New beginning: Billionaire love story novel Chapter 313

Alexander stood in the middle of the room, his mind racing. He had been hurt twice today, and he wasn’t sure how to handle it. Claire’s words echoed in his head, replaying over and over. She really couldn’t see the effort he was putting into being a better person.

He knew he hadn’t treated her right during their three years of marriage, but people changed, right? He had changed—or at least, he was trying to.

But Claire didn’t seem to care.

He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. Was he really that bad of a person? Had he truly become the villain Claire painted him to be? Alexander didn’t know anymore. It was all a blur of mistakes and regrets.

He paced the room, trying to come up with a plan, something, anything that would make Claire see he was different now. But no matter what idea popped into his head, it felt pointless. It all felt hopeless.

And then, there was Adrian.

The thought of Adrian made Alexander’s chest tighten. Claire seemed fond of him, way too fond. It didn’t take a genius to see that. What if Claire and Adrian became a couple? The idea gnawed at him. If they did, he’d have no chance of ever getting Claire back.

And if he kept trying to pursue her while she was with Adrian, he’d just end up looking like some desperate fool. The whole situation would cause a mess, stir up drama, and make Claire hate him even more.

He leaned against the window, staring blankly at the street below. This cycle, it never ended. Alexander was getting tired. Part of him just wanted to give up, to throw in the towel and move on. But then, another part of him—stubborn and hopeful—wanted to keep fighting for her.

A few days passed, and Claire was discharged from the hospital. She seemed like her old self again, back to being busy and driven. But Matthew was on her case, making sure she rested. Even Adrian was getting in on it, telling her to slow down. Claire just brushed them off with a smile, insisting she was fine.

“Really, I’m good,” she’d tell them, rolling her eyes. “I’m back to work today, no more rest for me. It’s the last day of robot building, and Monday’s the big presentation. I’ve got to make sure everything’s perfect.”

“But you just got out of the hospital,” Matthew said, crossing his arms. “You can’t push yourself like this.”

“I’m fine,” Claire insisted. "I have to be ready for Monday."

“Everything’s going well. I checked on the robot last night, and there were no issues. We’ve got this. You don't need to worry, Claire.”

Despite their protests, Claire dove back into work. Matthew followed her everywhere, making sure she didn’t overdo it. Adrian even popped in a few times, checking in with his usual concerned look. But Claire wasn’t having it. She was determined to see this project through.

By the time Monday rolled around, Claire was up at the crack of dawn. She skipped breakfast, too focused on what lay ahead. Today was the presentation, the big day where everything would come together. She was supposed to meet with her lawyer to talk about Lisa’s situation, but that would have to wait. The robot presentation was more important.

The auditorium was already set up when she arrived. Sandra was there, making sure everything was in place. Matthew was helping the robotic team move the machine into the room. Claire was nervous. She tried to push the feeling down, but it bubbled up every now and then.

Last night, when she had checked on the robot, everything was fine. But what if something went wrong today?

The meeting was set to start at 9 AM. Claire watched as the stakeholders trickled in, her stomach flipping. She spotted Alexander in the crowd, his face unreadable. He looked serious, no emotion showing, and it threw Claire off. Usually, she could read him like an open book, but today? Nothing. She shook the thought away. She needed to focus on the presentation, not on Alexander.

Jack, her colleague, approached her with a grin. “Good luck, Claire. You’re gonna nail it.”

“Thanks, Jack,” Claire said, forcing a smile. She gathered her robotic team around her and wished them luck too. “We’ve worked hard on this. Let’s give them something to remember.”

As the meeting started, Claire stood in the center of the room, microphone in hand. She took a deep breath and smiled, trying to project confidence. Inside, she was freaking out. This project was her baby, something no one had really believed in at first. If this failed, it wouldn’t just be embarrassing—it would be disastrous.