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."

toward Matthew, and in a swift movement, Matthew grabbed Rafayel's arm and twisted it behind his back. Rafayel let out a pained shout, his face twisting in agony. "What the hell! It hurts!" he cried out, his voice filled with panic. Claire tilted her head, scoffing at his reaction. "Still want to deny it?" she asked, her tone almost bored as if she had better things to do

from the pain in his arm, stayed quiet, his teeth gritted as he tried to tough it out. But Claire

to yelp louder, pain searing

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

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

colder. "How convenient," she said sarcastically, clearly not buying his story. "I find it funny how you still managed to accept her dirty work when you don't even know her name." "She never tells me her name even when I ask her

going to tell me who she is if

"I swear, I don't 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,

number," Claire demanded, holding

the digits. Claire handed them to Matthew, who immediately began tracking the number on his

you the number," he asked, his voice small and unsure. Claire turned to him, her eyes cold and

did you hurt Abigail Hastings?" Claire asked, her

Rafayel blurted out. "I was just supposed to

saw the footage. You and your buddies ran off

Rafayel swallowed hard, realizing

was no use in lying anymore. "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

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