Chapter 590
The name “Claire” echoed in Stella’s mind like an atomic bomb exploding, a deafening “boom” that rattled her thoughts. Her hands tightened around the steering wheel, veins bulging on her hands as she gripped harder, the tension palpable. Lance–Stella knew who Lance was. He was a top counter–surveillance expert, personally trained by her father, Jagger, and now held an important position in Clusia’s inner circle. Stella trusted the results of Lance’s investigation without question.
Since her brother was reluctant to lend a hand, Stella took matters into her own hands and called on Lance for help.
But she never imagined the result would be this. Claire. A woman who had been married once, and once “died.” A woman who, as her parents had said, came from the backwoods, someone who wasn’t “up to par” in their eyes.
This revelation crushed her, and she couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t possibly lower herself to accept such a result.
She had considered letting go of her feelings for Arthur before, but not when it was Claire. Claire, a woman she felt was beneath her.
If someone had been in the car with her at that moment, they would have seen the defiance etched across Stella’s face, her entire body emanating an almost suffocating pressure, as if the air itself had turned heavy with her frustration.
When Hank returned to Claire, she had already come back from the Chivers Residence.
Seeing Claire, Hank asked, “Mom, how did you get back so soon? I thought you’d stay for dinner tonight. I was planning to make some noodles.”
Claire was sitting on the sofa watching TV. She chuckled, “Heh, if I didn’t come back, I’d probably be abducted by your grandmother. That woman, once she starts talking, she can turn anything round into flat.”
Hank smirked and replied, “You’re no different. You two are pretty much the same.”
Claire, hearing this, reached out and gave him a light smack. “What are you saying? I’m your mom! Is this how you talk about your own mother? I’m a quiet and refined person.”
Hank looked at his mom, who was now able to banter with him. A smile appeared on his face, one he hadn’t worn before. Honestly, it felt kind of nice.
A few seconds later, his smile faded, replaced by a serious and solemn expression. “Oh, by the way, Mom, I need to ask you something.”
“What’s up?” Claire asked casually, taking a sip of her coffee.
Hank took a sip of water and cleared his throat. “Do you know anyone from the Walton family?”
Claire looked at him, puzzled. “You mean that Walton family, right?”
Hank nodded. “Yes, that Walton family. You probably don’t know them, b
it’s fine. I have a picture.”
He handed her a photo of Stella. “If you ever see this woman on the street, make sure to take another route, or better yet, don’t go out alone. Just stay home.”
Claire glanced at the photo and said, “I know her. Stella, right? What’s going on? Is she causing you trouble? She must know you’re Arthur’s son, right?”
Hank shook his head. “It’s not that she’s causing me trouble. She just asked me who my mother is, asked about you. With the
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Chapter 590
Walton family’s resources, they’ll probably figure it out eventually. I’m just giving you a heads–up in case.”
Claire was a bit confused. “She asked about me? Why?”
Hank’s voice was calm but serious. “Stella likes my dad. When she stopped me on the road earlier, she told me.
t ཏྲཱི,75
“Based on how she spoke and her expression, from a psychological perspective, this isn’t just a passing infatuation. And from the looks of it, she’s definitely not someone who’ll give up easily.”
Hank had told his mom everything, without holding anything back, to make sure she’d be cautious if she ever ran into
Stella.
Claire, on hearing this, looked disgusted. “Ugh, she’s that old and still going on about these things?
“Wait a minute, now that you mention it, I remember back when we were in Gavoria, she told me she liked a man a few years older than her. I think it was Arthur. Yes, that’s it, I remember now.
“I didn’t realize Stella was so fixated. All these years and she’s still not married. Maybe she’s been waiting for your father all along. Hmm, well, good for her. Let’s give her a round of applause and some encouragement.”
Hank looked at his mom, who seemed completely unconcerned, and grabbed her arm, sighing. “You need to feel some sense of urgency, Claire. With her family and background, things are not simple.
“How could she just let herself like a man who has a son? And not just any son–one with a beautiful mother.”
Claire swatted Hank’s hand away. “Alright, I admit she’s pretty. But come on, tell me, son, how do you know so much about all these women’s scheming?
“Have you secretly been binge–watching romance dramas? Didn’t I tell you in Astamia to stop watching TV and read more? I bet you’ve been sneaking off to watch it, haven’t you?”
As soon as his mom brought it up, Hank shrank back, quickly getting up and running upstairs. “No, Mom, I’ve only watched it like 6 or 7 times, Lucy showed me!”
Claire watched Hank disappear around the corner of the stairs and chuckled softly. Then, her expressio Only watched
serious as she thought about what he had just said.
grew a bit more
She looked down at the phone in her hand, its screen completely black. After a moment, she pursed her lips, then reached out to turn it on.
