Chapter 40 Lines in the Sand
Chapter 40 Lines in the Sand
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Alan picked up the ointment from the nightstand and pulled her toward him, his voice unusually gentle. “Let me put this on for you. Does it still hurt?”
Claudia slapped his hand away, her laugh bitter. “Seven years, Alan. In seven years you’ve never once shown me tenderness. And now you want to play the part? What’s the point?”
As if she had amnesia. As if she couldn’t remember.
Every moment was etched into her. Seven years of disappointment, seven years of her love ground into dust until nothing was left.
And now he wanted to pretend at affection?
Her eyes brimmed with disdain. There was no trace of the devotion that once lingered when she looked at him.
Alan studied her, those black fox–like eyes deep and unfathomable. For a long beat they only stared at each other–until suddenly, Claudia was forced into his arms.
His grip wasn’t harsh, but it was firm enough to hold her in place as he smoothed the ointment onto the bruises across her thin, tender back. Her shoulder blades quivered like fragile wings in the light, as if they might take flight at any moment.
Alan’s hand tightened instinctively.
She was soft in his arms, delicate under his touch, and he was still a man. Heat stirred quickly, his gaze darkening.
Claudia felt the shift, fury igniting. “Alan, you bastard! Let me go!”
“Don’t move.”
His voice was rougher now, his arm pinning her effortlessly while his hand kept working steadily. “You’re injured. I won’t touch you tonight. But if you keep struggling…”
He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to–the warning pulsed hot against her, making his meaning clear.
Claudia burned with rage.
When he was done, she shoved him off, pulled on her nightclothes, and slipped into bed. She hadn’t forgotten why she was here.
“Alan, the divorce is between you and me. It has nothing to do with anyone else. That’s my bottom line. I’ve already told you–don’t push me too far.”
She lay on her side, eyes fixed on nothing, her voice calm..
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Chapter 40 Lines in the Sand
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The mattress dipped as he sat beside her. His tone was as even and cold as hers. “Gloria’s matter can be settled. But divorce? Never.”
Claudia exhaled, drained.
What was he even holding on to? He didn’t love her. Was it nothing more than male pride? Possessiveness taken to an extreme?
Did he really think he could keep a wife at home and a mistress outside?
Summer might not care now, but a woman of her status would never accept it forever. And Claudia? The very idea made her sick.
Whether it was his greed for power or some twisted desire for control, she no longer cared. He had at least promised to let Gloria go–that was something.
Tomorrow she’d confirm it. After that, she’d find another lawyer.
If he refused to negotiate, then she would take it to court.
She didn’t believe for a second that even in Capital City, the Moore family could choke out every lawyer. Money had its own kind of courage. Someone would take her case.
That night, Alan ignored her resistance and held her in his arms until morning.
When Claudia woke, he was already gone.
She didn’t care. She didn’t ask where Andy had been sent. She got dressed, left the estate, and drove away.
She had only promised one night.
It was Saturday, no work obligations, so she called Gloria first thing. Once she confirmed her friend was safe, a weight lifted from her chest.
They agreed to meet soon to discuss everything in detail. With that settled, Claudia headed for her studio.
She had been so consumed by the divorce that she had nearly forgotten something else important–her great–aunt, whom she hadn’t seen in seven years, had just finished the foreign haute couture week and would be returning home tomorrow.
At the Zach family villa, Summer sat at breakfast with her parents.
“That boy still isn’t up? He’s not eating?”
Mrs. Zach sipped her tea elegantly, glancing at Summer. She meant Andy.
They’d been surprised when Alan sent his son to them the night before, but they quickly accepted it. Alan’s trust was only a good sign.
“Mom, don’t worry about him,” Summer said lightly. “He played video games all night and couldn’t get up
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Chapter 40 Lines in the Sand
this morning. When he wakes, the staff can feed him.”
Mrs. Zach frowned. “You should pay attention. Alan only has this one child right now. You can’t be careless.”
“I know.”
Summer smiled, her eyes shimmering with confidence. “Andy adores me now–far more than he ever liked his mother. He’s still the Moore heir in name. If I keep him close, and with Alan’s feelings for me, the Moore family won’t be far out of reach.”
Chandler set down his coffee, face stern. “That’s still someone else’s child. When you marry Alan. No. even now, you should be thinking ahead. Get pregnant. Bear a Moore heir yourself. Then Andy will be expendable.”
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