Chapter 4

As Claire drove out of the parking lot, she noticed that it started snowing, even though winter was still a few days away.

In just a few hours, the ground was already covered with a thin layer of snow.

She frowned as she looked at her car and noticed that the fuel gauge was dangerously low.

She had to get out of the car and call the insurance company.

Meanwhile, Jordy pulled up beside her with Hana in his car.

Hana rolled down the window, and said in a tone dripping with mockery, "Jordy, Miss Griffiths seems to be running low on fuel. Shall we give her a lift?"

Jordy glanced at Claire, who was in thin clothing, and said coldly, "If she can't drive, she can always walk."

With that, he sped off, leaving Claire stranded in the snow.

Claire's heart felt as frozen as the snow around her.

Claire was only wearing a light cardigan, and soon her hands turned purple from the cold.

The insurance company couldn't come to deal with it immediately, so she shivered as she called a tow truck company.

"Sorry, ma'am," the operator said. "The sudden snow has made the roads slippery, and many cars have broken down. It'll be a few hours before we can get to you."

That was too long, and she would freeze if she kept waiting there.

Claire had no choice but to leave her car behind.

The snow was falling harder. She couldn't even hail a cab. The shops along the street had long since closed.

She had to trudge home.

In the dark night, she trudged through the snow for nearly an hour before finally reaching her apartment.

She shook off the snow from her clothes and struggled to put in the door code with her stiff fingers.

Suddenly, the door next to her apartment opened, and a wave of warmth hit her face.

Her frozen cheeks began to feel warm, and she felt pain as if countless needles were pricking her face.

Jordy stood there in a soft, warm knit sweater. He said coldly, ignoring her disheveled condition, "You look a mess. It is embarrassing for you to show up like this around me every day."

Claire paused and said nothing.

The door slammed shut with a bang.

She had bought that apartment to be closer to Jordy.

But Jordy never took her efforts seriously.

Even though she knew he was putting on a show and actually waiting to see if she got home safely, she was not touched at all.

She had pursued him for seven years but got nothing. She was exhausted now.

She planned to move out the next day.

The following day, she called a real estate agent to check her apartment.

Hearing the noise, Jordy came out. He was about to scold her when he saw the real estate agent. He was stunned for a moment. "Are you moving out?" His tone betrayed his anxiety, but he seemed unaware of it.

Claire replied flatly, "My car broke down yesterday. I'm moving closer to the office so that I will spend less time on my way to work and home."

Jordy simply responded and then said with a smile, "That's great. I won't have to see you every morning."

Claire just smiled. "Since you're moving soon, let me drive you to the office today," Jordy offered.

Claire was momentarily stunned and was a little confused.

She had joined Jordy's company right after graduation.

Even when she was sick during the past year, he never offered her a ride.

Why did he suddenly change his attitude that day?

But since Jordy insisted, she reluctantly put on her coat and got into his car.

As they arrived at the company's parking lot, they ran into other colleagues getting to work.

She didn't want to be seen by others and intended to wait for them to leave before getting out of Jordy's car, but he hurriedly pushed her out.

The colleagues saw them instantly.

"Wow, has Mr. Butcher really changed his mind? He's bringing Claire to work," one remarked.

"That's right. Didn't Hana sit in the passenger seat of Mrs. Butcher's car before?" another added.

"I heard that Claire had been chasing Mr. Butcher since high school. She's really shameless," the third one said.

Hearing those whispers, Claire was unhappy.

She was like a clown on display at that moment.

She instinctively looked at Jordy, but he looked as calm as usual, though a slight smile played on his lips.

He did so deliberately.

Just then, Hana pushed through the crowd.

After she saw Claire and Jordy standing together, the former looked a bit flustered.

She struggled to regain her composure and hurried to run up to Jordy. She attempted to let others know that she was indeed close to him.

"Miss Griffiths... why did you come to work with Miss Griffiths?" Hana asked Jordy.

Hearing Hana's question, the other colleagues perked up their ears.

Claire heard someone mutter, "Could Jordy have finally fallen for Claire?"

Claire stopped walking.

Then, Jordy's voice cut through the air, cold and unyielding. "That never happens."