How can they be the same? Leena is one of our family members, after all. Obviously I ought to be close to her. But you, you really are a silly girl, Claire! Miss Ye is just your guest. And fine, she's also the daughter of your father's friend. But in any case, she is not family. Am I wrong? Leena is different. She is your brother's wife, your sister-in-law, and our daughter-in-law. How can Louisa and her be the same?" Shannon had a lot of words to say on this matter. One had to admit that she was correct and being sensible. Claire couldn't find anything to contradict with what she said.
Who says she can't be one of our family members? It's just a matter of time," Claire said abruptly. She voiced out what she had been secretly hoping for all along.
"Claire, what does that mean? I hope you aren't really wanting that. I don't like what you are implying and I don't want to hear it a second time. Understood?" Shannon grew serious all of a sudden and stared at Claire with stone cold eyes. So this was what Claire was planning? Shannon was sure that it would never happen. As long as she was in this family, she would not allow Louisa to be in it!
"All right, all right! I understand. I admit I was wrong." Claire stuck out her tongue at her mother. Claire was being careless today. She should have kept the secret to herself, instead of spilling the beans to her mother.
"I hope you truly understand that you were wrong. I don't want to see you hatching plots behind my back, or I will be merciless. No one can protect you then," Shannon warned her daughter. She knew she had to be strict with Claire. Otherwise, if she didn't threaten Claire enough or failed to let her know the seriousness of this matter, Claire would definitely stir up trouble and do more damage.
"Mom, I was just kidding! I didn't mean it like that. Why are you treating me like I committed a serious crime?" Claire pursed her lips. She had only said the first thing that jumped to her mind. Why on earth was her mother so angry with her? If she was this furious right now, Claire couldn't even imagine how vexed her mother would be if she really did go behind her back and cause trouble for Leena. Just thinking about it sent a chill down her spine. She could already picture how miserable her life would become if her mother ever found out that she had promised to help Louisa with her schemes.
"Joking about it is bad enough. What, you really want to make Louisa a family member?" Shannon could see through her daughter effortlessly. It was clear that Claire wanted Louisa to be her sister-in-law, instead of Leena. How could Louisa replace Leena so easily? Claire was too naive. Kevin and Leena's marriage was no ordinary relationship. Kevin was in the military. He was a soldier. It wouldn't be so easy for him to divorce and marry another woman. What was Claire thinking? Did she think it would be as easy as grocery shopping?
No! I didn't say that. I mean no harm, okay? Mom, fine. You win. I don't want to argue with you anymore." Claire shuddered at her mother's words. Well, it looked like it would be difficult to help Louisa get her brother. Judging from her mother's attitude right now, Claire could already tell that her mother would never accept Louisa. She got so angry at Claire's words and was treating Claire like she wasn't her own daughter.
"I am not kidding. You would do better to remember my words," Shannon was still concerned, and gave her daughter a final warning. She knew her well. Claire was very likely to stir up trouble. Even if Shannon warned her a hundred times, Claire still wouldn't take her words seriously.
"Dad! Come save me! I feel helpless. Mom wouldn't let me explain at all." Claire massaged her forehead and sighed deeply. She had brought this upon herself. She shouldn't have said all that to her mother without thinking. Also, she should have stayed in bed this morning. Why did she even get up and come down to talk to her mother, only for Shannon to scold her?
"Claire, you are not a little girl anymore, but you still act like one." Nathan liked spoiling his daughter, that was true. But he still couldn't contradict his wife for his daughter's sake. He couldn't afford the consequences. Shannon would come after him.
"Wait a minute. Where are Kevin and Leena? Are they still sleeping? At this hour? They should get up already! I'll go and wake them up," Claire said, before turning around to go upstairs. She wanted to escape from her mother as soon as possible, in case she decided to scold her further. However, Shannon called out, stopping Claire in her steps.
"Claire, wait! Don't wake them up yet, let them sleep. I know the two of them didn't get enough rest last night. They must be sound asleep right now. Let them be." Shannon's eyebrows furrowed. Claire was so negligent. How could she be so oblivious? She should know better than to bother her brother and his wife right now.
"Umm... How do you know that, Mom?" Claire asked her mother, lowering her voice. Why did her mother know that Kevin and Leena didn't sleep much last night? She couldn't have been outside their bedroom eavesdropping, could she? Well, considering how much her mother wanted a grandson, it was indeed something she was likely to do.
"Claire, what are you thinking? Your brother had a fever last night. I am guessing Leena stayed up all night to take care of him. They must be too tired right now, so they are still sleeping. Get your mind out of the gutter, will you?" Shannon tapped on Claire's head, pretending to be annoyed. Her daughter was still an unmarried girl. Why would she think this kind of things?
"Oh! Kevin really is ill! How did I not know that? I should go and check on him," Claire announced as she got up, ready to go upstairs again. This time, her mother didn't hesitate to pull her down by her arm.
"Didn't you hear a word of what I said just now? Don't bother them! Let them sleep. Did you really forget everything I said so soon?" Shannon felt helpless when it came to her daughter. She had told her not to wake up her brother and Leena only a few minutes ago! Of course Claire forgot her words right away. It looked as if whatever she said to her fell on deaf ears.
"All right, all right. I won't bother them. Satisfied? I'll eat breakfast with Dad. Wait, where did he go?" Claire looked around the room in confusion. Nathan was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that he had sneaked away in silence, while the mother and daughter were arguing.
"He is in the dining room, eating his breakfast. Do you think he would wait on you?" Shannon rolled her eyes at her daughter. She was getting fed up with her behavior lately, and she almost lost her temper just now. At least there were no guests with them at this time of the day. Otherwise, Shannon would have surely felt embarrassed for Claire.