Chapter 117
“Let her go,” he said, shifting to the side, his voice low as he addressed Kate.
But Kate scoffed, “Claude, it seems you’ve forgotten where we stand in our little dynamic. Who holds the reins here, huh? Without me, where would you be? Are you still not over her, feeling sorry I made her apologize p>
Amid the public scene, Kate’s words to Claude were like a spectacle of madness, stripping him of his dignity. If it were the old days, he wouldn’t have stood for it. But it seemed like he had been blackballed in the industry, only to be saved by the influence of Kate’s family. “Kate, that’s enough,” he said, anger seeping through his restraint.
Kate didn’t let it go. “Claire, you will apologize to me in front of everyone here today p>
The crowd around them murmured, “Isn’t that the saviors’ child of the Hart family? The original fiancée of Mr. Hart p>
“No wonder Ms. Kate is making it hard for her. She’s got the looks and figure that outshine Kate p>
“Mr. Hart sure missed the mark. With a beauty like that, I wouldn’t mind p>
I clenched my fists. The elite were no different from the dregs. Their concern for a woman’s looks disgusted me. I hated being objectified and didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me appear weak.
I was ready to give Kate a few more punches, make my apology hurt if it had to come to that, channel all my past life’s resentment. Let them label me a fierce woman!
But before I could act, a servant approached, “Ms. Kate, Ms. Tracey said you should stop the nonsense, or Mr. Goodwin will come to deal with it himself p>
At the mention of her father, Kate’s anger turned to fury, but her arrogance deflated. “Claire, you got lucky today p>
I looked around, not spotting Ms. Tracey. She probably didn’t want to be seen in such a mess. Or maybe she saw us and Richard, but couldn’t intervene.
I quickly pulled Richard away, leaving the Goodwin family’s banquet hall behind.
Richard asked, “Claire, what’s got you so scared that you wanted to leave immediately p>
I pressed my lips together, silent. After a moment, I asked, “You’ve been looking for Tracie, right? Do you still love her? Or do you want an answer? Ask her why she left p>
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Richard’s expression turned cold at my absurd questions, “Claire, Tracie is the only woman I’ve ever wanted to marry p>
I retorted, “If she wanted to marry you, she wouldn’t have left p>
Richard had better not know Tracie had left him for an engagement with the Hilton family for power and that she didn’t want to see him tonight. That kind of heartbreak would be too much. It was easier to tell him Tracie didn’t want him.
“That can’t be true. Tracie must have her reasons,” Richard said, comforting himself with a sad, hopeless laugh.
“Richard, loving someone hurts, doesn’t it?” I patted his shoulder, remembering how much I had loved Claude, the pain it cost me, my life, and my child’s life.
“Fancy a drink?” I gestured toward a nearby pub. In this life, I had always longed for a moment to drink carelessly.
Without hesitation, we walked into
the pub. We ordered a dozen beers, six each, and paired them with some grilled beef. As we drank, I spotted Ronald and Max at the bar, not too far from us. en
Pointing in their direction, I leaned toward Richard and whispered, “Let me tell you, I’ve been following a juicy story lately p>