Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 97: Once Less Each Time

Zoey Adler raised an eyebrow unexpectedly, "Is this a thank-you gift for me?"

Tristan Lockwood replied flatly, "Yes."

Zoey’s eyes crinkled into a smile. This was her favorite among all the gifts she had helped him choose. She hadn’t expected Tristan, who seemed so cold, to be such an attentive man.

The most important thing was, he remembered her preferences.

Doesn’t that mean she still has a chance to take advantage of the situation?

However, what Zoey imagined was really just Tristan picking the bag that was most convenient to grab.

When he was shopping, his mind was entirely focused on whether Claire Hale would like it, not on Zoey’s preferences.

After sending Zoey off, Tristan called Claire.

A long, rhythmic beeping sounded in his ear, ending with a message: The person you are trying to reach is unavailable.

Tristan hesitated, staring at the name Claire Hale on the screen, and then, as if driven by a strange impulse, changed it to Wife.

Then he dialed again.

Still no answer.

Tristan knew some of Claire’s habits quite well.

For example, at this hour, around eight or nine in the evening, she was likely still busy with work on her phone. Even if she wasn’t looking at it, there was a high chance she would hear it ring. If she didn’t pick up after two calls, it was intentional.

The look in the mall wasn’t just a figment of his imagination.

Tristan rubbed his temple, feeling an inexplicable frustration. He sensed that she was angry with him, but he wasn’t particularly in the mood to placate her.

Especially when he thought of her cold face.

And that sharp tongue of hers.

Over the years, they had so many arguments; at the core, neither was willing to let go of their pride. Compromise wasn’t in their vocabulary; all they had were verbally cutting comebacks that hurt the other more.

But in the next second, Tristan’s mind flashed to the image of Claire comforting Joy Sharp gently at the hospital that day.

He ended up calling her again, telling himself that three times should be enough, and he wouldn’t bother if she didn’t respond this time.

Unsurprisingly, there was still no answer.

Tristan didn’t call again. After parking the car, he headed straight back to the hotel.

After showering, he glanced at his phone, noticing that Claire hadn’t returned the two calls.

He checked the time once more; it had been over an hour.

Just then, Nathan Quinn sent him a message on WeChat, a screenshot of Claire’s recent Facebook post.

She had posted a photo of a full moon, tagged in Kingsford.

Tristan scrolled through his own feed, but he didn’t see the post.

Not only was she not answering her phone, but she was also blocking him.

Tristan chuckled darkly, sending Nathan a reply: [Get in touch with Tina Hayes, find out Claire’s hotel address in Kingsford. I need the details.]

Nathan replied: [I don’t have that kind of pull. You know as well as I do, dealing with Tina is as tough as dealing with your wife!]

Tristan: [You have ten minutes.]

...

When Claire heard someone knocking on the door, she had just gotten out of the shower, her hair still dripping water on her shoulders.

Frowning, she peeked through the peephole, and her expression changed instantly.

Wearing a perfectly tailored suit, standing outside was none other than Tristan.

At the same time, she received a two-word message on WeChat from him: Open the door.

Claire stood in place for a minute, hesitant to move.

Tristan wasn’t in a hurry. He stood quietly at the door, waiting patiently.

Given how quickly he found where she was staying, there was no telling what other methods he might use to enter her room.

After some contemplation, Claire decided to open the door.

However, she stood at the entrance for quite a while, forgetting that she had just taken a bath. Her robe was loosely tied, her wet hair hanging over her fragrant shoulders, the air filled with a fresh yet subtle scent of shampoo.

In an instant, Tristan’s gaze darkened, and he pulled her into an embrace, kissing her suddenly. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

She resisted, but his kissing skills were too good, turning her struggles into a reluctant reciprocation.

When he pressed her against the door, his hand gripping her waist, Claire frowned, trying to push him away, "We shouldn’t be doing this right now."

Two people about to go their separate ways, physical entanglement would only deepen the attachment.

At least for Claire, making love and feelings went hand in hand.

Tristan continued kissing her lower lip, murmuring, "Just one less time, isn’t it?"

That remark only made Claire more alert.

She forcefully restrained his hands, preventing him from going further.

Tristan paused, meeting her icy stare. His interest waned, and he withdrew.

"You came to Kingsford without telling me or answering my calls. Any particular reason?" he asked casually.

Claire responded coolly, "Didn’t want to bother you."

"You’re still my wife; nothing you do could be a bother."

Even as he spoke, Tristan frowned slightly, unsure if it was due to being spotted with Zoey in the mall. Even though he and Zoey were innocent, he couldn’t shake a faint sense of guilt.

Claire merely gave him a long look before suddenly saying, "That statement might come a little too late."

In fact, it’s not just that statement.

Also the sporadic tenderness during the few days he was away on business; things that seemed ordinary to others were precious between them.

Tristan studied her intently, ignoring her words. Instead, he changed the subject, "Zoey and I were just shopping, I was selecting a gift, and she was offering advice."

"Hmm."

She replied nonchalantly, uninterested in what gift he was buying or for whom.

It certainly wouldn’t be for her.

They had known each other for so many years, he had never done anything like this for her.

Tristan glanced at her calm face and walked further into the room, asking, "How long have you been in Kingsford? When do you leave?"

Claire: "I came yesterday and leave the day after tomorrow."

Tristan nodded, "I have surgery tomorrow afternoon, need to go back in the morning. Let me know your flight, I’ll meet you at the airport."

"No need to trouble yourself," Claire refused without hesitation.

She paused, then turned to look at the night view outside the window, "Tristan, with how things are between us now, I think it’s best we part amicably. There’s no need for unnecessary complications, don’t you think?"

"Unnecessary complications?" Tristan squinted, stepping behind her to encircle her waist, "You mean this?"

"Something like that."

On certain matters, she didn’t like to beat around the bush and preferred to lay everything out in the open.

"I can sense you’ve been pretty nice to me these past few days, more so than ever before," she continued. "But I also know that these gestures come with the understanding that we’re separating, so they can’t last. Better to nip it in the bud, right?"