Richard never expected Frederick to say he wanted Claire brought to his office. Over the years, Frederick had never allowed any woman into this space, not even female suspects from past cases. Richard, having served alongside Frederick for so long, understood the significance of this decision. The office was Frederick’s sanctuary, a place representing his hard-fought victories and the last bastion of his personal space. For years, Frederick had persevered through countless battles, driven by a singular belief. That Hawthorne House was not a refuge for him. Halfmoon Manor held no comfort either; only this office stood as a testament to his struggles and triumphs. Here, he had faced death more times than he could count, and many of his comrades had fallen in pursuit of the honor he now cherished. Yet now, he was inviting Claire into this sacred space. Richard stared at Frederick, lost in thought. He began to realize that perhaps even Frederick himself was…
Frederick’s voice broke through Richard’s reverie, prompting him to act. At that moment, Frederick remained oblivious to the deeper implications of his request. His mind was occupied with thoughts of Caroline’s unstable condition—she had been particularly volatile lately—and he believed it best not to have Claire stay at Halfmoon Manor for now. He intended to bring her here temporarily and would find her another place if necessary.
An hour later, Richard returned with Claire in tow. “General, Ms. Prescott has arrived,” he announced after knocking on the door and bowing slightly in respect. “Mm,” Frederick replied without lifting his gaze from his paperwork, his tone indifferent as if this were just another day at the office. “Ms. Prescott, please have a seat. I’ll go make you some coffee,” Richard said, sensing the awkwardness in the air. He glanced between Claire and Frederick, unsure of what Frederick’s intentions were. “Okay, thank you,” Claire replied, momentarily taken aback. She hadn’t expected such treatment after being discharged from the hospital.
Reflecting on her time at Halfmoon Manor, where she wasn’t allowed even a glass of water, felt like a dark dream. Why was everything suddenly different? Claire’s heart raced as she looked at Frederick, a mix of hope and confusion swirling within her. Could it be that now she had a place by his side, acting as a shield for Caroline? Yes, that had to be it.
“Richard, find a discreet apartment and prepare everything Claire will need for her daily life,” Frederick instructed. Only then did Claire realize that she was being moved to another location. “An apartment?” she echoed, surprised. Shouldn’t she be going to Halfmoon Manor instead? If not, how would Frederick explain this to others? It seemed essential for everyone to believe that the woman by his side all these years was indeed her.
An unsettling thought crept in: if she wasn’t returning to Halfmoon Manor, did that mean Frederick had received some information suggesting he was on the verge of running for president? Or worse, that he no longer needed her?
“Is there a problem?” Frederick asked, unaware of Claire’s…
“No problem,” Claire replied quickly, “I’m just worried about something. If you don’t let me return to Halfmoon Manor, what if those with ulterior motives find out? They might speculate and take action, especially since you’re on the brink of a presidential campaign and our situation has already caused quite a stir.”
Claire laid out all the pros and cons to Frederick, simultaneously testing whether she still held any value in his eyes. Frederick paused, taken aback by her concerns. He hadn’t considered those implications before, but hearing them from Claire felt strange. Sensing the tension in the room, Richard decided it was best to leave before he got caught in the crossfire. He set down the coffee and exited quickly. Once the door closed behind him, Frederick smirked coldly. “Claire, did you not enjoy yourself yesterday? Are you waiting for another opportunity?” He perceived her desire to remain at Halfmoon Manor as an attempt to keep herself close to him—perhaps even to seduce him further.