I Woke Up Seven Years Later And Left My Cheating Husband Chapter 14
Claire’s aunt did not ask too many details about the divorce.
She only patted the back of Claire’s hand gently.
“Out with the old, in with the new. As long as you’ve figured it out and left him, that’s what matters. Worstcase, you can stay here in Scandinavia with me and start a whole new life.”
Claire forced a smile at her aunt and lowered her head to help Preston pick up the sign.
But when she reached out, her sleeve tugged upward and revealed a large burn mark on her arm.
Preston’s gaze darkened at once. He grabbed her wrist. “What happened?”
Claire had left in such a rush that her injuries had not fully healed. It was not just her arm. The places hiddeunder her clothes were marked the same way.
The only fortunate thing was that her face had not been injured.
She immediately pulled her hand back and used her sleeve to cover the burn scar.
“It’s nothing. I got burned by accident before.”
Preston’s gaze darkened, and it was obvious he did not believe her. “Claire, did the Fords mistreat you?”
His tone sounded as if he truly cared.
Claire found it almost ridiculous. After all, she and Preston were not exactly close. They had only lived under the same roof for a short while when they were children.
She felt the discomfort of having her privacy exposed, and her voice turned colder with it.
“That’s none of your business.”
Preston froze, then withdrew his hand awkwardly. “Sorry.”
For the rest of the ride, Preston drove and did not say another word.
Only when he dropped them off at the villa and Claire was about to get out did Preston finally speak.
“If you need anything, contact me anytime. Here’s my WhatsApp.”
Claire hesitated for a moment, but she still added him by scanning his QR code.
Preston had barely left when her aunt came over with a nosy grin.
“So? Preston’s pretty good, isn’t he?”
“He heard a few days ago that you were coming and volunteered to pick you up. I’d say he has a bit of a crush on you.”
You’re divorced anyway, so why not consider him? I watched him grow up, so I know him inside and out He
hasn’t dated anyone all these years and has thrown himself completely into work. He’s a good man
Claire cut her off helplessly. “I just ended a marriage. I really don’t want to step into another one so soon
“No one said you had to marry him.” Her aunt looked at her in exasperation. “Men are for having fun with.
Enjoy them, and when you’re done, kick them to the curb. Why did you have to be so stubbornly hung up on
one man before, acting like once you chose him, it had to be him forever? Now you’ve learned the hard way that the only person in this world you can trust is yourself.”
After a pause, her aunt added, “Of course, you can trust me too. I’m more reliable than any man.”
Claire did not know whether to laugh or cry.
She did not take her aunt’s words to heart, but she did not expect Preston to start appearing in her life again and again.
He often came over to mooch dinner at their place. On weekends, he took her shopping, introduced her to new friends, and even invited her to movies and camping trips.
It looked very much as if he were pursuing her.
Even her aunt asked, “Preston is honestly great. Are you really not tempted?”
After being asked over and over, Claire somehow began to feel the suggestion taking root in her mind.
After that, whenever she saw Preston, she actually felt a little self-conscious.
So when Preston invited her to a dinner party one evening, she turned him down.
“I have something tonight, so I won’t go.”
Preston paused. “What is it?”
Claire made something up on the spot. “A friend asked me to dinner.”
Preston looked helpless. “I know all your friends here, and everyone is going to the dinner party tonight.”
After being caught in her lie, Claire was so embarrassed that she simply blurted out the truth.
“Preston, are you trying to date me?”
Preston’s expression froze.
A flicker of embarrassment crossed his eyes. Claire came back to her senses too and wished she could slap herself.
How could she have asked that out loud?
Claire hurriedly tried to explain. “That’s not what I meant. I mean…”
But before she could finish, Preston lifted his head and answered calmly.
“Yes I am”
Claire froze. Heat rushed to her cheeks until her entire face was red.
“Claire, I know you just came out of a relationship that nearly broke you, so you don’t want to start a new one.”
“That’s okay. I’m a patient man. I can wait.”
“I’ll wait until the day you’re willing to let everything go and start over.”
Preston’s gaze was deep and steady as he looked at her, his eyes filled with sincerity and openness.
Claire’s heart, which she had thought was already dead, suddenly began to race wildly.
For a moment, she did not know how to face his sincerity, so she quickly turned away.
“I… I’m going to change clothes.”
Preston froze. “What?”
“Didn’t you say we were going to a dinner party?”
Claire covered her burning face and rushed upstairs.