Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Rotten Men Rot More

Claire didn't say a word.

Lucas kept a calm face, but there was a visible hint of discomfort around his eyes.

His phone wouldn't stop buzzing-calls, video chats, and eventually a barrage of texts one after another, bold and relentless.

The tension in the room thickened.

"Aren't you gonna answer that?" Claire asked coolly.

Lucas finally reached for the phone, turned it off without even checking the screen, and dropped it back on the nightstand.

He touched her forehead. "Still a bit warm. Don't worry, just sleep. I'll stay here with you."

Claire turned over and shut her eyes.

An hour later, her breathing had evened out-looked like she was asleep.

Lucas picked up the phone again, switched it on, and stepped out onto the balcony. After reading the messages, he made a call. "You okay? Don't be scared, I'll be there soon."

He kept his voice low. Then he came back inside, grabbed a jacket, and left.

Claire opened her eyes the second the door clicked shut.

She had never actually fallen asleep.

She wasn't even sure what she was clinging to anymore. Once a man's heart changes, it's like rotten fruit-only gets worse from there.

At 4:30 in the morning, Lucas came back.

Seeing her still asleep, he let out a breath of relief. He felt her forehead-it was no longer warm.

He headed into the bathroom.

A while later, he came out in a robe, climbed into bed, and wrapped his arm around her waist from behind.

Once he was asleep, Claire gently moved his hand off her and sat up. Her gaze fell on him-those sharp features still looked so perfect. The lips, the defined jawline. and then-

Her eyes fixed on the line of faint bite marks along his collarbone.

It felt like someone had stabbed her right in the chest.

And then. her eyes darkened with disgust at the body that had already long been defiled. In that moment, a crazy thought flashed through her mind-maybe if she pressed a pillow over his face, it would all be over.

.

When Lucas woke up, Claire was already downstairs.

He came down to see her with an apron on, setting out breakfast for two. She even called him over to eat.

"The fever just went down. Why not rest a bit more?" Lucas walked over and tried to check her forehead, but Claire subtly leaned away. "It's just a cold. Nothing serious."

She undid the apron and sat down at the dining table.

Lucas looked down at his empty hand, a bit thrown off. But seeing her calm and not upset anymore, he didn't press it.

He took a seat.

"I need to talk to you about something," Claire said.

"What's up?" he asked, taking a sip of juice.

"I want to quit my job." Claire' words caught Lucas off guard. Before he could ask why, she smiled and explained, "I've spent the past few years buried in work. I'm worn out. Figured it's time I try living the pampered life of a trophy wife."

Lucas narrowed his eyes at her, clearly trying to figure out if she was being serious.

"You're not messing with me, are you?"

"Do I look like I'm joking? What, you think I'm some kind of masochist who doesn't know how to enjoy life?" she shot back, lips curled up.

He considered it for a beat, then nodded. "Alright, staying home's fine. Maybe it's a good time for us to try for a kid."

Claire just smiled, not really answering.

Yeah right. You want me to become your baby machine while you sneak off with your little sweetie each night? Dream on.

"I'll go ahead and file my resignation in the next few days. I'm going to Europe with Olivia. It's been ages since I've taken a trip."

"She's not too busy at the firm to travel with you?"

"Super busy. But she's making time just for me," Claire replied sweetly.

Lucas was quiet for a moment, as if something clicked in his head.

"Well, a trip could be nice. I'll make the plans for you, book everything in advance. You don't need to worry about a thing-just relax and enjoy."

Claire kept that easy smile on her face but didn't say yes or no.

Yeah, you handle the booking, and I'll handle never coming back.

Because the bruise on her forehead was still obvious, Claire didn't want to go to the office looking all pitiful, especially right when she was quitting. So, she took a few extra days to rest.

With more free time, she started slowly packing up-clothes, shoes, bags, all the little personal things. Each day, she brought a bit more to her new place.

Today a box, tomorrow another. The once-full closets were clearly thinning out. Anyone paying attention would've noticed.

But Lucas? Completely clueless.

She even burned their wedding photos right in the backyard, and the guy didn't look up once, too busy chuckling at whatever was on his phone and texting back like he was having the time of his life.

If he'd bothered to glance up for even one second. he would've seen the woman standing in the golden glow of sunset.

Claire stood there, watching him through the glass with a long, quiet stare.

Only when the lighter's flame began to sting her fingers did she finally let go.

The fire caught quickly, licking up the gasoline-doused photos. The image of their smiling faces-her joyful, his eyes full of her-flickered in the flames, twisted into something unrecognizable, then turned to dark ashes.

The sudden tightness in her chest made it hard to breathe. Watching the ash fall apart, her vision blurred with tears.

"What are you burning?" Lucas finally realized something was up and walked outside.

Claire tilted her head back, stuffing her emotions down hard. "Nothing important," she said calmly. She turned toward him, eyes slightly red but smiling softly. "Just some useless junk."