Chapter 31
The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly plummeted to freezing point, as if someone had pressed the pause button on everyone’s
actions T
Nathan furrowed his brow slightly but chose to remain silent. X
Adah’s face showed a flicker of discomfort, unable to come up with a way to ease the tension.
Only Ethan reacted, slamming his knife and fork onto the table with a loud “bang,” startling the maid.
“What’s going on here?” he demanded.
The maid shrank back, murmuring with her head down, “Young Master, the meals have always been prepared for four, so…”
Her explanation was feeble, doing nothing to quell Ethan’s anger. Instead, it only fanned the flames.
“So what? Are you blind and didnt see my sister back at home? Or did you see her and deliberately not prepare her portion?‘
“Sir, I…” the maid attempted to explain, but Ethan impatiently cut her off, “You’re fired
fired “%
The maid looked terrified, glancing towards Vanessa for help, but Vanessa kept her head down, lost in thought.
Nathan cleared his throat, “May, prepare another serving.”
“Right away!” May responded with relief, hastily retreating to the kitchen.
Vanessa’s eyes shifted, and she quickly put on a concerned expression, pushing her own breakfast towards Claire
Claire didn’t look at her or speak, but she didn’t refuse the “kindness” either. She was genuinely hungry and began to eat without hesitation
Her movements were calm and steady, as if the awkwardness and conflict around her were irrelevant.
Vanessa watched expectantly, seemingly waiting for Claire to say something to her, but Claire didn’t even spare her a glance. Vanessa’s hopeful expression slowly turned into one of disappointment, looking as if she had been wronged
Nathan tapped the table to remind Claire, but she continued eating her breakfast, not even lifting her head.
He coughed loudly..
Claire remained unmoved
Adah couldn’t stand it any longer, her tone carrying a hint of disapproval, “Claire, look at how going to thank her?”
So that’s what this was aboutE
Ha
concemed your sister is for you. Aren’t you
Couldn’t even have breakfast in peace.
Was this some kind of obedience test?
won their hearts. If she continued to obediently comply now, she’d be a fool!
She had complied for three years and never w
Claire set down her utensils and looked around at them, “Thank her for what? For taking over my life? For sowing discord and framing me? Or for the five years I spent in prison because of her?”
“Just because I ate her breakfast, you demand I thank her? For three years in this house, I couldn’t even have breakfast or lunch. When I came home at night, I had to eat your leftovers and endure your insults. Shouldn’t your whole family apologize to me first?”
They demanded from her what they would never do themselves. Unbelievable double standards. 2
Adah’s eyes filled with disappointment, “It’s all in the past now. Why can’t you just let it go?*%
“The pain was inflicted on me, and you tell me it’s in the past? By what right?”
Adah clutched her chest in despair.
Nathan’s anger finally boiled over
“As your father, you need to listen to me.”
“Claire, let me remind you, don’t think just because you’re back, you can do as you please. This family doesn’t need you. If you hold a grudge against us, you can leave right now. I never said you were welcome back here.”
Claire let out a mocking laugh, filled with sarcasm, “Did I want to come back? What happened just last night, Mr. Linwood, have you already forgotten?”
yet you act like I’m the one clinging to this family. What are
“It’s clear you want to use me to resume a partnership with Cole Corporation, yet you act you so high and mighty that I deserve to be belittled as worthless?”
