Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 53: Little Uncle

Tina Hayes and Xiao Xiao, two young people, headed straight to the second dimension paradise building as soon as they arrived at Riverbend Road.

Claire Hale stood at the entrance, watching young people with colorful hair and wearing all sorts of eccentric clothes coming and going. She felt her old stiff leg couldn’t move.

So she waited outside by herself.

When the two came out, they were carrying quite a few shopping bags. Tina Hayes handed her one sealed bag and said: "President Hale, Xiao Xiao and I specially picked a Christmas gift for you!"

Claire Hale thanked them and took the bag. She curiously wanted to open it, but Tina Hayes stopped her, mysteriously smiled and said,

"President Hale, open it at home."

Claire Hale glanced at Tina Hayes, always feeling like she was up to some mischief again. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang.

It was Tristan Lockwood.

"Where are you?"

Claire Hale felt that Tristan Lockwood’s tone today wasn’t as cold as usual, but maybe it was just her illusion.

"Riverbend Road."

"Alone?"

Claire Hale paused, glanced at Tina Hayes and Xiao Xiao laughing cheerfully beside her, and a subtle change occurred in her eyes. She swallowed the word "colleagues" that was about to come out and said:

"With friends."

Tina Hayes and Xiao Xiao were joking and laughing, but hearing the three words Claire Hale said, their laughter grew louder. Then they each moved to Claire’s sides and affectionately linked arms with hers.

Claire Hale’s body stiffened slightly.

Aside from close contact with Tristan Lockwood, she hadn’t been so affectionate with anyone, even with the same sex.

That she usually didn’t like physical contact with people surprisingly didn’t feel repelled at all.

Instead, she instinctively tightened her arms.

"Send me your location."

Tristan Lockwood said from the other end.

"I already have plans tonight, goodbye."

Claire Hale hung up the phone immediately after speaking.

Xiao Xiao curiously asked her: "President Hale, did some handsome guy want to date you?"

"What handsome guy, that’s a scumbag."

Tina Hayes, seeing Claire Hale’s expression, knew it was their morally corrupt handsome boss husband on the other end.

"President Hale encountered a scumbag again?" Xiao Xiao widened her eyes in surprise and said, "President Hale, my idol’s boss is a golden bachelor. Should I let my idol give you his contact information and introduce you?"

Tina Hayes: "You’re quite close with your idol. He’s actually willing to play matchmaker for you?"

Xiao Xiao sighed: "Licking a dog until the end, you get everything except love."

Claire Hale listened to the two chatter like a comedy dialogue, and she quite enjoyed it, even found it amusing.

But the smile on her lips froze the next second.

A stretched Lincoln stopped in front of them, and the rear window rolled down, revealing Sean Lockwood’s serene gaze as he softly said:

"Get in."

Claire Hale stood still, asking: "President Lockwood, is there something you need?"

Sean Lockwood’s eyes roamed over her face, "Shall I invite you personally to get off?"

His manner was calm, but his words carried an unyielding authority.

The driver also got out simultaneously, opening the rear door, respectfully inviting her to get into the car.

Claire Hale instructed Tina Hayes and Xiao Xiao briefly before getting into the car.

Inside the car, a faint scent of cedar lingered.

Sean Lockwood sat with his legs crossed, looking at the tablet, casually asking: "Not spending Christmas with Tristan?"

Claire Hale smiled lightly: "President Lockwood, you know perfectly well that Tristan and I are merely a couple in name, so there’s no need to ask such questions deliberately."

"In name only?"

Sean Lockwood tilted his head, giving her a subtle look.

Claire Hale remained calm: "He doesn’t care about me, and I don’t love him. If that’s not in name only, then what is it?"

Sean Lockwood: "Your standards for in name only are quite high."

Claire Hale was taken aback: "High?"

"You have married life, don’t interfere with each other, and both get what you want from each other. What else could you be dissatisfied with?"

Sean Lockwood folded his hands on his lap, his posture entirely one of an upper-echelon authority.

He said casually: "Without Tristan’s money and resources, would your own efforts ever reach this level in your lifetime?"

Claire Hale clenched her fists, still smiling: "Did you invite me into the car just to lecture me?"

Sean Lockwood said carelessly: "Didn’t you complain about being a couple in name only with Tristan? I’m advising you to broaden your perspective; marrying him is already considered your fortune with enough money for a lifetime, so don’t expect too much in terms of emotions."

"I never had hopes for him."

Claire Hale replied coldly.

Sean Lockwood only glanced at her and said no more.

The Lincoln stopped under the Riverbend seven-star hotel, which stood by the river, towering into the clouds, shimmering with lights.

The driver got out first, holding an umbrella for Sean Lockwood.

Before getting off the car, Sean Lockwood said to her: "Follow me."

Leaving no room to refuse.

Claire Hale followed him out. The snow was getting heavier, and in the short distance from the car to the hotel entrance, quite a bit fell on her shoulders.

Following Sean Lockwood to the elevator and stopping at the door of the presidential suite on the top floor, she halted.

Sean Lockwood turned to look at her.

Claire Hale: "President Lockwood, it’s probably not convenient for me to share a room with you."

She certainly didn’t share his wife’s peculiar tastes.

Sean Lockwood retracted his gaze, and in a brief moment of a stern expression, Claire Hale immediately understood.

This was a signal for her to continue following.

She paused and walked in, hearing Sean Lockwood say casually: "Open the Romanee on the far right of the wine rack."

Claire Hale wanted to say she doesn’t drink, but looking at Sean Lockwood’s demeanor, that expression suggested it wasn’t to invite her to drink.

But rather, he wanted her to pour the wine for him.

Lockwood men certainly aren’t easy to serve.

Claire Hale woke up the wine on the side, while Sean Lockwood stood at the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out with a mysterious expression.

White snow and the indoor lights mingled, with Sean Lockwood in the center of the large window, appearing like a silent snow mountain awaiting eruption.

This man at the pinnacle of the pyramid turns out to be Jade Sutton’s husband.

And, he’s searching for Jade Sutton by any means possible.

Claire Hale gently moved her lips, pouring a third of the glass with red wine, and brought it to Sean Lockwood.

"President Lockwood."

Sean Lockwood glanced at her.

While taking the wine, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against hers.

Claire Hale quickly withdrew her hand.

"Since you are Tristan’s wife, you should address me as he does."

Sean Lockwood said quietly.

Claire Hale was momentarily stunned, then softly opened her mouth: "Uncle."

"Mmm."

Sean Lockwood casually took a sip of wine, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.

The atmosphere inside the room carried an unspeakable sense of oppression.

Claire Hale stared at his back. "Jade Sutton is right beside Tristan Lockwood," she thought to say, the sentence turned in her throat.

"Sean..."

"Claire Hale, do you know the consequences of deceiving me?"

Sean Lockwood spoke suddenly, each word carrying weight, as he faced away from her.

Her heart trembled immediately, she lowered her eyes and, suppressing the panic, said: "I don’t understand what you mean."

Sean Lockwood turned towards her, taking a step closer.

His broad shoulders created a feeling of an overwhelming power as he stood in front of her, seemingly able to lift her with one hand.

Claire Hale wanted to step back, but suddenly he grabbed her chin, forcing her to lift her head.