Fated Marriage Spoiled by My Ice Billionaire novel Chapter 796

Chapter 796 The First Night

Harold spotted her as well. He moved quickly, covering the distance in long strides.

Steadying the ladder, he reached up to help Claudia down.

From above, Darrell watched the two of them.

“You okay? Did anything hit you?” Harold asked, his hand lightly touching her shoulder.

Claudia shook her head.

Harold shrugged off his jacket and passed it to her before climbing the ladder beside hers.

Claudia followed, holding his ladder steady while he worked.

Out of the corner of his eye, Darrell noticed her gaze fixed intently on Harold.

+5 Free Comis

They stayed on the ladders for another ten minutes until the long tapestry was securely mounted.

Once down, Darren turned to Darrell. “Thanks for the help, Mr. Brady.”

Darrell glanced from Darren to Claudia, who was now brushing dust from Harold’s shirt before taking his hand and walking away without a backward look.

Darrell turned back and gave Darren a brief nod.

Harold led Claudia toward the back patio. Randall, who had been heading in their direction, caught sight of them from behind. He paused slightly, then pretended not to notice and retreated to his study.

At the car, Harold opened the passenger door for Claudia. Once she was seated, he leaned in and buckled her seatbelt himself.

He didn’t pull away immediately. Under his silent gaze, Claudia stayed still as he undid the top two buttons of her blouse and gently eased the fabric off her shoulder.

His calloused fingers brushed her skin, making her shiver, but she didn’t dare move.

Harold’s eyes darkened as he looked her over. Satisfied, he drew the blouse back up and rebuttoned it.

There was no bruise–only faint pink marks left from the night before.

He closed her door quietly and got into the driver’s seat.

“Heading home?” he asked, his voice low.

Claudia nodded. “Yeah.”

Harold started the engine but pulled over at a convenience store down the block.

Without a word, he got out, leaving her in the car.

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Chapter 796 The First Night

He returned shortly, a small square box visible in his pants pocket.

+5 Free Coms

Claudia averted her eyes quickly–she recognized it. She’d seen one just like it back at the Bowmans‘, when Darrell had taken one out.

Back at his place, Harold’s patience had worn thin. “What, you don’t want to?”

His voice was rough, breath heavy, edged with frustration.

Frowning down at her, he noticed she wasn’t sobbing aloud, but tears kept trailing from the corners of her

eyes.

Harold wondered if it was because of running into Darrell earlier at Southhall, or if she simply didn’t want him to begin with.

Maybe she was just going along with it–her body was tense, unresponsive.

Hearing the irritation in his own voice, he watched her lips tremble.

She slowly drew her knees up, tears dripping onto the pillow, darkening the gray sheets beneath.

“It hurts…” she whispered, her legs still stiffly resting against his hips.

Harold pushed himself up abruptly and switched on the lamp.

It hadn’t crossed his mind. He’d assumed it was about Darrell–after all, Darrell wasn’t exactly known for keeping his hands to himself.

Claudia hugged her arms slightly, looking up at Harold’s furrowed brow as he grabbed tissues to clean her

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The sheets were ruined.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice shaky.

Harold stared at her red–rimmed eyes. “What are you apologizing for? Are you out of your mind? Why didn’t you say something?”

He sat beside her, thumb brushing the tears from her flushed cheeks.

Those couple of minutes had almost broken her.

If he hadn’t tasted the salt of her tears, he might not have realized what was happening.

Last time they were here, she’d told him she was scared–he’d thought she meant being overheard.

A pang of regret hit him. Carefully, he lifted Claudia and carried her to the bathroom.

“You want to clean up yourself, or need help?” he asked, leaving the choice to her.

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Chapter 796 The First Night

Claudia hugged herself. “I can do it.”

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He nodded, stepped out, and closed the door. Then he pulled fresh sheets from the closet and remade the bed.

Under the shower stream, Claudia winced but pushed through a quick wash despite the sting.

Afterward, she realized she hadn’t brought a change of clothes.

Wrapped in a towel, she cracked the door open. Harold was leaning against the wall nearby, holding her clothes.

He glanced over and handed them to her. “Still hurting? Want me to get some ointment?”

“No… it’s fine,” she murmured, taking the clothes and closing the door softly.

Harold’s hand lingered in the air a moment before he slowly lowered it.

By the time Claudia came out, Harold was no longer in the bedroom.

She walked into the living room, where the smell of something cooking drifted from the kitchen.

Earlier, the moment they’d returned from Southhall, Harold had pressed her against the entryway wall and kissed her relentlessly all the way to his room.

Their clothes had ended up scattered across the floor.

The whole walk from the door, Claudia had braced herself mentally–how bad could it really be?

But Harold had been in a hurry, and that first time had nearly been too much.

She couldn’t hold back the tears.

She hadn’t wanted to kill the mood. It felt like Harold was happy with her, so she tried to tough it out–but her body just wouldn’t cooperate.

Now, from the kitchen doorway, Harold noticed Claudia standing there, watching him like he was some kind of wild animal she was afraid to approach.

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