Chapter 502: Betrayed by the Closest Person
Claire Sinclair gazed bewilderedly at the departing figure of Zion Prescott, silently pondering what Zion truly meant.
Could it be that, to ensure the movie investment won’t end in losses, Zion agreed to let her date Jude Grant?
Was this merely a temporary tactical retreat, or did it mean... he’s decided to let her go completely from now on?
As the latter possibility crossed her mind, Claire’s heart began to race uncontrollably.
Zion Prescott, would he really be willing to let her go?
Recalling the moment she almost fell but was caught in time by Zion, Claire could nearly smell the strong masculine scent emanating from him. Before, Zion never smoked...
But this time, Claire distinctly smelled a hint of smoke, which she found slightly unpleasant.
He had changed a lot.
Claire refused to think about how Zion had become what he was now, considering how much "contribution" she had made, it would naturally be best to end this ill-fated love affair.
...
The thought of being able to start anew with Jude brought a gentle curve to Claire’s eyes. She let out a long sigh of relief, but ignored a certain subtle pain in her heart.
The cold wind was brisk, and Claire’s ears were reddened by the chill as she walked through the abandoned square, devoid of passersby or any stalls offering refuge from the cold.
Claire silently hugged herself, walked to the front of an abandoned store sign, and took out her phone to check what messages Jude had sent her.
Because she had blocked Jude on WeChat when she asked for a breakup and then turned off her phone, Jude had no choice but to send her dozens of text messages.
——Claire, did I do something wrong? Claire, please don’t scare me like this.
——Claire, I really like you so much, love you so much, I’ve never loved and pursued anyone like this before. Tell me what you’re dissatisfied with and I’ll change, but please don’t condemn me suddenly.
Claire struggled to read two or three messages, but couldn’t bear to continue. She could easily guess the heartache of that sunny boy, with every word questioning and lamenting her sudden breakup.
...
Jude, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, you’re actually really good.
Really good.
Claire closed her eyes, standing in the abandoned store’s entrance, gazing into the distance where a car might come.
Just as she watched anxiously, she noticed a familiar grey-blue Lamborghini parked under a tree nearby.
Is that... Zion Prescott’s car?
Claire widened her eyes in disbelief, with a hint of hesitation between her brows.
Zion hasn’t left yet?
Wasn’t Jude supposed to come soon?
...
While Claire was puzzled, she suddenly saw a fiery red Aston Martin speeding towards her, coming to a screeching halt as its driver rushed over, shouting.
"Claire! Thank goodness! I finally found you!"
Jude dashed over in disarray, his hair, despite the winter, was damp with sweat, showing his anxiety.
Claire was held by Jude, feeling lost and bewildered, but her eyes couldn’t help but glance toward where Zion had parked.
Yet, as she looked closely again, the Lamborghini was nowhere to be seen.
"Was it Zion... was it your uncle who told you I was here?"
Claire hesitated to ask, her eyes reflecting unresolved bitterness.
"Yes!"
Jude, overwhelmed by the excitement of finding Claire, completely missed the unnatural expression on his girlfriend’s face.
Claire stiffened instantly.
"Jude, aren’t you curious how your uncle found me?"
Claire tentatively asked, lowering her lashes, suddenly feeling a strong impulse to tell the truth about everything.
When you tell one lie, you need thousands of others to support it. Claire felt exhausted, deciding to tear down all her facades in front of Jude’s clear and heartfelt eyes.
Yet, when Jude heard her obvious hint, he didn’t follow her lead but instead held her tightly, his eyes filled with joy at the reunion and admiration for his uncle Zion.
"What’s so strange about that? My uncle, if he wants to find someone, he will find them."
"Claire, you don’t understand my uncle. He’s actually amazing! I bet he even retrieved surveillance footage from the traffic department..."
...
Claire stared blankly at the boy holding her tightly, feeling a chill in her heart.
She wondered if her previous thoughts were a mistake.
It didn’t matter if Jude lost her.
But she knew how much Jude admired his distant uncle of a different surname. When Jude started his career, Zion often helped him.
Moreover, Zion had always been Jude’s beacon in the ocean, his guiding light. If both his dearest and most loved betrayed him, Claire didn’t know if Jude could bear it.
"Jude, I’m sorry, I’ve been too capricious..."
Claire closed her eyes, a bitter smile playing on her lips as she buried her face in his shoulder, letting a single tear soak into his collar and then quickly disappear.
"If I did something wrong, would you forgive me?"
Jude lifted Claire’s shoulders seriously, his voice resolute.
"Claire, as long as you don’t leave me, everything else can be solved."
"Regarding your visit to Blue Abyss Rose, my uncle already explained it to me. It’s because he didn’t trust my judgment, so he sent you there. Unexpectedly, it turned into such a big issue."
"..." Claire took a breath, forcing a smile: "Is that so?..."
"Yes, Claire, I’ve already contacted Director Chapman about the reporters, let’s go clarify that you’re my girlfriend, walking upright and proper. Who can say you’ve come by improper means?"
With that, Jude pulled Claire swiftly into the car.
...
No one saw, in a blind spot nearby, a grey-blue Lamborghini was quietly parked.
Watching the fiery red Aston Martin drive further away, Zion finally rolled down his window and pressed out a field of cigarette butts.
The smoke swirling.
That woman, when with him, always acted like a hedgehog facing an enemy, but with Jude, she seemed so demure and delicate.
Perhaps, it was time to... let go.
Zion blew out a smoke ring, his eyes inscrutable, finally leaving behind only a self-deprecating smile.
He took out his phone and sent a text message.
——Release Claire Sinclair’s audition video.