Chapter 115: Did He Touch You?

“Do you think it’s because I love you? That I’d risk my own life for you?” Yes, Frederick, I once loved you deeply,” Claire said. “But that was a long time ago. The day you sent me to prison four years ago, I stopped loving you.”

Claire felt as if a knife had been plunged into her chest. She fought back tears and lashed out at Frederick. At the same time, she silently reminded herself, “This kind of man isn’t worth your love, Claire. Never forget that.”

“Better be that way,” Frederick responded, narrowing his eyes. He looked dangerous and domineering. “Richard, back to Kingstown Security Department.”

With that, Frederick turned to leave, commanding Richard to follow. He thought, “A woman like her doesn’t matter to me. Her life or death means nothing to me.”

“Yes, General Hawthorne,” Richard replied, caught off guard by Frederick’s sudden outburst. “Did Ms. Prescoll get under General Hawthorne’s skin?”

Based on past experiences with Potok, Richard felt this was the likely explanation. Claire watched as Kadhard and Broderick walked away. Lascheraud, Frederick’s actions only confirmed his disdain for her. He didn’t care and even seemed to hate her. As for the pain in her heart, she had been living with it so long it had become a familiar ache.

Frederick had barely left the hospital when he saw Antony rushing over. “Antony?” Frederick stopped in his tracks, instinctively calling out. “What the—General Hawthorne, who did you say?”

The last time Frederick had caught Antony and Claire together, Richard hadn’t been present. So he had no idea who Antony was. “Nothing. Get in the car,” Frederick frowned, ordering Richard without further explanation.

Richard nodded respectfully, following Frederick into the car to head back to the Kingstown Security Department. But just as Richard pressed the gas, Frederick said, “Wait.”

“What’s wrong, General Hawthorne?” Richard immediately lifted his foot off the pedal. Feeling uneasy, he made up an excuse to stay behind. “Oh, all right,” Richard said, not understanding but complying, driving off alone.

In the hospital room, Antony had just arrived. “Antony, why are you here?”

Claire, lost in thought after Frederick’s departure, snapped back to reality when she saw Antony. She quickly glanced at the doorway, nervous that Frederick might still be around. Memories of Frederick pulling a gun on Antony last time still made her heart race.

“Claire, if I didn’t come, would I have even known you were in danger? Don’t I deserve to at least know who you are with?”

Antony had heard about Frederick’s mishap and, after much effort, tracked Claire down at the hospital. He came rushing in as soon as he found out where she was.

“It’s not like that. I’m fine, really. You don’t need to worry,” Claire said, though she could hear the concern and frustration in Antony’s voice. She wanted to snap at him and tell him to leave. But seeing how genuinely worried he was, she couldn’t bring herself to be cruel.

Just as she got excited, she pulled at her wound, and the unhealed wound started to bleed again due to her movement.

“Fine? You call this fine? You were shot, Claire! What would ‘not-fine’ even look like? Stop moving,” Antony said, noticing the blood seeping through her bandages and quickly moving closer. He was just about to cover her with a blanket when Frederick appeared in the doorway.

“What are you doing?” Frederick stormed in, his eyes immediately locking onto Antony, who was leaning over Claire with a hand on her shoulder.

Claire jumped, startled. She scrambled to sit up, panicking. She thought Frederick had gone. “Frederick, I…”

Claire wanted to explain, afraid he might hurt Antony, but Frederick didn’t give her the chance. “Antony, is it? Claire is my woman now. This is none of your business.”

Frederick shoved Antony aside and adjusted Claire’s blanket himself. “Is that so? Then where were you just now? Her wound is bleeding!”

Antony’s anger flared when he saw that Frederick hadn’t even noticed the blood soaking through Claire’s bandages. Claire, sensing Frederick’s temper rising, quickly tried to send Antony away.

“Claire, I…” Antony hesitated. He couldn’t bear to leave. The last time, he had walked away, and soon, Claire ended up gravely injured. He wasn’t about to make the same mistake.

“Antony!” Claire’s heart pounded in her chest as she shouted, cutting him off. “Fine, I’ll go.”

Antony saw how distressed she was and, worried about worsening her condition, reluctantly left. The moment Antony was out of sight, Frederick grabbed Claire’s wrist and pushed her back onto the bed. “Where did he touch you just now? Here? Here? Or here?”