SWNOVELS Departure with a Belly Chapter 323
Chapter 323 They’re Yours
Chapter 323
How is this possible? Did she get pregnant with twins? A boy and a girl, too? But it’s
been five years. She couldn’t have raised them alone. There’s no way anyone could
raise two children all by themselves. It’s exhausting. Maybe she’s remarried. That
thought was the only thing calming Claudia down.
The moment Nicole came up with that question, Alaric pulled his hand back and
stepped back. Norwood noticed that. It might seem like Alaric was letting the matter
slide, but he was trying to protect Victoria and the kids.
1/5
Nathan looked at everyone and stood behind Victoria with his sister. Just when Victoria
was about to take the kids and leave, West flew into another fit of rage. “What the hell is
this? Are both of them your kids? So, you already have kids with her? Then, why didn’t
you let Claudia go?! Why’d you waste her time?!”
While West went into another tirade, Alaric looked down and met Victoria’s gaze.
Victoria didn’t trust him much and would start mocking him the instant they met. She
wasn’t particularly interested in his affairs, either. Thanks to that, he didn’t get to explain
things to her. However, this was a good chance to explain things, and he would seize
that chance.
Pursing his lips, he said coldly, “You’re her good friend. Didn’t she tell you I had made
Chapter 323 They’re Yours
things clear five years ago?” He was staring at Victoria firmly while saying that.
Why is he staring at me? Victoria wondered.
“You made things clear with her?” The answer surprised West, and he froze for a
moment before turning to Claudia. “What is the meaning of this? What did he tell you?
Have you kept a secret from me?”
2/5
Claudia had just managed to calm down a little, yet this happened. What little color she
had left was drained, and she stood petrified, biting her lip. She never thought Alaric
would bring that up. Barely anyone knew of that episode. She forced him to show up
for the engagement party, but he didn’t. When she went to see him, he told her, “Don’t
ever do anything like that again, Claudia.”
They were in his office, and he was standing in front of the French window with his
back turned to her. She didn’t even get to see his face, and she bit her lip. “But you
promised I’d be your only woman. Now, you two are divorced. So, why can’t we get
engaged?”
Alaric was silent for a long time before saying, “Sorry. I’ll try my best to repay my debt
with something else.”
“Why?” Claudia asked. “We were going well, weren’t we? Why did this happen? Why?”
Chapter 323 They’re Yours
3/5
Unable to hold herself back, she grabbed the hem of his shirt, tears streaming down her
cheeks. “Are you mad because I went abroad? But I didn’t mean to refuse you. You
know how rare that chance was. If I refused that, someone else would snap it up.”
The man pursed his lips, still refusing to answer.
“Say something, Al. Even inmates on death row have the right to know why they are put
to death. So, tell me. Why can’t we get engaged? I saved you, so for that sake, can’t you
tell me why?”
The mention of that episode tugged on Alaric’s heartstrings. He turned around and
gazed at her. “I wanted to marry you back then because of gratitude, but now I realize if
I do that, it’d be unfair for both you and me.”
“Unfair?” Claudia looked at him in confusion. “Why would it be unfair to me?”
He looked at her c***lly. He didn’t need to say anything, as she already knew the answer
in her heart. Still, she couldn’t believe it.
Noticing the embers of her determination still flaring, Alaric said c**lly, “No couple will
be happy without love between them. You deserve someone better, Claudia.”
No love? But I love him. So, is he talking about himself? He… doesn’t love me? Claudia
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Chapter 323 They’re Yours
thought.
4/5
“If you ever need anything, tell me. I’ll try my best to give whatever you want, except for
marriage,” the man added.
She bit her lip, tears filling up her eyes. “What if that’s the only thing I want?”
Alaric looked at her for a while. “Then, I’m sorry.”
Claudia whipped up a storm for a while after that. She would come to his company to
rile up an episode every day and even got her parents to help her out, but Alaric had a
strong will. No matter how much she cried, he didn’t get angry since she did save his
life. Still, that didn’t mean he’d entertain her.
Since the news of his absence during the engagement party made its rounds, Claudia
became a laughingstock. Eventually, her mother told her to stop fighting fire with fire.
“Are you stupid? He doesn’t even care about you right now, so whatever you do is
useless. And he might hate you more if you continue this farce. At this rate, you’ll lose,
so you should back down a little.”
“Back down?”
“Yes, tell him you’re sorry for what you did. Even if he doesn’t like you, it’s fine. Just stay
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Chapter 323 They’re Yours
5/5
with him and say you’re friends. After that, try to find out everything about his life. As a
friend, of course. He’s bound to fall for you eventually, and then he’ll marry you.”
Claudia thought her mother had a point. She was in too much of a hurry, and the tighter
she tried to hold on, the further he would stay away from her. She took her mother’s
advice to heart and sought out Alaric. “I think you’re right, Al. A relationship without
love is unfair for both of us.”
Alaric stared at her dubiously. To get rid of his suspicion, she continued, “I’ve been
limiting myself because of you, but now that you’ve made things clear, I’ll make things
clear, too. I can marry someone else. If you don’t like me, I won’t make you marry me. I
won’t use that favor to force you into anything.”