Chapter 34
At the orphanage, she never suffered from a stomach ailment
Yet back in her own home, the irregular meals wreaked havoc on her stomach.
How ironic
The taste of the simple noodle soup May used to make was unforgettable. She could easily tell who made the bowl of noodles in front of herk
She finished every drop of the broth
Adah’s face lit up with a hopeful smile. “Was it good?”
Claire fixed her gaze on Adah’s lips and got straight to the point. “Just say what you need to. No need to beat around the bush.”
That single, emotionless sentence instantly widened the gap between mother and daughter.
Adah frowned, displeased. “Claire, I truly care about you. Why can’t you just let go of the past?“%
Claire remained silent, her eyes unwavering, as though she could see right into Adah’s heart.
Under the weight of Claire’s stare, Adah slowly gave in. “Claire, what do I have to do for you to accept me?”
Claire still said nothing, knowing full well that even if she spoke, Adah wouldn’t change. It was pointless to waste words.
Adah tried to speak softly and sincerely, but all she got from Claire was cold indifference.
Eventually, Adah let out a long, helpless sigh. “Claire, you can be angry, but you can’t turn a blind eye to the Linwood Group.”
“If the Linwood Group doesn’t partner with the Cole Corporation soon, the losses will only mount. You’re a member of the Linwood family, you should contribute.”
Truth be told, Claire had always thought Adah was a decent person.
But today, she realized she had been mistaken.
Sharing a bed doesn’t make two people the same, yet Adah was just like the rest of the Linwood family.
Even if she wanted to pretend to care, she should at least put on a better act. Instead, she faked concem with a bowl of simple noodle soup and empty words of righteousness.
At that moment, Claire felt a deep sense of sorrow for sharing the same blood with the Linwood family.
“Get out
“Either you leave, or I will Claire flung the co
covers aside, ready to get out of bed.
“In just five years, how have you become so unreasonable?” Adah’s chest heayed with anger.
Claire sneered, “You enjoyed yourself while five years passed by quickly. Meanwhile, in prison, I was either beaten or scolded. Those five years should have been Vanessa’s burden, but you erased the surveillance footage and got me imprisoned, leaving a lifelong stain on me is this your idea of sincerity? Please, spare me your sincerity, I can’t afford it.”
“You you’re unreasonable.”
“Yes, I am. It’s best if you leave me alone.“%
Adah turned away in anger, unable to face Claire any longer
Claire spent the day lying in Ethan’s room, and by evening, Nathan stormed in, furiously pointing a finger at her.
The reason? The Linwood Group had lost another billion in a single day
Every day the Linwood Group didn’t partner with the Cole Corporation was another day of unending losses.
Despite Nathan’s rage, Claire maintained her smile, which nearly drove him to a fit.
Before leaving. Ethan gave her a long, searching look.
At the time, she didn’t understand the meaning behind it–until the next day.
When Claire woke up, she realized her hearing in her right ear had improved slightly As she descended the stairs, she overheard two maids gossiping about May. “Why isn’t May here today?‘
1 heard her daughter got into some trouble, and the school is considering expelling her.” Claire abruptly looked at Ethan, who was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper.
Sensing her gaze, Ethan glanced up, meeting her eyes with a cryptic smile.
