New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 303 Just a Friend

Claire raised an eyebrow, staring at her phone in complete disbelief. Did Alexander just apologize? Out of the blue? What kind of game was he playing now?

"Uh, for what?" she asked, her voice cautious. She wasn't sure what angle he was coming from, and her guard was up.

"I wanted to truly apologize for everything I did to you in the past," Alexander began, his voice sounding unusually sincere. "After our divorce, I couldn't stop thinking about you. I realized I-"

"Don't finish that sentence," Claire cut him off sharply. Her mind drifted to those dark days, a whirlwind of arguments, neglect, and how he always picked Lisa over her. Her eyes narrowed, a coldness settling in them as she remembered how much it had hurt. Why now? Why was he bringing all this up again?

"I'm serious, Claire. I want to make things right," Alexander continued, seemingly unfazed by her interruption. "I want to apologize and ask for another chance. I swear I'll treat you right this time. I'll never hurt you again."

Claire blinked, then burst out laughing. The sound echoed through her office, catching even her off guard. Was he for real? Apologizing now, after all this time? Asking for another chance? It was almost too ridiculous. "Are you serious, Alexander?" she asked, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye from laughing so hard. "I don't do second chances, sorry."

Before he could respond, she ended the call, dropping her phone onto the desk with an exasperated sigh. She couldn't believe the nerve of him, trying to worm his way back into her life. He'd made his choice back then, and she wasn't about to let him come crawling back just because he regretted it now.

Alexander stared at his phone, completely stunned. What just happened? She laughed. He felt his heart sink, the realization hitting him that maybe he'd lost her for good. He'd spent so long thinking about his mistakes, hoping for a chance to make things right, and now... he didn't even know what to think.

Meanwhile, Claire's face was still set in a hard line, annoyance etched in every feature. Matthew who was standing in front of her desk plopped himself on the chair in front of Claire. He tilted his head, studying her expression.

"What's with the face?" he asked, a teasing lilt to his voice. He always knew how to poke fun at her, especially when she was in a mood.

"Alexander just apologized," Claire said flatly, still staring at her phone as if it had personally offended her. "He asked me for a second chance."

eyebrows shot up in confusion. "What? Wait, I thought Joan was

I talked to her

trying to wrap his head around the audacity of it. "I mean, what did he think was going to happen? You'd

to be Alexander calling back for round two, but then

voice came through the line, instantly soothing her. "I was wondering where you

her mess, didn't want him worrying about her problems. So she forced a light tone and said, "Oh, I wasn't feeling well. I was going to inform you but I

much better now," she assured him, feeling a twinge of guilt for

the way, you left your

right!" Claire

nonsense, the drama with Lisa-she'd completely forgotten about the auction. "I'm sorry, it totally

QUMS

with a chuckle. "I can bring it

you sure?" she asked, surprised. "You don't have to go out of

insisted. "I was planning to be in

tension of the day finally starting to ease. "If

chatted for a few

minutes, Adrian's easygoing nature

feel more relaxed. By

hung up, she almost felt like

forward with a mischievous grin. "Someone seems to have cheered up." "Shut up," Claire muttered, but she couldn't stop the

charming Adrian want?" he asked, waggling