Chapter 87: Grant Holloway's Voice Carried Through the Door

"Clara Whitmore, I know you're in there."

"Open the door! Let's talk this out."

Grant Holloway's voice carried through the door, laced with suppressed fury.

He pounded the door twice with his fist.

"Fine. Very well." A cold laugh escaped him. "You think hiding from me will solve anything?"

His patience had worn thin, shifting from pleading to outright rage.

Just as he turned to leave, a figure emerged from the shadows of the stairwell.

Grant froze mid-step.

Under the dim light, Elias Mercer stood on the steps, holding a paper bag.

His presence here at this hour spoke volumes.

After the incident with Connor Hayes, Grant had dug into Elias's background.

The third son of the Mercer family—no wonder even Connor had backed down.

"Here to see Clara?" Grant narrowed his eyes.

Elias remained impassive. "None of your concern."

"She's mine," Grant said, his tone dangerous.

"She belongs to no one." Elias frowned. "If anything, she belongs only to herself."

Grant scoffed. "Professor Mercer, for all your education, you don't understand women. The more she acts like this, the more it proves she can't let me go."

"Go ahead, knock. She won't open the door for you either."

With that, Grant strode away.

Elias glanced at the locked door, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Of course he knew Clara wouldn't answer.

Because she wasn't home.

* * *

Sunlight bathed Harbor Cay in warmth.

The crystal-clear turquoise waters revealed vibrant schools of fish darting below.

Three days ago, Sloane Bennett had called out of the blue.

Fresh off a major project and with her boyfriend away visiting family, she was bored.

"Come to Harbor Cay with me," she'd said eagerly.

Clara had agreed almost immediately.

Partly to avoid Grant and Connor's relentless pursuit, but mostly because she needed this escape.

Now, she lay on a beach chair, soaking in the sun.

A gentle breeze carried the sound of waves lapping against the shore.

"Living the life, huh?" Sloane dropped onto the adjacent chair in her bikini.

Clara took a sip of mango juice, eyes closed in contentment.

This trip was worth every second.