Chapter 291: 291

The tension between us was suffocating. The moment Victor’s lips left mine, I took a shaky breath, my thoughts spiraling. His possessive words echoed in my mind—words meant to reassure me, to cement his hold on me. But they did the opposite.

I pushed him away, my hands trembling as I put distance between us. “That’s not how this works, Victor. You don’t just get to kiss me and expect me to forget everything.”

His jaw clenched. “You let people get in your head too easily, Clara.”

I shook my head. “No. I just refuse to be blind.”

His gaze darkened as he took a step forward. “And what exactly do you think you see?”

I exhaled sharply. “I see a man who claims I’m his, but keeps a woman like her so close. She’s in your office, at your meetings, in your life, Victor. How am I supposed to ignore that?”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “I told you—she’s nothing.”

“She doesn’t seem to think so,” I snapped. “She warned me about you. Said I was just another piece in your game. And you know what? Sometimes I wonder if she’s right.”

Victor’s expression turned lethal. “She’s manipulating you.”

“Then prove it!” I demanded. “Prove to me that I’m not just another disposable piece on your chessboard. Because right now, it feels like I am.”

His hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, his grip firm but not painful. “You think I would go through all this trouble just to throw you away?” His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the dangerous edge beneath it. “I don’t waste my time on things that don’t matter, Clara. You matter.”

My heart pounded against my ribs, but I refused to let my emotions cloud my judgment. “Then show me.”

For a long moment, he didn’t say anything. His thumb brushed against my pulse point, feeling how erratic it was. Then, as if coming to a decision, he let go. “Fine. You want proof? I’ll give you proof.”

Before I could ask what he meant, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving me breathless and more confused than ever.

The next day at work, I was on edge. I didn’t know what Victor was planning, but I knew him well enough to understand that when he set his mind on something, he followed through.

I was typing an email when a hushed murmur swept through the office. My fingers froze above the keyboard as I felt the shift in atmosphere. Then, a familiar voice sent ice down my spine.

“Clara.”

I turned slowly to find her standing there, poised and confident, her lips curved in that infuriating smirk. “Did you need something?” I asked, forcing my voice to remain steady.

Her eyes gleamed with amusement. “I heard Victor made an interesting decision this morning.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, you don’t know?” She let out a delighted laugh. “He cut ties with me. Completely. Said my services were no longer required.”

My breath caught. Victor had actually done it?

“I must admit,” she continued, stepping closer, “I didn’t think he had it in him. He always knew how to play his cards right. But it looks like you’ve become a weak spot for him.”

I squared my shoulders. “Or maybe he just realized you weren’t as valuable as you thought you were.”

Her smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered. “Careful, Clara. Men like Victor don’t change. They just adapt. Right now, he’s proving a point to you. But when the game shifts again, don’t be surprised when you find yourself on the losing end.”

I refused to let her words get to me. “We’ll see about that.”

She studied me for a moment longer, then shrugged. “Enjoy your little victory while it lasts.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.

My head was spinning. Victor had actually listened to me. He had cut her off. It was the kind of proof I had demanded—but why did it still feel like a temporary win?

That evening, I found Victor waiting for me outside my apartment. He leaned casually against his car, the city lights casting shadows over his sharp features.

“You fired her,” I said as I approached him.

His lips quirked slightly. “You wanted proof.”

I crossed my arms. “And just like that, she’s gone?”

“Just like that,” he confirmed. “She was a problem for you, so I removed her.”

I swallowed hard. “That easy, huh?”

His expression shifted, becoming something unreadable. “Nothing is easy with you, Clara.”

A strange mix of emotions swirled in my chest. “So what now?”

Victor stepped closer, invading my space the way he always did. “Now, you stop doubting me.”

I searched his face, looking for any trace of deception. But all I found was a man who had made a choice. For me.

I exhaled slowly. “I don’t know how to just turn it off, Victor.”

His fingers brushed against my jaw, tilting my chin upward. “Then don’t. Keep questioning me. Keep challenging me. Just don’t walk away.”

My heart thundered. “That’s what you’re really afraid of, isn’t it?”

His eyes darkened. “You have no idea.”

And then, he kissed me.

Not just to silence my doubts, not just to prove a point. It was something deeper, something raw. Something real.

And for the first time, I allowed myself to believe it might actually be enough.