Chapter 205

"Claire, are you seriously going to pretend I don't exist?" Lucas's voice was strained, barely above a whisper. "I'm still your husband. I nearly died, and yet you—"

His thoughts burned with betrayal. How could she arrange a date with another man right in front of me?

Claire finally turned to face him, her expression unreadable.

"I've already settled your medical bills. I tried calling your parents, but they didn’t answer."

She glanced at Isabella, who stood stiffly by the bed. "She’s here, isn’t she? You don’t need me."

Without another word, Claire looped her arm through Julian’s and strode toward the exit.

Lucas lurched forward, desperate to stop her, but the IV needle tore from his skin. A thin trail of blood snaked down his wrist.

"Claire! Don’t leave!"

His voice cracked, raw with panic, but the door clicked shut behind her.

Claire froze, her gaze locking onto the crimson streaks marring the pristine hospital sheets.

Isabella gasped, "Lucas! You're bleeding! Stay still—let the nurse handle this!"

The scene unfolded right before Claire's eyes, drawing a bitter chuckle from her lips.

Panic surged through Lucas's veins.

But his body betrayed him. He'd barely managed to stand before his knees buckled.

Isabella lunged forward to steady him, only to wince as the motion aggravated her fractured ribs.

"Look at you two," Claire murmured, fingers curling into her palms. "One barely standing, the other barely breathing. A perfect match."

She inhaled sharply.

"Take care of yourself, Lucas. I'm done."

Without another word, she turned on her heel.

"Claire! Wait!"

His voice cracked as he called after her.

Silence.

Claire didn’t look back.

She made it out of the hospital in one breathless stride, but—

Her knees buckled without warning.

Julian's face darkened as his arm shot out to steady her. "Claire?"

She blinked rapidly, shaking her head.

Only then did she notice the crescent-shaped marks her nails had left on his forearm, angry red against his tanned skin.

A wave of shame crashed over her.

"You're hurt," she whispered. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Julian flexed his arm with a careless shrug. "Just surface scratches. Doesn't even sting."

He understood. These past hours at the hospital, Claire had been using him as her anchor.

The pain meant nothing. Real men didn't flinch at such trivial wounds.

Tears welled in Claire's eyes without permission. One escaped, tracing a hot path down her cheek.

Julian swore under his breath, patting his pockets frantically before yanking off his jacket. "Here, use this—"

"You idiot!" Her voice cracked. "Why do you always pretend? Why won't you ever admit when something hurts?"

Her fingers twisted in the fabric of his sleeve. "He's not worth this. None of it was worth your pain!"

The jacket fell forgotten between them as another sob tore from her throat. Julian stood frozen, his usual confidence shattered by her outburst.

Claire's chest heaved. "I can't—I won't let you—"

Julian caught her wrist as she reached for his injured arm. Their eyes locked, the unspoken truth hanging heavy between them.

Some wounds ran deeper than skin.

Claire sobbed uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking violently before she suddenly collapsed onto her knees, burying her face in her hands.

The late afternoon sun cast a sharp, unforgiving glow over her, illuminating her hunched figure in stark contrast to the shadows around her.

The golden light caught the edges of her dark hair, turning them into a shimmering halo, yet her expression remained shattered, her pain raw and uncontained.

Julian lifted his hand, shielding her eyes from the direct glare of the sun.

He didn’t speak. He simply waited, watching her with quiet understanding, offering nothing but his presence until her tears finally subsided.

Only then did he extend the sleeve of his pristine white coat toward her.

“Dry your eyes.”

Julian knew—better than anyone—that she must have loved Lucas Bennett with every fiber of her being.

This devastation, this complete unraveling of her composure, was because of him.

But he wouldn’t voice it.

He would pretend ignorance, as if he hadn’t pieced together the truth. Instead, he would be the steady presence she needed, the silent support she could lean on.

Once Claire had calmed, she realized Evelyn hadn’t followed her outside.

A frown creased her forehead.

“It’s been too long. Why hasn’t Evelyn come down yet?”