The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 107

Just as Penelope was about to catch a glimpse—

Harrison rushed her. "Honey, it's late. We should head back to rest and give the young people some privacy."

"Alright," Penelope sighed, sounding slightly disappointed as her husband pulled her away.

Only when the sound of their footsteps completely vanished did Claire finally resurface from the water.

The intense heat and sheer panic had turned her entire body flush pink. She looked like a perfectly ripe apple, impossibly tempting to devour.

"Me and that model?" He lowered his head. "A purely financial transaction."

He turned his head slightly, seemingly struggling to find the words, but he explained anyway.

"I paid her to call me and to bake a cake."

Claire finally processed the admission.

That incredibly intimate phone call in the car the other day—the one that had rung at the most perfect moment—had actually been prearranged by him?

Could this man be any more shameless?

Miles casually reached over and pulled the fruit platter from the edge of the pool. It was filled with bright red cherries.

"What does this mean?" Claire arched an eyebrow. "You want me to feed you?"

He neither confirmed nor denied it.

Claire picked up a cherry by the stem. Just as she brought it right to his lips, she smoothly popped it into her own mouth instead.

Biting down on the cherry with bright white teeth, she placed her hands lightly on his shoulders and leaned forward.

Her wet, misty eyes stared unblinkingly into his.

"You..." Miles looked down, his Adam's apple bobbing. "What kind of cherry-feeding is this?"

Splash—

He stood up abruptly and grabbed his bathrobe. His spine was completely rigid, but the deep red flush creeping up his neck entirely gave him away.

"What's wrong? Dr. Zimmerman doesn't want cherries anymore?"

Claire stared at his retreating back, biting through the cherry, the sweet juice bursting over her tongue.

She let out a soft laugh. "The untouchable stoic gentleman... turns out, he's just as weak."

...

The next morning, Nathan and Harrison officially signed the construction materials contract. Because of Claire's glowing impression, Penelope voluntarily offered to concede one percentage point, which left Nathan absolutely ecstatic.

For their return trip, Miles had an academic exchange conference to attend, so Penelope personally drove the couple to the airport.

"Mrs. Rhodes, if there are any specific embroidery patterns you ever want, just send them to me. I'll have the master craftsmen at Westhaven Village make them for you."

Penelope, fully understanding the gesture, nodded vigorously.

"You really know exactly how to make people happy, sweetie."

"Claire, there's actually one more project. A partnership with the Hurst Group. Go ahead and take care of that for me too."

Cassie chimed in, utterly gleeful. "Dad, isn't the CEO of the Hurst Group already in his fifties?"

"Let my dear sister do it. Since she made Nathan so incredibly happy, she's probably an expert at dealing with old men like that."

George stroked his chin in serious thought.

"Claire, you might have to take it easy with Mr. Hurst. He's not a young man anymore; he can't handle too much roughplay."

Claire felt a wave of absolute disgust wash over her.

This was her father? He didn't even qualify as a human being!

But she had anticipated this exact scenario before she even arrived.

She casually cracked her wrist.

Smack!

The slap was vicious and heavy.

She struck George straight across the face, the force making his heavy jowls tremble violently.

Cassie, who had been slapped before, instinctively dove out of the way.

"Claire... are you out of your mind!"