Chapter 284
Helen shook her head, clearly disapproving of my plan. “No way. I can arrange for someone else to take them, but I can’t let you go alone. It’s too risky p>
Just then, the doorbell rang. Helen and I exchanged puzzled glances. Who could that be?
Helen opened the door, and in walked Claude Hart. He paused at the threshold, looking at me. “Claire, Uncle asked me to accompany you to have brunch with Princess Harriet p>
Max was aware of my plans and knew I was supposed to have brunch with Princess Harriet.
My anxiety was probably written all over my face. “Where is he?” I tried to ask, but no sound came out.
“Uncle said he’d come back to find you later today. He wants you to wait for him p>
Frustration gnawed at me, like a lamb awaiting slaughter. I clenched my jaw, unable to find the words.
Claude noticed my silence and asked, confused, “Claire, I know I can be ambitious, but I’ve never done anything to harm you. Are you really not going to say a word to me p>
Helen quickly jumped in to explain, “Claire’s been through something traumatic recently. She’s temporarily lost her voice. I’ve scheduled a doctor’s appointment for her today p>
Claude seemed a bit flustered, reaching out as if to hold my hand but then pulling back. “You’ll be fine. At the tea party, I’ll speak on your behalf. You can play it cool.” With a snap of his fingers, a servant appeared with a blue dress and
matching jewelry for me.
“Claire, time to change p>
Helen took the outfit and led me to the dressing room. I changed into the blue gown, adorned myself with the jewelry, and applied an exotic eye makeup look before slipping on a veil. I reminded Helen to ensure the Goodwin sisters’ safety.
Kate and Tracey were already in my room. The moment Kate saw Claude, she was filled with mixed emotions, but both of them were beyond speaking terms.
Once I emerged, Kate pulled Tracey down to her knees in front of me.
“We don’t want to leave. We want to reclaim everything the Goodwin family lost and avenge the
eline
humiliation my sister and I suffered.
Claire, please help us find
brother and get our revenge.
I had read from Helen’s files yesterday that the Goodwin family was no more, as their brother had handed everything over to Princess Harriet. Consequently, Kate and Tracey had become bargaining chips for the princess.
“Claire, we don’t care about our own lives anymore. We just want to live for
ourselves, even if it’s just this once.” I could relate to Kate’s words, feeling a deep understanding.
I nodded, then gestured to Helen, “You go to the hospital to find out about Lily. I’ll head to the tea party with Claude p>
We decided to split up.
What I didn’t know was that Max would be present at the tea party with the princess.
Harriet had her arm looped through Max’s, and his face was as expressionless as an iceberg. She kept offering him an array of delicacies, like feeding a pet.
When we arrived, Harriet greeted us with a smile, “Finally, Ms. Claire, you made
it p>
Had she already found out everything about me?
Claude whispered at my side, “Don’t be afraid p>
I wasn’t scared. What unnerved me
was Max sitting right across from me, seemingly engaged with Harriet. I couldn’t help but feel the sting of irony. The man who was
unreachable the night before was now right here, seemingly playing games with my emotions,
No matter how Max appeared-dressed in his opulent, royal attire the scent of
sandalwood, ingrained in his skin, betrayed him.
As soon as I sat down, Harriet had someone hand me a glass of wine. “This one’s not poisoned. Don’t go killing my fish again.” She leaned against Max’s shoulder, laughing. “Silas, She poured the poison wine I gave Lily into my fish tank yesterday. My poor golden dragon fish died, and I held a little memorial for it today p>