Chapter 96: His Scorching Breath Fanned Across Her Face

His scorching breath fanned across her face. Clara instinctively took two steps back. "What do you want to say?"

Her retreat ignited something in Grant. The crimson in his eyes deepened, his voice thick with suppressed fury. "You think Connor Hayes truly cares about you? That man's a cunning fox, a playboy who toys with hearts."

Having grown up together, Grant knew Connor better than anyone. The man never revealed his true intentions—even his childhood friend couldn't decipher his thoughts.

Connor's sudden interest in Clara raised all kinds of red flags.

Her expression remained frosty. "Whatever his motives, they don't concern me—"

Grant's tension eased slightly—until her next words froze him in place.

"You're no different."

"It's late." She pulled out her phone. "Leave now, or I'm calling security."

He moved closer. "Clara—"

"Three... two..." Her finger hovered over the call button.

Grant finally left, teeth gritted. "I'll come back tomorrow," he threw over his shoulder.

From the restaurant terrace shadows, Paige Lawson watched everything unfold.

The next dawn barely tinted the sky when Sloane Bennett returned, humming.

Clara was mid-bite into her toast when the electronic lock beeped.

Sloane sauntered in wearing a new dress, radiant. She snatched a sandwich from the table.

"Good night?" Clara teased.

"Absolute perfection. A Korean hunk with V-cut abs and eight-pack." Sloane's eyes glazed over at the memory of his puppy-dog gaze that morning—she'd almost caved again.

"Don't forget our scuba instructor meets us at ten."

Harbor Cay' diving was legendary. Though uneasy about deep water, curiosity won out for Clara.

Their instructor, a jovial middle-aged man, brightened at the sight of them. He meticulously explained gear usage and underwater signals.

Sloane, an experienced diver, half-listened. Clara absorbed every detail, terrified of missing anything.

"Relax." The instructor patted her arm. "Imagine the underwater wonderland. It'll be magical."