Chapter 36 Fractures
Chapter 36 Fractures
“I know.”
Alan tightened his grip on Summer’s hand, his tone unusually earnest. “No one treats me better than you, Summer. I’ve always known that.”
He said it as he guided her back to her seat, settling down beside her.
When Nathan pushed open the door to the other suite, Claudia was just struggling up from the crystal table, reaching for her white down coat that had fallen to the floor.
Nathan stepped forward first, picking it up to put it on her shoulders.
Claudia snatched it from him, her voice icy. “Don’t pretend.”
He didn’t react, expression blank as ever.
His eyes swept briefly over the shattered bottles and spilled liquor, then over Claudia’s wrinkled sweater. His tone was as flat as stone. “The boss told me to take you home.”
Claudia froze mid–motion as she pulled the zipper up, then said nothing. She fastened it the rest of the way and tried to stand–but the sharp pain in her right leg buckled her, sending her tumbling toward the floor.
She had almost forgotten: in the scuffle with Alan, her shin had slammed against the table leg. The pain now made it impossible to put weight on it.
She was about to crash onto the shards of glass when, suddenly, her body was lifted from the ground.
It took a moment to realize she was in Nathan’s arms.
Claudia’s mind spun.
Had Nathan lost his mind?
That was her first thought.
It wasn’t without reason. Nathan was Alan’s most trusted man, raised and trained under the Moore family since childhood to be absolutely loyal. He followed only the family head’s orders.
Even the collateral branches of
e Moore clan treated him with caution and respect, never daring to show the slightest authority over him. In/truth, he was second only to Alan himself.
Which meant his power and status had always been above hers–above the so–called legitimate wife of the Moore heir.
For seven years, Alan had treated her like ice. Whenever she angered him, it was Nathan who carried out his orders to punish her.
This man had seen her at her lowest, her most humiliated. He had never shown mercy.
III
O
1/3
Chapter 36 Fractures
So why now?
+5 Free Coins
To Claudia, his sudden gesture was nothing but another kind of sickness–like his master, a hypocrite in a fine suit.
She pressed her hand against his chest, voice cold. “Put me down.”
“You’re hurt,” Nathan said flatly. “You can’t walk.”
“I don’t need you!”
He didn’t argue. His suit jacket lay between them so their bodies never touched directly. Without another word, he shifted her weight and opened the door, carrying her out into the hall.
Claudia seethed, her chest tight with fury.
Alan’s dog–just like him. Never listening, never caring.
“You fool!”
She turned her face toward his chest, not wanting anyone outside to see her expression, but the words slipped out in spite of herself.
Nathan’s steps faltered, his heartbeat stuttering in his chest.
But only for a second. Then he moved on, steady as ever. Her light, fragile weight shifted with each stride, and the faint scent of jasmine from her hair enveloped him, sinking deep into his lungs until it drowned out everything else.
At Claudia’s insistence, Nathan brought her back to the car she had driven herself. He took the driver’s seat and headed toward Vermilion Park.
On the way, he pulled over by a pharmacy, went inside, and returned with ointment for bruises.
Claudia watched coldly, every glance steeped i?
contempt. When Afan had ordered him to torment her,
he hadn’t hesitated. And now he wanted to play the good man?
Hypocrite. Just like his boss.
Before long, the car rolled to a stop in front of the estate.
This time Claudia was quicker, pushing the door open before Nathan could reach her. She hobbled toward the house on her own.
Mandy spotted her first and cried out in surprise and relief.
“Ma’am, you’re back!”
Her joy shifted to alarm when she saw Claudia’s state. Rushing forward, she helped her onto the sofa. “Good heavens, ma’am, what happened to you?”
2/3
06:08 Mon, 1 Sept TQ
Chapter 36 Fractures
Nathan followed them in, handing over the ointment. “She hurt her leg. This will help.”
Claudia let out a cold laugh.
+5 Free Coins
“Alright, alright,” Mandy muttered, quickly taking the medicine though she clearly didn’t understand what was going on.
“Mom, you’re home!”
Andy’s voice rang down the stairs. He had thought it was his father returning, but when he saw Claudia on the sofa, his eyes lit up. He rushed forward with unrestrained joy.
It had been so long since he’d seen her, and the boy had missed her terribly.
Claudia couldn’t dodge with her injured leg, and his sudden leap knocked her back against the sofa, pain lancing up her spine. She sucked in a sharp breath.
“Mom, what’s wrong?”
Andy froze, confused that she didn’t hug him like usual.
“Andy, your mother isn’t feeling well. Don’t be so rough.”
Nathan lifted the boy gently into his arms, carrying him aside. His voice was still cool, but softer than usual.
“Your mother isn’t in a good mood today. Keep her company, don’t make trouble. That’s what your father wants too.”
3/3
