Chapter 94: The Places You Mentioned, We’ll Try Them One by One

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: The Places You Mentioned, We’ll Try Them One by One

Miles Warren suddenly closed in, gripping her chin. His fingertips were cold, making her tremble.

The distance between them abruptly shrank. The intense pressure was making it hard for her to breathe.

His fingers tightened as a slow smile spread across his lips.

"If this was all to get revenge on Jacob Sinclair, you haven’t succeeded yet. Why did you stop seducing me?"

"Why admit it so openly?"

His eyes were deep and dark.

"Or is it because you found out Jacob called off the engagement, and you think you two can get back together, so you’ve decided to drop the act with me?"

She shook her head in denial, her breathing so ragged she couldn’t speak. She opened her mouth but could only manage to force out his name.

"Miles, I didn’t..."

He lifted her chin, his voice growing heavier.

"Didn’t what? Didn’t lie to me? Or never liked Jacob Sinclair?"

"Claire Kendall, do you have any idea that not a single word from that mouth of yours can be trusted?"

He’d believed her ten years ago, and he’d believed her again ten years later. Neither time ended well for him.

The words Claire wanted to say in her defense caught in her throat.

He squeezed harder. "This mouth of yours is so clever with words, isn’t it? Why are you playing dumb now?"

Claire’s face crumpled, her voice trembling. "Miles..."

"Didn’t your teachers ever tell you to finish what you start? Since you wanted to play a game, there’s no sense in stopping halfway."

He bruised her lip. The anger in his eyes deepened.

Outside, the sea wind was howling, carrying the salty, damp smell of the ocean.

Claire felt like a small boat in a storm, unable to withstand the onslaught of the waves.

The more she tried to escape, the tighter he held on, grabbing her by the waist and demanding in a hoarse voice.

"What are you running from? Weren’t you so brave before?"

"Claire Kendall, don’t you like to play? We’ll try every single place you mentioned."

A chill ran down Claire’s back, but her heart felt even colder.

The man before her had bloodshot eyes, and he looked as if he wanted to crush her.

Like he was going to eat her alive.

He kissed her again, his movements so violent the car began to shake.

Claire turned her head to avoid him, tears rolling uncontrollably down her cheeks and splashing onto his hand. Miles froze.

Silence returned to the car, broken only by Miles’s harsh breathing. He pulled his hand back, propping himself up above her, his muscles tensed.

"Claire Kendall, what are you crying for?"

"I’m the one who should be crying! I’m the one you’ve played like a goddamn dog, again and again."

’Being humbled into the dust wasn’t enough; I had to be crushed underfoot.’

Miles closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them to stare at her in the moonlight from the shore.

"Claire Kendall, say you love me. Say you only love me, that you’ll love me for the rest of your life."

He chose to compromise yet again.

"Just say you love me, and I can pretend none of this ever happened."

He desperately needed Claire’s affirmation, even if it was a lie.

"I can keep helping you get revenge on him. You choose how. Make the Sinclair Family disappear, or make Jacob Sinclair himself disappear?"

Listening to his final words, Claire stared at him, a chill shooting up her spine. ’How could he have such a dangerous idea? He’s completely insane!’

He saw the stunned terror in Claire’s eyes, and her lips, pressed tightly shut, refusing to answer.

Miles already knew the answer. She couldn’t even be bothered to pretend.

"Claire Kendall, why can’t you just—"

’Love me, just once.’

He didn’t say the words aloud. He slowly straightened up and sat back in the driver’s seat.

The Buddha Beads on his left wrist were a glaring sight. A reminder of how foolish he’d been, getting so deeply entangled in the act she was putting on.

He abruptly ripped the Buddha Beads off, opened the car window, and threw them out. The scattered beads were swallowed by the dark blue shallows.

Claire’s pupils constricted. Before she could even utter the first syllable of his name, he cut her off.

Miles didn’t look at her. "Get out of the car."

Claire didn’t move.

"I said, get out of the car."

His voice was as cold as a stranger’s.

Claire had no choice but to push the door open. The moment she stepped out, the car’s engine ROARED to life, and he sped away.

Surrounded by nothing but sand and sea, she couldn’t even call a car. ’That bastard!’

Miles’s car stopped less than 500 meters away. He killed the engine and leaned back in his seat.

From this position, he had a clear view of Claire. She was walking aimlessly on the beach, glancing at her phone from time to time, probably trying to find a ride.

Miles pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Come to Lunelle Bay. Pick up Claire Kendall and take her home. Be quick."

He paused, his voice low and hoarse. "Bring a woman’s jacket and some shoes. And get some food, but no mangoes. She’s allergic."

He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "And remember to turn the heat up on the drive back."

The person on the other end of the line was stunned for a second, then noted everything down.

After hanging up, Miles rolled down the window and fumbled in the glove compartment for a pack of cigarettes. He rarely smoked; this pack was left over from when Julian Wilde was last in the car.

He lit one. The crimson flame flickered in the darkness as smoke filled the air.

His gaze never left the figure on the beach.

A car arrived. Claire said something to the driver—probably confirming who he was—then got in and left the beach.

Miles closed his window, finally looking away.

He pinched the cigarette out with his fingertips. It burned him, but he felt no pain, only a fine, spreading numbness.

’In all of Aethel, who didn’t envy him, Miles Warren? The golden boy, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and blessed with handsome features.’

’Only he knew that in front of Claire Kendall, he wasn’t some damned golden boy. He was lower than a dog.’

’Even a dog will grow attached to you eventually. But not Claire Kendall.’

Miles sat for a while longer before getting out of the car. He walked toward the waves, bent down, stood up, bent down again, and continued to search...