At the dinner table, Claire rcer appeared casual, but in reality, she was on high alert.
Although she had been married to Gavin Sinclair for two years, this was the first ti she was eting so of these relatives.
She didn’t know what intentions they were hiding, so it was always better to be on guard.
Besides, she couldn’t shake the feeling that today’s family banquet was a trap.
So she was extrely cautious throughout the al.
She silently observed everyone at the table.
Adrian Sutton had told her that the Sinclair family’s refusal to grant her a divorce wasn’t because they actually valued her.
Instead, it was highly likely they were plotting sothing against her.
After all, Gavin Sinclair had cheated on her right after his leg healed and had even gotten his mistress pregnant.
If they divorced now, outsiders would place all the bla on Gavin Sinclair.
The Sinclair family couldn’t afford such a loss of face.
Claire wasn’t sure if Adrian Sutton’s speculation was accurate.
But it was never a bad idea to be extra cautious.
So after taking a few token bites, she put down her chopsticks.
Seeing this, Mrs. Sinclair asked,
"Why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your liking?"
Claire shook her head. "No, the food is delicious."
"Then why not eat a little more?" Mrs. Sinclair asked, as if joking. "You can’t be afraid we’ve poisoned it, can you?"
She was smiling, but inwardly, she grumbled.
’This damned girl...’
’Could she have sensed sothing?’
"You’re joking, Grandma."
"Didn’t you just say I’ve filled out a bit? I’m planning on losing so weight."
Claire’s smile was gentle, and her tone was soft and sweet.
What she said made it difficult for anyone to find fault with her.
For the first ti, Mrs. Sinclair felt that this girl wasn’t as easy to control as she had imagined.
’She’s a master of hiding steel beneath a gentle exterior.’
’It seems I misjudged her from the start.’
’I had thought she was a naive little flower, easy to manipulate.’
’But now I see she’s a rose with thorns.’
She shot her a look, feigning anger.
"What’s this nonsense about losing weight? You should be giving a great-grandson."
With that, she placed a piece of Sichuan boiled fish into Claire’s bowl.
"I rember you love Sichuan boiled fish. Try this one; it’s made by a famous Sichuan chef."
Claire stared at the fish, hesitating to pick up her chopsticks.
Just then, Liam Sinclair, the eldest son of the family’s second branch, spoke up, his tone tinged with jealousy.
"Grandma, you’re so biased. You spent a fortune hiring a famous Sichuan chef just for Claire."
"How co you never spend money to hire a famous chef for ?"
Mrs. Sinclair glanced at him with a smile.
"If you can manage to bring back a granddaughter-in-law, Grandma will dote on her all the sa."
Liam muttered, "So you only care about your granddaughters-in-law, not your grandsons, huh?"
Mrs. Sinclair shot him a smiling glance.
"I’ve been doting on you boys for more than twenty years. Can’t I dote on my granddaughters-in-law for a change?"
"When you marry soone as gentle and sensible as your sister-in-law, Grandma will cherish her just as much."
Liam glanced at Claire and chuckled.
"Soone as dutiful as our sister-in-law is hard to find."
’Acting like a damn nanny, taking care of that cripple Gavin for two whole years.’
’You don’t see many fools like that around.’
Seeing Claire staring at the Sichuan boiled fish in her bowl without moving, Rose Gable couldn’t help but speak up.
"Why are you just sitting there? Your grandmother specially hired a famous Sichuan chef to make that fish for you."
Cynthia Sinclair was also jealous of how well her grandmother was treating Claire.
She glared at her and snapped,
"None of us get this kind of treatnt, and here you are, not even appreciating it."
As Claire hesitated, Mrs. Sinclair said to her,
"Eat it if you want, don’t if you don’t. There’s no need to force yourself."
"Don’t pay any attention to them. They’re just jealous."
With those words, Claire had no choice but to eat.
’Besides, even if the Sinclair family was plotting sothing against ... ’
’...the one behind it couldn’t possibly be Mrs. Sinclair, right?’
’Sure, her words sotis had hidden barbs—praising you to your face while cursing you behind your back...’
’...but she’d never been openly unpleasant or found fault with .’
’She’d even defended when Rose Gable ca after .’
’In the entire Sinclair family, she was the only one who seed to treat like a real family mber.’
’So, she couldn’t possibly do sothing so sinister.’
With that thought, Claire picked up the piece of fish—perfect in color, aroma, and flavor—and put it in her mouth.
Mrs. Sinclair’s lips curled in satisfaction, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes for a fleeting mont.
Then she asked, "How is it?"
Claire nodded with a smile. "It’s numbing and spicy, fresh and fragrant. The fish is so flavorful and tender. It’s delicious."
"Of course it’s delicious," Cynthia couldn’t resist sniping, shooting her another glance.
"Grandma had a famous Sichuan chef make it just for you."
Mrs. Sinclair looked at the short-tempered Cynthia and said,
"Don’t you be jealous. Your sister-in-law has sacrificed so much for your older brother. It’s only right that I treat her well."
"Besides, I was a daughter-in-law once myself."
"When a young woman from another family marries into our Sinclair family, it’s not so she can be mistreated."
"My first and second daughters-in-law, search your hearts..."
"You’ve been part of this family for so many years. Have I ever, from start to finish, treated either of you harshly?"
After a flicker in their eyes, both won shook their heads.
"No."
’Even if she had, they wouldn’t dare say so.’
’Who in this family would dare to defy her?’
’Who would dare to challenge her authority?’
"Alright, that’s enough. Everyone, just eat."
"I don’t want to see any more of this bickering and jealousy in the future."
Everyone agreed and went back to eating their own als.
As dinner drew to a close, Mrs. Sinclair said to Claire,
"After we finish eating, go see Gavin. He’s still your husband, after all."
"He’s injured. It wouldn’t be right for you not to check on him."
Claire wanted to refuse, but she gritted her teeth and nodded.
"Alright."
’It seed Gavin hadn’t told the rest of the family what happened that night.’
’Otherwise, given how the Sinclairs operate, there’s no way I’d still be sitting here unscathed.’
So, after dinner, Claire decided to go to Gavin’s bedroom in the family estate to check on him.
Even if the man was utterly repulsive.
But they weren’t officially divorced yet, so she had to keep up appearances.
In the bedroom, Gavin was lying on the bed, scrolling through his phone.
His expression soured the mont he saw her enter.
"Perfect timing. Who was it that sneak-attacked that night? Who kicked from behind?"
"Kicked you?" Claire retorted irritably.
"You were the one acting like a wild animal. You got too worked up, twisted your own knee, and fell."
"How is that possible?"
He had clearly felt a kick to the back of his knee.
But Claire shot back, "Why not? Were you in your right mind at all?"
"You reeked of alcohol, you were thinking with your dick, and you were acting like a complete animal... and now you have the nerve to ask ?"
’Was that really what happened?’
Gavin was starting to feel unsure.
He had drunk a lot that night.
The alcohol had muddled his mory, making everything a bit fuzzy now.
So he couldn’t be certain whether soone had actually kicked him from behind.
"If that’s what you say, then I’ll believe you."
"Actually, I know you still love . Otherwise, you wouldn’t have co to see ..."
Claire nearly gagged. She quickly raised a hand to cut him off.
"You’re reading too much into it. Grandma told to co see you."
"Since you’re not going to die, I’m leaving."
Gavin quickly called out to her.
"Claire, do you really have no feelings left for at all?"
"None." With that, Claire left Gavin’s bedroom without a single glance back.
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