Chapter 1222

Especially the way he looked at her.

Like a wolf sizing up its prey.

Claire ate the rest of her slice in a state of high alert.

Her mind raced for a way to escape the wolf’s den.

Wilbur drummed his fingers lightly on the tabletop. He waited until she swallowed the last bite before speaking in a lazy drawl. “It’s getting late. You should head up and get some rest.”

Claire was so on edge that her exhausted brain completely misinterpreted his words. She thought he meant they should go up and rest together.

“It’s early!” she blurted out. “I’m a night owl! I always stay up late!”

She just needed to stall.

Wilbur saw right through her panic. He let out a low chuckle, the sound rumbling deep in his chest, laced with undeniable amusement.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of the table, his gaze locking onto her face.

“Well, in that case…” He paused, a wicked gleam flashing in his eyes.

“Should we find something else to do?”

Claire shook her head so hard she nearly gave herself whiplash. “No, no, no! I suddenly realized it is pretty late after all!”

Wilbur’s smile widened. “Then get some sleep. I’ll walk you to the elevators.”

Claire froze, looking at him in confusion.

Wait, he wasn’t planning on coming up with her?

“Why do you look so disappointed?” he teased.

“I don’t!” she denied instantly. “You’re imagining things.”

She snatched up her bag and practically sprinted toward the elevator bank.

Wilbur kept his word. He walked her to the doors and stopped.

Just before the metal doors slid shut, he softly told her goodnight.

As the elevator ascended, Claire collapsed back against the wall, gasping for air as

if all the oxygen had been sucked from her lungs.

She had survived the wolf.

She pressed her cool hands to her burning cheeks, her mind flooded with all the filthy, possessive things Wilbur had whispered to her earlier.

‘Stop tempting other men.’

‘Understood?’

‘Didn’t you say you wanted to have an affair? I’ll play along.’

‘I don’t mind being the other man.’

‘No other men allowed.’

Her fingers instinctively drifted to her lips.

It had been a while since they left the bar but she could still feel scorening heat of his mouth

He had started a fire inside her, and the embers were still burning.

Sontent belongs to set

Outside, Northcrest was battered by rain.

It wasn’t a downpour, but the chill cut straight to the bone.

Felix Quigley had no idea how long he had been standing there.

His driver stood loyally beside him, holding an umbrella, his face etched with worry.

Felix was still recovering from a serious injury, and his immune system was shot. Standing in the freezing rain was practically begging for pneumonia.

The driver had tried to coax him back to the car, but Felix remained deaf to his pleas.

He had seen everything. Every smile, every shared glance through the restaurant window as Claire and Wilbur ate that cake. NovelPeak.org

A crushing wave of despair swallowed him whole.

But he had forfeited the right to be her everything.

Now, all he could do was stand in the shadows and watch her smile at another man.

Watch her feed another man.

She had taken back every privilege that used to belong solely to him.

Now, he was just a ghost, forgotten in the cold.

He was suffocating with jealousy.

Claire’s heart used to beat only for him.

But now, it was making room for Wilbur.

“Mr. Quigley…” the driver ventured again, shivering as the icy water

soaked through his coat. “The net

rain is

getting heavier. We should head

back. NovelPeak.org

Felix finally moved, climbing into the back seat like a man walking to his own

execution.

“Should I head to the main estate, or…”

“Take me to The Gables.”

It was the only place he wanted to be.

It was his only real home left in Northcrest.