Her Anchorless Heart Finds Love
Chapter 7
Claire bolted upright in bed, gasping, the phantom weight of those men still clinging to her skin. Fear coiled in her chest, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"You're awake?"
A stranger's voice sounded beside her. Claire looked up just as a man stepped out of the bathroom.
He was shirtless, his physique so flawlessly defined it looked sculpted—broad shoulders, a tapered waist, every muscle taut with restrained power. A towel hung low on his hips, the deep V-line of his abdomen on full display. The sight was effortlessly, devastatingly masculine.
Heat flooded her cheeks. She yanked the blanket up to her chin, panic tightening her throat. "Who are you? Where am I?"
"You don't remember?" The man raised a brow. "This is the Bennett estate. Take a guess."
"You're… Calvin's uncle. Jordan?"
A hazy memory surfaced. They'd lived under the same roof briefly when she was a child, before he'd left for overseas. She hadn't seen him since.
"Hm. Not bad." He gave a slight, approving nod. "I hear you're trading up from Calvin. Had enough of him?"
Claire looked down, her voice quiet but firm. "Yes. I refuse to be a stepping stone for him and Iris."
Jordan's eyebrow arched higher. "When did the boy go blind?"
His tone softened, almost imperceptibly. "Don't waste your sadness on him. You can do far better. I'm looking forward to the wedding."
He reached out, ruffling her hair with a casual familiarity before turning back to the bathroom. He emerged moments later, fully dressed, and left the room without another word.
Watching him go, Claire felt an inexplicable flutter in her chest.
Not long after, George hurried in, worry etched on his face.
"Claire, my dear! Are you alright? What happened? Did that grandson of mine upset you again?"
"I'm fine, Grandpa George," she assured him. "Would it be possible for me to stay here at the estate for a few days?"
"Of course, of course! You rest. I'll handle everything else."
She reached out, stopping him gently. "Grandpa George… please, don't tell Calvin I'm here."
"You have my word," he promised.
…
Meanwhile, across town, Iris had woken screaming from a nightmare that night and wept uncontrollably. Calvin rushed her to the hospital and spent two full days calming her, barely leaving her side.
It wasn't until the eve of the wedding that Calvin realized he hadn't heard a word from Claire in all that time.
Returning home, he questioned the staff, only to learn she hadn't been back once.
"Calvin, I'm so sorry," Iris wept, burying her face in his chest. "If it weren't for me, Claire wouldn't have run away. The wedding is tomorrow… what are you going to do?"
"Good riddance," Calvin said coldly.
He pulled her closer. "You've suffered in the shadows long enough, Iris. All so you could someday stand openly by my side in this family."
"It's okay," she whispered, the picture of devotion. "I'll stay quietly with you. I'll be the woman behind you. It's just… Claire keeps trying to hurt me. I don't know how much more I can take."
Iris dissolved into fresh sobs. Calvin held her, his voice low and reassuring. "Once I have full control of the Bennett empire, once the power is truly mine, I'll divorce Claire. Not even Grandpa will be able to stop me then."
"I believe you," Iris murmured. "I'll wait for you."
She rose on her toes and kissed him first.
Calvin's restraint shattered. He took her, again and again, losing himself in the promise of a future he was determined to seize.
…
Back at the Bennett family estate, Claire's phone buzzed with a series of messages from Iris. Attached was a video.
It showed Iris and Calvin, entangled in his bed.
Iris: [Claire, so sorry—your fiancé is in my bed right now. He's incredible. He's had me so many times.]
Iris: [I wonder… on your wedding night tomorrow, will he be in my room, or yours?]
Iris: [So what if you marry him? He's always loved me! Claire, why do you get to be the cherished Aniston heiress while I'm the shameful secret? Even with your family ruined, George still dotes on you! I'm taking everything from you. Everything. Including Calvin.]
Reading the messages one by one, Claire typed a simple reply: [So you don't love him. You just want to win against me.]
Iris: [Yes! I'm stealing him from you! I want you to hurt! I want you to regret ever crossing me!]
A faint, cold smile touched the corner of Claire's mouth.
Perfect.
That was exactly the confession she needed.
She printed out every single message. Tomorrow, she would give Calvin a surprise he'd never forget.
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