guilt
1378 Words
A sleek black Bentley rolled to a stop in front of the restaurant.
Rain drummed steadily against the windshield.
William glanced through the rain-streaked window.
Claire was fast asleep, her head resting on the counter.
Even in her sleep, she shivered slightly.
He frowned.
What kind of i***t falls asleep alone in an empty restaurant?
He looked away.
Not my problem.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips.
Before he realized it...
He had already opened the car door.
Cold rain immediately drenched his shoulders as he hurried toward the restaurant, shielding his face with one hand.
He pushed open the glass door.
The restaurant was silent.
Completely empty.
His eyes swept across the restaurant before settling on Claire once again.
She was the only one left.
His brows knitted together.
How can she be here all alone?
Why do I even care?
He shook the thought away and walked over to her.
Carefully, he removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
She didn't stir.
For a brief moment, he simply stood there, looking at her.
Then he slid one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back.
She felt surprisingly light.
Making sure not to wake her, he lifted her into his arms and carried her through the rain toward the car.
---
William leaned back against the seat, his gaze fixed on the girl beside him.
She was still fast asleep.
But something seemed off.
Her eyebrows twitched every few seconds, as if she were trapped in another nightmare.
Suddenly...
She grabbed the front of his shirt.
William frowned.
"...What?"
He gently tried to loosen her fingers.
Instead...
She tightened her grip.
It was almost as if she was afraid to let go.
He sighed.
"...Unbelievable."
Giving up, he allowed her to hold onto him.
A few moments later...
Her head slowly rested against his shoulder.
William stiffened.
Damn it.
He looked down at her.
The tension on her face gradually disappeared.
She mumbled something softly beneath her breath.
He couldn't make out a single word.
Slowly...
Her eyebrows relaxed.
Her grip loosened.
William thought she would move away.
Instead...
Her head slipped from his shoulder until it rested lightly against his chest.
His heartbeat skipped.
Seriously?
He stared at her.
A loose strand of hair had fallen across her face, brushing against her slightly pouted lips.
Without thinking...
He raised his hand.
His fingers moved toward the strand of hair.
What are you doing, William?
He paused.
Just as he was about to brush it away....
Bump!
The car lurched over a pothole.
William shot an irritated glare at the front seat.
You've got to be kidding me Jason.
Claire suddenly stirred.
Her eyes fluttered open.
She blinked several times before sitting upright.
Confusion filled her face.
She looked out the rain-covered window.
Then around the car.
Her breathing gradually became uneven.
She still hadn't noticed William sitting beside her.
Before panic could take over, he spoke.
"You think if I wanted to kidnap you..."
He folded his arms.
"...I'd do it like this?"
Claire's breathing stopped for a second.
Slowly...
She turned toward the voice.
The moment she saw him...
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
"...William?"
He leaned back against the seat.
"You're welcome."
Without another word, he pulled a packet of cigarettes from his pocket.
He slipped one between his lips and flicked open his lighter.
The small flame danced for a second before the cigarette caught fire.
He inhaled deeply.
The smoke slowly filled the car.
Almost immediately—
Claire coughed.
William glanced sideways.
Seriously....?
"What the hell are you..."
Cough.
"...doing?"
She covered her mouth, coughing harder.
"What do you want from me?"
Another fit of coughing interrupted her.
"Please..."
She struggled to breathe.
"...Stop."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"I'm... allergic to smoke..."
William's expression hardened.
His jaw tightened.
He hadn't known.
For the first time...
A flicker of guilt crossed his face.
"Jason."
"Yes, sir?"
"Pull over."
Jason looked at him through the rear-view mirror.
"Sir?"
William's cold gaze met his.
Without another word...
Jason nodded immediately.
"Yes, boss."
The Bentley slowed to a stop at the side of the road.
Without looking at Claire, William spoke.
"Get out."
Claire stared at him in disbelief.
"...What?"
"You heard me."
His voice remained cold.
"I said, get out."
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Claire's lips.
"You've got to be kidding me."
She let out a quiet laugh, though there was no humor in it.
"I never asked for your help in the first place."
William remained silent.
"You were the one who carried me into your car."
She looked out the rain-covered window.
"And now you're telling me to get out?"
She laughed again, shaking her head.
"Can't you see it's raining?"
William took another drag from his cigarette.
"I don't care."
Claire slowly turned toward him.
For the first time, anger burned in her eyes.
"Oh, I know you don't."
She leaned forward.
"But maybe you should've thought about that before dragging me into your car."
She pointed toward the rain outside.
"Do you know how dangerous it is out there this late at night?"
"The town isn't safe anymore."
Her voice trembled with frustration.
"And you know that."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Are you really that heartless?"
William met her gaze without flinching.
"...Yes."
A heavy silence settled inside the car.
Claire gave a slow nod.
"I see."
She unfastened her seatbelt.
The click echoed through the quiet car.
She reached for the door handle.
Before stepping out, she paused.
"You know what..."
She looked back at him.
"...Screw you."
She slammed the door behind her.
Bang!
Rain instantly soaked her clothes as she disappeared into the darkness.
William didn't react.
"Drive."
Jason hesitated.
"...Yes, sir."
The Bentley slowly pulled away.
.....
William leaned back in his seat.
He watched Claire through the side mirror.
She wrapped her arms around herself, standing alone beneath the heavy rain.
She looked so...
Small.
He quickly looked away.
Not my problem.
He raised the cigarette to his lips.
But somehow...
It didn't taste the same anymore.
Five minutes passed.
Silence filled the car.
Then Claire's words echoed inside his mind.
"Do you know how dangerous it is out there this late at night?"
"The town isn't safe anymore."
"Are you really that heartless?"
William shut his eyes.
"...Damn it."
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
She was right.
The streets weren't safe at night.
What if something happened to her?
His jaw tightened.
"Jason."
"Yes, boss?"
"Turn the car around."
Jason blinked.
"...Sir?"
William's voice turned icy.
"I said..."
"Turn the car around."
"Right away."
Jason made a quick U-turn.
The Bentley sped back through the rain.
---
A few minutes later...
They arrived at the same spot.
Claire was gone.
William frowned.
"She was standing here."
Jason nodded.
"Yes, boss."
William immediately unbuckled his seatbelt.
"Boss?"
"I'm going to find her."
Jason looked stunned.
"Stay in the car."
Without waiting for a response, William stepped into the pouring rain.
Cold water soaked him within seconds.
He searched every corner of the street.
Nothing.
He checked the nearby shops.
Still nothing.
His breathing became heavier.
"...Where are you?"
For the first time in years...
He felt uneasy.
A strange weight settled in his chest.
What if she ran into trouble?
What if someone found her before I did?
He clenched his fists.
"...Damn it."
He ran a hand through his dripping hair.
"What the hell are you doing to me...?"
Just then...
His eyes caught movement across the street.
He stopped.
A familiar figure.
Claire.
Relief washed over him.
She's safe.
She was climbing into a taxi.
His shoulders relaxed—
Until he noticed someone standing beside her.
William's expression darkened.
Fred.
Fred gently draped a jacket over Claire's shoulders before helping her into the passenger seat.
He closed the door carefully, then walked around and got into the taxi beside her.
The taxi pulled away into the rain.
William stood motionless.
The relief he had felt moments ago disappeared, replaced by something he couldn't quite explain.
His jaw tightened.
He looked away.
"What was I thinking..."
He turned and walked back toward the Bentley.
"I never should've come back........
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