Feeling sheepish, | slid my phone back into my pocket. Max didn't have a family, but he was just a surgeon,
skilled, no doubt, but just an ordinary attending physician. How could he afford so much? "I'll have it delivered,"
Max said indifferently.
Ronald stretched lazily and added, "Well, I'll head back to interrogate the suspect. Got another assignment
tonight."
He glanced over at me. Max also shota puzzled look. | awkwardly turned away, feeling guilty.
"I'll go pack sclothes," | said, making a move to leave when Max interjected, "I'll cwith you."
Ronald interrupted, "Yeah, let Max go with you for moral support."
| frowned slightly. Was my place trashed that badly by the bad guys? Sure enough, when | opened the door, | saw
my apartment turned upside down as if the intruders were searching for something. Immediately, | thought, 'Did
Kate send someone after my bracelet?’
| had deliberately mentioned the bracelet was at Claude's, implying anyone with the bracelet could marry
Claude. Since Kate couldn't get it, she wanted to steal it.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
My fists clenched, and | stormed out of the apartment without bothering to pack.
"Dr. Hilton, you go back to the hospital. | need to swing by home."
| didn't wait for Max's response before pressing the elevator button, ready to leave.
Max said, "It's too late for cabs."
Hearing the word 'cab' made my skin crawl. | had walked hbecause the idea of taking a cab gavethe
creeps.
"I'll drive you," Max said, grabbing his keys before joiningin the elevator.
Ronald was left muttering, "Man, someone's being super protective."
I didn't catch his meaning, too preoccupied with confronting Claude.
Riding in Max's car, he noticed my silence but didn't ask where | lived. Instead, he drovestraight to Claude's
mansion.
| thanked him and got out, "Thanks. I'm staying here tonight, not heading to the hospital."
He frowned slightly, but | brushed it off and entered the mansion using my fingerprint.
Claude was in the garden, tending to his plants. He froze when he saw me, then looked pasttoward the door,
"Decided to cback?"
Without answering, | went straight to
uprooting the flowers he had just planted. "Claude, do you have any idea | operated on someone who sexually
harassed me? | was on the verge of breaking down, but it was only by saving him that the person who hurt me
could feel fear Do you know what | went through last night? You only cared about whether Kate was okay. Let's
go to the hospital tonight and see Kate's true face."
His brows furrowed, his usually handsfeatures turning solemn. "Why didn't you callwhen you were
hurt?"
| scoffed. "Call you? To wait for death?" Just like before, calling you meant death foreither way.
"Claire, I've always said I'd take
responsibility for you. | won't go back on my word." Claude put down his watering can and approached, but |
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmstepped back, "Fine, take responsibility. Be my lawyer want to sue Kate." en
Claude scoffed, "Evidence? Don't always target Kate."
| stared at him. "Today, someone tore through my apartment looking for my bracelet. Isn't that proof enough?"
Claude still wasn't buying it. "Bracelet or not, I'd marry Kate."
His certainty madefeel utterly ridiculous. | laughed sarcastically, "Cto the hospital with me. You'll find all
the evidence you need there."
Maybe it was the anger or the tension, but | grabbed Claude's hand and dragged him toward the car. That was
when Kate emerged from the house, cooing, "Claire, where are you taking Claude?" | froze in place.
Claude pushed my hand away,
saying, "Stop making a scene. Kate
has been withall along. She didn't send anyone to your
apartment or encourage some
to harass you. Besides, you're fine now, aren't you?"