Claudia's presumptuous behavior made Anastasia feel very uncomfortable.
"Mother, I've told you countless times that I won't marry Mr. Clay." Anastasia's voice trembled with frustration as she turned to face Silas. "Mr. Clay, you come from a privileged family, and many girls would be thrilled to have your attention. I'm already married, and I really don't deserve you, so please don't waste any more time on me."
Claudia, reddening with rage, pinched Anastasia sharply several times and barked, "Why are you so thick-headed?! Silas is an incredibly eligible man. You're fortunate he fancies you! How can you be so ungrateful?!"
Then she turned to apologize to Silas. "Silas, we've spoiled Anastasia rotten. Sometimes, she's thick in the head, so please don't mind her! Don't worry. I have the final say in this household."
Silas smiled faintly, pretending to be nonchalant. "It's alright, Claudia. I believe that Anastasia will come to see my sincerity one day."
However, inwardly, he was highly dissatisfied. I, Silas Clay, have never experienced blatant rejection from a woman! She's just a married woman. Why is she being so pretentious?! She seriously doesn't know any better. When I win her heart, I'll certainly make her obey me!
He didn't bother taking a single glance at Ethan. To him, Ethan was just Anastasia's in-name husband and simply an insignificant nobody.
Ethan squinted. How dare he try to court my wife in front of me! Very bold, eh?
"Mr. Clay is so magnanimous and gentlemanly!"
"Of course, the SW Corporation belonging to the Clays is one of the top few major enterprises in the county, and Mr. Clay graduated from an overseas university. He's well-educated and has a good upbringing. How can someone here hold a candle to him?"
"Haha, from now on, Mr. Clay will be part of our family. We must learn from him!"
The Reeds' relatives praised Silas incessantly, as though Anastasia had already married him.
Anastasia frowned, feeling even more angry and disappointed when she saw how indifferent and unaffected Ethan was as he stood by the side.
However, she didn't know that Ethan didn't want to start an argument with her family in front of her because he didn't want to put her in a difficult spot.
"Alright, alright, get ready for dinner."
Seeing that it was about time, Claudia instructed the servants to serve the dishes and arranged for everyone to be seated. But she deliberately alienated Ethan, pretending as though he didn't exist.
Everyone laughed maliciously, waiting to see this loser, Ethan, embarrass himself.
"Daddy, come sit here!" Sophia's puerile voice was heavenly. She occupied a seat beside her stool and called out to Ethan.
Ethan's heart melted a little as his daughter's obedience and reliance on him made his frustration vanish.
"What are you doing? This seat is reserved for your aunt. If you like that piece of trash so much, get down and stand with him." Claudia rebuked Sophia as she picked her up from the stool before tossing it onto the ground.
Sophia felt aggrieved, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mother, consider the occasion today!" Anastasia picked her daughter up and heartbrokenly placed her on her lap before glancing at Ethan. She said sternly, "Sit down."
Just as everyone sat down at the table, Silas chuckled. "I almost forgot. I haven't wished our little birthday girl a happy birthday." He took out a beautiful gift box and handed it over. "I hope the little beauty Sophia will like this."
Ethan was stunned. So, it's my daughter's birthday today! Oh no! I've failed as a father.
His heart was whole of guilt.
Sophia thanked him politely and opened the gift box under her relatives' encouragement.
A pinkish-purple gemstone pendant glistened under the light, dazzling dreamily.
"Wow! This is beautiful!"
The women present couldn't help but gasp in amazement. All women were interested in jewelry, especially such a beautiful and alluring gemstone.
Silas smiled smugly. "This is a gemstone I obtained by chance. The pink natural gemstone in the middle is the rarest. After learning that Sophia's birthday was coming, I hired Italy's most renowned jewelry designer to make it."
"Pink diamond? I've never seen one before! It's so beautiful!"
"Oh my gosh! It's such a big, natural pink diamond. It must be worth a lot of money!"
"That goes without saying; Mr. Clay's gift will never be cheap. It should cost at least fifteen thousand dollars."
Silas enjoyed listening to the compliments of the crowd but remained reserved on the surface. "Not at all. It only cost about Two hundred and seventy thousand dollars."
"Oh my gosh! Two hundred and seventy thousand dollars!"
Everyone inhaled sharply. They were astonished!
"It's just a gift for a child, but it costs two hundred and seventy thousand dollars. Mr. Clay is indeed very generous!" one of the relatives exclaimed, admiration evident in their voice.
"Sophia is so fortunate to have such a good father who will dote on her in the future," another chimed in.
Anastasia's eyes were full of annoyance. Here they go again. These people love jumping to conclusions on their own. When did I ever say that I was going to marry Silas?
"Mr. Clay has given her such an expensive gift. What about you? Surely you didn't come empty-handed, did you?" Anastasia's younger sister Claudia suddenly asked, raising her brows as she appeared in the doorway.
The eyes of the crowd immediately focused on Ethan. They weren't expecting anything. Instead, they were eager to see him make a fool of himself. What gift could this good-for-nothing possibly give? He could never afford something as extravagant as the pink diamond Silas had given!