"Claire, what do you think about your mom and my dad getting remarried?"
In a secluded corner of the café, Vivian Carter radiated the sharp confidence of a wealthy heiress. A brand-new, ivory-colored designer bag lay casually on the table.
Claire Harper and Vivian sat across from each other. Vivian's eyes were locked on Claire's face—a face so stunning it irritated her to no end.
Claire didn't look at Vivian; instead, her attention lingered on Vivian's bag.
At just 25 years old, Claire, like most women her age, kept up with fashion and adored beautiful clothes, shoes, and bags. Vivian's bag was exactly Claire's style. If this were the past, Claire would have bought it first—no, she definitely would have bought it first, and Vivian would have gone out to copy her!
Claire and Vivian had been classmates since elementary school. Both came from similar family backgrounds, and people around them often compared the two. Over time, Vivian developed a competitive streak, always trying to outshine Claire. Yet time and again, Vivian failed—until the Harper family went bankrupt. Now, Vivian could easily trample Claire.
Vivian's new bag alone cost more than Claire's annual salary. Claire couldn't afford it.
Knowing she couldn't have it, Claire simply admired the bag for a moment before raising her head.
Claire met Vivian's eyes. "I don't have much of an opinion. I respect my mom and Mr. Carter's decision to remarry."
Three years ago, the Harper family went bankrupt. Claire's father, Patrick Harper, disappeared on the high seas, leaving behind enormous debts. After two years of fruitless searching, the police officially declared him deceased. While the deceased could rest in peace, the living had to move on. Claire's mother, Grace Harper, slowly emerged from her grief and began a relationship with Richard Carter, a widower of many years.
A widow and a widower, both with grown children and familiar with one another, seemed like a perfect match.
The biggest problem, however, was that while the Harper family was bankrupt, the Carter family was not.
If Grace and Richard were to marry, would Richard help pay off Grace and Claire's debts?
Vivian sneered, "Don't pretend to be clueless, Claire. You know what I mean. With my dad's status, he could marry any woman he wanted. I don't know what kind of tricks your mom used to seduce him, but while my dad might be blinded, I'm not. Your mom, carrying all that Harper debt, wants to marry into the Carter family? Dream on!"
Claire understood Vivian's concerns perfectly.
Why should the Carter family pay off the Harper family's debts?
Grace and Richard were already discussing marriage. Claire had brought up the debt issue with her mother, but Grace had waved it off, telling Claire she was too young to worry about it. However, Claire couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
The Harper family's assets had long been seized and sold to repay debts, but the hole left by Patrick Harper's poor decisions was still massive. With Claire's current salary, trying to repay it was like using a drop of water to extinguish a fire. Even so, Claire never considered shirking her responsibility.
Bankruptcy wasn't entirely Patrick Harper's fault.
He'd made poor business decisions, true, but before that, he'd provided Claire with a comfortable and privileged life.
Claire had enjoyed the wealth her father earned, so she felt it was only right to repay his debts—no matter what Vivian thought.
"You don't need to worry. I won't let Mr. Carter help us pay off our debts," Claire assured Vivian.
Vivian didn't believe her and scoffed. "And how can you guarantee that? It's easy to make empty promises now, but once your mom marries into the Carter family, she'll start whispering in my dad's ear. Once, twice, and over time, he'll cave!"
Vivian wasn't looking for verbal assurances. She wanted Claire to have the decency to stop Grace from marrying into the Carter family.
She also couldn't understand why her father, Richard Carter, wanted to marry someone like Grace Harper.
Vivian had argued with Richard about it, but while he cherished his daughter, he didn't change his mind.
Vivian was furious. Claire had stolen her spotlight ever since they were kids, and now she was trying to steal her father?
Old grudges and new grievances piled up, and Vivian vented her frustration on Claire without restraint.
Claire glanced at her watch—it was almost time. Right on cue, her phone rang.
She answered the call. "Uncle William, you're here? I've been waiting."
"Claire!" Vivian slammed the table. "I'm talking to you. Stop avoiding reality!"
Claire ended the call and looked at Vivian. "I'm not avoiding anything. I'm solving your concerns."
Vivian was puzzled when an older man entered the café. Claire stood to greet him.
"Uncle William, thank you for coming all this way."
The man frowned. "It's no trouble, but are you really sure about signing a new debt agreement? You're only 25. How will you ever pay off your father's debts?"
Vivian was stunned.
What did Claire mean? Was she... planning to take responsibility for her father's debts?
Vivian doubted her eyes and ears. Maybe this was just a performance. But Vivian recognized this man as one of the Harper family's creditors.
Facing his doubts, Claire remained calm. "Uncle William, I know I can't repay all the debts now, but I want to acknowledge them. You know the Harper family's assets have already been liquidated. If I don't take on my father's debts, there's nothing you can do about it. The debts would just sit there, unpaid. Would you prefer that?"
A daughter repaying her father's debts wasn't a legal obligation but a moral one.
The Harper family had been thoroughly cleaned out. Claire had no inheritance to speak of, and creditors couldn't force her to pay. The same applied to Grace Harper—her assets were gone.
Whether or not to accept Claire's new debt agreement was entirely up to Uncle William.
Eventually, he agreed and signed with Claire.
Uncle William was the first. Soon, a second creditor arrived, then a third... Claire signed new agreements with each of them, using the same reasoning.
She laid all the signed agreements in front of Vivian. "Does this resolve your concerns? My father's debts are now my responsibility. Even if my mom marries Mr. Carter, the Carter family won't need to help us. If you still don't believe me, you can record me saying this right now. If I ever go back on my word, you can use it to expose me."
Vivian was dumbfounded by Claire's bold move.
After a moment, Vivian sneered again. "Fine, the Carter family won't help you. But what about the Sterling family? You're probably planning to let Ethan Sterling cover for you, aren't you? You're really something, Claire. You've already secured Ethan's love."
The Sterling family was a prominent name in the city, and Ethan Sterling was Claire's fiancé.
If the Sterling family wanted to, they certainly had the resources to help Claire clear her debts.
Despite the Harper family's bankruptcy three years ago, Ethan had never broken off their engagement, proving how much he cared for Claire. It wasn't surprising Vivian would think this way—perhaps even Uncle William and the other creditors had similar thoughts. That might explain why they were willing to sign the new agreements. After all, if Claire married into the Sterling family, her debts would be covered.