Regretting Divorce

"You look amazing!"

Claire's blood coursed in her veins like an awakened river because of Hunter MacIntyre's compliment.

"Thanks," She lowered her head while trying to hide her smile.

Today was their second wedding anniversary.

Claire was a lucky girl to marry the man she loved. She felt her nerves twisting in yummy delight. Her husband was a substitute to slow torture with that look of his. With that tailored suit clinging to his body, he forced eyes to take a look at him.

Her gaze traveled to his brown, strong throat, then towards the deliciously straight mouth and up to his black eyes; dark and hooded and so full of secrets. They watched her intently causing her breathing to catch.

Hunter hugged her from the back and snuggled her bare shoulder. He enveloped her right in his hold, enjoying the feeling of her being in his arms.

"I can't wait to tell the world that I am falling for my own wife."

Today was their anniversary. And the day couldn't get any better. Claire woke up to witness Hunter kissing and sucking her nipples.

From the last few days, they have been extremely intimate. Hunter did things with her that she only read in books. They had a shower together and had a family brunch in his grandparent's house.

Well, until two months ago all of this seemed like a dream. Because Hunter didn't feel like he could love another woman while his heart belonged to someone else.

But Claire asked for two months to fix their marriage. And luckily it worked out. It was no less than a fairy tale story.

To say that everyone was happy for them would be an understatement. Both their families were in seventh heaven. From the moment they discovered that Hunter and Claire were working on their relationship, they couldn't contain their joy.

"Hunter," Claire bit back a moan while Hunter was ravishing her exposed skin.

"We need to leave. Everyone is waiting for us."

"Just five minutes, Claire." He mumbled, groping her breasts.

Her flesh buzzed under his touch. Claire adored a beautiful smile on her lips. She had longed for this attention from her husband.

A soft grin hung on her lips. Hunter was her teenage crush. She was sitting on a swing in the park with a book when she first saw him eight years ago.

Hunter MacIntyre has returned to Bloomcrest for the first time since his leave. He had been in Australia for his higher studies, and later on, he took over their foreign business and settled down in Australia.

Claire was sweet sixteen back then. Her nerves had fluttered when her gaze landed on him. She had felt her stomach twirl wildly as he was strikingly similar in looks to the male character in the book she was reading.

And instantly... She fell in love with him.

It was love at first sight for her.

Her cheeks flushed over the memories. It was no less than a fairy tale.

After eight years of secretly liking him, when she got a proposal to marry him, she had been over the moon.

"You can have me all night, Hunter. Let's just go now."

"Don't go back on your words later!" He said while arching an eyebrow.

Claire turned around to cup his face, "I promise, Mr. MacIntyre."

"Okay, then. Let's go." He grinned happily, his contentment obvious in his black orbs.

Hunter twined their fingers as they made their way out of their house. He opened the door for her. Helping her with her gown, he stole a kiss of her lips.

They drove quietly towards the party venue. Hunter already got three calls from his father, Leon, and a dozen messages from his mother, Violet. They were growing impatience with each passing second.

Beside him, Claire was busy on her phone in the car. Her parents and younger brother were chatting with her in their family group.

Her brother Scott texted: The paparazzi are here in huge numbers, Laire. Didn't know your husband was going to make it a grand celebration.

Her mother Andrea replied with an army of happy face emoji: Oh darling, I am soooo happy for you. It's finally happening.

Claire's face flushed. Everyone was aware of her crush on Hunter. When she got a marriage proposal from him, her parents were the first to disapprove of it.

That's because before she met him, he was already dating someone. Alas, one day she left him to marry another.

Hunter's past was not unknown to them. They have seen him go astray after getting ditched by the woman he loved.

Her father, Dominic Argent, had been furious when the proposal came. He knew his daughter was being used because of the feelings she developed for the heir of MacIntyre empire. He knew Hunter meant to marry her for his convenience.

However, today Dominic Argent was the happiest among those who wanted to see Claire and Hunter work on their marriage. He had a flair for photography. He was standing with the cameramen outside the hotel with his new camera to capture his daughter's best moment.

Dominic sent a reply: I'm waiting with my new camera, baby. When are you going to come?

Claire's lips curved. She sensed the car coming to a halt and looked up.

"We're here," Tingles shot up her spine.

This was a dream come true. The front of the hotel in which their marriage anniversary party was conducted was crowded with cameramen. They rushed towards their car at once when they detected them.

"Ready," Hunter took her hand and kissed it.

He first got out and opened the door for her. As Claire stepped out, her face radiated with delight. She held onto Hunter's arm for support as he split a way out for them.

Cole, Hunter's best friend and Scott, her younger brother appeared to lend a helping hand. They surrounded Claire as they made their way further.

This was one of the most awaited anniversary celebrations because Hunter MacIntyre was a celebrity billionaire. He walked on ramps for famous brands occasionally and had an active social media presence which earned him the popularity he was trying to deal with now.

The world was cognizant of his love affair with a woman who left him heartbroken two years ago. Hence, Hunter and Claire's marriage news was the most trending topic of that time.

Now two years later, on the same date, they were trending again. This time for a different reason.

A swarm of his admirers has gathered outside the hotel to celebrate the day with him. Some offered him flowers while some sent flying kisses in their way.

"Hunter, you look breathtaking with Claire. Love your pair." Someone in the crowd shouted and earned a round of hooting.

Claire was beetroot red. She knew the online masses of admirers liked her as his wife. She offered them smiles of gratitude as Hunter and the other men helped her cross the sea of cameramen.

They were almost there. Just ten or fifteen steps more and they'd be inside. Nevertheless, Hunter suddenly froze. His hold on Claire's waist loosened.

"Hunter," Claire lifted her eyes to see him.

Her heart skipped beating as she watched his face look ghostly white. His mouth trembled and a hint of longing swam in his eyes.

Claire noticed he was looking in a direction with a fixed gaze. She sought after following his gaze and her body numbed. Her heart soared up to her throat as her eyes stung with forming tears.

"Claire, what's wrong?! Move." Cole yelled in her ear.

But she was too shocked to make a move.

"Hunter, move dumbass! Or your admirers will press us to death." Cole shook his shoulder but to no avail.

"What the hell is wrong with..." He looked in the direction Claire and Hunter were looking and his words faded out.

"Bloody Christ! That's Zara!" It left Cole's mouth as he raised his hands to hold his hair.

His words acted like a wake up bell for Hunter. He jolted back to his senses and took a deep breath.

Zara was standing some distance away. She was clad in a black knee-length dress. There was a touch of sadness on her face and her eyes red-rimmed. Even then her posture held remarkable elegance, and her enticing beauty couldn't be matched with.

"Zara," Hunter muttered the name while pushing Claire out of his way.

He might not be in his senses because his push propelled her straight into a flashing camera. Claire winced as it hit her in the mouth.

"Claire," Her brother held her by the shoulders and pulled her to his chest.

The corner of her mouth was bleeding. However, she was too numb to feel anything. She stood there like a lifeless statue as she watched her husband rushing past the people holding cameras towards Zara, his obsessively loved ex-girlfriend.

He got to her in no time and held both her hands. Claire could see his shoulders trembling. Her chest became heavy as Hunter- her husband who claimed to announce it to the world today that he belonged to her- pressed both her hands to his mouth.

Claire couldn't hear him but she was certain he was mumbling her name and I love yous to her. While she stood, teetering back and forth in the swarm of crowd, Hunter put a hand around his ex-girlfriend's head and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

Tbc...

Claire felt exposed to danger. Like a baby bird left in the open. She dragged shallow breaths as she watched her husband hug his ex-girlfriend possessively. He whispered something in Zara's ear, making her eyes water.

He wiped them with his hand. By this time, all the cameramen focused on them. Gasps erupted around Claire as Hunter's admirers began to gossip about it.

"Oh goodness! Isn't that Zara Levine, Hunter's ex-girlfriend?"

"Christ, she looks more beautiful than before!"

"Look at Hunter's expression. He's all desperate around her. Damn, he's kissing her!"

"They look so good together. But I pity Claire. She must have waited for today wholeheartedly and it had to be ruined like this. Her husband is kissing his ex-girlfriend in front of her. That's insane!"

"But why is Zara back? She was married to another man, wasn't she? What's this now?"

All the remarks around her made her body heavy. Claire was rooted in her spot.

"Claire, let's go inside." Her brother tried to pull her.

However, Claire stood still, right where Hunter left her. Her eyes remained affixed on him and Zara. He was literally worshipping her.

Cameramen surrounded them. The light from the flash caused Zara to cover her eyes. She seemed perturbed by their sudden presence around her and trembled.

Hunter saw her discomfort and pulled her in his arms. That moment, Clair felt a barbed knife cutting through her heart. She was seeing her husband protecting another woman right in front of her.

Since there were journalists too, they began to ask jarring questions to Zara. Hunter couldn't stand them coming at her. He pulled Zara closer and pushed the cameramen and journalists with a hand while with another he kept her close to his heart like a precious jewel.

"Get away," He cut through the crowd of people, approaching Claire.

Claire's breaths hitched when he was right in front of her. She opened her mouth to talk to him. Much to her agitation, he pushed her away too and made a way to his car that they had used to come here.

Hunter helped Zara into the front seat where Claire was sitting not five minutes ago. He buckled her seatbelt. And while Claire was watching him, he hopped behind the steering wheel and took Zara away from the chaos of the evening.

Later that night,

Claire was sitting like a lifeless doll on the floor in the middle of the hall that was booked for their anniversary party. The cake was turning stale on the table in front of her as her eyes gawked at it.

Indeed, she was living a fairy tale life. But one where she got to experience love of the na she loved just for two months.

"Claire, baby, are you listening? Let's go home, baby. It's useless to wait here." Dominic tried to get his daughter's attention.

"Claire," Dominic controlled his tears as he shook her again. "Let's go, baby. He's not going to come."

Hunter's parents, grandparents, close relatives and friends were all here. They looked down at the floor as embarrassment flushed their faces.

The hall was eerily silent. All the guests invited for the celebration were gone. Even the cluster of waiters the hotel had appointed for the party signed off. Only the Argent and MacIntyre family stayed back since Claire refused to move an inch.

Dominic hissed indignantly. He wished to pull his daughter by her arm and take her away. Nevertheless, he looked away as it would shatter her heart more.

Claire was going through the toughest time of her life. She was abandoned by her husband on the day that was going to mark a new beginning for them. Her heart was tender and bleeding from a heartbreak. By forcing her against her will, Dominic didn't want to make it harder for her.

He resorted to coax her with warmth.

"Baby,"

He heaved a sigh as Claire finally responded. She lifted her wet lashes.

"Let's go back home, honeybun. It's over."

Claire shook her head, "Hunter will come. He promised to tell the world that we're one. He promised to move on with me. I can't leave without him, dad. Hunter will come for me."

Her mother-in-law, Violet MacIntyre, pressed a hand to her mouth to suppress her sobs. She was fond of Claire. Seeing her in this state made her heart surge.

She turned to her husband, Leon MacIntyre, throwing her head on his shoulder to cry. She loathed her son for leaving Claire broken.

Seeing the elders in a state of depression, Cole walked forward. He had been quiet because he didn't know how to deal with this situation.

Hunter seemed so happy about their anniversary. He planned every detail together with Cole. It was unbelievable that he just left with his ex-girlfriend as if this day and the moment meant nothing to him.

His nerves were on fire. Anger was gnawing at his heart. Nevertheless, he kept his disappointment towards his friend aside and sat on his haunches before Claire.

Cole wiped his thumb across her tinted cheeks. Dark flush has suffused her skin from constant wailing.

"You look pathetic when you cry, rabbit!" He tried to escalate her mood using her nickname.

"Come on, get up. We'll buy your favorite ice cream on the way home."

No matter what he said or did, Claire didn't budge. Her heart was sprinkled with kerosene and set on fire by her very own husband. She wasn't going to leave unless he explained his actions to her.

Claire shook her head, "I'm not going from here. Hunter will come. H-he promised me..."

She repeated the same words again. Her broken voice pinched like sharp shards of broken glass in everyone's heart who saw her. They wished to soothe her. But her pain was immense. It couldn't be taken care of.

Her mother-in-law was done seeing her like that. She pulled away from her husband and made a beeline towards Claire. Sitting down, she held her cheeks.

"Claire, Darling, you..."

"She's better off without your pleasantries, Mrs. MacIntyre." Claire's father held her hand.

Violet's tear-filled eyes pleaded with him. She may be the mother of the heartless man who left Claire in this condition. But she was not her enemy. Violet was as disappointed as everyone else for the deed of her son.

She was actually ashamed.

It was the shame of being the mother of the man who publicly insulted his wife on their anniversary that kept her quiet throughout the night. However, she couldn't see her daughter-in-law in this state.

Claire was traumatized because of her son. If an apology from her would make Claire move from her place then she was willing to do it.

"Mr. Argent, I am as hurt as you are. Claire is my daughter-in-law and I care about her health. Let me talk to her." She tried to coax him through.

"Care about her? Haha, none of you ever cared about her, Mrs. MacIntyre. If you did then your son wouldn't have left my daughter like this."

Dominic bit back a cry. Claire's dress for today's function was pure white. She looked like a lovely bride. Except that, she looked like a bride left at the altar.

"Look at my daughter. She's not in her right mind. It's all because of your son." He thinned his lips in remorse as Claire was continuously mumbling the same thing over and over again.

Violet helplessly stared at Claire before she moved back.

What made it worse was the cut on Claire's lip. The cut stood out so gruesomely on her pallid face that the eyes that watched her blurred with tears.

Dominic sat beside his daughter. He cleansed her face with his handkerchief gently. He kissed her forehead and stroked her cheek as he tried to persuade her to leave with him again.

"N-no... I am not... I am not leaving," Claire's eyes flickered.

She profusely perspired. Her father wiped his hankerchief on her face again while holding back his tears.

"Claire, please, don't do this to yourself. You're waiting on the wrong man. Why can't you see he never loved you!"

The problem lied with Hunter. He was at fault, and Claire didn't deserve to suffer because of him.

Although she was fulfilling her duties wholeheartedly, he didn't even try to pretend that he cared. He was just... Plain rude and brute to her. What he did today was too much.

What was the point in staying with a man like that?!

"Hunter promised, dad. He promised..." Claire stubbornly nodded her head. "He promised to..." Her voice lowered into a barely audible whisper as she collapsed in her father's arms, blacking out.

Tbc...

3

When Claire shook the hazy veil of darkness and came to the surface, the first face she saw was of her mother. Andrea's eyes were red and cheeks flushed. She was in the same dress she donned for Claire and Hunter's wedding anniversary.

It was visible just by looking at her that she didn't leave her daughter's side even for one second.

"Laire, baby," Andrea impatiently leaned towards her daughter and cupped her face.

A tear of relief trickled from her left eye. She kissed her forehead and immediately looked over her shoulder to shout, "Claire is awake, Dominic!"

She turned to her daughter again. She removed hair from her eyes and smiled, "How are you feeling now, honey?"

She touched her swollen lip gently.

Claire just stared back. Her mother's tears made her remember her own. Then it returned to her mind like a slow memory returning to a person suffering with amnesia.

Pain, hot and raw, settled in her chest. Claire recalled how her husband left her outside the hotel they were going to have their anniversary party in. Not just that, he left her for a woman who has caused him irreparable damage for two years.

Claire looked around herself. She was in her bedroom in her parents' house. The red painted walls resembled the blood that was pounding in her veins.

She sought after throwing the blanket aside when her father with Cole, her brother Scott, and her In-laws rushed inside her room.

"Claire," Her father engulfed her in a hug. "My darling, I'm so freaking relieved to see you awake. You almost gave me a heart attack."

He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her jaw, "Don't you love us, princess?"

The words made her eyes water again.

"I don't think you love us... Otherwise you wouldn't do this to yourself. That too for an asshole who never struck me as anything better than a selfish bastard!"

Dominic didn't care whether old Mr. And Mrs. MacIntyre and Hunter's parents were in the same room. His daughter's heart was broken. He couldn't care less how his words would hit others.

He pressed kisses on Claire's forehead. He had been so worried for her. Claire was his princess. She was the daughter they welcomed after four years of longing for a child. They could cross any limit to bring a smile on her face.

Though Claire respected it. She had a heart that pained in her chest. It was into shreds. Completely shattered... Yet it was still beating.

She couldn't let go of the images of Hunter leaving with Zara.

Claire wiped her tears and slipped out of bed. She tripped as she was mentally disturbed.

"Laire, what are you..." Dominic paused as his breaths got hitched in his throat as Claire looked up.

"Let me go, dad. I need to talk to Hunter."

"Again the same thing!" Dominic almost yelled. "Why do you keep chanting that asshole's name? After what he did you should throw him out of your life like one throws useless plastic wraps. He's not worth it. I'm not letting you go."

Hunter's family's head hung low. They were insulted brutally. However, they felt like they deserved it so none uttered a word.

As for Claire, she didn't wait to give any reason. She had nothing to say to her parents or anyone else. That's because she had no idea why her husband, who doted on her for the last two months, suddenly turned into an ignorant jerk to her.

She came downstairs, taking support of the walls. Her legs were jelly. Her body numb from all the pain. But she struggled to get down while the others followed her.

"You're not going to find him there, Laire." Her father's words stopped her.

Claire looked at him with wet lashes.

Dominic walked towards her and sighed, "The man who left with his ex-girlfriend won't go back home. He'd probably be in one of the hotel rooms fuc..." He gulped his words as tears scorched his eyes.

"Just come back, Claire. I will find you a better husband than him. I swear I would."

Claire didn't even try to make a comment. She got into her brother's car and fired up the engine.

She came home to dead silence. What was once a merrily buzzing home with her laugher and moans was now dark and void of homely feeling. It felt as if Claire was walking into a newly dug grave.

She felt every bit like a corpse. A walking corpse.

There was no one here. The house was as they left it in the evening. Claire trudged inside into the living room upon their maid, Thea. A remarkable woman of fifty with gorgeous golden hair. She was pallid the moment she watched Claire.

"Mrs. MacIntyre," Thea rushed to help her as she was literally dragging herself.

A nod from Claire froze her inches before she touched her.

"Has Hunter returned home?" She asked with a trembling voice.

The maid stared at her feet, "No, madam."

Claire dismissed her as she settled on the sofa. It was ten past four in the early morning. The atmosphere has become chilly. With her shoulders and arms bare, she felt ice crawling over her skin. Even then she didn't care to warm herself.

She reflected back on their two years relationship.

For the two years, Hunter has been ignorant and cold to her. It was right on the night of their marriage that she realised that it was a marriage of convenience for him.

He never touched her. Let alone give her a kiss.

For the wounds and pain someone else gave him, he was directly punishing her by being ignorant and impassive to her.

She waited there, her eyes glued with the door she left open. She never looked away, waiting impatiently for her husband.

The noise of the arriving car exploded in the air just as the first rays of the sun smiled over the horizon. The living room illuminated with light slowly as ever. Claire's back was erected as she heard the footsteps.

She couldn't stop her heart from thudding relentlessly. She was feeling suffocated all along.

When Hunter came into her line of vision, her chest shivered. He was looking tired. He was enveloped in misery as if his wife was dead.

Nevertheless, it was not the hurt of losing his wife that painted his face pale. By leaving her in the hands of the world to mock her, he showed it that he never cared for her.

Claire's nerves flared up with adrenaline as Hunter noticed her. He was caught off-guard. There was something about his gaze today that said he was not ready to talk to her.

Which husband would after letting his wife down like he did?

Her conscience scoffed. But Claire forced her weak body up. She walked towards him with slow steps. When she reached him, she almost fell on the floor.

Hunter caught her by the waist. Their eyes met. Claire's hands that flew up to his shoulders to steady herself heated up as they came in contact with his hot body.

Having helped her stand straight, he observed her face. He opened his mouth to say something the moment he saw the cut on her lip. A brutal cut that started bleeding as she spoke.

"How is Zara?" She asked, making him look away.

Claire chuckled sarcastically at how he responded.

"You don't expect me to ask about her, do you? Why not after how she stole my husband?" Hunter's jaw tightened as he clenched his teeth.

"Claire, don't drag Zara into this. It wasn't her fault that I left." He began calmly but Claire showed him a palm.

Her chest quivered with pain because he was supporting that woman who just returned after two years. Whereas, the woman who has been by his side for the same two years- his wife, was suffering from a heartbreak and what not but he couldn't look at that.

"You will listen to me today, Hunter. Just listen to me."

Tbc...