章節 12: Confession - 2
*12:30 a.m.*
A shadowed figure slipped quietly through the employee exit of The Silver Lining, the city's largest and most prestigious company. Hidden beneath a black mask, her face was shielded, her eyes shaded by dark glasses. A scarf was wrapped snugly around her neck, a cap perched on her head, and a large coat draped over her shoulders, concealing any trace of her identity. Despite the late hour, the company buzzed with activity, employees caught up in the chaos following Maria's public scandal. As their attention remained fixed on damage control, the figure moved silently through the hallways, gliding toward the manager's office.
Inside the dimly lit office, the manager sat slumped, his fingers massaging his temples in exhaustion. He didn't look up until the woman closed the door behind her with a soft click, her presence suddenly registering. Startled, he gasped, a scream escaping his throat. She reached out, motioning for silence, but her attempts to calm him failed. Within seconds, two employees burst in to investigate the commotion. The manager, thinking quickly, waved them off. "Just a–a nightmare," he muttered, managing a weak smile.
The two employees exchanged uncertain glances, but after a moment, they retreated. Alone at last, the manager took a shaky breath. "Maria," he whispered, disbelief etched in his tone. "What on earth are you doing here?"
She removed her disguise and settled into the chair across from him, a practiced look of innocence softening her gaze. She knew her chances were slipping; either she'd fall to ruin, left with nothing, or she'd find a way back into the industry by any means necessary. Cain's silence had left her desperate—she needed another pawn in her game.
Tears pricked her eyes as she leaned in. "Mr. Brown, please. Can't you see I'm being framed? I had nothing to do with the scandal. Someone set me up to eliminate me."
The manager sighed, his skepticism clear, but even he couldn't wave off her reason. He knew Maria to be skilled in manipulation, but she wasn't the type to go as far as to seduce a forty-year-old man simply for fame. Scheming? Yes. But something about this felt off.
"But the evidence…" he said quietly. "Everything points to you, Maria."
Her expression turned pleading, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I went to that lunch with Cain. He even said he had a surprise for me. You have to believe me."
His eyes narrowed, a crease forming between his brows. "Cain's assistant already posted his whereabouts. He was in S City when this happened. Every bit of evidence contradicts your story."
Confusion flared in Maria's eyes. Cain—he was at both places? How could that be? She fought to suppress her frustration, her mind racing to untangle the mystery. Just then, the chief secretary entered, a stack of files in her hand. Maria barely had time to duck behind the desk.
"Finish this as soon as you can," the secretary instructed, placing a file on the manager's desk. "We need to distance ourselves from these scandals."
As the door closed behind her, Mr. Brown opened the file, his expression tightening when he saw its contents: Maria's termination letter.
Maria's shock morphed into rage quickly. Without thinking, she snatched the file, storming out of the office. A hush fell over the room as heads turned, eyes widening in surprise to see Maria so openly—and defiantly—making her exit. Unnerved glances passed between employees as they took in the scene unfolding before them. Security and the chief executive were summoned while the police were notified, leaving Maria and the manager unable to leave until they arrived.
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*At S City*
Cain gazed out at the darkened waves, the moon casting a silver glow over the water as he sat beside Claire. His face was shadowed with thought, his blue eyes shimmering with intensity as he finally broke the silence.
"Claire," he began, voice low and raw. "This isn't an excuse. It's not even close to redemption for what I did to you." He took a steadying breath, glancing toward the horizon before he spoke again.
"My mother left me when I was seven," he continued, his voice almost a whisper. "She betrayed my father, took his money, and ran off with someone else." The words came out slowly, laced with bitterness and pain. "I'd been certain I could never trust anyone, let alone fall in love. And then you came along."
The sadness in his gaze deepened, transforming his face under the moonlight into something almost ethereal. His vulnerability felt tangible, making him seem like a mythical figure of a greek god. He reached out his hand to Claire, an invitation in his eyes.
Hesitating, Claire looked at his outstretched hand, then up at his face, wavering. But then, slowly, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to draw her closer. Gently, he brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, letting his fingers linger against her skin, his eyes piercing into hers.
"Maria and I grew up together," he said, voice softening. "Maria's parents and mine were very close; we grewup together. Maria's dad passed away when she was three. She was raised by her mom. One night, when my mother–" he paused as disgust crept onto his face, "I hate to call that lady as my–" he looked away and continued.
"Maria's mother and this lady were close friends. One day as they were returning from a late-night party. The lady was too drunk to drive. While returing home, they met with an accident and she suffered serious casulities, but Maria's mom passed away before she even reached the hospital."
He sighed, sliding his hand in Claire's. He started walking as he narrated. "My father was a responsible man. He took Maria's custody and asked that lady to be responsible towards her. Since she was the one to make Maria a complete orphan, she was responsible for her until she stayed with us. Three years after this incident, the lady took away millions of dollars and eloped with her lover, leaving my father and me on our own. She's family to me—a responsibility. But when I heard you'd–that you'd assaulted her…" Cain's voice broke, the weight of guilt heavy in his tone.
He turned his gaze down, his fingers tightening around hers. "I thought you were just another girl trying to claw her way in by using her." He exhaled, eyes searching hers, haunted by regret. "But you're more than that, Claire. You're everything I didn't know I needed."
A tremor ran through her as he leaned down, his lips brushing softly against hers. Her heart pounded as his hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer. His lips trailed across her cheek, planting a tender kiss. The warmth of his touch, his breath against her skin, left her utterly breathless.
"It was only when I read what you'd suffered, saw the pain you'd endured that I realized," he murmured, his lips tracing a line on her neck. "I love you, Claire Miller. I've loved you for so long, even when I don't know when I fell for you."
Claire's world spun as she heard his confession, her pulse racing as his arms tightened around her. Her thoughts blurred, her heart in turmoil, stunned by the revelation she'd yearned for yet had never expected. Cain's fingers wove through her hair, his voice murmuring against her ear.
"Punish me if you need to, Claire. I deserve it. But know this—I'll make sure everyone who hurt you, everyone who took part in this, pays for what they've done. Even me."
"Sir, we're back to the shore. Would you like another ride, or…?" The captain's voice broke through the tension.
Cain loosened his hold, taking a step back though his gaze never left Claire's. "Do you want to stay a bit longer?" he asked her softly, almost hopeful.
But Claire was silent, too dazed to respond, her cheeks flushed and her mind a whirl. Taking her hand, Cain guided her off the yacht, then scooped her up effortlessly, carrying her back toward the penthouse.
Inside, he gently laid her down on the bed, his lips curling into a small smile as he looked at her, clearly amused by her stunned expression. Bending down, he planted a light kiss on her forehead, then brushed his lips against hers once more.
He gently patted on her head, "You take all the time you need, Claire," he whispered, his voice tender. "But rest for now." With one last lingering look, he left the room, allowing her to process everything, from his revelation to his confession.
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