Chapter 198

Claire Richards felt her blood run cold. It was like getting hit with a sudden blast of cold air—completely wiped out all the sweetness and warmth from earlier. Her eyes stayed calm as she looked at Tessa Howard, who stood there looking all elegant and aloof. That chill didn’t stop—it seeped right into her chest, dragging out a quiet sigh… There’d be no more dreamy nights like last night. She just wanted to go see the kitten. She wanted one more warm, tangled dream. She wasn’t asking for too much. But clearly, Mrs. Archer’s patience had hit its limit. "You two..." Tessa's eyes were locked onto their interlocked hands. Her face was trying to stay composed, but the hurt was obvious—and it looked like she was seconds away from losing it. Claire pulled her hand back. The moment she did, a warm, dry hand gripped hers again. She glanced at him—Really? That’s what she thought, but… still, her fingers tightened around his. Julian Archer turned and glared at the uninvited guest on the couch, hi