Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Get Far Away From Me

Just a few careless words from Ian Rhodes were enough to obliterate Miles Warren’s composure.

As the downpour raged, Miles Warren charged through the cordon like a madman.

Jonathan Keller parked his car and sprinted after him, grabbing his arm in a death grip.

"Are you crazy? That building has already half-collapsed! Do you have a death wish?!"

Miles Warren was terrifyingly strong. He flung Jonathan’s hand off, sending him sprawling into the mud.

His voice was hoarse, his eyes wild with obsession.

"She’s in there. I have to find her."

"The site’s been cleared! Everyone was evacuated! Claire Kendall values her life too much to still be in there! Snap out of it!"

A roar filled his ears, and the wind shrieked around him.

Miles Warren couldn’t hear a thing.

"I didn’t see her. I have to go in and find her. I can’t risk it."

The last glimmer of clarity in the man’s eyes shattered. Driven by a reckless obsession, he broke through the warning cordon.

RUMBLE—

The ground shook violently. The remaining half of the factory, unable to withstand the onslaught of the storm, gave way and collapsed.

"Miles Warren!" Jonathan Keller screamed, his heart stopping as he watched helplessly.

Amidst the flying dust, Miles Warren staggered back to his feet and charged onto the ruins.

He fell to his knees at the entrance and began clawing at the bricks and rubble with his bare hands. They were soon dripping with blood, and the muscles all over his body trembled and spasmed uncontrollably.

The somatic symptoms of his condition flared up again, but he ignored them, frantically digging through the stones like a man possessed.

Muddy water splattered his entire body. His shirt, long since soaked through, clung to his back.

Blood dripped from his fingertips, but he felt no pain.

’She’s still in there. That is the real pain, a torment worse than death, a pain that carves out the heart and grinds the bones.’

Watching Miles Warren’s crazed and wretched state from behind the police line, Ian Rhodes burst into wild, shrill laughter.

"Miles Warren, Claire Kendall is dead! If I can’t have her, neither can you!"

"Her death is the best possible outcome. Only if she’s dead have I, Ian Rhodes, not lost!"

Jonathan Keller struggled to his feet and, seeing Ian Rhodes, began to curse him out.

"Who the fuck are you? Are you fucking sick in the head? Can you stop provoking him?!"

’First one, then the other. Both of them have lost their minds over Claire Kendall! What a damn disaster!’

At the edge of the ruins, Miles Warren had actually managed to dig out a narrow opening with his bare hands. He bent down and began to squeeze inside.

Jonathan Keller stumbled forward, his panic making him clumsy. His feet kept slipping in the mud, and he fell face-first several times.

"Miles Warren! Don’t go!"

An anxious, choked female voice pierced through the curtain of rain.

It was Claire Kendall, soaked to the bone, her hair plastered messily to her face.

She had rushed back from Regency Gardens, spotted Jonathan Keller’s car on the perimeter, and sprinted the rest of the way.

From a distance, she saw the reckless silhouette of Miles Warren kneeling before the rubble, ready to throw his life away.

"Miles Warren!" she cried, her heart clenching.

The man turned around, his movements stiff and mechanical.

The moment he saw her, his expression went blank. Then, he turned back and heedlessly resumed digging, trying to crawl inside.

A lump formed in Claire Kendall’s throat. She lunged forward and threw her arms around him.

Her arms tightened, holding the man who had lost all control and was on the verge of collapse.

"Claire Kendall, Claire Kendall..."

His voice was terribly hoarse as he repeated her name over and over, like a broken old radio.

"Let me go... Find Claire... I have to save Claire..."

Claire Kendall sensed something was terribly wrong. She cupped his face, which was covered in blood and grime.

"I’m here, Miles Warren. Look at me. I’m right here. I wasn’t trapped inside."

"Don’t be scared. I’m here. Touch me. I’m right in front of you."

She took Miles Warren’s hand and placed it on her own cheek.

In the downpour, his fingertips trembled. As he felt her soft, familiar skin, his struggles ceased, but he continued to mumble uncontrollably.

"Claire... save Claire... I have to save her..."

Once he was certain she was safe, the taut string of his nerves finally snapped, and the madness receded.

The man’s strength gave out. His body went limp, and he fainted in her arms.

"Miles! Miles Warren!" Claire Kendall cried, patting his cheek.

Jonathan Keller scrambled over, his heart sinking. He immediately pulled some stabilizing medication from his pocket and put it in Miles’s mouth.

"What medicine is that? What’s wrong with him?"

’Miles Warren’s reaction before he passed out was very strange.’

"It’s none of your business!" Jonathan Keller snapped, dragging Miles out of Claire Kendall’s arms.

Miles Warren’s brows were tightly furrowed, his face ashen. His thin lips were completely devoid of color. He was in a terrible state.

Jonathan Keller was filled with rage. He sneered, "Claire Kendall, you must be feeling pretty pleased with yourself right now, huh?"

"He went crazy and nearly got himself killed looking for you, and you can stop him with just a few words, like you’re training a dog. Does that satisfy your vanity?"

"I didn’t..." Claire Kendall’s throat felt raw, but Jonathan Keller cut her off before she could explain.

"Enough. Drop the hypocritical act. Only Miles Warren would ever believe you."

Jonathan Keller supported the unconscious Miles Warren and headed back toward the parking area.

The factory accident in the western suburbs was still being dealt with, so Claire Kendall couldn’t leave.

Her body felt ice-cold. She looked over at Ian Rhodes, who wasn’t far away, and walked toward him.

When Ian Rhodes saw her, he immediately dropped his crazed demeanor. He looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, the very picture of pitiful dejection.

"Claire, don’t worry. We’ll face this factory issue together. I’ll..."

SLAP!

The sound was incredibly crisp and loud.

Claire Kendall had swung her arm with all her might, slapping Ian Rhodes so hard his head snapped to the side, a clear handprint already forming on his cheek.

Ian Rhodes was stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief. His voice became even more pitiful. "Cla-Claire..."

"I heard you. Why did you lie to him? Why would you lie to him?!"

Claire Kendall was furious, her chest heaving violently.

"Do you have any idea what would have happened if I’d been a single step too late? He would have gone in there. He would have died!"

"I... Claire, I was wrong. I just... I like you so much. I wanted to see how far he would go for you. I was doing it for your own good."

Claire Kendall’s eyes were red with anger. "For my own good? Ian Rhodes, that was attempted murder!"

"Get out. Don’t ever show your face to me again. I’ll have Wendy White send you the contract termination from OCHH."

"Claire, because of him..." Ian Rhodes started to beg, but seeing Claire Kendall’s unwavering expression, the ingratiating, timid mask on his face shattered.

"Claire Kendall! Do you really think Miles Warren still loves you like he did ten years ago?"

"Your divorce papers wounded him to the core! This is a rift you can never cross. He will never trust you again in this lifetime!"

Like a madman, Ian Rhodes grabbed Claire Kendall by the shoulders.

"Claire, be with me. I’ve waited for you for so many years." He pulled her into an embrace, trying to kiss her.

Claire Kendall sharply raised her knee and rammed it into his groin, holding nothing back.

"That’s between him and me! It’s none of your damn business!"

"Ian Rhodes, from this day forward, you stay away from Miles Warren! If you don’t, I swear I’ll make you pay!"

Ian Rhodes was shoved away violently, stumbling and nearly falling.

He watched Claire Kendall’s resolute back as she walked away, clenched his fist, and dialed a number on his phone.

"The terms you mentioned... I’m willing to consider them..."

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