New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 259

Alex lounged in his plush penthouse; his sharp eyes glued to the large screen in front of him. The fashion show streaming online was supposed to be a relaxing distraction, but tonight, it was anything but. His face was set in a scowl as he replayed a particular scene for the umpteenth time.

It was the moment when Adrian had leaned in and placed a kiss on Claire’s cheek.

He slammed the remote onto the couch armrest, the soft thud echoing through the room. “Seriously? A kiss on the cheek?” Alex muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. “What the hell does Adrian have that I don’t?”

He leaned closer to the screen, squinting as if he could somehow alter the outcome with sheer willpower. As he watched the replay, he noticed something he’d missed before. Claire had actually blushed—a soft, delicate pink on her cheeks. Blush. Claire never blushed.

Alex’s jaw tightened as he replayed the scene again, watching Claire’s reaction with a mix of anger and disbelief. Back when they were married and she had amnesia, she had blushed around him a lot, but he’d never paid any mind. Now, seeing her blush for Adrian made him wish he’d noticed those little moments back then. “Damn it,” he growled to himself. “Why didn’t I see it before?”

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost missed the sound of his phone ringing. He grabbed it off the coffee table and saw it was a text from Christian.

Christian: Are you still brooding over the fashion show? Claire’s not worth it, you know.

Alex gritted his teeth. He hit reply with a quick message.

Alex: She’s always been difficult. But it’s not just about her. It’s about Adrian too. Why is everything so easy for him?

He tossed the phone back onto the table and took a long swig from his glass of alcohol, the strong drink burning down his throat. “Why the hell is she so damn difficult?” he muttered, his frustration boiling over. “And why the hell does Adrian get to be the one she’s warm with? I’m her business partner, and I’m stuck dealing with her cold attitude.”

The bitterness in his voice was palpable. Alex couldn’t shake the image of Claire’s smile at the fashion show, a smile that was reserved only for Adrian. It gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the emotional distance between him and Claire. He tossed the remote aside, slouching deeper into the couch as he continued to stew over his thoughts.

Back at the after-party, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, and Christian was sitting comfortably on a plush sofa, scrolling through his phone. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he read a new text message from Alex. He chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Just then, Talia reappeared after her chat with Armetta and Claire. She had a wide smile on her face, and it seemed like she was still floating on air from the excitement of the evening. She noticed Christian laughing and came over, curious.

“What’s so funny?” Talia asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

Christian looked up, still grinning. “It’s Alex. He’s texting me and asking about the fashion show. Apparently, he's been watching the show.”

Talia raised her brows curiously. “Is he watching because of the collection or because Claire is here.”

Christian smirked and shrugged. “Who knows might be both. So, how did you feel about the fashion show? You looked incredible up there.”

Talia’s smile stayed put, her excitement bubbling over. “I felt amazing! It was such a rush. I didn’t expect to feel so alive out there. Everything went perfectly!”

Christian’s eyes sparkled with genuine admiration. “You did fantastic, Talia. I was there from the beginning to the end, and I have to say, you really stole the show.”

Talia’s cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. She looked away shyly, her heart racing a little from the praise. “Oh, stop it. You’re making me blush.”

Christian reached out and gently grabbed her chin, tilting her head so she had to look at him. “I mean it. All your hard work paid off. I’m really proud of you.”