sophie’s classmate are here.”“Exactly,” Sophie muttered. “Grandpa, why bring her up now?”Peter’s expression hardened. Claire was his granddaughter-in-law. He wasn’t going to treat her like an outsider to spare anyone at this table.“I’m older than everyone here,” he said. “Do I need anyone’s permission to ask about Claire?”He didn’t raise his voice, but it had the authority of someone long accustomed to being heard.Lily looked uncomfortable.Margaret flushed. “Dad, that’s not what I meant.”“Of course no one’s telling you what to do,” Andrew added.Nathan took o

Nathan’s anger hardened his face.He sat in the car with his lips pressed together, his chest rising and falling. After a moment, he sighed and called Claire’s hotel.“Good evening, sir. How can I help you?” the receptionist asked.Nathan gave her Claire’s ID number. “I’d like to pay for her room.”After checking, the receptionist said, “Sir, that suite is covered by an annual membership. There’s no payment due.”“An annual membership?”Nathan frowned. Claire watched every expense. There was no way she’d paid for an annual membership at a five-star hotel in a tourist city.“I want the booking details,” he said.“I’m sorry, sir. That’s private guest information. I can’t provide it.”Nathan hung up and called Claire, intending to get an answer from her.She didn’t pick up.He had an important surgery the next day. Whatever his doubts, his patient had to come first. He pushed them aside and drove home.They went a full day and night without speaking.Though ‘cold war’ seemed

“Clary didn’t say she wouldn’t take the call,” Lucas said evenly. “But I could tell she didn’t want to.”Nathan gave a quiet laugh. His voice was mild, though there was an edge beneath it.“Lucas, Claire and I are married. What could we possibly have to say that she can’t say to me? Put her on the phone.”“Then why are you calling mine?”Lucas heard Nathan’s breathing deepen.“Did you two have a fight?” he asked, sounding almost like the older brother Nathan had grown up with. “Give each other some space. Once the rain lets up, I’ll bring Claire and her mother back to Riverton.”He paused. “Otherwise, you’re putting me in an awkward position.”Nathan was too far away to do anything but narrow his eyes.Of course. He’d brought a family matter to someone outside the family. That would make things awkward for Lucas.But why wouldn’t Claire show him the same consideration in front of another man? Was it because that man was Lucas?“I understand. Thanks for taking care of Claire a