Chapter 14 When Alan Gets Back, I’m Beating Him with a
Stick!
“It’s nothing major.”
Timothy let out a sigh and scooted closer.
“It’s just that my brother’s back in the country. And he’s not leaving any time soon–he might be staying in China for the whole year. Our family’s throwing a private banquet for him in a few days, just a small gathering for close family and friends. You two have to come.”
He said this while completely ignoring one obvious detail–the invitation extended to Alan was as a married couple, which included Claudia.
But in Timothy’s eyes, Claudia was utterly unnecessary. Just an eyesore. The Taurine family didn’t welcome her.
As long as Alan and Summer showed up,
“Trevor’s back too, huh.”
that was enough.
Summer’s peach blossom eyes flickered slightly, then she smiled and nodded. “Of course we’ll be there. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could’ve prepared a gift in time.”
Timothy waved it off. “No need for gifts. Just having you there is enough.”
He looked toward Alan. “You free that day?”
Alan replied mildly, “Mm, I’ll go.”
He and Trevor had some rapport. He’d known about Trevor’s return and had already received an invitation. Of course he was going.
The matter settled, the group joked around a bit more before heading out.
After saying goodbye to Timothy, Summer got in Alan’s car. They drove toward the Xia family residence.
When the car stopped outside her home, Summer was surprised to see Alan wasn’t getting
out.
“Alan?” she asked.
“Not tonight,” Alan replied gently. “Mandy called earlier and said there was something going
30
@
O
<
1/5
22:59 Sat, Aug 30
Chapter 14 When Alan Gets Back, I’m Beating Him with a Stick!
on at home. I have to stop by.”
Then he drove off.
.68%
+5 Free Coins
Summer watched the car disappear down the road, the sweet, gentle smile on her face vanishing in an instant–replaced by a sharp, cold glint.
Claudia again.
Like a ghost that just wouldn’t go away.
Claudia had stayed up late the night before working on her portfolio, then gotten up early for the office.
She’d interviewed three people back–to–back that morning and looked visibly exhausted. She couldn’t keep up this nonstop pace much longer.
The handover at work needed to happen–soon.
She grabbed a quick lunch and planned to nap in her office. She’d just lain down when her phone rang shrilly.
The caller ID made her eyes widen in surprise.
Alan?
She couldn’t remember the last time he’d initiated contact. It was always her reaching out, and he always sounded annoyed.
In the past, she would’ve been thrilled to see his name on the screen.
But now, Claudia didn’t even want to pick up. Still, thinking he might finally want to talk about the divorce, she answered.
His cold, familiar voice came through the line.
“Mom wants us to have dinner at the estate tonight. What time do you get off? I’ll come pick you up.”
Claudia didn’t respond. She was a little stunned.
It wasn’t surprising that her mother–in–law wanted her at the estate–she had always been the one person in the Moore family who treated her kindly–but what did Alan just say?
30
О
2/5
22:59 Sat, Aug 30
Chapter 14 When Alan Gets Back, I’m Beating Him with a Stick!
He was going to pick her up?
Was she hallucinating from sleep deprivation?
68%
+5 Free Coins
When she didn’t answer, Alan simply said, “I’ll come after work,” and hung up. He didn’t wait for her response.
Classic.
Claudia exhaled slowly. Okay, no hallucination. She turned over and resumed her nap.
She wasn’t going to turn down dinner.
If Alan didn’t want to talk over the phone, then she’d talk to him tonight at the estate. She finally had him cornered.
Sure enough, as soon as she clocked out, Alan’s car was waiting nearby.
Andy was in the car too.
He sat between them. When he saw Claudia, he almost greeted her, but then he remembered how Mommy had embarrassed Ms. Summer the other day.
Ms. Summer had been really sad afterward. He’d comforted her for a long time. And Mommy never even called to say sorry.
Thinking of that, Andy snorted and turned his head away, refusing to look at her.
Claudia wasn’t surprised by his attitude. But she no longer had the energy to coax him–and she didn’t think she was wrong, anyway.
From now on, all she owed him was responsibility.
Still, with Andy in the car, she didn’t bring up the divorce. That wasn’t something you discussed in front of a child.
It was peak rush hour in Capital City–6 to 7 p.m.
A drive that usually took thirty minutes was still dragging past an hour. Then, partway through, something happened.
Alan got a phone call.
30
|||
O
Г
3/5
22:59 Sat, Aug 30
Chapter 14 When Alan Gets Back, I’m Beating Him with a Stick!
+5 Free Coins
From the way his expression instantly softened and his voice dropped into a gentle tone Claudia had never heard before, she already knew who it was–Summer.
“Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll be right there.”
He hung up, then turned to Claudia with a blank expression.
“I have something to deal with. I can’t make it to the estate dinner tonight.”
Claudia’s heart dropped. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll have a driver from the estate come pick you up.”
With that, he instructed Nathan to get Claudia out of the car. Then, taking Andy—who was also worried about Ms. Summer and had insisted on going too–Alan drove off.
Claudia stood alone in the freezing wind, watching the car disappear into the distance, her heart cold and hollow.
She was so numb she didn’t even feel it anymore.
After a while, she calmly took out her phone to call a car and head back to her apartment. She had no intention of going to the Moore estate for dinner anymore.
She didn’t want to see anyone from that family.
Just then, her phone buzzed again–her mother–in–law was calling.
The moment she answered, the older woman’s angry yet worried voice came through.
“That rotten boy Alan! What kind of husband leaves you out in the cold like this? It’s freezing! When he gets back, I swear, I’m dragging out the family rod and beating him myself!”
Then her voice softened with urgency: “Claudia, find somewhere warm to wait. Don’t catch a cold. I’m coming to get you right now!”
Claudia was startled. “Mom, no–you don’t have to-”
She wanted to say she’d just head home and that they could have dinner another time, but the line had already gone dead.
Hearing the beep of the call ending, Claudia was speechless. Almost amused.
Is this a Moore family tradition–just hanging up without warning?
30
30
|||
O
4/5
Aug
Chapter 14 When Alan Gets Back, I’m Beating Him with a Stick!
Still, her mother–in–law wasn’t like Alan. Her intentions were good.
She had always been the kindest person to Claudia in that family.
68%1
+5 Free Coins
And Claudia knew her well. If she said she was coming in person, she meant it. She wouldn’t stop until she found her.
Worried she might miss the car, Claudia stayed put on the roadside.
As she waited, her phone buzzed again. This time, the message made her blink.
It was from the client she’d just met days ago–Trevor.
He had sent an electronic invitation to the Taurine family’s banquet. What was strange was that it was addressed to her alone.
Claudia was baffled.
There was a Taurine family banquet? Why didn’t she know about it?
Given the ties between their families, the Taurines knew she was Alan’s wife. Normally, that kind of invitation would be sent to the couple–and Alan would have received it long ago.
So why didn’t he tell her?
Of course. He’d never liked people knowing she was his wife. And now that Summer was back, there was no way he’d take her to a high–society event like that.
Thinking back to how he’d ditched her earlier just because Summer called, Claudia couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.
But then–she barely knew the Taurines. She hated Timothy. Trevor hadn’t even given his name when they met at the villa. So why was he now inviting her, alone, to what was clearly an important family gathering?
It made no sense.
So she called him.
L
