Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband
Chapter 77: "He Is Wrapped Around My Finger.”

Chapter 77: "He Is Wrapped Around My Finger.”

Claire’s POV

"Claire," Gloria said as her tone was dripping with false sweetness. "How brave of you to summon me here."

I stood up, meeting her gaze head-on. My heart was pounding, but I refused to let her see it. "Gloria," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Thank you for coming."

She arched an eyebrow as if amused by my attempt at civility. "Well, you did sound quite... determined. I couldn’t resist seeing what nonsense you had planned."

I clenched my fists under the table, refusing to rise to give in to her. "Have a seat," I said, motioning to the chair across from me.

Gloria hesitated for a second before sitting down, crossing her legs gracefully, and folding her hands in her lap. "Let’s get to the point, shall we?" she said, leaning back as though she owned the place. "I don’t have all day."

I took a deep breath, my hands resting on the table to steady myself. This wasn’t going to be easy, but I had come here for a reason, and I wasn’t going to let her intimidate me into silence.

"I want to talk about Evander," I began, keeping my tone calm but firm.

Her smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "Oh, so you have finally found your voice? How delightful. But let me remind you, darling, whatever issues you think you have with me are irrelevant. Evander’s choices are his own."

Her words stung, but I held my ground. "Don’t pretend you are innocent in this. We both know you have interfered in our marriage. I want the truth, Gloria, and I won’t leave until I get it."

Her smile faltered ever so slightly, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of something—annoyance, perhaps? Or was it fear?

Whatever it was, I knew I had struck a nerve.

"You think you can handle the truth?" She said, her voice low and dangerous. "Be careful what you wish for, Claire."

But I didn’t flinch. Not this time.

When I didn’t respond for a while, Gloria’s patience seemed to be wearing thin. She picked up the cup of coffee I had already ordered for her, her manicured fingers delicately gripping the handle. She took a slow sip, her piercing gaze never leaving mine.

"I am still waiting for your answer, Claire," she said, her tone icy yet calm, as though she had all the time in the world. She repeated herself her voice was sharper this time. "Tell me... Can you handle the truth?"

I inhaled deeply, trying to steady the swirling emotions inside me. My fingers twitched under the table, but I forced a bitter smile onto my face, meeting her unyielding eyes. "And why do you think I can’t?" I replied, my voice calm yet carrying an edge.

Her expression froze for the briefest moment. It was subtle, but I noticed it—a flicker of uncertainty. She quickly regained her composure, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"Well, well... You really have grown quite bold, haven’t you?" she sneered, leaning back in her chair.

"Why shouldn’t I?" I shot back, my voice firm. "I tolerated you because I respected you as my husband’s mother. I let so many things slide because I thought you deserved that respect. But now that I see who you really are..."

I paused, my voice trembling with restrained anger. "You are not even a mother. You are a homewrecker. A manipulator. A murderer who—"

Before I could finish, Gloria shot to her feet, her chair screeching against the floor. Her face twisted with rage as she leaned across the table, her hand suddenly wrapping around my throat.

"You dare?!" she hissed, her voice trembling with fury. Her grip was firm, cutting off my words as I gasped for air. The café seemed to blur around me, the sound of my strangled breaths filling my ears.

I clawed at her hand, my nails digging into her skin as I struggled to break free. "Let... me... go," I choked out, my voice barely audible.

Her eyes burned with a wild intensity, and for a moment, I thought she might actually lose control entirely. "You don’t know what you are talking about!" she spat, her voice low and venomous. "You think you can accuse me without consequences? You are nothing, Claire! Nothing!"

The café had gone silent. People were staring, and whispers starting to ripple through the room, but no one moved to intervene.

With one final effort, I grabbed a glass of water from the table and flung it into her face. The sudden cold shock made her release me, and I stumbled back, clutching my throat and coughing.

Gloria stood frozen, water dripping from her perfect hair and makeup, her expression a mix of disbelief and fury. "You... insolent little—"

"That’s enough!" I rasped, my voice hoarse but steady. I stood tall, glaring at her. "This ends here, Gloria. You can’t control me anymore. You will pay for what you have done."

Her lips curled into a vicious smile, but there was something else in her eyes.

We stood there, locked in a silent battle of wills, her cold, calculating eyes boring into mine. For a moment, neither of us moved, the tension between us thick enough to cut with a knife.

Then, Gloria straightened herself, smoothing her coat with an air of superiority. "Did you forget everything so easily?" she asked bitterly.

Her persistence made me smile, a deliberate curve of my lips that I knew would irk her. "I have never forgotten anything," I said evenly. "That’s precisely why I am here."

I sank back into my chair, forcing myself to appear calm, almost carefree, even though my insides were coiled tight with nerves. My heart pounded in my chest, and a part of me wished I could just get up and leave. But no. Not yet.

The truth was, I had come here to call a truce, to draw a line and end the endless back-and-forth between us. But seeing her now—so resolute, so intent on keeping this battle alive—it was clear she had no intention of letting things go.

I thought back to Sissy’s words from the other day, her wild suggestion that I seduce Evander to get back at Gloria. I had laughed it off then and scolded her for even thinking such a thing. I didn’t want to involve myself in their twisted family dynamics anymore.

But now...

Seeing how much Gloria hated the idea of me being close to her son, a rebellious thought sparked in my mind. If my mere presence with Evander drove her this mad, maybe—just maybe—I could turn the tables. If she wanted a war, I’d give her one.

At least, that was what I wanted to tell myself. But deep down, I knew I didn’t want to be dragged into this mess any further. I wanted peace, not revenge.

I straightened in my chair, meeting her gaze. "If you want me to stay away from you, then stop troubling me," I said firmly, my tone carrying a warning edge. "Because if you don’t..."

I leaned forward slightly, my voice lowering to a sharp whisper. "Don’t forget, Gloria— I am not the old Claire. And your son? He is wrapped around my finger."

Gloria’s face twisted in anger as her composed mask slipped for a moment. "You—"

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