Chapter 25 The One She Can’t Face
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Shortly after Claudia received the invitation to the Taurine family banquet, she’d called the friend who had introduced her to that major custom design job.
She asked in detail where the commission came from.
She had assumed it was one of her friend’s circle connections, but her friend clarified: Trevor had reached out directly, saying he’d seen her work through someone else and was very interested in her style.
The Taurine family’s status alone made the commission a huge opportunity. Since he asked, her friend had passed along Claudia’s information without hesitation.
Sounded simple enough on paper.
But if it had only been about the suit, she wouldn’t have questioned it. What made Claudia uneasy was that Trevor had contacted her again after the job was done–over things that had nothing to do with business. His behavior was strange, his attitude inconsistent.
Something was off.
So tonight, she finally found the chance and asked him directly.
Trevor only smiled, saying nothing.
Claudia pressed, “Have we met before?”
But she honestly couldn’t remember ever seeing him. A man like Trevor–elegant, striking, poised–he wasn’t someone you forgot.
He shook his head. “No, we’ve never met. But I’ve known about you for a long time, Ms. Claudia.”
That caught her off guard.
“Of course,” Trevor added smoothly, “only from what others have said.”
“Who?” she asked.
Trevor smiled again. “An old friend.”
Claudia’s confusion only deepened. “Mr. Trevor, would you mind being direct? I really don’t understand.”
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Chapter 25 The One She Can’t Face
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Trevor let out a soft sigh, and for the first time, a flicker of weariness crossed his composed expression.
“You were supposed to meet him tonight,” he said. “But he was held up by something and couldn’t make it.”
That made her pause.
Claudia asked slowly, “You invited me… because of him? So I know this person?”
“Of course. Actually, if I’m being honest, based on my relationship with him… I should hate you.”
Trevor chuckled, but there was no warmth in it.
Claudia froze.
Trevor went on, “You really hurt him, you know. When you married Alan–it crushed him. It took him years to recover.”
And just like that, her whole body went cold.
Claudia’s hands clenched in her lap, fingers curled tightly, knuckles turning white.
“He… he’s back in the country?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
From childhood to now, Claudia could say she had treated most people in her life with decency and fairness. There was only one person she’d truly wronged.
And that person… had vanished from her life seven years ago.
He had left the country, and she had deliberately avoided any news of him since. That was the one regret–the one thing she had done that she could never forgive herself for.
And now, of all times… he was back?
Is he here to watch me fall apart? To see how low I’ve sunk after choosing Alan?
But do I regret it? No. I don’t.
I loved him. That love was real. I chose it, even if it broke me. And now it’s over. I’ve let go. The pain… it’s done its job. I survived it.
She could start again. She would.
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Chapter 25 The One She Can’t Face
Still, her voice shook when she asked, “How… how has he been all these years?”
Before Trevor could answer, the door flew open with a loud crash.
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Alan stood in the doorway, eyes dark and stormy. It was impossible to tell how long he’d been standing there or how much he’d heard.
Without a word, he marched forward, grabbed Claudia by the arm, and pulled her to her
feet.
Trevor remained seated on the sofa, unflinching.
“I’m calling you ‘Trevor‘ out of respect for our family ties,” Alan said coldly. “But if you’re going to meddle in my personal life, don’t blame me when I stop being polite. The Taurine family isn’t exactly in the position to make enemies these days–especially not with the Moore family.”
With that, he dragged Claudia out of the room before she could say a word.
Trevor didn’t move. He sat there calmly, smiling with his usual gentle air–but something beneath the surface had shifted. His eyes gleamed with a silent, unreadable current.
Alan stormed forward, Claudia stumbling behind him, barely keeping up in heels and a floor–length gown. Several times, she nearly fell.
“Alan, let go!”
She was exhausted, furious, and still shaken by what Trevor had told her.
Alan ignored her. His grip only tightened.
Claudia resisted harder, trying to wrench her wrist free. “Let go of me!”
“Stop moving.”
Alan clicked his tongue in annoyance. When she kept fighting, he suddenly scooped her up into his arms.
Before she could yell, he kicked open the nearest empty lounge and carried her inside.
With one hand, he locked the door.
Then he threw her down onto the couch and pinned her beneath him.
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Chapter 25 The One She Can’t Face
Claudia gasped, struggling beneath his weight.
“Are you insane?!”
She pounded his shoulder with her free hand, trying to push him off.
