Adrian pushed her away, his expression stern. "Claire, aren’t you going to say something for yourself?"

Suddenly put on the spot, Claire jumped, startled out of her reverie of being praised by the resident ice king. "S-say something?"

"Whatever you’d like."

"..."

Both siblings stared at Claire, making her inexplicably nervous.

After a long moment, Claire finally figured out what to say. "I kept changing jobs after graduation because I couldn’t find one I truly liked. I quit on my own; I wasn’t fired. Also, I was the one Logan Linden tried to rape. I’m the one who sent him to prison..."

’That’s probably everything.’

When Claire finished, she shot Adrian a pleading look, unsure of what to do next.

Adrian received her silent plea and immediately said to Yara, "Go tell Mom and Dad what Claire and I just said, word for word. If Mom still refuses to apologize to Claire, then don’t you ever call me ’brother’ again."

Yara was so stunned her jaw nearly hit the floor.

’Even if I tell her, with Mom’s personality, there’s no way she’d apologize to someone from a younger generation!’

"Brother—"

"Don’t forget to tell them that Claire and I are already married."

"Brother..."

"Get out."

Yara still wanted to say something, but a death glare from her brother stopped her cold. Not daring to argue, she beat a hasty retreat.

The couple was now alone in the office.

Claire sat awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

Recalling the events of the last few minutes, she had a strange illusion—

it was almost as if he would lead, and she would follow.

Adrian returned to his seat and sat down. "My mother said those things to you last night because Yara was slandering you," he said softly.

"Oh..." ’That doesn’t change the fact that his family humiliated me.’

"Claire, if my mother apologizes to you, will you be able to let this go?"

"Please don’t. Nothing is more important than family harmony, and I don’t want to be the one who tears your family apart. Divorce is the only real solution."

Claire had made up her mind. She didn’t want to be with him anymore.

When a person’s conviction is shattered, all their efforts and dreams turn to dust.

Everything she had been striving for had been shattered by that slap from his mother.

’It was all meaningless now.’

The color drained from Adrian’s proud, handsome face.

’He thought this would be enough to win her back, but it still hadn’t been enough to change her mind.’

He just watched her face quietly, his eyes filled with a silent plea.

Afraid she might waver, Claire awkwardly averted her gaze. "When are you giving me my computer back?" she asked in a low voice.

The words had barely left her mouth when Aiden Howkins burst in. "Young Master Quincy, the hospital just called! Old Master Quincy... he’s not going to make it!"

Hearing this, Adrian’s expression changed. He snatched his phone from the desk and turned to leave.

As he passed Claire, he grabbed her hand, pulling her with him.

Claire was pulled along with him. She tried to resist, but ultimately, her conscience won out, and she stopped struggling.

’A life was on the line. She had to go to the hospital.’

...

By the time the two of them arrived at the hospital, Old Master Quincy had just been moved out of the emergency resuscitation room. A doctor was wheeling him back to his private ward.

Adrian went to find the doctor to ask about the situation, leaving Claire alone in the ward to look after the old man.

Looking at the old man’s increasingly gaunt face, Claire’s heart ached.

’She had promised to visit Grandpa White-beard when she had time, but she got busy and forgot all about it. It was only now that she finally came. What could she have possibly been so busy with?’