Chapter 4 - The Woman Adrian Mercer Never Expected to Love
Claire returned to the mansion.
Not because Adrian ordered her to.
Because she chose to stay.
That changed everything.
She began noticing details about him.
He barely slept.
He hated thunderstorms.
He read financial reports at breakfast.
He never drank in front of her.
And despite his reputation, he remembered the names of every employee in his household.
He even knew which guard had children.
Claire found this disturbing.
“You're supposed to be terrifying.”
“I am.”
“You asked Sofia whether she had enough help for Sunday dinner.”
“She does.”
“That's not terrifying.”
He looked at her.
“Do you want me to become terrifying at dinner?”
She laughed.
Their relationship became something neither could define.
Until Adrian took her to the hospital.
Not Harborview.
A children's hospital he funded anonymously.
Claire watched him speak with a dying girl's mother.
He promised nothing.
He simply paid the bills.
Afterward, Claire asked, “Why don't you take credit?”
“Then it becomes about me.”
She looked at him differently.
That night, she kissed him first.
It was nothing like the auction.
No gun.
No fear.
No camouflage.
Adrian stopped halfway.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“You're sure?”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
He kissed her again.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And for the first time, Claire understood something terrifying.
She was falling in love with him.
Then she found the file.
A file on her father.
Inside was proof Martin had accepted money from Victor.
He had been the one feeding information about Claire's schedule.
Claire confronted him.
Martin broke down.
“I never wanted them to hurt you.”
“You sold information about me.”
“I was desperate.”
“So was I.”
He cried.
“I thought they only wanted money.”
“You knew about Mom.”
“I was scared.”
Claire walked away.
Adrian waited outside.
She collapsed against him.
“I don't know what hurts more.”
“He betrayed you.”
“No.”
She looked up.
“That I still love him.”
Adrian held her.
“You can love someone and still refuse to let them destroy you.”
Claire closed her eyes.
May you like
She had spent years learning how to save people.
Now she had to learn when someone could not be saved by her.
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