Chapter 582
Hank’s voice was a bit too loud, and Cherise, worried that he might wake Claire, quickly patted his shoulder to signal him to quiet down.
“She just recovered, so let’s try to keep things peaceful for her,” Cherise said softly. “Now that you’re staying here, I’m counting on you to take good care of her.
Leo, Crow, you two have worked hard these past few days. Once things settle down, you can withdraw
Her tone was polite, which made the three of them feel a little uneasy.
After speaking, Cherise glanced upstairs toward the bedroom and turned to Morris. “I’ll go check on her.”
Morris nodded. “Alright, go ahead. I’ll wait here.”
Claire’s villa had recently undergone renovations.
The previous design still had a vintage charm from a decade or two ago, but now, after Cherise had arranged for remodeling, the house had been transformed into a cozy, cream–toned aesthetic–warm, refreshing, and full of life.
Cha
Following the spiral staircase up, slowly made her way to Claire’s bedroom.
The door was only slightly ajar, not fully closed. She knocked gently twice before pushing it open.
As she stepped inside, she saw Claire standing on the balcony, gazing out at the scenery.
Her hair was half–down,
gently in the breeze. From a distance, she looked effortlessly elegant, natural and poised.
Cherise smiled faintly and walked
over.
Before stepping onto the balcony, she knocked twice again, afraid of startling her. In a soft voice, she called out, “Mom, I’m here.”
Claire turned immer
upon hearing the familiar voice. “Cherise, you’re here. Where’s Morris?”
“He’s downstairs. Hank’s here too. They’re all downstairs.”
Hearing Hank’s name, Claire asked, “Did he bring his luggage? He said he wanted to move in with me.”
Cherise nodded. “He did. You won’t be alone. Plus, Leo and Crow are right
ext
door.”
Claire understood her daughter’s intentions. The more thoughtful Cherise was, the deeper her guilt became. She waved her over. “Come, sit with me. Let’s have a mother–daughter chat.”
Cherise nodded and took a seat beside Claire on the lounge chairs on the balcony.
From a distance, the two of them sitting there created a picturesque scene–a mother and daughter, both stunning in their own way. One was graceful and poised, exuding a mature beauty, while the other was fresh and radiant, full of youthful
charm.
“Mom, is there something you wanted to talk to me about?” Cherise looked at Claire and asked.
Though Claire had a bold and straightforward personality, she always had her own way of handling things–decisive and
fearless.
She took a deep breath, seeming to carefully consider her words before finally speaking. “Now that I’m back in Clusia, th might start to change.
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14:23 Fri, 21 Feb
Chapter 582
Whether for better or worse, I’m not sure yet. But given Hank’s identity, the road ahead won’t be easy.
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So, I just want to remind you–whatever happens, you only need to focus on yourself and your family with Morris. As for the rest of us, we have our own ways of handling things.
Also, about your father, Jacob… Back then, when everyone thought I had passed away, we never officially went through divorce proceedings.
Now that I’ve suddenly reappeared, if someone with ulterior motives decides to dig into this, it could become an issue.
Not just for you, but for Hank as well–and even for his father, given his position.”
Hearing this, Cherise finally understood what had been weighing on her mother’s mind. She gently patted Claire’s hand and reassured her, “It’s okay. We’ve already considered all of this.
As for Jacob…maybe out of guilt toward me, he had our marriage legally annulled long ago.”
Claire let out a long breath, finally feeling the weight lift from her heart. What worried her the most wasn’t herself–after all, so many years had passed. But she didn’t want her return to cause trouble for the people around her.
Cherise looked at Claire’s slightly hesitant expression and let out a soft chuckle to lighten the mood. “I’d really like to know- what made you fall for Jacob back then?”
Hearing Cherise’s question, Claire didn’t seem uncomfortable at all. “Oh, why bring that up now?”
“I must’ve been blind back then,” she sighed. “I thought he was the most handsome guy at Broania University, and he did look really good. I figured we were a perfect match.
Plus, I thought if I picked someone with good genes, our kid would turn out good–looking too. Who knew he’d turn out the way he did? Well, I guess that’s on me.
But at least I did one thing right–I gave birth to such a beautiful and sensible daughter like you. And all these years, you’ve been the one staying by your grandma’s side.”
After saying that, she laughed with contentment. To be honest, Claire still felt incredibly fortunate to have such a daughter- one with both exceptional talent and impeccable character.
Seeing her mother’s smile, Cherise couldn’t help but smile too. Claire’s smile was indeed contagious.
After a brief pause, Cherise spoke again. “And what about Hank’s father? What’s the story there?”
Claire’s face, which had been calm just moments ago, suddenly turned bright red. “That…that’s a bit hard to talk about. It was back then…um…”
Seeing her mother so flustered, Cherise didn’t press further. “Alright, I won’t push you. But sooner or later, you’ll have to face
him.
I’ve met Hank’s father–he’s a true gentleman. I won’t interfere in your matters; whatever happens is up to you.
Cor
