The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 5

The young nurse lowered her voice, brimming with the thrill of unearthing a massive secret.

“Because she looks exactly like his first love!”

“Are you serious? The hospital's grim reaper actually has a woman that got away?”

“Of course it's true. Dr. Johnston said it himself, and they went to med school together.”

Claire's eyelashes fluttered.

No wonder Miles's attitude toward her had been so strange that day in his office.

She raised her hand and lightly touched her own cheek.

So, she was a dead ringer for the first love he couldn't have.

The one that got away, huh?

Playing the role of a substitute...

It didn't seem like such a bad option.

Leaving the hospital, Claire headed straight for the Sterling Holdings skyscraper.

Her artisanal silk embroidery business, Luna Atelier, operated under the Sterling corporate umbrella.

Claire asked her assistant, Betty Wade, to pull up all the embroidery orders from the past year.

Staring at the dense rows of data, she scanned from top to bottom, her heart sinking inch by inch.

Clients connected to Jefferson made up a staggering seventy percent of her business.

Over the years, she had lived entirely within Jefferson's social circle, which kept Luna Atelier constantly flooded with orders.

It had been going on for so long that she had grown completely numb to the reality of it.

Looking at it now, the atelier had simply been riding on Jefferson's coattails.

She was just a bird fluttering her wings inside his gilded cage.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Betty, you take over these clients from now on. Don't bother pitching them any new designs, and there's no need to go out of your way to maintain the relationships.”

Betty looked shocked. “But Claire, these people are our main source of revenue.”

“It's fine. I'll find a new client base.”

Claire stood up, grabbing a stack of new embroidery design drafts to print.

With everyone staring at her, she had no way to refuse.

Inside the VIP booth at Lure Lounge.

Jefferson and Yvonne sat right in the center, clearly the focal point of the entire room.

Claire sat alone in a dark corner, bored out of her mind as she swirled her sparkling water, entirely disconnected from the raucous atmosphere around her.

After a few rounds of expensive liquor, the crowd grew rowdy and started clamoring for a game.

Yvonne suggested, “Let's keep it simple. Everyone draws a card, and the lowest card takes a penalty. Sound good?”

“Yes! That sounds fun,” Daisy immediately agreed.

The rest of the group quickly cheered in approval.

“Go easy on us, Director Zimmerman!”

The game kicked off. Over the next few rounds, some people were forced to down three shots, while others had to beg for numbers from the next booth. Laughter filled the air.

Yvonne had incredible luck and hadn't lost a single round.

Beside her, Jefferson hadn't joined the game. He sat back with an air of absolute calm, watching the circus unfold with cold, detached eyes.