Claire: "There’s a well-known psychological counseling company around here, Jade Sutton received treatnt here before."
"No wonder when I saw her, she was just coming out of this psychological clinic." Renee Lynn said thoughtfully, "But I saw her ntal state was quite good, she looked well and healthy, didn’t seem like soone who was ill."
Claire rembered Jade’s suicide attempt and refrained from jumping to conclusions.
However, she also found it curious, "Why does Jade know Jared Jennings?"
Renee thought for a mont and said, "When I t Jared Jennings, he had just returned from abroad, it was quite strange. At that ti, when I was seducing him, I never thought I’d marry him, I just wanted to profit and leave, but unexpectedly, he proposed to , in a very rushed manner."
Talking about it, Renee couldn’t help but have so regrets, "At the ti, I thought I really caught a treasure and imdiately agreed. But I didn’t expect, shortly after marriage, he revealed his true colors and started hitting ."
Claire asked, "When did you get pregnant with Joyce?"
"Just before he proposed to ..." Renee paused, then bitterly smiled and said, "Looks like Jared proposed to just because of Joyce in my belly at the ti."
Claire didn’t imdiately respond.
She rubbed her temples, feeling sothing was off, then looked at Renee and said, "I have so words that might be offensive, please don’t be upset."
Renee laughed, "Of course not, you’re trying to help , how could I be angry with you."
Claire bluntly said, "Why would Jared choose you?"
Renee was stunned.
Claire: "If he wanted a child, he would have many options. Given his conditions, finding a woman with a better background than yours shouldn’t be difficult."
Hearing this, Renee couldn’t quite grasp the reasoning, she only speculated, "He probably just wanted to have fun with initially, maybe because Joyce suddenly appeared, he decided to marry ?"
Actually, saying it out loud, Renee herself was sowhat uncertain.
To be blunt, at that ti, they were just in a clandestine relationship, even if Jared asked her to abort the child, given Renee’s mindset then, she might have complied.
Regarding Jared’s matters, Claire and Renee had limited information and what they could deduce was also very restricted.
Neither continued dwelling on it, Claire suggested as she saw Renee off, "If possible, maybe you could find a way to inquire about Jade’s situation at that psychological counseling company."
Renee nodded, "Usually, psychologists don’t disclose their patient’s conditions, but I’ll try my best."
"Okay."
Claire bid her goodbye.
Returning to her office, Claire glanced at her phone and found that Sean Lockwood had called during her talk with Renee.
Claire returned the call to Sean Lockwood.
"Auntie Heather is ill, it’s quite severe."
Sean connected the call and dropped this piece of news.
Claire’s heart sank, "Where is Auntie Heather now?"
"Central Hospital, Tristan is there accompanying her."
At this mont, Claire couldn’t care less about the possibility of seeing Tristan Lockwood, she imdiately put down her work and rushed to the hospital.
Arriving at the ward’s door, she coincidentally bumped into Tristan Lockwood coming out.
Claire asked anxiously, "How is Grandma?"
Tristan glanced over her face and said, "High fever, currently on an IV drip."
"I heard from Sean that it’s quite serious, are there other issues, have all the tests been done?"
"The results aren’t out yet." Tristan answered truthfully, then glanced at the ward, "She just fell asleep, don’t wake her when you go in."
"Okay."
Claire stepped in, brushing past him, as her hand was about to touch the ward’s doorknob, she paused and turned to Tristan, "You look tired, rember to rest."
Tristan responded with a faint "Mm" and said nothing else before leaving.
Claire quietly stayed by The Lockwood Matriarch’s side upon entering the ward.
mories of when The Elder Lockwood personally brought her to the Lockwood Family ca flooding back.
At that ti, her biological grandfather Walter Hale had passed away, not even three days past, everyone in the Hale Family was scrambling to divide the family assets.
They abandoned Claire, the illegitimate daughter, treating her like disposable trash while discussing whether to keep her or throw her away.
In her most helpless monts, The Elder Lockwood appeared, holding her hand and bringing her to the Lockwood Family, loving her as if she were their real granddaughter.
Sitting by the bed, Claire gently held The Lockwood Matriarch’s hand.
The once soft and smooth palm that held hers had now beco withered.
Claire felt a pang in her nose and tears fell.
"Silly girl, what’s there to cry about?"
"Grandma?"
Claire raised her eyes, eting The Lockwood Matriarch’s kindly gaze, tears couldn’t help but flow out again.
The Lockwood Matriarch slowly raised her hand and gently wiped the tears from Claire’s face.
"Grandma... I’m sorry..."
Claire choked out.
The Lockwood Matriarch weakly smiled, "Silly child, you’re Grandma’s precious granddaughter. Apologizing to Grandma, I’ll be upset."
Claire shook her head, "I’ve been willful lately, haven’t co to see you."
"The divorce between you and Tristan is indeed Grandpa and Grandma’s fault." The Lockwood Matriarch paused and continued, "I knew all along you liked Tristan, yet I broke you two apart."
"No, Grandma, Tristan and I divorcing was bound to happen sooner or later. I was petty and blad you and Grandpa."
The more Claire spoke, the more guilty she felt.
Grandpa and Grandma gave her the best life, and yet she intentionally distanced herself from them because of the divorce.
Several tis, The Lockwood Matriarch invited her over for dinner, she declined with various excuses.
The Lockwood Matriarch seed more spirited now, talking more.
She took Claire’s hand, hesitated for a mont, and asked, "That thing, Tristan still doesn’t know?"
Claire paused, then lowered her eyes and said, "He doesn’t need to know."
"But seeing you two now in this state of not communicating at all, it makes Grandma feel really sad."
The Lockwood Matriarch spoke from her heart.
One is her biological grandson, the other is her adopted granddaughter, she’s watched them grow up, naturally, she hopes for the family to be harmonious and happy.
Claire moved her lips, about to say sothing, but the door was opened from outside.
Tristan Lockwood entered, wearing a white coat.
His gaze first fell on Claire, with a hint of examination and scrutiny.
Claire turned her head, avoiding his gaze.
Tristan approached The Lockwood Matriarch, checked the temperature, confirming the fever had subsided, then said, "You need to take better care of your health, this is the third fever this year."
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