Chapter 8

Sophie was too high-profile, and eventually, she caught Patricia's attention.

Patricia sought out Claire.

At that moment, Claire was performing in front of a mall, wearing a cheap dress rented from the performance company, with several band-aids on her hands from playing the violin.

Who would have thought she was the young mistress of the Coleman family?

Patricia stood below the stage, her expression somewhat stern.

Claire saw her and paused for a moment but then continued to focus on playing the violin.

During the intermission, Patricia approached her and said in a cold and distant tone, "There's a café nearby. I'll be waiting for you there." With that, she left.

Claire continued to wipe her violin.

A colleague beside her, worried, whispered, "Claire, are you in trouble? That woman looked tough!"

Claire shook her head and smiled faintly, "It's nothing. She's just someone I know."

The colleague was half-convinced.

Claire changed into her own clothes and went to the café Patricia mentioned.

Patricia sat by the window, looking very distinguished and thus quite conspicuous.

Claire sat down across from her.

Patricia ordered a glass of lemon water for her and said lightly, "Drinking coffee is bad for your skin."

She looked at Claire's attire and couldn't help but reproach her, "If you want to experience life, I can arrange for you to join the best orchestra! What kind of place is this for someone like Mrs. Coleman? And what are you wearing? Everything must return to its original state before Liam comes back! What exactly are you thinking?"

She rambled on.

Claire listened quietly and finally smiled faintly, "I think this is fine."

"And also, Liam and I are getting a divorce. Do you not know where he has gone?"

Patricia was taken aback.

This was the first time Claire spoke to her in such a tone and gave her attitude.

In the past, no matter how cold Liam was to her, Claire always showed respect when she saw Patricia.

For a moment, Patricia felt a bit uneasy.

Claire decided to be honest. "I know you don't like me, so I'm surprised you came to see me today. I always thought you would prefer Liam and me to get divorced."

Patricia quietly observed her.

It had been a long time since they last met. Claire had changed.

No longer a pushover, she had become sharp-tongued.

But Patricia had been in high society for decades and naturally had some tricks up her sleeve. She smiled at this.

Her smile was calm and serene.

After a moment, Patricia put away her smile. "Yes, I don't particularly like you. You're so beautiful... Beautiful women are trouble! But comparatively, I dislike Sophie being my daughter-in-law. How dare someone with such a messy background dream of marrying into the Coleman family?"

She then mocked, laughing, "But she has no chance! With a broken leg and being divorced. Even ordinary men wouldn't want her, let alone Liam!"

Claire felt chills all over upon hearing this.

But Patricia remained composed and didn’t think there was anything wrong with what she had said.

She gently touched Claire's face and sighed softly, "You are very beautiful. No wonder Liam can't let go even though he hates you!"

With that, Patricia stood up.

She looked around and said, "I'll talk to Liam. Let him take you back."

Finally, she added with some disdain in her tone, "This place is not suitable for you."

Patricia walked out of the café where a black limousine was already waiting outside.

The chauffeur respectfully opened the door.

After getting into the car, Patricia leaned against the seat and slowly exhaled.

She knew what Claire was thinking.

She understood how Claire felt. It was clear that Claire believed she had no freedom, like a pampered pet trapped in a gilded cage. She felt disrespected by her husband, as if her worth was diminished by his actions. But who hadn’t gone through something similar?

What wife hadn’t been beautiful and youthful in her early years, yet still found it impossible to hold her husband's heart?

Claire was too young and impulsive!

Thinking about this made Patricia feel even more disdainful as she looked out of the window, only to see someone very familiar, mature and handsome with outstanding temperament standing out in the crowd.

But in Patricia's eyes, he was like a thorn in her side.

She muttered to herself, "That little bastard!"

The chauffeur driving ahead almost thought he heard it wrong. How could Madam say such vulgar words? He must have misheard it...

...

After Patricia left, inside the café, Claire sat alone for a few minutes. She had no time to lament anything because she was very busy making ends meet and rushing around for work.

Late at night when she returned home, it started raining heavily.

Fearing her violin would get wet, Claire wrapped it in her coat and ran quickly towards the bus stop.

She couldn't bring herself to take a taxi. And on such a rainy day, it was nearly impossible to hail one. Claire stood in the drizzling night for half an hour without success, shivering from the cold. Finally, she decided to run back.

But after just a couple of steps, she spotted Liam.

Ahead of her, a sleek black luxury car was parked by the wet roadside. The window was partially rolled down, revealing Liam's distinguished face. Dressed in an elegant suit, he looked as though he had just emerged from a formal event, exuding an air of sophistication that starkly contrasted with Claire's disheveled appearance.

Through the rain, their eyes met, and they stood silently gazing at each other. Claire's lips trembled from the cold. She clutched her violin tightly, as if it were her last lifeline. Deep down, she knew Liam was giving her a chance.

All she had to do was apologize, and she could get into the car. She would soon be wrapped in a warm blanket with a glass of hot water. Tomorrow morning, she wouldn’t have to perform at the mall. Instead, she would wake up in a luxurious, soft bed, returning to the status of the esteemed Mrs. Coleman.

But that wasn’t what she wanted.

Standing in the rain, Claire continued to meet his gaze. The downpour intensified, wetting her eyelashes and blurring their vision of one another.

About a minute later, she raised a hand to shield her head and ran forward into the rain.

The water splashed around her feet, hitting the side of his expensive car.

They passed each other on the rainy night.

The sound of Claire running echoed in Liam's heart, each soft thump resonating in the stillness. He didn’t get out of the car, allowing her to slip past him.

He noticed her face was pale, her beautiful fingers covered in band-aids, and she wore plain clothes, with not a single piece of jewelry to adorn her.

Yet even in that state, Claire refused to bow her head before him.

The rain continued to pour.

The windshield wipers moved back and forth rapidly.

Inside the car, the chauffeur and Joanne sat in silence, both aware that Liam was in a foul mood.

After a long pause, Liam spoke softly, “Joanne, can you explain why Claire chose to work for such a disreputable company instead of that other agency? Does she enjoy suffering?”

Joanne felt a jolt in her chest.

She hesitated for a moment before responding anxiously, “I thought this would allow Madam to come home earlier... Mr. Coleman, I can go explain to her that this wasn’t your intention.”

In the dim light, a spark ignited between Liam's fingers as he lit a cigarette, his smoking posture elegant.

Through the thin gray smoke, Liam's tone carried a hint of mockery as he said, “In her eyes, what you do is any different from what I do?”

Joanne felt a wave of relief wash over her.

But soon, Liam turned, extinguishing the cigarette, his voice turning cold and sharp. “Get out!”

Joanne was taken aback. “But Mr. Coleman... It’s still raining outside.”

Liam leaned back against the leather seat, tilting his head slightly. In the dim light, his expression was dark, his throat moving as he swallowed.

He scoffed lightly, saying, “Claire can run in the rain. Can’t you?”

“Joanne, what makes you think you’re more noble than Claire?”

Joanne felt humiliated.

She realized this was Liam’s punishment for her meddling with Claire. He made it clear that she had to either get out now or leave the Coleman Group for good.

She had underestimated Claire’s position in Liam's heart and overestimated her own.

Trembling, Joanne stepped out of the car.

The heavy rain soaked her professional attire.

Her hair and face were drenched. Gritting her teeth, she removed her high heels and began to run through the downpour.

The chauffeur, who was in the driver’s seat, watched in shock. Joanne was usually so proud, looking down on others because she was Mr. Coleman’s junior from university.

Who would have thought she would face such humiliation?

Liam leaned back in the back seat, quietly observing the scene, but his thoughts were on Claire.

He pondered why he was so insistent on having Claire return with him.

Claire was too submissive, not what he preferred. In fact, he had never truly liked anyone. Even the fleeting thought of marrying Sophie had simply stemmed from waking up to the stunning sound of the violin during his coma.

But strangely, he had grown to dislike the pieces Sophie played for him afterward.

Even listening to them gave him a headache!

As for Claire, perhaps he had simply become accustomed to having her around.

These days, he still hadn’t found his cufflinks. If Claire were by his side, she would have told him their exact location right away. Moreover, yesterday morning, when he changed clothes in the closet, he was shocked by the static from the metal handle.

It was the first time he had encountered such a thing since getting married.

When Claire was there, she always paid attention to the humidity in the house. During autumn and winter, she would wrap all the static-prone items with protective covers... Living with Claire had actually made him feel relaxed and comfortable.

Yet, while he enjoyed this life, he had taken her for granted.

In the heavy rain, Liam leaned back in the car, reflecting on all the moments he had shared with Claire.

Finally, Liam convinced himself that the reason he wanted Claire to come back was that she was suitable to be Mrs. Coleman, not because he had developed feelings for her...