Seeing the coldness in Derick's eyes, Saren realized how blind she had been to fall in love with such a man.
Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she refused to show any vulnerability in front of him. She yanked her hand away, took a deep breath, and headed upstairs. The only thought in her mind was to find a job quickly so she could move out and divorce Derick.
She grabbed a random outfit, tied her hair up with a hairpin, and went back downstairs. She was never one to fuss over her appearance. In the past, she had dressed up for the Clarkson' gatherings to make a good impression. Now, she couldn't care less.
Hearing her footsteps, Derick looked up.
Saren wore a fitted white dress, her waist so slender it seemed it could be encircled with one hand. Her hair was secured with a jade hairpin, revealing her delicate neck. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The grace she exuded was just like when they first met. However, the look in her eyes now was devoid of any warmth.
"Let's go," she said.
They drove to the Sumner residence in silence.
As they arrived and were about to get out of the car, a black Range Rover sped up and stopped abruptly in front of them.
Upon recognizing the car, Derick's expression darkened. It was Mark's car, someone he both feared and disliked.
Mark was known for his reckless and unpredictable behavior. He had refused to take over the Clarkson Group when Roy wanted him to run the company, choosing to start his own business instead. Everyone had expected him to fail, but within five years, his company had grown to be worth several times more than the Clarkson Group.
Derick couldn't stand Mark, partly out of jealousy. Once, a comment Derick made about Mark reached Mark's ears, and in retaliation, Mark refused to collaborate with the Clarkson Group, costing them millions.
Mark rarely attended family dinners, and Derick had hoped to avoid him.
Luck wasn't on his side today-they met at the door.
He didn't notice Saren's stiffened expression when she saw Mark get out of his car.
Derick opened the car door and greeted, "Uncle Mark."
Mark glanced at him indifferently, his gaze briefly landing on the passenger seat before he nodded and walked into the house.
Saren let out a deep breath. When Mark looked her way, she had forgotten to breathe, fearing he might say something outrageous. He was known for his unpredictable nature, always doing whatever he pleased. Fortunately, he said nothing.
She decided she needed to talk to him privately later.
As Derick and Saren walked into the living room, they saw it was already filled with people. Roy and Maya, the family heads, were chatting with Mark. He was the kind of person who naturally stood out in a crowd.
Noticing Saren's gaze on Mark, Derick frowned. "Why are you staring at my uncle?"
Saren withdrew her gaze and replied coolly, "None of your business."
Her coldness irritated Derick. "Saren, you know I don't like you paying attention to other men."
Ever since they got together, Derick had been extremely controlling, not allowing Saren to interact with other men. She used to think this was a sign of his love, but now it seemed laughable.
She sneered. "And I don't like you sleeping with other women, but you seem to enjoy it just fine."
Derick said through gritted teeth, "This is a family dinner. We'll deal with this later."
"If you don't want me to bring it up, then stay out of my business," she retorted.
Derick didn't want to cause a scene now because it might affect the Clarkson Group and his standing with Roy, who still held all the company's shares.
As they talked, Maya called out, "Saren, Derick, you're here! Come sit down!"
Saren took a deep breath, forcing a smile as she approached. She might not like the Clarkson's, but she maintained basic manners.
"Hello, Grandpa, Grandma," she greeted with a smile.
Maya, who had been urging Mark to settle down and get married, looked pleased to see the couple. "Come, sit down."
She turned to Mark with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Look at Derick. He manages the company well and has a beautiful wife. They might have children soon. And you? Almost 30 and still single. If you don't bring a girlfriend next time, don't bother coming!"
Mark glanced at the couple with a smirk. "She is indeed beautiful."
He just wondered how that petite frame would suffer if she were to have children.
Saren frowned, feeling uncomfortable with Mark's gaze.
Derick also noticed the inappropriate way Mark looked at Saren. It wasn't the look of an elder but more like a man admiring a woman. His hand clenched into a fist, and his body tensed.
Maya sighed. "My point is, when will you bring me a daughter-in-law?"
"Depends. If I meet someone I like, maybe I'll bring her back tomorrow," Mark replied nonchalantly.
"You're too picky! I've arranged a good match for you. Date's tomorrow, don't ruin it."
"Then you'll probably have to apologize to another old friend tomorrow."
Frustrated, Maya snapped, "You're going to drive me crazy!"
Mark glanced at Derick. "Derick's been married for years. Instead of pushing me, why don't you encourage him to have kids?"
Maya nodded, realizing Mark wouldn't listen to her. She turned to Saren and Derick, her expression softening. "Saren, you and Derick have been married for a few years now. When are you planning to have children?"