Not 169

 

chapter169 

The sensor light in the entryway turned on, but the living room was completely dark. 

On the sofa, there would never again be a woman startled awake from sleep, who, upon seeing him, would flutter over like a butterfly. 

Damian was surprised to find a sense of loss welling up inside him. 

He tugged at the corner of his lips, mocking himself for actually caring about such things. 

Damian changed into slippers and walked further inside. 

He was still holding that bouquet of fresh flowers, wondering what expression Claudine would have when she saw them later. Damian felt a bit of anticipation. 

“Mr. Barrette, you’re back. Would you like me to prepare a late-night snack for you?” 

The housekeeper heard the commotion and came to the living room to ask. 

“No need.” 

Damian continued walking upstairs. 

He asked another question. 

“What did Mrs. Barrette have for dinner? If she didn’t eat much, prepare some tacos. I’ll eat with her.” 

The housekeeper was surprised. “Mrs. Barrette is back too?” 

Hearing this, Damian stopped in his tracks. 

He stood on the stairs, looked up toward the bedroom, then turned to look at the housekeeper. 

“Claudine hasn’t come back yet?” 

The housekeeper was a bit confused. 

“No, she hasn’t.” 

Damian frowned. 

He glanced at his watch. It was already close to midnight. Could Claudine really have gone back to Willow Creek Villas! 

At that thought, Damian threw the bouquet of flowers into the trash can. 

He spoke in a cold voice. 

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“Got it. You can go rest now!” 

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of a car came from the yard. 

The housekeeper ran to the window and glanced outside. 

“Oh, it really is Mrs. Barrette who’s back.” 

With that, she turned on the lights in the living room and went out to greet Claudine. 

Damian straightened his tie, then, remembering something, glanced at the trash can. 

The delicate roses no longer looked as they had before. 

Forget it, Claudine just wasn’t lucky enough for them! 

Damian stood on the stairs, unmoving, waiting for Claudine to come in. 

Soon, the housekeeper came in with Claudine following behind. 

Claudine changed into slippers at the entryway, told the housekeeper, “Get some rest early,” and then walked toward 

the stairs. 

Damian said, “Why are you back so late!” 

He had thought Claudine would offer an explanation, but to his surprise, the woman didn’t even lift her eyelids and walked right past him. 

The housekeeper, seeing this, immediately lowered her head and hurried back to her own room. 

Damian frowned. He reached out and grabbed Claudine’s wrist.. 

A trace of alcohol drifted into his nose. 

“You drank? It’s so late-who did you go out drinking with?” 

Claudine had been in a good mood when she came back just now. 

It had been a long time since she had felt so relaxed. 

But from the moment she got out of the car, her happiness vanished. 

Now, she was more irritable than ever. 

She tried several times to shake off Damian’s hand, but the man’s grip was surprisingly strong. The more she strug- gled, the tighter he held, until her wrist began to hurt. 

Claudine looked at her wrist, which was being held, and said impatiently, “Let go of me!” 

Damian stepped up one stair. 

He released Claudine’s wrist, but placed both hands on the railing on either side of her, trapping her firmly in his 

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arms. 

At this distance, he could clearly smell the faint scent of her perfume, mixed with the smell of alcohol. 

In the darkness of the night, the temptation to his senses was even more overwhelming than what he could see. 

The man’s eyes darkened, and his voice grew hoarse. 

“Claudine…” 

After living with him for five years, how could Claudine not know what he wanted to do now? 

But now, there was no way she would let him touch her again. 

Claudine turned her head away, and the man’s kiss landed on nothing. 

He turned slightly and happened to catch the look of disgust in Claudine’s eyes. 

The passion from just now instantly vanished. 

No man could accept his wife rejecting his affection. 

Least of all Damian. 

He forcefully grabbed Claudine’s chin, making her look at him. 

At this moment, Claudine began to feel afraid. She knew Damian’s strength-if he forced himself on her, she would have no way to resist. 

Her eyes shimmered with tears, whether from fear or physical pain, she didn’t know. 

A tear slid from the corner of her eye and fell onto the back of Damian’s hand. 

The burning sensation snapped a bit of reason back into the man. 

He could clearly see the fear in Claudine’s eyes. 

He could clearly feel that Claudine’s body was even trembling a little. 

Damian’s heart felt as if something had stabbed it hard.