The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 114

Muffled, suggestive noises echoed faintly from Vivian's room.

Directly across the hall, the other lounge was pitch black.

Miles leaned nearly his entire body weight against Claire.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, the last thread of his restraint close to snapping...

"Miles, how are you holding up?"

Claire's back was pressed against the cold door. She struggled to support him, trapped in an awkward position.

"Stand up a bit. Let me get you to the bed."

She spoke, trying to shimmy out from under his crushing weight.

The man didn't move. A low, muffled groan escaped his throat.

Claire could vividly feel the violent battle he was fighting to maintain control.

His breathing was heavy, every word raspy and strained.

"Claire... get out."

She tugged hard at her wrist but couldn't break his iron grip.

Sweat soaked his short hair and his dress shirt.

Yet, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, Claire didn't budge an inch.

She watched him struggle, watched him suffer, and watched him inch closer to total surrender.

Claire knew exactly what was happening.

It was a dirty, underhanded tactic, but right now, she could easily pluck this untouchable man from his pedestal, break him down, and bend him entirely to her will.

She didn't retreat. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his lean waist.

"Dr. Zimmerman," she cooed softly.

"If you really can't hold back, I don't mind..."

The last few words were whispered with crystal clarity directly into Miles's ear.

Hooking her finger, Claire trailed it agonizingly slow from his Adam's apple all the way down his chest.

"Stop."

He stumbled backward, desperately trying to put distance between them.

But the drug was surging. Tripping over his own feet, his large frame collapsed onto the sofa behind him.

He threw an arm over his eyes. His chest heaved violently as he fought tooth and nail to cling to his remaining sanity.

"Call... Jared."

Claire leaned in, pressing a finger against his lips.

"It's so late. It wouldn't be very polite to bother Dr. Johnston now, would it?"

"You want me, don't you, Doctor? Your body is much more honest than your mouth."

In the dim room, illuminated only by the faint moonlight streaming through the window.

She knelt beside the sofa and unhurriedly unfastened the first button on the collar of her silk dress.

One button, two, three... then the ones along her waist...

Vivian had gift-wrapped this perfect opportunity and delivered it to her doorstep. She'd be a fool not to take it.

"Claire..."

Miles abruptly shot his hand out, grabbing the back of her neck and pulling her down to him.

There was nothing gentle about it. It was the predatory bite of a cornered beast. His scent entirely engulfed her, kissing her like he wanted to devour her alive.

It felt like an eternity before Miles finally pulled back.

"Claire, that's enough..."

"But Dr. Zimmerman, you've been drugged. Just a kiss isn't nearly enough, is it?"

Miles roughly seized her wandering hand.

Thick veins bulged on the back of his hand, his knuckles turning white from the strain.

"Claire, do you have any idea what you're doing right now?"

"Of course I do."

She arched an eyebrow, looking exactly like a cunning little fox.

The fabric and the hand-stitching had taken the master weavers of Westhaven Village an immense amount of effort.

Staring at the silk dress, now stained with the undeniable evidence of their heated intimacy, his gaze turned intense, his voice slightly hoarse.

"I'll compensate you for it."

"Oh? Well, aren't you generous, Doctor?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she recalled the events from earlier.

"I saw someone at the venue who looked exactly like you. His clothes and hair were styled perfectly to match yours. Vivian must have hired him."

"Her plan was incredibly thorough. Even if the drug hadn't worked, she had a decoy ready to frame you."

She dragged out her words, her tone dripping with sour jealousy.

"But then again, who can blame her when Dr. Zimmerman agreed to have dinner with her in the first place?"

Miles paused before offering a serious explanation.

"She was the one who leaked your mother's medical records to George. I went to tell her she needed to resign."

Claire had already guessed as much.

George had never cared about Susan's condition. Why would he suddenly text her out of the blue, demanding money?

But Vivian was Director Langford's daughter. Handling that situation involved too much red tape and office politics...

Claire never expected Miles to dig into the truth on her behalf.

Feeling slightly guilty, she pouted. "What about the handkerchief? I saw you give it to her so she could dry her tears."

"She made that handkerchief and tried to gift it to me. I was returning it."

So that was it.

The lingering knot of jealousy in Claire's chest instantly unraveled.

She knelt on the mattress, straightening her posture as she blinked up at him.

"So, Dr. Zimmerman, do I need to take responsibility for your virtue now?"

"After all, last night... I saw absolutely everything, and touched everything, too."