Chapter 3: Forced to Break Up

She was already ruined, her future was gone, she and Samuel would inevitably part ways. This phone call was just bringing that day forward.

Claire fought back tears and a choking sensation as she spoke into the phone, "I understand. I will do as you wish."

The person on the other end was satisfied with Claire's response and hung up.

After hanging up, Claire stood under the scorching sun, tilting her head back to prevent the tears from spilling over.

She felt an unprecedented coldness enveloping her entire body.

Under the blazing sun, her heart felt like an ice cellar.

With one thing after another happening, Claire could no longer force herself to live calmly.

She took leave from work, dragging her exhausted body and shattered heart, and took a long-distance bus back to her hometown.

She had originally thought that returning home would at least bring her some comfort.

But the moment she opened the door, she knew it was just a vain hope.

"A slut can only raise another slut! Look at your good daughter, so young and already going to a hotel with a man!"

Her mother was kneeling on the ground, and her grandmother threw a pile of photos at her face.

Her mother was already on the verge of collapse, clearly having knelt for a long time. There were injuries on her face and a noticeable bruise on her forehead from kneeling.

Her grandmother was bullying her mother again, but this time Claire didn't know why.

"Mom—" Claire dropped her bag on the ground and rushed forward, kneeling in front of her grandmother. "Grandma, what did my mom do wrong this time that you have to hit her?"

Pansy looked at her with disdain and suddenly grabbed a photo from the table, slapping it hard against Claire's face.

"You still have the nerve to ask what she did wrong? Your mom can't even bear a child, that's the biggest mistake! And the adopted bastard isn't any better!" Pansy glanced at Claire and her mother with undisguised contempt. "Someone brought these photos directly to our house today! They said you went to a hotel with some wild man? Disgraceful! You've tarnished the Robson family name!"

Hearing her grandmother's words, Claire's face turned pale. She picked up the photos from the ground and saw pictures of herself and that man in bed!

She flung the photos far away! What was this? How could there be such photos?

And how did these photos end up in her grandmother's hands?

"Grandma..." She opened her mouth to explain but found herself speechless because everything in the photos was true!

Her mother tried to explain, "Mom, Claire she..."

Before Darlene Wise could finish, Pansy slammed the table and shouted, "How dare you try to argue! The photos were brought here, do you think they could frame your daughter? The older one is barren, and the younger one is indecent! What did we do to deserve such disgraceful women in our family!"

Pansy grabbed a teacup and hurled it at Darlene's forehead.

Seeing her grandmother about to throw something again, Claire turned and shielded her mother.

"Bang—" The teacup shattered against Claire's back, scattering pieces everywhere.

Claire felt a burning pain on her back, as if it wasn't even her body anymore.

"Claire..." Darlene saw that Claire had used her body to shield her from the teacup and immediately became anxious. "Does it hurt?"

Claire gently shook her head, her eyes turning red as well.

What was this pain compared to what her mother had endured over the years?

Pansy snorted coldly. She couldn't stand seeing them display their mother-daughter affection.

At that moment, the endless commercials on TV finally ended, cutting straight to a news segment with photos being shown.

"This morning, Miles Reeves, heir to Ins Enterprises, was caught in a hotel with a woman. The photos show a messy room with clothes scattered everywhere..."

Seeing Claire's photos on TV, Pansy's anger flared up again. She grabbed her cane and started hitting the mother and daughter.

"What a disgrace! Going to a hotel and ending up on TV! How shameful! How could our family raise such a slut! Get out! Both of you, get out!"

Claire hadn't expected this incident to make it onto TV. But she had no time to think about the news, she clung tightly to her mother, gritting her teeth and not daring to fight back or leave the house.

Because once they left, they would never be able to return.

At that moment, someone rushed in from outside, shouting as they entered, "Mom..."

Hearing the voice, Claire's eyes filled with hope: Dad is back!

She immediately looked at him with hopeful eyes, wishing he would speak up for her mother.