No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase! novel Chapter 40

He took a cautious step toward her. When he saw the knife tremble in her hand, he froze.

He didn't offer her the phone. Instead, he said, his voice cold and cruel, "Claudia, that's your life. If you really want to die, no one can stop you."

His words were devoid of any emotion.

Claudia stared at him, her eyes filled with despair.

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

Darleen stared at her brother in disbelief. "Brother! She's like this, and you can't find a single kind word to say?"

York shot his sister a look that told her to shut up.

He took another tentative step toward Claudia.

"Claudia," he said, "before you do anything, think about your parents. They gave you everything, raised you in comfort. And now? Your father is working as a consultant at a factory at his age, your mother just got out of the hospital, and your brother has his college entrance exams next year."

His voice was level, relentless. "If you die, the only people you'll hurt are your immediate family. You won't be a threat to anyone else. Including me."

Their eyes met. Claudia closed hers, a single tear escaping.

In that instant, York lunged forward, wrenching the knife from her grasp and pulling her into a tight embrace.

The knife hit the floor with a sharp clatter — and with it, Claudia's heart shattered into a million pieces.

She hung limply in his arms, a marionette with its strings cut. She couldn't cry. She couldn't speak.

Her body was shaking violently.

York held her fast, one hand on the small of her back, the other cradling the back of her head, pressing her against his chest.

He kissed her forehead and murmured, "Don't overthink things. Just get some sleep. Everything will be fine."

After a few moments of holding her, he carried her upstairs.

Ignoring the incessant buzzing of his phone, York dampened a washcloth and gently wiped her face and hands, then smoothed her messy hair.

When he was done, he pulled his sister out of the bedroom.

She called Peter and found out he was on his way to a charity auction to meet her brother.

Darleen drove straight to The Imperial Hotel to intercept him.

She didn't dare confront her brother.

But she had no problem slapping that bitch Ann.

Late that night, a silver sports car pulled into a temporary spot on the side of the road.

Peter, looking roguishly casual, got out of the car, only to be blocked by Darleen. "Take me to Ann!"

Peter blinked his narrow, sexy eyes. "Are you kidding me? How would I know where that woman lives?"

Darleen wasn't buying it. She couldn't handle her brother, but she could definitely handle Peter.

She started walking toward the middle of the road. "If I get hit by a car, I'm telling my parents you pushed me!"

Peter practically fell to his knees beside her, grabbing her legs. "Fine! I'll take you!"