Chapter 364
Chapter 364
“Clayton.” Lucia forced a strained smile, rubbing her palm where her nails had left red marks, trying to start over.
She said, “Look, I’m older than you. I’ve got more life experience, especially when it comes to marriage. Let me give you some advice
“When I was with Audrey’s dad, we were so broke we couldn’t even afford three square meals a day. I had to scrimp and save just to buy basic skincare. Everyone’s youth is valuable, right?
“That’s why I didn’t hesitate to divorce him. Then I met Logan. That’s when my life took a huge turn for the better.
“Your marriage to Audrey was a wrong start from day one. Ending it was the smart choice. Vale… Let’s not bring her up. Good or bad, you’ve paid back whatever debt your family owed hers. Now it’s time to build your own life.
“I have tons of friends. Tell me what type of woman you’re into, and I’ll hook you up. You need to let go of the past and focus on the future”
Lucia babbled on, but Clayton just gave a thin smile, his stare turning from frosty to openly mocking.
She groaned inwardly, pressing a hand to her temple, ‘He isn’t biting. Now I’m running out of steam.
Let’s face it. Clayton’s circumstances were a disaster–his dad was in jait, his mom was stroke–disabled, his brother and sister in law were divorcing, and he had a handful of a niece.
Lucia thought, ‘What sane woman would marry him? Who’d want to slum it through poverty and debt?‘
‘No wonder he’s clinging to Audrey. She’s the only idiot who’d marry him for his help with George, even swallowing that unfair prenup.
After her silent rant, Lucia plastered on another fake kind look. “Clayton, why don’t you tell me what you’re really thinking?”
Clayton’s hand settled on the briefcase with the files. His smile was still polite but oozed sarcasm and threat.
When he leaned forward as if about to stand and march over to Audrey to show her the files and rat her out, Lucia’s fake grin finally slipped.
She grabbed his wrist. “We’re still negotiating here. These things don’t get sorted quickly.”
Clayton nodded. “I’ll say it again. I want to remarry Audrey.”
“This…” Lucia thought, ‘That’s obviously a non–starter.‘
Lucia grimaced awkwardly. “Clayton, Audrey and her husband are still in the honeymoon phase. Waiting for her to divorce is like waiting for Trump to quit politics. Let’s just…”
She thought, ‘Focus on something realistic.‘
But Clayton was stuck on the unrealistic.
He knew damn well today’s talk wouldn’t wrap up quickly. If it did, he’d lose his hold over Lucia.
By clinging to the impossible idea of remarrying, he was pushing her to offer other payoffs. And that “payoff” would be cash.
But he’d overestimated Lucia’s clout in the Winifred family. He thought since she’d bankrolled Kyle’s mooching, she could do the
for him.
To keep Clayton from flipping out and spilling her secret, Lucia gritted her teeth and handed over 30 thousand dollars, telling him to “think things through and not do anything stupid.”
With the money, Clayton first splurged on new clothes and a haircut, and even had his front teeth veneered.
Like they say, clothes make the man.
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Chapter 364
By the time he got back to his rental that night, he looked like a whole new person. He bought a roasted chicken for the middle aged woman actbes t hall to say thanks, and they got chummier.
Lucia’s hidden savings were almost gone. Instead of waiting for Logan to randomly toss her a bone, she decided to hit up Audrey for cash
So one sunny afternoon, she headed to Hillcrest Gardens.
Audrey had just woken from a nap, still half–asleep. She sat by the floor to ceiling window, wrapped in a light blanket to shake off the grogginess.
“Wow, it’s only been a few days. Your belly’s huge!” Lucia blurted, suddenly realizing something was up. “You’re having twins, right?”
Audrey nodded, her hands barely able to circle her stomach. “Triplets.”
“Tri…” Lucia swallowed hard.
She thought, ‘If Audrey had three babies at once, Yann would never divorce her.”
‘These kids are a blessing. Even if her body changes or childbirth messes with their marriage, Yann might give her the cold shoulder at home, but he’d
never end the marriage.‘
Lucia felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Both had married into the Winifred family, but her own price had been infertility, while Audrey was carrying three babies at once. She was the elder, yet the family finances were controlled by Audrey. Lucia felt utterly overlooked.
She scowled and dragged a chair beside Audrey. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Audrey stared at her, confused.
“Giving birth is like cheating death. Modern medicine is advanced, but triplets are still dangerous. If you’d told me earlier, I’d have made you consider
fetal reduction. Look at the risk you’re taking.” Lucia said.
She patted Audrey’s back, mixing false concern with irritation.
Once the servants were out of earshot, Lucia lowered her voice. “Silly girl, didn’t I warn you? Men are most tempted to stray when their wives are
pregnant.
“With that huge belly, you must look like a misshapen watermelon. A C–section leaves a nasty scar, and a vaginal birth is worse–tears, stretching. It’ll wreck your sex life.”
Audrey tilted her head. “If it’s already this way, what’s the point of saying all this now?”
“What do you mean by that? I’m trying to help. Why are you being so ungrateful?” Lucia snapped, her gaze lingering on Audrey’s stomach, her expression
unreadable.
When Lucia fell silent, Audrey closed her eyes to sunbathe, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the wheelchair’s armrests.
Sylvie came to wheel Audrey away for blood pressure and heart rate checks, followed by an oxygen session to keep the babies healthy.
As she breathed in the oxygen, Audrey placed headphones over her stomach.
After much awkward but earnest pleading, Yann had finally agreed to stop using his homemade voice recordings and switch to professionally produced fairy tale sound dramas for the babies.
Lucia trailed behind and gestured for Sylvie to step out. “We need a chat. Go handle other tasks.”
Sylvie looked at Audrey, who gave a small nod.
After Sylvie left the oxygen room, she didn’t wander far. Instead, she sat with Hugo in a quiet corner where they could monitor the situation without being noticed.
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- 10 MON 25 JUI
Chapter 364
“Audrey, let’s just imagine. Hypothetically…” Lucia waited until Sylvie was out of earshot before pressing on. “If Yann starfs ignoring you after the habiles are born, would you ever consider divorce?”
Audrey kept her eyes shut, replying flatly, “No.”
“Not even if he has an affair?”
“No.”
“What if he initiates a divorce?”
Audrey opened her eyes, staring at her in disbelief. “You can’t seriously still be hoping Yann and I break up, can you?”
“Of course not. I’m just… just worried you’ll end up getting taken advantage of.” Lucia shifted awkwardly, avoiding her gaze.
Audrey ran a hand over her stomach. “We’re husband and wife. He gives me half his earnings, and a quarter goes to the triplets. If he wants to fool around with someone else, that’s his business. I’d actually be relieved not to deal with him.”
Lucia nearly choked on her own spit. ‘What kind of bizarre logic is that?‘ she wondered.
But then, something clicked for her.
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.
