Chapter 105: The Consequence

Frederick stood silently, his sharp gaze fixed on Claire. His brows furrowed, and he said nothing. In his mind, Claire was still the proud, reserved woman he had known in the past, even when it came to love.

“Honestly,” Claire began, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions she felt, “even I didn’t expect this. After everything we’ve been through, I still care about you, Frederick. To be truthful, I hated you. I hated you deeply when you sent me to prison four years ago.”

“I didn’t just hate you. I hated Harrison, too. We grew up together. We were like siblings, but neither of you trusted me.”

“But none of that matters now, does it? I’m out of prison, aren’t I? Living here, in the Halfmoon Manor, of all places. Would you believe me if I said I can hardly believe it myself?”

“After everything, being hurt so deeply by you, I still can’t let you go. The moment I saw that video online, I couldn’t stop myself from defending you.”

“Do you know how ridiculous that is, Frederick? How absurd I must look? I bet there’s no one in this world more foolish than I am.”

Claire’s voice wavered, but Frederick didn’t say a word. The silence pressed down on her like a weight. She clenched her fists, her words tumbling out faster. Some of what she said was a performance, an act crafted to reach Frederick. But much of it was real, so real it tugged at her own heartstrings. A sharp sting pricked her eyes, and tears spilled over.

She knew that if she didn’t act this way, Frederick wouldn’t believe her. After all, the truth was undeniable. She had loved him for so long that some instincts ran deeper than reason.

“Claire, do you think I’ll believe you just because of this? That I’ll pity you? Let me tell you something. Unless Anna comes back to life, unless everything from four years ago is undone…”

“I will never trust you. I will never pity you. And as for love? Don’t even dream of it!”

Frederick clenched his fists tightly as he spat out the words. His eyes narrowed, and he turned to leave as though escaping from something within himself.

Behind him, Claire laughed bitterly. “Fine,” she called out, her voice firm despite the ache in her chest. “Let’s not talk about feelings, then. You’ve seen what I’m capable of with that trending video.”

“My existence doesn’t just shield Caroline. It can help you too. I can continue to protect her and support you. But I need you to assign people to protect me.”

Frederick let out a cold, humorless laugh. “You’ve got some nerve negotiating with me. Why would I ever agree to that?”

“So the mask finally slips, doesn’t it? No more pretending,” he thought.

“Because,” Claire said, her voice unwavering, “that video alone turned your loss into a victory. It shot straight to the top of the trending charts. Sure, your position and background played a role, but the result speaks for itself.”

“And you know I’m right. You’re in the middle of a presidential campaign. You can’t afford to lose. And you want to protect Caroline.”

“Come on, you need me. Ensuring my safety is in your best interest. It’s a win-win, Frederick.”

She straightened her back and met his gaze, her posture one of unshakable resolve. But inside, she felt as if her heart was being wrung dry. The words she had just uttered made her sad. She’d long since stopped hoping for trust, for pity, for love. Still, saying it out loud, facing the finality of it, hit harder than she expected.

Now, survival was all that mattered. To stay alive and live another day.

As for Frederick… As he said, unless the past could be undone, and unless Anna came back to life, nothing could change. There was a chasm between them that could never be bridged. She still loved him and cared about him, but it meant nothing. Now, her first mission was to survive.

Yet Frederick stood there, motionless, his silence stretching for an eternity.

“Do you think you’re worthy?”

He didn’t say yes. He didn’t say no. He left only those words hanging in the air before walking away.

That night, Claire barely slept. The next morning, as the sun rose, she checked her phone. The video was still up. It hadn’t been taken down or suppressed. It remained firmly at the top of the trending list. Relief washed over her.

Frederick might not have agreed to her terms last night, but he hadn’t rejected them outright, either. His silence, his lack of action, suggested a tacit approval. She allowed herself a moment of cautious optimism.

She thought, “The hardest part was over, wasn’t it? With this first step taken, everything else would be fine.”

At this time, she was in a state of excitement, and she didn’t think about what would follow.

At 7:30 a.m., as Frederick was finishing breakfast, his phone rang. It was his father, Nathan.

“You idiot! Get back here immediately! And bring that woman who’s all over the trending list with you!”