Chapter 3

"Get. Out. Now." I kicked her suitcase, sending it flying across the floor.

"Are you insane?" Vanessa lunged forward and raised her hand to slap me.

But who did she think she was dealing with?

I didn't need to call security. I caught her wrist mid-swing and slapped her right back.

The sound cracked through the air, just as loud as the one I'd left on Leonard's face.

I grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward the door, snatched up her suitcase with my other hand, and threw both her and her luggage out into the hallway.

I looked down at her with cold contempt and warned, "I don't care what's going on between you and Leonard, but if you dare get in my face again, I'll make sure your implants end up on the floor next time."

I turned and slammed the door behind me.

First love apparently held serious power, because Leonard cut his overseas trip short and flew back that same night.

In his study, he barely contained his anger. "Why would you do that?"

"Because she irritates me." I leaned against the doorframe, my tone casual.

His breathing grew heavier. "You know perfectly well that Vanessa is—"

"I know. Your ex-girlfriend." I seized the opportunity and continued, "Since you clearly still have feelings for her, let's just get divorced."

Leonard removed his glasses and pressed his temples. "Claire, stop this."

I shot him a look. "Stop what? Is 'divorce' really that hard to understand?"

He circled the desk and reached for me, his angry expression melting into that refined gentleman persona he wore so well. "Are you jealous?"

Jealousy, my ass.

His unfamiliar scent surrounded me, and I stepped back.

"Claire, I didn't mean to snap at you just now, but divorce? Absolutely not."

So he wanted to keep his wife and his mistress—the devoted husband act made me want to gag.

And of course, he kept going.

"Claire, I have several properties under my name. Pick whichever one you like and move there for a while.

"You know how Vanessa is. Her family spoiled her growing up. She's basically still a child and she doesn't mean any harm. You're older than her, so can't you just be the bigger person here?

"Besides, I'm partnering with the Cole family on that Portgard development project. It would look bad if things got too messy between us. So could you just bear with it for now? Please?"

The manipulative words made me go rigid with disgust.

I couldn't just stand by and watch the real Claire get trampled like this. I lifted my head and met his eyes, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "So what is it? You're still hung up on her, or does she have something on you? You're practically begging at her feet."

"Claire!" His tone turned ice-cold.

I raised an eyebrow. "Looks like I hit a nerve. Tax issues? Or maybe—"

"Stay out of things that don't concern you!" In his fury, he grabbed a glass from his desk and hurled it at me.

The glass barely missed my ear and shattered on the floor behind me, exploding into pieces.

The original novel had a scene just like this—Leonard throwing things in rage.

Back then, Claire had been terrified. She'd been so hurt and scared that all she could do was silently kneel down and pick up the broken glass.

Fuck that.

I glanced at the shattered glass on the floor.

Then I marched straight up to his desk and swept my arm across it, sending papers flying everywhere. I grabbed his laptop and slammed it to the ground, too.

Two could play this game.

But I still wasn't done. I kicked his chair over and roared at him, "Then don't divorce me, asshole!"

I stormed out and slammed the door so hard the walls shook.