New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex)
Chapter 300 “This time, I’m putting her in jail.”

The sound made everyone jump. Never in Claire's wildest dreams had she imagined Joan Harris slapping her. Joan, who had always been so kind, now had tears streaming down her face, and Claire could see the raw pain in her eyes. Claire stood there, unmoving, not flinching or reacting to the sting on her cheek.

Matthew's eyes went wide in shock. "Mrs. Harris, you need to hear Claire's side first!" he shouted, trying to intervene.

Claire, with a calm demeanor that almost felt too calm, lifted her hand to stop Matthew from talking. "It's okay, Matthew," she said quietly, turning to Joan. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt Alexander. If you don't want me here, I'll leave."

Joan's face was still wet with tears, and she looked away, her voice breaking. "Please, just go."

Claire gave a small nod and walked out of the hospital. She felt a mix of guilt and resignation, knowing she was leaving Joan with a heavy heart and a son in danger. Joan had always been gentle, but seeing her son in the operating room and hearing Claire's admission of guilt had pushed her to a point where a reflexive slap seemed like the only way to release some of her anguish.

Outside, Matthew caught up with Claire and grabbed her wrist. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched into his face.

Claire's expression was unreadable, her face a blank slate. "I'm fine," she replied, her voice steady.

"You need to get checked out," Matthew insisted, his concern not easing.

"I just want to go home," Claire said softly.

Matthew nodded, realizing there was no arguing with her. "I'll drop you off," he said, guiding her towards his car.

During the ride home, Claire stared out the window, lost in thought. "Where's Lisa?" she asked after a while, breaking the silence.

"I sent her unconscious body to Cryptonic's basement," Matthew replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

Claire nodded, absorbing the information. Matthew glanced at her, then back to the road. "What are you going to do with Lisa?" he asked cautiously.

Claire's tone was cold and resolute. "This time, I'm putting her in jail."

Matthew didn't say anything, but he knew that Claire's decision was right. Lisa has crossed the line, and she needs to be dealt with. He thought to himself.

The ride continued in silence, the weight of the situation hanging heavily between them.

Back at the hospital, Alexander had been moved to a VIP room. Joan sat beside his bed, holding his hand tightly. She whispered prayers, hoping that he would wake up soon and that everything would be okay. The door creaked open, and Joan looked up to see her husband, Michael, entering with a worried expression.

"What happened?" Michael asked, his voice filled with concern.

Joan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before speaking. "It's all because of Claire," she said, her voice trembling. "Alexander is in surgery because of her."

Michael's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. "Claire? Are you sure?"

Joan nodded, her tears still fresh. "Yes, Michael. Claire admitted it herself. She said it was her fault."

Michael's face showed a mix of confusion and skepticism. "I find it hard to believe. Claire's always been reliable. Are you sure she wasn't just trying to take the blame?"

Joan's voice grew more urgent. "I know it sounds hard to believe, but she said it herself. She was here and admitted it right in front of me."

Michael rubbed his temples, trying to process everything. "So what now? What are we supposed to do?"

Joan's voice was filled with a quiet resolve. "We need to focus on Alexander right now. He's the one who needs us."

Michael nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. He pulled a chair closer to Joan and sat down. "We'll figure out the rest later. For now, let's just hope and pray for Alexander."

Joan squeezed Alexander's hand gently, her heart heavy with worry. "Yes, let's hope," she whispered, trying to stay strong for her son.

The minutes ticked by slowly, each

second feeling like an eternity. Michael and Joan sat in silence, their thoughts racing as they waited for any sign that Alexander would wakeup. The hospital room was filled with a tense quiet, broken only by the occasional beeping of medical equipment and the soft murmurs of concern from the couple.

J.n

Claire arrived at her penthouse. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes narrowed in frustration. Her knees were scratched up from their tussle, and her foot-barely recognizable as a foot-throbbed with every heartbeat. She'd learned the hard way that running and fighting in heels was about as smart as bringing a marshmallow to a gunfight.

Her whole body was now a mess of dirt, cuts, and bruises.

Claire tried her best to bandage her wounds. It wasn't going great. She fumbled with the medical kit like she was trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. Matthew had offered to help, but Claire was having none of it. She needed a moment alone, a little space to stew and curse. The phone rang, she glanced at the caller ID and it was Adrian. She let it ring out. Not today, Adrian.

"Damn it, Lisa!" Claire muttered under her breath, every word dripping with venom. "You just had to make this difficult, didn't you?" She applied some antiseptic. Claire picked up her phone and sent a quick message to Matthew.

"Keep an eye on Lisa. Don't let her know where she is. Got it?" Matthew's reply was almost instant.

"Got it. Don't worry, I'll make sure she stays in the dark."

Satisfied, Claire went back to her self-inflicted torture. Her fingers were trembling, but she kept at it, determined to patch herself up before collapsing into a heap of exhaustion. Meanwhile, at the hospital, the morning sun spilled into the room like a golden ribbon. Joan, who had been keeping a vigil, had finally fallen asleep in the chair beside Alexander's bed. The room was filled with the quiet hum of medical machines and the occasional shuffle of nurses outside.

The door creaked open, and Michael walked in, balancing two cups of coffee. He spotted Joan's sleeping figure and shook his head with a small smile. "Hey, sweetie, wake up. I brought coffee."

Joan blinked awake and rubbed her eyes, groggy but grateful. "Oh, Michael. Thank you. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Michael handed her a cup. "Don't worry about it. How's he doing?"

Just as Joan was about to reply, she saw a tiny movement from Alexander. His finger twitched. Joan's heart leaped into her throat. She set the coffee down with trembling hands and gently touched Alexander's hand. His eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus. "Alex?" Joan whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Michael, please call the doctor!"

Her husband bolted out of the room to find the doctor.

"Alex, dear? Can you hear me? Are you okay?" Joan's eyes filled with tears. She thought that her son might not wake up.

Alexander's gaze met hers, and a faint smile touched his lips. "I'm fine Mum." His eyes scanned the room then back to her mother. "Mum? Where...where's Claire?"