Chapter 324
Lunesse was Eclat’s competitor, and Clayton knew the brand was overseen by Audrey.
At the time, he’d thought the online praise for Lunesse was exaggerated, figuring the mask’s good reviews were just from celebrity endorsements and mindless fan hype. Now, hearing his colleague talk like this, Clayton smiled indifferently. “How powerful can someone selling face masks bet”
“You can’t say that.” Neil clinked glasses with him. He went on, “After I took over your role in dealing with Stride Commerce, my wife said this brand has market potential and wanted to get an agency in advance.”
“I don’t understand women’s products, but my wife has made all the major decisions in our family, and each of them has been a success. So if she wants to do it, I’ll borrow money to support her,” he continued.
Clayton’s hand holding the wine glass froze, and he looked at Neil in disbelief. “Does your wife make all these decisions at home?”
Neil nodded.
“Does she earn more than you?” Clayton asked.
Neil shook his head.
“Then why do you listen to her?” Clayton couldn’t understand. Lillian had always said men should hold the financial power at home, while women should focus on keeping the house clean and taking care of their husbands.
Neil chewed on the barbecued meat and smiled, “There was a dilapidated house in my hometown that my two brothers didn’t want–they took the money to buy second–hand apartments in the city.
“But my wife told me to take that old house. I was reluctant at the time and even quarreled with her.
“She said if her decision was bad, she’d never interfere with my decisions again. After my brothers all bought houses, I was angry for half a year.
“But at the end of that year, when the road was being built, it happened to knock down our old house, and the construction company paid me a large
sum of money.”
Clayton was shocked but still reluctant to admit Neil’s wife’s foresight. “That’s just a coincidence, right?”
Neil nodded with a smile. “That was what I thought.”
He picked up his empty wine glass, and Clayton quickly poured him more wine, then filled his own glass.
After clinking glasses again, Neil continued, “After we had money, we also came to the city to buy a house.
“I took a fancy to a big and cheap one, but she disagreed and insisted on buying another slightly more expensive community.
“Now that I’ve lived in the new house for three years, the house I’d liked before hasn’t even started construction. She said she’d checked the developer and knew there was a problem with them.”
Clayton fell silent.
“Ever since then, my wife has been in charge at home. I give all my salary to her.” Neil said.
“You give all your money to your wife?” Clayton put down his wine glass. “What if she doesn’t give you money when you need it?”
Neil burst out laughing. A colleague beside him said, “Neil knows how to please his wife, so when she’s happy, she gives him mone to buy gifts for her, and she gets happier and gives him even more pocket money.”
While the colleagues around them chatted and dined noisily, Clayton’s mood hit rock bottom. He made an excuse and left early.
uses that money
Chapter 324-
Patel Manor had been sold, and his own house was about to be foreclosed to pay debts, so Clayton had rented on apartment in kinds he building as Audrey’s previous place.
As he drove to the community entrance, he saw a familiar figure not far away. It was a good friend of his, walking with his wife and child.
Just as Clayton was about to greet him, he saw his friend turn his head away, pretending not to see him.
The friend’s wife gave Clayton a scornful and disgusted look, then said to her daughter, “My dear girl, be careful when choosing a boyfriend–stay away from arrogant jerks.”
“Anyone who dares to bully my daughter, I’ll kick his ass.” The man chimed in. The family walked past Clayton’s car.
Soon, Clayton’s friend turned back and knocked on his car window.
Clayton opened the door and said self–deprecatingly, “I thought you didn’t see me.”
“Sorry. My wife warned me she’d divorce me if I kept in touch with you. Sorry, buddy, I have to go.” He patted Clayton’s shoulder and ran away quickly.
Clayton didn’t know why he’d become a pariah everyone avoided.
Back in the apartment, Clayton took a quick shower, swallowed his stomach medicine, and fell onto the bed, exhausted.
To be honest, Clayton struggled to accept the fall. He’d thought that returning to Ironhaven would mean no more news about Audrey, and he could work in peace. But Audrey was like a curse, showing up everywhere.
Colleagues around him praised Audrey for being not only beautiful and capable but also bold. Even though Clayton didn’t want to admit it, he had to accept that he was now unworthy of Audrey.
Earlier, he’d checked Emilia’s Instagram. After quitting his law firm, she’d joined Samson Legal, become Audrey’s assistant, and was now thriving. It seemed everyone around Audrey was getting better and better, while Clayton kept going downhill.
Just then, the phone rang, interrupting Clayton’s melancholy. He picked it up and saw it was Lillian’s call, so he sat up. “Mom?”
“Clayton, has Riley contacted you?” Lillian asked anxiously.
“No, I’ve been busy recently.” Clayton leaned over to take a glass of water from the table and took a sip before saying, “Isn’t she living in the school dormitory?”
“Yes, but… Wyatt and Alexa didn’t want me to tell you, but I couldn’t hold it in,” Lillian said anxiously.
“The school called just now and said Riley didn’t return to the dormitory last night. They’ve all gone to look for her near the school. Clayton, come pick me up, and let’s go look too,” she said.
“Okay, don’t worry.” Clayton quickly put on his clothes and drove to pick up Lillian.
Lillian’s hair was almost completely white, her face had more wrinkles, and her hands were rougher than before. Without John’s salary and the servants‘ care, plus Alexa’s dissatisfaction with her, her quality of life had plummeted.
Looking at Clayton’s thin and gaunt figure, Lillian felt like crying. She turned to look out the car window and quietly wiped away a tear. “I went to the hospital for a follow–up visit the other day and saw Audrey there. She’s pregnant with triplets.”
The car jerked violently. Lillian didn’t say more, fearing it would affect Clayton’s mood, but his mind was already in chaos.
Meanwhile, Wyatt and Alexa had checked the school’s surveillance and found that Riley had sneaked over the wall after evening self–study.
“How’s it going? Have you found Riley?” Clayton followed Lillian into the security room.
He walked behind Wyatt to ask what was going on, but suddenly Wyatt turned around and punched him in the face.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
