Shattered Rose He Held On Tight novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44 A Warning in the Shadows

Sterling lifted Claudia’s chin and looked into her eyes. “Forget what others say. Just tell me–did celebrating your birthday make you happy?”

His gaze was steady and warm, like a deep pool that could hold everything. Claudia nodded, a little dazed.

Sterling smiled with satisfaction and gently patted her head.

“Sterling,” she hesitated, staring at the cake box. “Do you treat all your business partners this well?”

He pinched her cheek with a sly grin. “I don’t have that many people I plan to marry.”

So it was because she was his fiancée?

Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

A bond built on duty and benefit could be stronger than one built only on feelings.

Claudia lowered her lashes. She leaned into his chest and clung to his warmth.

For once, she allowed herself to be weak.

Even when he carried her into the bathroom, she was still out of it, clearly overwhelmed by the day.

Holding her close, Sterling kept one arm around her waist and ran his other hand through her rain–soaked hair. His voice teased, “What’s this? Want me to help you wash up?”

Claudia pushed him away weakly, saying nothing. Her dark eyes glistened as she stared at him.

“Alright, fine. Guess I owe you,” Sterling muttered, squeezing her cheek before turning to leave.

But a moment later, he returned with clean clothes.

Thanks to the month he spent recovering here, he knew her room like the back of his hand.

When Claudia noticed the nightgown he brought–complete with underwear–she finally felt embarrassed. Her face flamed red. “Why would you bring that too?”

Sterling looked away and jabbed, “What, you prefer wearing nothing underneath? I wouldn’t

mind.”

He said it lightly, but the red at the tips of his ears betrayed him.

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Chapter 44 A waliny in the SWS

Claudia jabbed his chest and easily shoved him out of the bathroom. “Out.”

Finished

The moment he stepped out, his expression hardened. The warmth he showed Claudia vanished, replaced by his usual cold edge.

He dialed a number. “Emosa’s Project. Is Lancaster Group bidding on it?

“Drop them. Give it to their rivals–Blight Tech.”

A chuckle answered on the other end. “What’s this? Did the Lancaster Group tick you off? That project’s everything to them. I heard they’re desperate to transform their business. They’ve been chasing this project for years.”

“They can’t even manage their household. They’re useless. Give them something else to keep them busy. They shouldn’t have so much free time.”

Free enough to gang up on my woman.

The rose he hadn’t even touched–others thought they could trample her with storm and rain.

This was just a warning.

If Claudia wanted to acknowledge them as family, he would hold back. But if she turned them away, he had hundreds of ways to crush them, and they deserved it all.

He swallowed down his fury and headed into the kitchen to brew lemon tea.

Meanwhile, Jasper still couldn’t find Claudia. Her phone went unanswered.

Sitting in his car, frustration weighing on him, his screen lit up with Lydia’s call.

For the first time, he felt annoyed at the sight of her call.

He would rather not answer, but the ringing wouldn’t stop.

At last, he pressed a hand to his forehead and picked up. “Lydia, what is it?”

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