Before Claire Harper arrived, Grace Harper was so distraught she couldn't even get out of bed. But after their conversation, Grace found the strength to see Claire off downstairs.
Richard Carter, concerned that his daughter Vivian might stir up trouble again, firmly sent her to her room. When Claire came downstairs, only Richard was waiting for her.
"It's so late. Why not stay the night?" Richard asked.
Grace interjected before Claire could respond, "She's married now. How could she leave her husband home alone while she stays here? Still, it's too late for her to go back alone. Richard, have the driver take her home."
Claire nodded in agreement. "Mom's right. I won't stay over."
Even if no one were waiting for her at home, Claire wouldn't have stayed at the Carters' house.
To Vivian, this house was her territory. If Claire stayed overnight, it would be seen as an invasion, and Vivian would surely throw a fit.
The Carters' driver took Claire home. As they left, Richard asked Grace, "Have you looked into the man she married?"
Grace gave a bitter smile. "He's decent, but he can't compare to Ethan. Claire is stubborn, and what's done is done. I'm just worried she'll suffer in the future."
Richard appeared thoughtful. "Young people can be headstrong. Don't worry, Grace. If Claire ever finds herself in real trouble, I won't stand by and do nothing. She'll always have a home here."
While he didn't explicitly promise to help pay Claire's debts, as her stepfather, Richard wouldn't let her go hungry.
Grace was touched. "Thank you, Richard."
Upstairs, Vivian watched from her bedroom window as the driver escorted Claire home.
Earlier, Richard had pulled Vivian into his study for a father-daughter talk. He assured her that the Carters' wealth would remain hers and that Claire wouldn't take her place or the family's money.
Vivian wasn't entirely convinced. Even if Claire didn't take from the Carters, what about Grace?
Richard grew stern, emphasizing that Grace was his wife and it was only natural for him to provide for her. Grace had every right to spend the family's money.
Richard explained that he had waited this long to remarry because he didn't want a stepmother mistreating Vivian. Now that Vivian was grown, he felt it was time to consider his own happiness. Couldn't she see how much he had already sacrificed for her?
Richard urged Vivian to consider his perspective, but she refused to listen. She was convinced that Grace had manipulated him.
Now, Vivian felt it was her duty to protect the Carters' legacy.
Feigning obedience, she apologized to Richard. But privately, she sent a message to their driver, Mr. Liu: *Observe Claire closely when you drop her off. Is she really married?*
---
Nearly an hour later, the driver returned.
Yawning, Vivian asked, "So, how's Claire's marriage?"
"She's moved into Seaside Gardens. When I dropped her off, her husband was still awake. He's young and very handsome," Mr. Liu reported honestly.
Vivian perked up. "They're really living together?"
The driver nodded. "It didn't seem fake."
Vivian was puzzled. "Seaside Gardens is nowhere near as good as Ethan's place. Even if her husband is good-looking, what's the point? Claire must be out of her mind!"
At first, Vivian thought Claire was playing hard to get. But now, with confirmation of Claire's flash marriage and cohabitation, Vivian couldn't make sense of it.
*Is she crazy?*
Aside from Ethan, who else would be willing to shoulder the Harper family's debts?
Even if Claire didn't care about repaying those debts, was she really content to live an ordinary life?
Unwilling to let it go, Vivian decided to share Claire's situation with Ethan.
*"Claire is really something. After all those years together, she broke up with you and immediately married someone else. Oh, and my driver saw her new husband. He's quite good-looking."*
Ethan, likely asleep, didn't respond. Vivian wasn't in a rush.
After all this time, she finally felt like she had won. That night, Vivian slept soundly for the first time in a while.
---
**Seaside Gardens**
Claire hadn't expected Nathan Cross to be home when she returned.
Since Nathan hadn't replied to her messages, she assumed he wouldn't be back.
The Carter family's driver insisted on escorting Claire upstairs. Just as she was about to unlock the door, it opened from the inside. Nathan, dressed in casual loungewear, politely thanked the driver for bringing Claire home.
"Next time, let me pick you up. No need to trouble others," Nathan said.
To the driver, Nathan appeared every bit the attentive and handsome husband. But Claire couldn't figure out what had prompted his sudden display of affection.
Still, knowing the driver might report back to her mother, Claire decided to play along. "I'll call you next time for sure. Tonight, I just didn't want to bother you so late."
Nathan smiled. "It's no trouble. I can't sleep until I know you're home safe."
Even Claire, the subject of the performance, found it overly saccharine. The driver, visibly uncomfortable, quickly excused himself.
Once the door was closed, Nathan's tone shifted. "Next time, let me know when you're going out. I didn't know whether to lock the door."
"I went to see my mom. She came to my apartment and found it empty, so she was worried. I'll inform you next time. But shouldn't you also let me know if you're coming home or not?"
Claire seized the opportunity to push back. If Nathan wanted her to check in, he should be willing to do the same.
Nathan gave her a long, unreadable look before finally saying, "Fine."
Claire took a step back, her tone softening. "I'm sorry for disturbing you tonight. How about I buy you breakfast tomorrow as an apology?"
"No need," Nathan replied. "You don't know my tastes or schedule."
Claire, however, was determined to maintain the façade of a cooperative marriage. "I'm new to this whole marriage thing and don't know how couples usually interact. But even if we can't be a picture-perfect couple, can't we at least be good roommates?"
Her earnestness left Nathan with little room to argue. "I'm not picky. Get whatever you want."
Only after Nathan retreated to his room did Claire allow herself to smile.
*Everyone has their quirks,* she thought.
She wasn't afraid of Nathan's moods—she was more concerned about his refusal to communicate.
---
The next morning, Claire, an early riser thanks to her work schedule, bought breakfast for Nathan before heading to the office.
At 9:00 AM, Nathan noticed the note she'd left on the table:
*"I didn't know your preferences, so I got two options: millet porridge with buns and coffee with a sandwich. Take what you like and leave the rest in the fridge for dinner."*
Nathan found himself surprised. In high school, Claire had been the type to treat an entire basketball team to drinks without a second thought. Yet now, she was carefully budgeting leftovers for dinner.
On impulse, he packed both breakfasts and brought them to work.
---
At the office, Jiang Ziyan, sporting dark circles, looked at Nathan pitifully.
"You brought breakfast? For me?" Jiang reached for the bags, but Nathan pulled them away.
"They're not for you."
"What? But there are two—"
"I'm hungry. Can't I eat two?" Nathan replied, his tone unapologetic.
Jiang sighed dramatically. "You were generous enough to give me extra shares back then, but now you can't even spare a single breakfast?"
Nathan ignored him. Jiang, still curious, teased, "Is this some kind of love breakfast? When do we get to meet your new wife?"
Nathan dodged the question. "When the time is right. And don't tell anyone about the marriage—I don't want word spreading."
Jiang, misinterpreting Nathan's seriousness, thought he was trying to protect his wife. "Don't worry. My lips are sealed."
Nathan didn't correct him.
As the morning dragged on, Nathan felt uncharacteristically tired, perhaps from overindulging at breakfast. He found himself wondering how Claire would react when she opened the fridge and found it empty.
By afternoon, he received a text from Claire:
*"I won't be home for dinner. Not sure when I'll be back. My ex showed up at the office today, and I'm settling things with him for good."*
Nathan read the message three times.
*What game is she playing?*
Was this a simple update on her whereabouts?
Or was it a provocation?
Did Claire expect him to confront Ethan face-to-face?
Nathan smirked coldly. If he intervened, wouldn't that ruin their carefully constructed act?