Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband
Chapter 114: Eliam Wants A Hug Too!

Chapter 114: Eliam Wants A Hug Too!

Evander’s POV

I had not expected so many things to have unfolded behind my back. It wasn’t like I didn’t know Claire had a sister— I did. But to me, Claire had always been the only woman in my eyes. No one else could ever compare, so there was no way I would have spared a glance at anyone else.

Standing here now, hearing her words and seeing how our misunderstandings were clearing up one by one, I felt a strange sense of relief. But that relief was mixed with pain— a deep, gnawing ache in my chest as the truth settled in.

How had things come to this? How had we let the lies and manipulations of others twist our bond into something so fragile and full of doubt? It wasn’t just Claire who had suffered— I had been betrayed too. By my own people... By the people I trusted.

I clenched my fists at the thought, my jaw tightening as I tried to hold back the anger bubbling within me. But then I looked at Claire, standing there with a mix of strength and vulnerability that reminded me why I had fallen for her in the first place.

"I never knew you carried so much pain," I finally spoke, my voice low but steady. "And I hate myself for not being there for you... for letting others hurt you like that."

She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with emotions I couldn’t quite understand! Was it sorrow, hope, maybe even a flicker of love for me?

"I don’t know how to fix all of this," I admitted, my tone softening. "But I do know one thing— I can’t lose you again. Not now, not ever."

For the first time in years, I allowed myself to be honest and to bare my emotions in front of her. Because if there was one thing I had learned through all this, it was that Claire was worth every fight, every scar, and every piece of myself I could offer to make things right.

Our eyes were locked, and the silence between us was heavy with unspoken words. I waited for her reply, unsure of what to expect. But then something happened that I could never have anticipated— she hugged me.

She hugged me.

It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t out of obligation. Claire had taken the initiative, something she had never done since the day we met. In the past, it was always me. I either pushed myself onto her or cornered her into accepting my touch. But this— this was entirely different.

For a moment, I couldn’t move. My body froze as if I had forgotten how to respond. Her warmth seeped through my cold exterior, breaking the walls I had built over the years. Slowly, almost cautiously, I wrapped my arms around her.

It wasn’t just a hug. It was a lifeline.

I hadn’t realized how much I needed this, how much I craved her touch, until this very moment. The weight of my emotions—guilt, regret, love, and longing— washed over me all at once.

Her head rested against my chest, and I could feel the faint rhythm of her breathing, steady yet fragile. "Claire..." I whispered her name, my voice catching in my throat.

She didn’t say anything, but the way she held me said more than anything. It wasn’t forgiveness—not yet— and I understand that, but it was a step toward something I had almost given up hoping for.

In that embrace, the world faded away, leaving just the two of us, tangled in a moment that felt both fragile and unbreakable.

We were still wrapped in each other’s embrace when the door suddenly creaked open, and a small, familiar voice shattered the tranquility.

"Up up! Eliam wants a hug too!" The little boy chirped, his childish enthusiasm filling the room.

Claire quickly stepped back, startled by his sudden appearance. "Ah! Baby! You are here!" she said, her tone warm and soft as she crouched down to greet him.

But as she turned her attention to Eliam, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The warmth in her voice, the gentle smile she gave him— it stirred something deep within me. She was avoiding looking at me now, and I couldn’t help but notice.

Her demeanor was different. She didn’t act this way earlier, not even when I had kissed her in an impulsive, forceful act that I regretted almost immediately after. Yet here she was, deliberately avoiding my gaze as though the hug we had shared moments ago had shaken her more than anything else I had ever done to her.

Eliam, oblivious to the tension between us, held out his little arms and repeated, "Hug! Eliam wants a hug!"

Claire let out a soft laugh and scooped him up, holding him close. "There you go, my sweetheart," she said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek.

I watched her, my chest tightening. That tenderness she showed Eliam— was it something I could ever hope to experience from her? Or was this moment between us destined to fade away like so many others?

Eliam turned his big, curious eyes toward me. "Daddy, hug us too?"

His innocent question caught me off guard, and I found myself at a loss for words. Claire glanced at me briefly, her expression unreadable, before turning her attention back to Eliam.

"I think Daddy is a little busy right now," she said lightly, trying to diffuse the situation.

But I wasn’t busy. It’s not like anything that mattered more than this moment. I took a tentative step closer and extended my arms. "Come here, little man," I said as I forced a gentle smile.

Eliam giggled as Claire passed him to me. His tiny arms wrapped around my neck, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a warmth I hadn’t known I needed. Claire glanced at us with a smile. The maternal look on her face wanted me to have so many children with her.