Jade Sutton bit her lip, with a hint of grievance in her eyes, looking at him with a misty expression.
Claire Hale, on the other hand, was much calr.
She quietly looked into his eyes, just waiting for an answer.
"Lawyer Hale’s friends should be defined by her," Tristan Lockwood said with an indifferent expression, revealing no emotion, "I can’t decide for her."
Claire raised an eyebrow, gently patted Dylan Skinner on the top of his head, and said, "Well said, Dylan."
With this affirmation, Jade’s face changed imdiately, and with tears in her eyes, she said, "Claire, do you really not consider a friend anymore? Last ti at the law firm, I thought our relationship had eased."
Claire ignored her, only saying to Dylan, "I don’t really feel like having this al, let’s go."
Dylan handed her her coat and nodded, "Alright."
The two got up and left together, Claire never giving Jade and Tristan another glance.
Dylan did nod a farewell to Tristan, but he didn’t acknowledge Jade.
Tristan watched their departing figures indifferently, then turned his gaze back and asked Jade, "What did you an by those words just now?"
Jade’s face turned pale, and with so grievance, she said, "I just feel a bit unwilling. She’s kind to everyone else, but always guarded against ."
As she spoke, tears followed.
"It’s as if she doesn’t care at all about the past. Clearly, it was who was by her side back then, yet she says it’s easy to sever ties without feelings."
Tristan handed her a few tissues, "It’s normal not to care about childhood matters. You should try to let it go."
Jade looked up at him, unwillingly asking, "Even you are siding with her?"
Tristan: "The doctor ntioned that overthinking and dwelling on the past leads to depression. I hope you can recover soon."
...
The next day, Claire received a reply from Jenson Jennings, saying he could first et Dylan and assess his capabilities.
Claire imdiately arranged for the two to et.
Jenson was particularly surprised to see her with Dylan, "Claire, this is the first ti you’ve introduced soone to ."
Claire smiled briefly, "I don’t know much about your field, so I dare not intervene too much. But Dylan is a top student from Riverbend University; he won’t disappoint you."
Jenson looked at Dylan with an assessing gaze.
When it ca to his expertise, Dylan beca less reserved.
In no ti, he was engaged in conversation with Jenson.
Despite his lack of practical experience, his high intelligence allowed him to offer insightful comnts after just a few words from Jenson.
Claire couldn’t quite understand their professional jargon; she soon took her coffee and went outside to get so fresh air.
As soon as she stepped out, her phone rang.
It was Renee Lynn.
"Do you have a minute now? I have sothing to tell you."
Claire glanced at Jenson and Dylan inside the café and said, "Send your location, I’ll co find you."
She quickly t up with Renee.
"Your situation with Jared Jennings might not resolve that quickly," Claire said.
Renee smiled indifferently, "I’m already grateful you’re willing to help . Indeed, it’s not sothing to rush; if I push Jared too hard, I’m concerned he might not let see Joyce in the future."
She paused, then added, "I actually didn’t reach out to you today for my own matter."
Claire looked slightly puzzled at her.
Renee: "Yesterday, I saw you having dinner with Jade Sutton at the mall. Are you still in contact with her?"
Claire frowned, curious, "What’s up with Jade?"
Renee hesitated for a mont.
Claire wasn’t in a hurry, just waiting for her.
After a while, Renee said, "Actually, it was only when I saw you with her yesterday that I rembered sothing, but I didn’t know your current stance on Jade. I feared my words might harm your relationship."
"I don’t really have feelings for her now," Claire remarked, "What is it you wanted to say?"
"Actually, when you were kids, it was Jade who ca up with those ideas to bully you."
Renee stopped after saying this, observing Claire’s reaction.
Claire’s expression was calm at first glance, with little fluctuation.
But Renee noticed the emotions surging in her dark eyes, revealing a trace of shock.
"I also stumbled upon this by chance during a conversation between Jade and Xintong Xu. Jade said it was quite boring just isolating you by throwing stationery; you didn’t react much. It would be more interesting if she pretended to defend you when others bullied you to see if you would still be indifferent."
"As she expected, every ti she stood up for you, everyone focused on your expression. Seeing you show that touched look and even tear up over her insignificant efforts brought them great amusent."
"She said that because you’re the child of a mistress, born without a moral sense, ordinary bullying wouldn’t teach you a lesson. It was more satisfying to let you taste what it feels like to be mocked."
Renee stopped speaking here, unable to continue because Claire’s eyes had already turned red. That pair of seemingly indifferent eyes were filled with undeniable tears.
No one can endure the pain of having their sincerity mocked.
Especially when the one doing it is the person you always believed to be your only friend.
...
After saying goodbye to Renee, Claire’s mind kept replaying images of her childhood, of Jade standing up for her.
She still rembers one ti when a boy splashed her with water, and Jade took most of it for her, her own body soaking wet, yet she smiled and comforted her, saying, "As long as you’re okay."
At that ti, her first thought was a vow to ensure Jade was well for the rest of her life, even unto death.
Jade was right about one thing.
Claire’s emotions were very detached.
When those others bullied her, besides thoughts of death, she never really felt sadness or pain.
Only when Jade protected her did she think she would never let such a good friend down.
That’s why, when Jade suddenly cut off contact, Claire was left brooding over it.
Unable to accept the fact of being abandoned by her best friend.
Until Jade reappeared.
Even when threatened by Sean Lockwood, watching Tristan Lockwood stand by Jade’s side ti after ti.
In her heart, she maintained a lingering, unrealistic hope.
Hoping that Jade was still the girl from her childhood who protected her.
But now, reality tells her it was all a lie.
She was never protected by anyone.
The so-called protection was rely an elaborate lie to mock her.
Joy Sharp arrived early at the firm’s building and saw Claire’s car lights on.
She walked over and saw through the car window glass that Claire was leaning over the steering wheel, her face obscured.
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