No Divorce? The Billionaire's Love Chase! novel Chapter 223

When Ann saw York's dark expression as he entered the room, she instinctively shrank behind Claudia.

Claudia calmly continued packing her phone charger.

York's gaze shifted between the two women before finally settling on Ann.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low.

Ann looked flustered, stammering, "I... uh... I just came to apologize to Mrs. Ferguson."

"Are you finished?"

Ann nodded hastily.

"Then you can leave."

Ann took two hesitant steps, then stopped, gathering her courage.

She began tentatively, "York, Mrs. Ferguson accepted my apology. We were just—"

"Don't make me say it a second time!" York interrupted, his face cold as stone.

Ann shot a nervous glance at Claudia.

Claudia stepped in front of York. "You made a promise to Miss James, and you feel for her as a victim. I understand the pain of unrequited love all too well. When there are no outsiders around, you don't have to be so guarded. I understand how difficult this is for you both."

They looked at each other. Her tone was light, her expression sincere.

York's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists.

His gaze slowly moved to Ann, a flicker of ice in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave right now," Ann said, grabbing her bag and fleeing in a panic.

Watching Ann's hurried escape and York's grim face, Claudia sighed internally.

York was too cautious, lacking the courage to break through the chains and give Ann and her son a legitimate future. The Ferguson elders would rather he remarry than accept them, and Ann was too obedient to ever defy him.

York's lips were pressed into a thin line, his gaze on her intensifying.

After saying her piece, Claudia felt a wave of relief wash over her.

She had done her best for this relationship. There were no deep regrets, no lingering bitterness. The people she let go of, the hardships she endured—they were all in the past.

From now on, she would only invest her time and energy in people and things that met her halfway.

She gave York a disarmingly relaxed smile. "Let's go."

On the way home, Claudia was on the phone with Jessica.

York sat beside her, his face a thunderous mask, his eyes fixed on her from inches away.

Back at their apartment, Claudia went straight to the bathroom. She'd been in the hospital for days and felt grimy.

When she emerged with her hair dry, she found York sitting bolt upright on the edge of the bed, motionless.