The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 175

Claire stiffened, remaining silent.

No wonder Quinn had returned to the country so suddenly and was in such a rush to find a successor for OCHH.

"Claire," Quinn looked at her. "During the Aura Excellence Design Awards back then, I wasn't the one who maliciously destroyed your entry for OCHH."

"We may have had creative differences, but I play fair. I would never destroy your career over something like that."

"I know." Claire's voice was heavy, but a sense of relief washed over her.

"Quinn, I know you. I know you didn't do it."

"What I don't understand is, you clearly saw who did it. Why did you refuse to testify for me? You knew exactly how much I poured into that competition."

She had stayed up for so many sleepless nights, genuinely believing she could launch OCHH to the top, only to be ruined by someone close to her.

Guilt flooded Quinn's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Claire. I was wrong."

"OCHH had just started. Your Nova Collection had put us on the map, and it was the perfect time to expand. Victor Zimmerman invested in us."

Claire's gaze paused.

Victor, Yvonne's father.

"Yvonne had no idea the design was yours. But if I had exposed her, Victor would have pulled his funding immediately."

Quinn shook her head with a bitter smile. "Yvonne won that competition. Who would have thought that after all these years, you two would still be tangled up in this mess."

Claire let out a long sigh.

Quinn frowned in confusion. "The doctor who took me to the exam room... are you two together?"

"Yeah."

"But he's Yvonne's uncle, and considering you and Jefferson..." Quinn hesitated. "You shouldn't drag yourself into this mess by being with him."

Claire looked down.

"Jefferson and I have been over for a long time. I'm not with Miles because of anyone else."

Her initial motives hadn't been pure, but now, she was certain she had fallen for him.

Claire knew very well that her past with Jefferson couldn't be hidden forever. She had to find the right moment to confess everything to Miles.

Whether he accepted it or not would be entirely up to him.

At the thought of a potential breakup, Claire's eyes flickered.

His voice carried a faint layer of frost.

Claire acutely caught the shift in his demeanor. "What's wrong?"

Miles closed the file. His gaze swept over her faintly, betraying zero emotion.

"It's nothing. Just a bit tired. I have surgery tonight, so you should head back and get some rest."

"I'll let you know as soon as there's news. I'm heading to the break room."

Miles turned and walked away.

Inside the dead-silent break room.

Miles lay on the stiff cot, his fingers curling inward, his knuckles turning white as his grip tightened.

If she hadn't left right then, he wouldn't have been able to hold it together.

He had wanted to pin her against the wall and demand to know exactly what she meant by 'taking it one step at a time.' She had promised him she wouldn't leave.

He had never been her definitive choice.

Not ten years ago, and not now.