Chapter 17
âYes,â Claire answered with a grin that was neither relieving nor soft to the eyes.
With trembling hands Penelope passed her phone to her and watched as she searched for Daniel Calvart, Hunterâs lawyerâs number,
was Dominic,
Both of them were caught by surprise when her phone blared loudly. For a moment Penelope lost her breaths as she thought it Claireâs father. She couldnât afford to have him call his daughter now as she had lied to him that they were in Claireâs house for a few days.
She had assured him that when he saw his daughter next, it would be accompanied with good news of her leaving her heartless husband.
Whatever had transpired with Claire was known by very few people. Nobody from Claireâs family knew about her condition. About her being in hospital for being neglected by her husband and torturing herself with starvation.
âMonty? Whoâs that?â Penelope asked as she read the name of the caller.
âThatâs m
my detective friend from schoolâ Claire answered as she thought it was good he called her.
She wouldnât need his services any more. She was going to divorce Hunter after all
âHey, Monty Claire began. âHow are y
are your
âIâm good, Claire. But I heard youâre in the hospital?â
âErm, yeah, I was a bu sick. She lied.
âYou shouldnât lie to a detective you knowâ His words came and Claire felt a bit embarrassed.
She smiled, âThen what was I supposed to say to you?â
She touched her wedding band as tremors emerged in her fingers. The wedding band. Claire stared at it. She had been over the moon when Hunter had slipped it on her finger.
She looked at the glowing diamond carefully, and realized it was this big and shining but actually it belonged to someone else. This diamond was bought keeping Zaraâs vibrancy and personality in mind. It was supposed to be on her finger.
The metal from the ring flamed against her skin. It was the memory of how she got it on her finger that stopped her from yanking it off and pelting It away. It was her wedding band. A promise of eternal togetherness that Hunter gave in her possession in the form of a band.
âThat I starved myself for ten days just to get my husbandâs little attention.â She added as she felt her chest compressing against the weight of returning pain.
âOh Claire, why do you love him so much?â Monty sighed on the other side.
âMaybe because⦠I am stupid. I loved too much and got hurt too much at the same time.â She said with a laugh except that it was not funny.
Her spine turned to iron. She sat straight as her head began to throb. She didnât want to do it. Didnât want to talk with people about the man who was going to cease to be her man. It was useless. A waste even
âMonty, thank you for your readiness to help. But I have to tell you that itâs no longer required. Iâm going toâ¦â She took a deep breath before she finished it
Much to her dismay, Monty sneered loudly, âDonât let it spill from your mouth, Claire. Because what I have got in my possession is going to stun
you.â
âWhat do you mean! Claire blinked.
Meanwhile Penelope stared at her friend with a frown between her eyes. She wanted to know what they were talking about.
âCan we meet now? I know you are in a hospital but itâs crucial. I canât share my findings on a phone call with youâ Monty said with urgency in his
voice.
âItâs a waste now, Monty. I have decided that I will divorce Hunter,â
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in a coffee shop located behind the hospital. I am waiting for you. You can come visit me without any issue as the patients are allowed to visit here. You can use the back exit in case you donât want to be seen by anyone. Monty spoke, âJust know that your husband has got himself a witch whoâs going to feed on his blood and soul if we donât act faster. Claire, you must come for yourself if not for your husbandâ
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Chapter 17
Claire didnât comment. Montyâs partying statement had taken a toll on her.
âYou must come for yourself if not for your husband:
her?
Was it so obvious to everyone that her life revolved around her husband? That anything related to him was considered significant business to be That she may not do it for Hunter but still do it for Hunter because it eventually meant that it was for herself!
At once Claire left the bed and darted for the door, bare footed.
âWhere are you going now?â Penelope seized her wrist. The worry in her gaze
was palpable
âMonty wants to talk. Heâs found something about Zara Claire replied, looking at her friend. âPenny, I think Iâm going to get the biggest heart wrenching shock of my lifeâ
Penelope couldnât understand, but she couldnât let Claire go alone. Hence, she gave her the flipâflops she had brought for her. Then they both to the elevator which descended in the back side of the hospital.
took
The coffee shot was not hard to find. It was crowded with people, and indeed many of them were patients who were with their family and friends, catching up on a cup of coffee.
âClaire, Isere,â Since the hall was utterly crowded Claireâs gaze swept over the room desperate, thatâs when Monty raised a hand and called her over.
Penelope held her shoulders protectively as they both trudged to the table Monty had chosen. It was small and in the corner under a staircase that led to the first floor of the exquisite coffee shop. The table was canopied by the shadow of the stairs, providing them the privacy and shroud they needed for the conversation they were going to have
Claire sat down, heart in her throat, as she noticed a file on the table. Monty had ordered a tea and it was brewing.
His eyes were affixed on her face. The lady he saw was far apart and detached from the Claire Argent he knew in school. Obviously, he kept seeing her pictures as Claire Macintyre in magazines and newspapers beside her celebrity husband. But the Claire that was Hunterâs wife was better and prettier looking than this woman.
This Claire he was seeing was enveloped with depression and pain. She was thin and pale, appearing like she had been sick with terminal cancer. Like she had been fighting her sickness for years now. Her lips were dry and her face was pallid like the leaves that flow off a branch in a slowly flowing air wave during autumn season.
You look weak, Claire: Monty said in all honesty
The starvation has gotten the best of her he can see.
âThe information in your possession you spoke about, Monty Claire said as she avoided the comment on her appearance.
Her skin was ablaze with heat of desperation. She kept staring at the file which Monty brought. Although he regarded Penelope for a second, he couldnât take his eyes off Claire
âYes, here.â He nodded and with a sigh, forwarded the file on the table towards her.
While Claire opened it with desperation as that of a child opening a jar of candles, Monty revealed, âZara Levine should not be underestimated, Claire. Sheâs even Bercer and cleverer than you and I could imagine. Sheâs an experienced player in whatever game sheâs playing, and certainly your husband is in her vice grip.â
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