The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 186

Eleven o'clock at night.

Claire had just stepped out of the shower and was towel-drying her wet hair.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Jared. She answered it immediately.

The background noise on the other end was deafening, and Jared had to shout over the heavy bass, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Claire, I'm so sorry for calling this late."

"Can you get down to The Encore Club right now? Miles is here. He's been drinking all night, and we can't get him to leave."

"He was running a high fever yesterday, and then there was the car crash today. If he keeps this up, his stitches are going to get infected."

Claire hesitated.

"Jared, there's no point in me going. He won't listen to me."

All he felt for her was raw disgust. His little visit to her apartment today had been nothing but malicious payback.

Jared let out a heavy sigh. "Alright, then."

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone tightly. Just a split second before he hung up, she caved. "Text me the address. I'll give it a try."

She knew she shouldn't chase after him, that she was only setting herself up for more humiliation.

But she just couldn't bear the thought of him hurting.

Ending the call, she quickly changed and headed for the door. Susan peeked out from her bedroom, rubbing her sleep-filled eyes.

"Claire, where are you going at this hour?"

"I have to pick up a friend," she lied, bending down to tie her shoes.

"What friend needs picking up in the middle of the night? You—"

"Just go back to sleep, Mom." Claire pulled the door shut behind her.

The Encore Club.

The strobing lights and the deafening thrum of the music made her ears ring.

She located the private VIP room Jared had specified. The door was slightly ajar.

"Are you guys useless or what? He's been drinking for hours, and none of you can drag him out of here?"

"You try it, then! I doubt even God Himself could drag him out right now."

"He needs the woman who broke him. Should we just call her?"

"Hell no. Do you have a death wish? With the way she played him, it's a miracle he doesn't rip her to shreds on sight."

...

Claire stood frozen by the entrance. Gathering her courage, she finally pushed the door wide open.

Framed by the hallway light, her sudden appearance brought the raucous party to an instant halt. Over a dozen pairs of eyes locked onto her.

The room was packed with elite heirs and the women they had hired for the night. Yet, Miles sat utterly alone on a leather armchair in the far corner.

His face was flushed with liquor. The top few buttons of his dress shirt hung open, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing the stark white bandage now stained with fresh blood.

He looked nothing like the pristine, untouchable surgeon he was at the hospital.

"Well, well. If it isn't Ms. Jenner. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

One of the hostesses feigned surprise, a mocking smirk on her lips.

"Is this the girl who broke Master Zimmerman's heart? She doesn't even look like anything special."

"She's got some nerve showing her face in front of him after all that. Shameless bitch."

Claire took it without hesitation. "Enjoy the rest of your night. I'm taking him home."

She led him right out of the room.

The crowd was left utterly stunned.

"Am I hallucinating?"

"He must be blackout drunk! There's no other way he'd willingly leave with that witch!"

"Maybe he just didn't want to cause a scene in front of us. I bet he's ripping into her out in the alley."

The chaotic partying slowly resumed.

Outside, Jared leaned against the wall around the corner, looking thoroughly vindicated.

Rip into her?

Miles was too far gone. He'd rather take a bullet than lay a harmful finger on Claire Jenner.

Half of Miles's body weight rested heavily against her.

Claire flagged down a taxi and hauled him into the backseat.

"Grandview Heights, please."

She sat upright while Miles slumped across her lap. His feverish breath seeped through her dress, causing her to tense.

"Could you turn the AC down a bit? He's had too much to drink."

Just as she spoke, the man resting on her lap grew restless.

His large hand draped heavily over her knee, his calloused fingertips lightly tracing the exposed skin peeking out from beneath her hem.