A Bumpy Road to Power

Boyd certainly didn't want to leave.

He glanced at Dirk, seeming still a bit uneasy.

Dirk comforted him, saying, "It's okay, you go ahead, I'll take good care of her."

Compared to himself, Dirk was clearly more professional.

Boyd finally nodded and left, looking back repeatedly as he walked.

After he left,

Claire forced herself to sit up.

Seeing this, Dirk quickly supported her waist and propped a pillow behind her.

With this, she could barely recline half-lying on the bed.

"I know, Boyd's feelings for me aren't just like an elder brother's love; there's something else, but all along, I've always seen him as a brother, and nothing beyond that."

Claire looked in the direction of the door and spoke weakly.

Dirk nodded, saying, "I know, I can tell. It's for this reason that he harbors animosity towards me. After all, I'm not exactly a good man."

Upon hearing this,

Claire covered her mouth and chuckled.

She said, "It's the first time I've seen someone say bad things about themselves."

"Haha, one must clearly understand one's own position. 'If I don't enter hell, who will?'."

As he said this, Claire suddenly asked, "Is there really no hope left?"

Dirk actually didn't want to answer this question.

But he couldn't deceive Claire.

After a pause, he said, "Perhaps it's just my medical skills that are limited; maybe there are even better doctors out there who can find a way."

Upon hearing this,

Claire forced another smile,

and said, "If the famous George Carter's son says there's no hope for me, maybe there really isn't, how long do I have left?"

Dirk shook his head, saying, "I don't know, maybe soon, maybe one or two months, but of course, it could be longer."

Claire wasn't foolish.

She knew Dirk's mention of it could be longer was just to comfort her.

She nodded.

Taking a glance around the windowless room,

she said, "You said last time to let me bask in the sun more, and I didn't listen to you. Now that I think about it, it seems like it's been a very long time since I've left this room, so long that I can't even remember what it's like outside."

"How about I carry you to the rooftop for a look?"

Dirk asked.

Claire hesitated.

But ultimately nodded.

Dirk carefully lifted Claire's quilt, found a slightly thicker sleepwear by the bed, and put it on her.

Carrying her on his back, he walked out of the bedroom, out of the office.

As they entered the corridor,

Claire turned back for a look.

Murmuring, she said, "The last time I stepped out of this door must have been many years ago."

Dirk felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

He went straight to the elevator.

Upon reaching the top floor, he pushed open the door leading to the rooftop.

A gentle breeze blew; Claire couldn't help but start coughing.

"Are you okay?"

Dirk asked.

Claire shook her head, saying, "I'm fine; the natural wind blowing on me feels really good, unlike the air-conditioned wind, which feels so dry and unfeeling."

It's the first time he'd heard someone use "unfeeling" to describe the wind from air conditioning.

Yet at that moment, Dirk found that this word was apt.

On the rooftop, there was a stone slab.

Dirk placed Claire on the stone slab.

Luckily,

today the weather was really fine.

Neither cold nor hot.

The sun warming the body was very pleasant.

"Do you know why I've hardly left the house all these years?"

Nestled against Dirk, Claire asked.

Dirk exhaled deeply, saying, "Is it because of the Houseman family's pursuit?"

"That's just one reason. There's an even more important reason; the world is too beautiful, and I'm afraid seeing too much of its hustle and bustle, too much of its glamour, would make me forget how my parents died."

"So your office and room have no extra furniture also for this reason?"

Claire nodded slightly.

Consider it an admission.

At that moment,

Dirk's heart filled with respect.

In a sense, he and the Claire in his arms were the same.

They both bore the grudge of a father's murder.

But they took completely different paths.

Claire's capabilities were too weak.

Her shoulders couldn't bear such heavy hatred.

But she persisted for ten years.

Although the ultimate revenge was still far away, she kept moving forward, never stopping.

"Have you ever regretted?"

Dirk asked.

Claire's face was right on Dirk's shoulder; they were very close.

She opened her beautiful eyes, looked at Dirk, and asked, "If you chose not to seek revenge, not to pursue justice, you would have had more opportunities and a better future. Have you ever regretted it?"

Dirk was taken aback.

Then laughed heartily.

Claire, although not loudly laughing,

also followed suit and laughed.

No matter how difficult the road ahead or how the illness tormented, it seemed in those brief laughs, they became insignificant.

"Dirk, can you kiss me?"

Suddenly,

Claire asked Dirk.

Dirk lowered his head to glance at her, asking, "Didn't we already kiss last time?"

"That was my first kiss."

Claire said.

Dirk was stunned.

Seemingly understanding something.

Teased, "Was it so wonderful that you want to try again?"

Claire's pale face suddenly blushed a little, embarrassed and at a loss for words.

Dirk straightened up, pinched her chin.

Studying her closely,

he said, "You truly are beautiful; you're the most beautiful woman I've ever known."

"You must be trying to sweet-talk me."

"No, I'm serious. Even if others were here, I'd say the same; you're breathtakingly beautiful."

After saying that,

Dirk pressed his lips against hers.

Initially, it was just a gentle touch of the lips.

Then,

Dirk began to explore inside with his tongue.

Claire at first was quite clumsy.

But gradually, under Dirk's guidance, she became fervent.

Her breathing grew ever more rapid, and her kiss with Dirk became ever more intense.

This kiss,

lasted about two to three minutes.

When they finally separated,

Dirk suddenly shuddered.

Gazed at Claire in disbelief.

Claire shyly asked, "What's wrong?"

Dirk didn't answer.

Kissed her again.

After another passionate interlude,

Dirk quickly let go and looked at her again.

This string of actions left Claire feeling lost.

"What's the matter..."

Dirk asked, "How does your body feel?"

Claire focused to feel, saying, "I don't know why, but it seems my body feels stronger than before; maybe it's the effect of the sun..."

"I know, I know..."

Dirk suddenly stood up excitedly, waving his arms and legs like a madman.

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