Love Deceptions and Rebirth Novel – Chapter 3
I almost laughed.
Too much?
Last life, I compromised. When he said he’d drive Chloe, I mentioned the driver was gone. He snapped back, telling me to take a cab and be reasonable.
And my reasonableness got me beaten in an alley, hospitalized, and then called a slut when I got home bruised and broken.
Why be sensible now?
Chloe stepped in, mediating.
“Claire, Ethan didn’t mean it. You just got engaged—why make it ugly?”
She played peacekeeper, but her thoughts were sharp.
“Claire’s temper seems rough. If they marry, won’t Ethan have to walk on eggshells around her? So humiliating. I feel bad for him.”
Ethan, already irked by my jabs, found comfort in Chloe’s thoughts.
He looked at me with growing disdain.
A smooth, refined voice cut through the tension.
“Miss Claire, how about I drive you home? Your fiancé seems more interested in driving his childhood friend than giving you a ride.”
It was Nathan Cole—my boss, heir to the Cole Group, and now its CEO.
He approached, standing beside me, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses.
I hadn’t expected Nathan to help—we weren’t close.
At work, we only met for formal handoffs or meetings.
In my last life, this never happened. I didn’t know why this life was different, but I wouldn’t waste the chance.
Under Ethan’s sour look, I smiled at Nathan.
“Sounds good.”
I agreed fast, surprising everyone, including Nathan.
“What? Not driving me home? Let’s go.”
I raised a brow, smiling brightly.
Nathan blinked, his smile spreading, opening the car door, gesturing me in.
“Claire, you dare get in another man’s car in front of me?”
Ethan’s face darkened, fury blazing.
At his outrage, I leaned on Nathan’s shoulder, smiling softly.
“You dare drive another woman home in front of me. Of course I dare ride with another man.”
Ethan’s face turned livid as I got into Nathan’s car.
I took the passenger seat.
“Miss Claire, still playing Cinderella? Your fiancé’s parents don’t seem fond of your ‘humble’ background.”
Nathan’s lips curved faintly, hinting at amusement. I’d almost forgotten—Nathan wasn’t just my boss, but my neighbor.
Six or seven years older, in his thirties.
Despite being neighbors, we rarely crossed paths—he was busy as the Cole heir.
So was I.
I’d hidden my identity with Ethan. The Parkers didn’t know my real background. Compared to the Harper family, their wealth was new money.
Nathan, however, was the golden boy—the “other people’s child” I used to hate.
Now, he was my exploitative boss, and I couldn’t even curse him openly.
“Thanks, Mr. Cole. No need to worry. I’ll treat you to dinner soon.”
Slapping Ethan’s face in front of lingering guests felt oddly satisfying.
Nathan’s lips curved.
“Where to? Back to your place with Ethan?”
Before I answered, my phone rang.
Ethan’s furious voice:
“Claire, enough! Why aren’t you home this late?”
It was 11:30 p.m. In my last life, he wasn’t home until past 1 AM, tangled with Chloe.
Now, calling at 11:30, clearly because I left with Nathan. He drove Chloe, rushed home, found me gone, and called.
How utterly ridiculous.
When I cared, he was with Chloe. When I didn’t, he raced home to check on me.
“Home for what? This late, I’m obviously off to a hotel with an older man.”