Chapter 5

Claire’s POV

As soon as I entered my apartment, Caleb was there in my living room waiting for me. I was shocked to see him here—how’d he even get inside my apartment? But then I remembered that it was Caleb. He could get anything he wanted. I quickly tried to compose myself. I didn’t want him to know that I was drunk, but I guessed he could smell it.

“Really, Claire?” he scoffed. “We have a huge problem in the company, and you’re out there partying. I saw someone drive you home, and I know it wasn’t Arlo. I know it wasn’t his car, so who were you with?”

I rolled my eyes at him and sighed. “I’ve been stressed from work and this family all day. Can’t I have fun, even just for tonight?”

“Aren’t you concerned about the company? Don’t make me think that you’re behind this lost money, Claire. I’m warning you,” he glared at me.

“Really? You’re going to accuse me as well? First, it was Cole, and now me? For your information, Caleb, it wasn’t Cole, and it was definitely not me,” I raised my voice at him in annoyance.

“How sure are you it wasn’t Cole, huh?”

“I’ve gotten to know that his money is from his real estate business. His business is doing well; that’s why he was able to have that money,” I explained.

“So he has money? Then why isn’t he telling Dad he has enough to support his mom? Why does his mom keep pressuring Dad to give her?” We kept arguing like there was no tomorrow.

“My goodness, Caleb. It’s his own money—it’s his mom. It’s their problem anyway,” I said. I was really annoyed, and my head was getting dizzy from all the alcohol I drank.

“Yes, it’s his mom, but his mom is messing with us, so it’s going to be our problem too. Open your eyes, Claire. Cole is going to be a problem in our family. You’re too blinded by your love for your half-brother,” he said angrily.

“He’s still my brother,” I said.

“I am your brother as well,” he said sternly.

“But you don’t treat me like a sibling, Caleb,” I said with so much emotion.

“I am protecting you, Claire. You just don’t realize it,” he said, and he walked away, slamming the door.

I threw the pillow from my sofa in annoyance. How could my brother treat me like that? And what did he mean by protecting me? I was a strong, independent woman. I didn’t need anyone to protect me—not even my siblings. I could handle myself.

I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I couldn’t sleep that night. At some point, I understood Caleb’s hate for Cole and his mom. They had once ruined our family, but I really hoped Caleb could exclude Cole from his hatred.

Why is life like this? Even if you have money, problems just won’t go away. Is there an unlimited supply of problems in everyone’s life? Why can’t it end? Why can’t we all live a happy and stress-free life? Why does it have to be like this? I felt like my head was going to explode because of what had happened earlier.

I kept rolling in my bed, trying to find a comfortable spot to sleep, but it was no use. I grabbed my phone to see if someone had messaged me, and it was Arlo, telling me he was sorry for leaving me. I messaged him back, telling him I got home safely, thanks to his very ungentlemanly friend.

Luke.

I remembered his name, so I went to my socials to look for him, but I found no one. He didn’t have any socials? He was really weird. Even my grandma had social media, and he didn’t? I chuckled at that thought. I went through Arlo’s account, trying to find some photo of Luke with him, and I found one picture. It was a photo at the beach a year ago. I looked intently at his photo, and nothing had changed about his appearance.

I just realized I’d been so rude earlier, but that’s just how I was. I didn’t need to apologize, right? And besides, I didn’t know how to contact him, and I definitely wouldn’t ask Arlo about that. My best friend might think I was into Luke, which I was not. He wasn’t my type. He had a weird vibe, which I wasn’t into.

I didn’t know how I managed to sleep that night, but I woke up with a heavy feeling in my head. Gosh, I needed coffee! I quickly made myself a cup, and when I grabbed my phone and opened it, I almost jumped in shock.

It was already 10 in the morning. Caleb would be really mad at me again. He was like a dragon when he was mad, and I hated that. That’s why, even though I was mad at him, too, I still needed to go to work. I really needed to stop drinking when there was work the next day. This was one of my bad habits.

As I quickly showered and changed my clothes, I went to my driveway to find my car, but it was nowhere. Then I remembered that I hadn’t gone home with my car last night. Couldn’t my day get any better? I had no choice, so I went to the street and grabbed a cab to get to my office. I needed to be ready for Caleb’s nagging today.

Too bad the cab I got into had a broken air conditioner, so I suffered in the heat. I was so haggard and hassled. My makeup was probably gone by now, for sure, and I couldn’t face Caleb in this condition.

I quickly went to the restroom to fix myself, only to stop dead in my tracks. My breath hitched, and my stomach twisted as I came face to face with the last person I wanted to see in the world.

Her.

Cole’s fiancée.

Marjorie.