"Auntie, it’s been a while." Clara Langley pushed open the car door and got out, her smile poised and generous.
My mother-in-law’s expression darkened, but with outsiders present, she couldn’t very well make a scene.
"This is a gift I brought back from Country M. I hope you like it, Auntie." Clara Langley offered the exquisitely wrapped gift bag to my mother-in-law with both hands.
My mother-in-law rely gave it a cold glance, showing no intention of taking it.
Clara Langley didn’t seem to mind. She maintained her bright and cheerful deanor, as if she hadn’t noticed my mother-in-law’s cold expression, and smilingly handed the item to . "Chelsea, why don’t you hold this for Auntie?"
But I didn’t even look at Clara Langley. Instead, my gaze fell on Theodore Grant, who was getting out of the car from the other side.
He was holding a bag of dicine, which must have been what Clara Langley ntioned on the phone earlier—the dicine Theodore Grant had gone to buy for her.
’So, when I needed him most, he was busy taking care of Clara Langley...’
In that mont, a sharp, needle-like pain pierced my heart.
"Chelsea, what are you spacing out for?" Seeing that I wouldn’t take it, Clara Langley smiled, grabbed my hand, and tried to force the bag into it. "Don’t be so polite on Auntie’s behalf."
A flare of anger shot through , and without a second thought, I yanked my hand away.
Seeing embarrass her so publicly, Clara Langley’s facade finally cracked. She imdiately cast a pleading look toward Theodore Grant.
Theodore Grant frowned slightly. Just as he was about to speak, a deep, reprimanding voice ca from inside the house. "Chelsea Joyce, where are your manners? How dare you act so sullen with a guest at the door? Who taught you to behave like this?"
A middle-aged man walked out, glaring at with a deep frown. "Have you no upbringing?"
’He even had the nerve to bring my upbringing into it.’
The middle-aged man’s na was Vincent Lombard. He had been a close friend of my late father-in-law. After my father-in-law passed away, the Grant Family faced both internal and external threats, with rivals eyeing it covetously. It was Vincent Lombard who single-handedly held everything together, allowing Theodore Grant to gradually take control of the Grant Family.
Because of this, Theodore Grant held Vincent Lombard in high esteem. And on a normal day, Vincent Lombard would often drop by the Grant residence and ddle in all matters, big or small, acting as if he were half the master of the house!
My anger surged. "I wasn’t aware the Grant Family’s etiquette included rules on how to entertain uninvited guests. Perhaps you could teach , Mr. Lombard?"
Vincent Lombard hadn’t expected to talk back to him. His face darkened with anger. "You... What nonsense are you spouting? How could Clara possibly be an uninvited guest?!"
"Oh? So you were the one who invited Miss Langley?"
Vincent Lombard’s lips moved instinctively, but before he could speak, he caught a sharp glare from my mother-in-law and imdiately swallowed his words. "I can’t be bothered to argue with you!"
Vincent Lombard ignored and turned to Clara Langley, his expression instantly changing. He took the gift box directly from her hands, his smile as warm as a spring breeze. "Clara, when did you get back? How long are you planning to stay this ti?"
"Hello, Mr. Lombard." Clara Langley bead. "I just got back today. I’m planning to settle down in Kington from now on."
"Is that so? That’s wonderful, hahaha..." Vincent Lombard laughed a few tis before quickly composing himself and changing the subject. "Well, let’s not all stand around outside. Let’s go in and talk."
"Sebastian, when did you get here? It’s been a long ti. You’ve gotten more built..."
Sebastian Forrest’s lips curled into a half-smile. "I got here long before Clara Langley did. I was starting to think you only had eyes for her, Mr. Lombard, and couldn’t even see ."
"You rascal..." Vincent Lombard was a bit embarrassed by the teasing but didn’t dare say much more.
After all, the Forrest Family was deeply rooted and had ties to the military, governnt, and business sectors. Although the Grant and Lombard Families were also prominent, even combined, they were no match for the Forrest Family.
Finally, Vincent Lombard’s gaze fell back on , and he snapped irritably, "Chelsea Joyce, stop making a scene here and go make us a pot of tea!"
My heart sank.
’He knows I’m the easiest target here!’
’Vincent Lombard was taking all his frustration out on .’
Of course, he’d never liked anyway and was always finding fault or picking trouble with at every turn.
It was all because Clara Langley’s mother was the unrequited love of his youth, his unattainable dream girl. Perhaps to make up for his own regrets, he was dead set on pushing Theodore Grant and Clara Langley together, and he’d put no small amount of effort into it!
Usually, for Theodore Grant’s sake, I would just endure it.
But now—I suddenly didn’t want to endure it anymore!
"I’m not feeling well today. You can ask one of the maids to do it."
I wasn’t trying to be difficult. Perhaps because of the recent pregnancy and the intense emotional swings, there was a faint, persistent pulling pain in my lower abdon, and even my back was starting to ache.
But Vincent Lombard was not pleased. He frowned and said, "I told you to make tea. Why are you pushing it off on a maid?"
But just then, Sebastian Forrest let out a soft chuckle. "Mr. Lombard, what do they know about making tea? If you ask , the tea Theodore Grant makes is truly one of a kind."
With just one sentence, he’d tossed the hot potato right back to Theodore Grant.
Theodore Grant shot him a helpless glance. "You rascal, you barely show your face and you’re already ordering around. If you want tea, make it yourself!"
Sebastian Forrest’s lips curved, a hint of lazy rebellion in his smile. "Fine, don’t make it then. It’s not like I have so addiction to tea."
Beside them, Vincent Lombard’s face flushed slightly. He gave a stiff laugh and said nothing.
Theodore Grant smiled. "Co on, let’s talk inside."
...
In the spacious living room, the aroma of tea filled the air.
Sebastian Forrest and Theodore Grant clearly hadn’t seen each other in a long ti, and they had endless things to talk about. However, the conversation soon turned to Sebastian Forrest.
"Are you really done with the research institute?" Theodore Grant raised an eyebrow. "I heard that at your current promotion rate, you could have beco the youngest chief engineer in history within ten years."
Sebastian Forrest took a light sip of his tea and chuckled softly. "Don’t listen to their nonsense."
Theodore Grant just smiled and shook his head, not taking it too seriously.
The Forrest Family had a military background. If he were to develop his career at the research institute, he would have a natural advantage over others, not to ntion that a golden child like Sebastian Forrest would stand out no matter where he was.
"So what do you plan to do now that you’re back?" Theodore Grant asked, swirling the teacup in his hand. "Take over the Forrest Group?"
Sebastian Forrest was the sole heir of the Forrest Family for nine generations.
The Forrest Group was currently managed by Sebastian Forrest’s father, who was still in his pri. It seed unlikely that he would abdicate his position for his own son just yet.
"I’m not getting involved in the family’s business." Sebastian Forrest rested his hands behind his neck, his expression casual. "I’m planning to strike out on my own."
"What field are you thinking of?"
"Military-industrial research."
While the two of them were deep in conversation, I sat to the side, my mind wandering.
As I was lost in my own muddled thoughts, Clara Langley gave a shove. "Chelsea, hurry up and pour Master Forrest so tea!"
Caught off guard by the push, my body swayed, and I nearly fell off the sofa.
’On any other day, it wouldn’t have mattered, but now that I’m pregnant...’
"What are you doing?" I glared at her, my brows knitted in anger, my voice sharp.
Clara Langley stared at in disbelief. "What’s wrong with you? I was just kindly reminding you to pour tea for Master Forrest. Why are you being so aggressive?"
"If you wanted to say sothing, then say it. Why did you have to push ?"
"I didn’t do it on purpose! Why are you being so confrontational?" Clara Langley frowned, looking at as if I were being completely unreasonable. "Theodore and I grew up together, we’re like buddies. If you make a scene like this, what will people think? How is Theodore supposed to save face?"
My eyes turned cold. "I had no idea ’buddies’ could get caught up in scandals..."
"Scandals?" My mother-in-law’s expression changed slightly as she looked over. "What scandals? Who is having a scandal with whom?"
Just as I was about to speak, Clara Langley cut off, her face full of displeasure. "Chelsea, don’t drag into your marital problems, okay? That whole ’making an unreasonable scene’ act might work on n, but it won’t work on ."
I was so angry I had to laugh. ’What a classic move—blaming the victim!’
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