There were two staircases in the hall of the resort. While one led to rooms on the left side, the other led to the rooms on the right.
When Claire was returning back to her room from the right staircase, she heard some noises coming from downstairs from the other side.
She followed the source of the voice and found Archer's fiancée standing near the staircase with a water bottle in her hand. She seemed to be talking to someone.
Claire could hear his voice but she could not see his face because he had his back facing towards her.
She turned around to leave but her footsteps came to a halt when she heard the woman's words.
''No matter what, I don't want to see him with anyone else. In the end, only I can be his wife. The position of the Young Mistress of the Cardale Family and Archer Cardale's wife is only mine. I love him,'' Emily lowered her head, ''Uncle, you raised me after my parents passed away. You know me better than anyone else. Archer… I can never let go of him. He is mine.''
The man patted her head, ''Of course, Emi. He is yours. His father is my best friend and there is no way Archer will go back on his words. I will keep an eye on him.''
Initially, he was upset about why his friend would decide to hold this wedding in this deserted place which resembled some ancient castle but something finally caught his attention here.
The beauties… here were worth enjoying.
Be it that maid or be it that mysterious CEO, Claire Delaney.
Andrew was annoyed by the niece's interruption but he had raised her like his own daughter and he truly cared for her.
''Even though he said that he won't cheat on me or anything, I can't trust him just like that when I've seen how he was in the past,'' Emily sobbed.
She was already disturbed about this and earlier when she came downstairs to get the water bottle, she spotted her uncle so, in the end, she ended up venting her frustrations to him.
''Trust me with this. I have always seen you as my daughter. I won't let anyone wrong you. Now, go to bed and get your beauty sleep. Let's discuss this tomorrow.''
As Emily went to her room, Claire hid behind the railings in the dark corner.
When the man turned around, Claire could see the gentle expressions on his face under the dim lights of the chandelier.
Andrew Hale, Emily Hale's biological Uncle.
She walked towards him with a seductive smile on her face.
Andrew who was about to leave paused when he saw her, a flicker of lust flashed in his eyes before he disguised it, ''President Delaney, it's an honor to finally see you.''
''The bride's Uncle?"
''You know me?"
''How could I not know the great business tycoon Andrew Hale?"
Andrew smirked when she stepped closer to him.
''Are you going somewhere?'' he asked.
''To explore this place.''
''At this hour?"
"Yes, would you like to join?" Claire smiled at him, meaningfully.
…
''Where are you taking me, baby?" Andrew wrapped an arm around Claire's waist and pulled her closer to him, ''I can't wait,'' he whispered, placing a feathery kiss on her neck.
Claire smirked as she ran her pointed nails on his neck, a drop of blood appearing on his skin. A slight imbalance and her nail might pierce into some of his nerves, no?
''Good things take time,'' she pushed him away from her with a playful smile on her face and ran ahead inside the forest, her expressions morphing into undisguised hatred as soon as she turned around.
The gentle expression on his face right now was awfully similar to the expression he sported 16 years ago, on that dark night.
'Let us leave,' she had begged him after being fooled by his kind countenance.
And he had grabbed her hand forcefully, 'This one here would be precious,' she still remembered those words.
''The hours that are left in your short life…'' Claire turned around to look at the man who was running after her, ''…are way more precious,'' she murmured.
Andrew did not know how long he followed after her.
But when he stopped, he found himself standing inside a cave.
He was familiar with that cave.