Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Put It On, Don’t Take It Off

In an instant, all eyes at the restaurant entrance focused on Claire Kendall.

She was holding a clear umbrella. Rainwater slid down its surface, soaking one of her shoulders. Her long dress was slightly damp, clinging to her calves.

Claire Kendall stood at the bottom of the steps, her eyes crinkling into a smile as she nodded a greeting to the others.

"Dr. Warren, what are you spacing out for? Get in the car."

Miles Warren’s long lashes trembled. He bounded down the steps in two strides, took off his jacket, and draped the oversized blazer over her shoulders.

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. "How did you know I was here?"

"Dr. Keller’s social feed post had a location tag!" she said, tilting her head up at him. "I saw the forecast called for heavy rain and knew it would be hard to get a cab, so I left work early to come pick you up."

"Why didn’t you tell me? How long have you been waiting?"

She blinked and replied nonchalantly, "I don’t remember. My phone died, and I forgot to bring my charging cable."

She held up her phone and gave it a little shake. The screen was completely black; it wouldn’t turn on anymore.

’So her phone had died. She hadn’t seen that social feed post at all.’

A wave of emotion washed over Miles Warren’s eyes. He took the umbrella from her, grasped her hand tightly, and led her into the car.

Behind them, a dozen pairs of eyes were fixed on the couple, all filled with envy.

"I’m so jealous of Dr. Warren! He has a wife who cares about him and loves him so much."

"Right? What’s a phone call to check up on him compared to this? She was waiting outside in this downpour, who knows for how long."

"This couple... a handsome man and a beautiful woman. I think I can start shipping them."

"Professor Warren is usually so cold, but that look in his eyes just now was pure honey."

...

Everyone chattered excitedly, thoroughly enjoying the drama.

Only Jonathan Keller’s expression darkened.

’Claire Kendall, I hope your ’sincerity’ lasts a little longer this time. Even if you’re faking it, you’d better fake it for a lifetime.’

’If you keep being so hot and cold, I’m genuinely worried Miles Warren’s condition will worsen again.’

The two of them got into the car, the enclosed space feeling a little damp.

The windshield wipers swiped back and forth a couple of times, layering streaks of water on the glass. Claire buckled her seatbelt, but before she could speak, the man suddenly leaned in close.

He braced one hand on the edge of her seat and cupped the other around her waist.

The kiss was heavy, as if a whole evening of suppressed emotions had finally found an outlet.

Caught off guard, Claire flinched back instinctively, her head hitting the car window with a THUD.

"Stop, your colleagues are right outside. They haven’t left yet. This is so awkward..."

’Getting in the car and then just sitting here... People will get the wrong idea.’

"It’s legal," he murmured, closing in again.

Claire pressed both hands against his chest. "Dr. Warren, what’s gotten into you today?"

He didn’t answer. He rested his forehead against hers, his breathing still ragged. His lashes were lowered, hiding the turbulent emotions in his eyes.

After a long moment, he finally forced out a quiet whisper. "It’s nothing. I just missed you."

Claire noticed that his fingers, still gripping her waist, were trembling slightly. He didn’t let go for a long time, as if he were trying to confirm something.

She froze. ’I think I get it now.’

’Dr. Warren seems a little hurt. Did he think I wasn’t going to come?’

Claire unzipped her handbag, fumbled inside for a small, blue velvet box, and pressed it into Miles Warren’s hand.

"This is for you."

Miles flipped it open with one hand. Inside lay a simple men’s wedding band.

Claire’s voice was soft and a little hesitant. "From now on, you’ll wear this."

"And I’ll wear this." She held out her hand. On her ring finger was a new, simple diamond wedding ring.

It was a new matching set she had bought.

’She could accept that Miles had ’the one he never got over’, but she couldn’t bring herself to be magnanimous enough to wear the ring he had prepared for that person.’

Miles looked up and asked in a low voice, "What about the blue diamond ring?"

Claire’s heart skipped a beat.

’He asked about it after all.’

She bit her lip, forcing a relaxed tone. "It’s just not practical. A diamond that big is too flashy. I’ve already put it in your study. You should just... put it away."

’Put it away, and never take it out again.’

A flicker of something passed through Miles’s eyes.

That ring... After learning about the auction in South Africa, he had flown halfway across the world overnight to bid on it.

He’d had the letters "CK" engraved on the inner band right then and there.

Everyone had advised him against it, arguing that once it was engraved, it would be difficult to resell. At the time, he had said he would never resell it in his lifetime.

And he had, indeed, kept that promise.

’She just didn’t like it.’

Seeing his silence, Claire felt a pang of bitterness, assuming he was hesitating.

She grabbed his left hand and, without another word, slid the plain band onto his ring finger. It wasn’t too big or too small—a perfect fit.

"It may not be as valuable as the blue diamond one, but I spent a long time picking this out."

"Don’t you dare take it off."

Miles stared at the ring on his hand, his tone light but filled with deep certainty.

"I won’t."

’As long as she likes it.’

’Anything she gives me is good.’

-

In the study on the third floor of the old Warren family residence, the atmosphere was tense and somber.

Yvonne Warren stood before her father, not daring to breathe. Victor Warren furiously smashed a teacup, and Yvonne flinched back two steps as the shards flew.

"Useless! Letting a castoff who was kicked out of the Warren family steal the show at Wallace Sutton’s conference."

"You’re more of a hindrance than a help!"

Yvonne lowered her head and muttered, "So what if he stole the show? Grandfather already kicked him out for good. It’s not like he can inherit the Warren family fortune anyway."

Victor Warren sneered. "What do you know? I may be in this position now, but as long as the old man doesn’t sign the share transfer agreement, it’s all just empty talk!"

’The old man hasn’t given up on Miles completely. He’s just using me to provoke Miles, hoping he’ll come back, bow his head, and admit he was wrong.’

"Miles Warren performed a freelance surgery for Wallace Sutton’s mother. Wallace is bound to be grateful for him saving her life!"

Yvonne said jealously, "That bitch Claire Kendall is so lucky! She just got handed such a great partnership opportunity for free."

Victor Warren’s gaze grew colder and colder.

’Freelance surgery?’

’Right, what’s the point of taking away Miles’s inheritance? He doesn’t seem to care about it anyway.’

’If I’m going to destroy him, I have to destroy what he cares about most.’

’I so desperately want to see this self-righteous golden boy utterly defeated.’

’Oh, my dear little brother.’

A crazed, excited light ignited in Victor Warren’s eyes.

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