Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 116: She Really Is the Sister-in-Law Nathan Quinn Spoke Of

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: She Really Is the Sister-in-Law Nathan Quinn Spoke Of

Claire stood at the doorway, pausing for two seconds.

The inviting Mr. Luo asked her, "Lawyer Hale, what’s the matter? Are you not fond of the environment here?"

Claire lifted her lips with little expression, "No."

"Then what are you waiting for? Come, sit down."

Mr. Luo seemed not to know she was acquainted with Dean Dawson.

He was particularly enthusiastic when inviting her.

No matter how much distance there was between her and Dean Dawson, this was a social gathering after all, not something she could control; there was no need to offend Mr. Luo because of Dean Dawson.

She casually closed the door and walked to the table to sit down.

So she didn’t see Tristan Lockwood pass by in the hallway just before she closed the door.

Tristan was mingling with leading figures in the Riverbend AI industry today, thanks to a connection made by Zoey Adler.

When passing by the private room where Claire was, he glanced casually, not expecting to see her there.

He stopped, looking at the now-closed private room door.

Zoey walked over and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing."

He stepped forward to the inner rooms.

However, during the exchanges with others, Tristan took a moment to send Claire a message, asking her whereabouts.

Claire hadn’t replied.

"You’re distracted today."

Zoey noticed him occasionally checking his phone, and that sense of crisis resurfaced.

She remembered their business trip to Kingsford, where he kept checking his phone.

At that time, it was clear as day—there was someone on his mind.

Zoey had the same feeling now.

Tristan didn’t give her much time to think; he quickly put away his phone and raised a toast with the others.

Zoey’s unease was temporarily put aside.

Claire was not having an easy time in the private room.

If she had seen Tristan’s message, even in their estranged situation, she would have grasped at that straw.

The intention of Mr. Luo inviting her tonight was clear: it wasn’t really about the drinking.

Seeing her alone, he persistently toasted her.

Claire initially declined, "Mr. Luo, I’m not good with alcohol."

Mr. Luo, with a face full of false smiles, kept finding ways to persuade her.

Seeing her resistance, he shifted from persuasion to thinly-veiled threats.

Eventually, Claire drank too much, and when the nauseating churn in her stomach became too much, she found a chance to slip out to the restroom.

In the private room, Mr. Luo, lighting a cigarette, looked clearly at Dean Dawson and said, "Nathan said to give you the opportunity, go ahead."

Dean Dawson thanked him with a smile, a meaningful look in his eyes, and headed out.

Claire crouched in the bathroom, her stomach acid making her nauseous, but when she opened her mouth, it felt like something was stuck in her throat, and she couldn’t vomit.

She cried in discomfort.

But even when she cried, she was always quiet; today, too, she crouched on the cold bathroom floor, silently shedding tears.

When the tears had dried, she stood up, as if nothing had happened, and walked out of the bathroom.

"I’ve been waiting for you for a long time."

Dean Dawson leaned against the sink, staring at her with smiles that didn’t reach his eyes.

Like a wolf.

Claire ignored him; she didn’t even want to go back to the private room to get her bag.

Tonight’s social engagement had soured; Mr. Luo hadn’t intended to discuss a proper cooperation with her from the start.

There would naturally be no need to deal with people like that again in the future.

Even if tonight she took a loss, she learned a lesson.

Claire wanted to leave, but Dean Dawson leisurely walked over to her, grabbing her pushing hand.

He pulled her into his arms, holding her by the waist, and said, "I intended to pursue you properly. One Tristan Lockwood, one Sean Lockwood—Claire, I didn’t expect you were so good at seducing men."

Claire was heavily drunk, barely able to stand, hearing Dean Dawson’s voice buzz annoyingly like a mosquito.

She said impatiently, "So annoying, can’t you shut up?"

Dean Dawson’s face fell, glaring at her gloomily, "So arrogant with me now, but later, you’ll be sleeping with me anyway. I wonder if Tristan and Sean...

Before he could finish "have tasted you," Dean Dawson was punched to the ground.

Tristan took Claire, who was about to slip, and set her in a chair before wordlessly approaching Dean Dawson, delivering another punch before he could get up.

This punch landed directly on Dean Dawson’s temple.

Dean Dawson was dizzy, but instinctively returned a hit to Tristan.

The two six-foot men scuffled, quickly attracting the restaurant crowd. Finally, it took the manager and five or six waiters to pull them apart.

Tristan’s mouth was bleeding, but Dean Dawson was worse, his glasses shattered and his face bleeding, looking frightening.

Tristan’s strength was intimidating, and it took three people to hold him back. Just as he was about to rush Dean Dawson again, Claire, slumped over a table, let out a pained whimper.

He calmed down immediately, glancing darkly at Dean Dawson, then returned to calm, walked to Claire’s side, and carried her out in his arms.

Disregarding the surprised looks around him, he headed for the exit.

As they neared the doorway, Zoey watched him with a complex expression.

She glanced at Claire, curled up in his arms, and said, "She really is the sister-in-law Nathan spoke of."

Zoey’s statement was clear.

Tristan said lightly, "Don’t you already have the answer in your heart?"

Zoey looked extremely unhappy, "But isn’t she your sister? If you two are like this... doesn’t that mean..."

"She is just the Lockwood family’s adopted daughter."

Tristan, expressionless, carried Claire and continued to the door.

Zoey clenched her fists, incredulous, blocking his way, lowering her voice with a hint of grievance, "The guests are still in the private room waiting; do you not want to close this deal?"

"I’ve already had Xiao Xu apologize to them."

Impatience already flickered in Tristan’s eyes.

He said coldly, "Zoey, move."

Zoey bit her lip, unwillingly saying, "Tristan, she’ll ruin you." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Tristan ignored, striding away.

"You don’t take it seriously now, but one day, you’ll lose to Sean because of this woman!"

Zoey called after him unwillingly.

"Sean is abroad, already has his team, developing the latest cutting-edge models. The Lockwood family business is in his hands now; he has money and technology, and you have nothing, yet you throw away your career for this woman!"

Tristan paused.

Zoey seized the chance to continue, "Do you want to disappoint the only person who loves you, Grandpa Lockwood?"

He set off once more, leaving without turning back.