Chapter 43 Seven Years of Silence
Chapter 43 Seven Years of Silence
Jade was never one to waste time. The moment she got in the car, she cut straight to the point.
“Alright.”
Claudia answered softly and started the engine.
In the rearview mirror she soon noticed two black cars trailing them.
“Don’t worry,” Jade said casually. “They’re my staff. They have to follow.”
Claudia nodded and let it go.
Silence settled over the car.
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Because Jade had never approved of Claudia’s marriage–or the way she had abandoned her talent–their stubborn tempers had kept them apart for nearly seven years. Now, sitting together again, neither knew what to say.
After a while, Jade spoke, breaking the quiet.
“What’s your relationship with that Trevor?”
Claudia blinked, surprised that this was her first question. It took her a moment to realize who she meant, then she explained briefly about the custom gown and the Taurine family banquet.
“We haven’t had much contact. I don’t know him well.”
“Good. Best to keep it that way.”
Her tone was sharp enough to make Claudia uneasy. “Why? Is there something wrong with him?”
Jade shot her a glance, blunt as ever. “Not just him. The whole Taurine family is rotten.”
Claudia’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Why do you think Trevor spent all those years abroad?” Jade gave a cold laugh. “The Taurines are neck- deep in crime. Most of their businesses are dirty. Trevor’s the only one clever enough to slowly launder their assets overseas, bit by bit scrubbing the family’s name clean inside the country.”
Claudia shivered. She remembered the faint scent of blood she had caught on Trevor the day she delivered his gown. She hadn’t been mistaken.
Jade’s voice hardened. “If he’s moved back for good, he’s planning something big. The Taurines‘ businesses here are nowhere near clean. That family is a ticking time bomb. Stay away from him. People like that can drag you down without warning–straight into prison.”
Claudia nodded obediently. “I understand, Aunt Jade.”
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Chapter 43 Seven Years of Silence
The car rolled on. Then Jade asked the question she had really been holding back.
“What’s going on between you and Alan?”
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Their last falling–out had been over that very marriage. When Claudia abandoned design for computer science just to please him, Jade had been furious. They hadn’t spoken since.
Claudia saw no reason to hide it now. “I’m preparing to divorce him.”
Jade raised her brows in surprise.
She had never thought well of Alan. Her lips curved, almost ready to smile–until Claudia added, “He’s been unfaithful.”
Jade’s face darkened. “What did you say?!“”
At Lane Studio, several luxury cars were parked out front. Staff milled around, waiting…..
Inside, Jade sat leafing through Claudia’s design portfolio, page by page. Sometimes she frowned, sometimes she nodded in satisfaction. Midway through, she lifted her head, fixing Claudia with a searching look.
“Truly no sadness? No regret?”
Claudia froze, then realized what she meant. A helpless smile tugged at her lips.
“Aunt Jade, you’ve asked me this the whole way here. I’ve made up my mind.”
Since Claudia had admitted Alan’s affair and her decision to leave, her aunt’s face had stayed stormy, pressing her again and again–are you sad? Do you regret it? Claudia’s head was spinning from the repetition.
Jade saw her determination and her expression softened.
But in the next breath, she slammed her palm lightly against the table, feigning anger. “So what? 1 ask a few questions and you’re already impatient with me?”
– “Of course not.”
Claudia moved closer, gently taking her aunt’s hand. “I’ve missed you so much. If I could, I’d talk to you every day. I’d never get tired of hearing your voice.”
“You know it’s been seven years since we last saw each other?”
Her voice cracked, eyes reddening. “Seven years, Claudia! How many sevens do I have left? You knew I was angry, and you still refused to come see me? I was stubborn, fine, But you? You were just as stubborn! Were you trying to break my heart?”
From as far back as Claudia could remember, her aunt had always been fierce and unyielding, never showing weakness. To see her now, eyes wet, voice trembling–Claudia’s chest ached with guilt.
Jade had never married, never had children of her own. Estranged from the rest of the family, she had
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Chapter 43 Seven Years of Silence
poured all her love into this one grandniece. And Claudia… Claudia had been so thoughtless.
th
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