I Made Us Matching Avatars, But He Protected Another Girl Chapter 04

I Made Us Matching Avatars, But He Protected Another Girl Chapter 04

Nate’s breath caught, and for the first time, that permanent ice in his expression actually splintered.

“Have I spoiled you too much, Claire?”

“Your attitude’s only gotten worse these past few years. Maybe take a page from Lily’s book.”

That same old helplessness rolled over me again.

I closed my eyes and turned my back on him, dragging the blanket tight around my shoulders.

Lily. Lily. Always Lily.

The room sat in silence a while. Then Nate dumped the soup in the trash and walked out.

The door slammed hard enough to rattle the walls.

I lay there with my eyes shut, tears sliding sideways to soak half the pillow.

I gripped the sheets so hard they nearly tore, that same metallic taste flooding my mouth again.

By the time I was discharged three days later, rumors about me had already spread through every floor of the building.

Bet Claire’s the other woman.

Wouldn’t put it past her. Lily’s had puffy eyes all week, probably from whatever Claire did to her.

Everyone with functioning eyes knows Mr. Sinclair and Lily are a thing. Claire’s basically the homewrecker who knew exactly what she was doing.

Guess some people will climb any ladder they can find.

The jabs never let up.

I tried to let it all slide off me, but I still wound up in a shouting match in the break room after Chloe muttered something about no telling how many men had been keeping me.

I slapped her across the face, and the whole thing exploded into a full brawl.

By the time Nate arrived, my clothes were a wreck, there was a red handprint blooming across my cheek, and blood welled at the corner of my mouth.

I still wanted to swing again, but Nate’s voice cut through everything.

“Enough!”

“Claire Ashford! Attacking a coworker for no reason? What does that make you, some unhinged lunatic?”

“Apologize. Now.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

Then I caught sight of Lily behind him, eyes glassy with tears, and everything clicked into place.

The woman I’d hit was Lily’s best friend. Nate had come running to fight her battles for her, again.

I laughed, cold and sharp, and let the slap I’d been holding back fly with everything I had.

“Claire Ashford!”

“Claire, how could you hit someone right in front of Mr. Sinclair!” Lily’s eyes went red with tears.

Nate’s brow pulled tight enough to snap.

“Attacking a coworker for no reason?” I echoed back at him, smiling coldly.

“Was I wrong to say it?” His glare was pure venom.

“If Lily hadn’t told me, I never would’ve known you’d been strutting around this office like you own the place, throwing your weight at everyone.”

“You’re apologizing, today. Write a three-thousand-word public apology and post it to the company Slack. One more incident like this, and you’re done here.”

My fists clenched so tight my nails cut crescents into my palms, my eyes burning red.

My chest felt like a fist closing around a blade, and I couldn’t get a full breath in.

Every memory from the past five years rushed at me at once, and every single time, Nate had been standing against me, never beside me.

This was no exception.

The second Lily was involved, his loyalty didn’t require a reason.

“Nate!” My voice cracked as I shouted. “Are you really that certain this is on me?”

“Claire Ashford, your word means nothing to me anymore!”

There wasn’t a shred of warmth left on his face, his voice cold enough to burn.

“You know exactly what’s right here. I’m not repeating myself. Apologize. Right now.”

I laughed, half-furious, half-hollow.

Tears spilled instantly, unstoppable.

Whatever last thread of hope I’d been clinging to finally snapped clean.

I should’ve seen this coming years ago.

Something flickered across his eyes, quick and almost reluctant, his hand tightening around my arm before it loosened again.

I swung and slapped him across the face, and the whole room went dead silent.

Lily’s face drained white. “Claire, how could you hit Mr. Sinclair!”

I didn’t spare her a glance. I just stared at the mark blooming across his cheek and wiped my tears away with a cold, tired smile.

“We’re done, Nate. Completely done.”

“I quit. And I don’t want you either.”