New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 283 Got a Lead

Rafayel's eyes darted between Claire and Matthew, his suspicion growing by the second. The two strangers had just barged into his apartment like they owned the place, and he had no idea who they were or what they wanted. "Who the hell are you?" Rafayel demanded, narrowing his eyes to Claire.

Claire, arms crossed over her chest, gave him a cold, dismissive look. "You don't need to know who I am," she replied, her voice calm but laced with authority.

Rafayel's frown deepened. "Then what do you want from me? I don't know who the hell you are, so you better get out of my apartment."

Matthew, who had been quietly standing behind Claire, took a step forward. Claire didn't bother to look at Rafayel as she spoke again, her voice cutting through the tense air. "I want to know who the woman is that ordered you to hurt Abigail Hastings." Rafayel's body stiffened at the mention of Abigail's name, but he quickly tried to cover his reaction, pretending not to understand. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice slightly shaky but still defiant.

Claire raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with his attempt to play dumb. "Really?" she asked sarcastically. "You and your friends aren't exactly good at keeping secrets."

Rafayel's frown deepened. "What do you mean by 'my friends'?"

Claire smirked, finally turning to face him. "The yellow-haired guy and the one in the red hoodie. I met them earlier."

Rafayel's eyes widened in shock, and he quickly realized he was cornered. Claire's smirk grew. "So, are you done pretending not to know what I'm talking about?"

Rafayel stood up from the couch, shaking his head, trying to appear innocent. "I genuinely don't know what you're talking about," he insisted, but the panic in his voice was becoming harder to hide.

Claire sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes as she started pacing around the small apartment. "You know," she began, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "I'm getting really tired of hearing that same excuse over and over again."

his face twisting in agony. "What the hell! It hurts!" he cried out, his voice filled with panic. Claire tilted her

from the pain in his arm, stayed quiet, his teeth gritted as he

to Matthew, and Matthew applied more pressure, causing Rafayel to yelp louder, pain searing through his arm. "Okay,

her nails digging into his skin. "Talk," she commanded, her voice cold and threatening.

"I don't know!" he stammered. "She never

not buying his story. "I find it funny how you still managed to accept her dirty work when you don't even know

you going to tell me who she is

know her name! But... but I have her phone number," he added quickly, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I don't know if it's a real number or if it still works, but that's all I've got." Claire nodded at Matthew, signaling him to let Rafayel go. Matthew released his grip, and Rafayel stumbled forward, clutching

the number," Claire demanded, holding out her

to get out of this situation, quickly rattled off the digits. Claire handed them to Matthew, who immediately began tracking the number on

"So... will you let me go now? I gave you the number," he asked, his voice small and unsure. Claire turned to him, her eyes cold and piercing. Rafayel felt a

Hastings?" Claire asked, her voice

"I was just supposed to scare her.

saw the footage. You and your

Rafayel swallowed hard, realizing

"I... I didn't mean for that to happen he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "We were just supposed to rough her up a little, make her back off. But

calm. "You think you're off the hook because you didn't mean for her to get hurt?" Rafayel shook his head quickly, panic creeping back into his voice. "No! No, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. I swear,

stared at him for a long moment, her gaze icy and unforgiving. "Sorry doesn't fix anything," she said quietly, her tone deadly serious. "You helped ruin someone's life. Do you really think an apology is enough?" Rafayel stayed silent, his head hanging in shame.