Chapter 21
But somewhere along the way, things changed. Darlene pulled away and stopped calling her mom.
Claudine brushed the hair from her forehead and kissed her gently.
Maybe they were never meant to be that close.
Then those servants left the room.
Darlene slept fitfully, waking often in tears. She only closed her eyes again when she felt Claudine nearby.
Claudine stayed up all night, making sure Darlene didn’t scratch the welts.
Around dawn, Darlene suddenly woke and threw up all over Claudine. After that, she slept soundly.
Claudine cleaned up, then went to the bathroom to shower.
She found an old set of pajamas in her size and slipped them on.
After putting her dirty clothes into the washing machine, she went back to bed and fell asleep.
Damian got home just before sunrise. A servant told him that Darlene had been sick all night.
He went straight to her room without changing clothes.
He didn’t know Claudine was there. In the dark, he walked to the bed and leaned down to feel Darlene’s forehead.
The heat made him frown with worry. He switched on the bedside lamp and saw it was Claudine.
She woke up and met his eyes in the dim light.
For a moment, she just looked at him, dazed.
Her eyes were glassy, her cheeks flushed. The silk pajamas clung to her curves, the neckline slipping low across her
chest.
Damian tugged at his tie, swallowed hard, then picked her up.
Claudine reacted on instinct, looping her arms around Damian’s neck.
He was already heading for the door.
After five years of marriage, she knew exactly what he was about to do.
But now that they were getting divorced, it felt wrong,
“Put me down,” she demanded.
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Chapter 21
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Claudine pushed at his chest, but the fever had drained her strength. Her voice came out rough, and her push barely made a difference.
In the blink of an eye, they reached the master bedroom.
Damian lay her down on the bed she knew so well.
She started to speak, but he was already leaning over her.
“Damian, what are you doing?”
Claudine curled up, pulling her knees in, watching him in alarm.
He frowned slightly and reached toward her.
She tensed, ready to pull away, but his hand passed her, went straight to the nightstand, and came back with a ther-
mometer.
He tossed it onto the bed and straightened up.
His voice was flat as ever. “What did you think I was gonna do?”
Damian looked her over, full of mockery.
Of course, he’d never lose control over her.
Deep down, Claudine laughed at herself. She could have stripped in front of him, and he wouldn’t have looked twice.
She set the thermometer aside and started to sit up.
He stopped undoing his cufflinks and grabbed her wrist without thinking.
“Where are you going now?” he asked, frowning again.
He pulled her closer, and she smelled a trace of perfume she’d noticed before.
Claudine snapped fully awake.
She’d spent the night nursing Darlene through a fever while Damian had been out with someone else.
She tugged her robe tighter and pushed his hand away.
“I’m going to check on Darla.”
“You’re burning up. Just lie down. I’ll go,” Damian said.
He started toward the door, then stopped halfway, remembering she’d followed him yesterday.
He turned back, eyes sharp. “If you give a damn about Darla, drop the drama.”
Claudine looked up and caught that familiar contempt in his eyes.
Her heart sank, but anger rose in her. “What do you mean?”
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Chapter 21
Damian gave her a once–over.
“You disappear for days, then show up in this dress, using Darla’s fever as an excuse.
“You want me, Claudine. I get it.
“I’m sorry you got sick. But come on, give it a rest.”
His words hit hard. Apparently, he thought she was just trying to seduce him.
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