Too Late to Love Her: When She Divorced, He Fell Apart-Chapter 80: If We Don’t Try Now, It’ll Be Too Late

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: If We Don’t Try Now, It’ll Be Too Late

For her, coming into this world was a mistake. If she and Tristan Lockwood actually had a child, even if they were financially stable, given their current state, they were unfit to be parents.

She feared that her child would be raised into a monster by such incompetent parents.

After dinner, The Elder Lockwood watched some of the Spring Festival Gala and then went to rest. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Leaving Claire, Tristan Lockwood, and Sean Lockwood in the living room.

Claire looked down at her phone; Joy Sharp and Tina Hayes had just sent her messages wishing her a happy New Year’s Eve.

The work group chat was also filled with greetings.

She was slightly moved and sent out several large red packets in the group chat, each one with a significant amount.

At some point, Tina Hayes had pulled her and Joy Sharp into a three-person group chat. As soon as she clicked in, Tina’s message popped up: "You two, who ditch friends for men, come out quick!"

Joy Sharp: "I’m going to visit Ayu’s house the day after tomorrow. Shy.jpg"

Claire Hale: "I’m not ditching friends for romance."

Joy Sharp: "Speaking of which, I discovered a big secret; Tristan Lockwood is actually President Hale’s husband!"

Tina Hayes: "... You just found out? Speechless.jpg"

Joy Sharp: "President Hale, why did you get drunk that day? When Tristan Lockwood saw you like that, he turned pale and seemed quite worried. Why is it that he seems to care about you a lot, yet looks for other women outside?"

Tina Hayes: "He’s made enough green hats for President Hale to open a wholesale store. He cares, my foot."

Joy Sharp: "But I see Tristan Lockwood really cares about President Hale. You wouldn’t show that kind of expression without feelings. Also, I think President Hale cares about Tristan a lot too."

Claire stared blankly at Joy Sharp’s words for a moment.

Instead of outright denying it, she asked: "How could you tell?"

Joy Sharp: "President Hale, every time Tristan appears, your gaze practically never leaves him."

This was a detail Claire herself hadn’t noticed.

Tina Hayes, being somewhat dense, wouldn’t have noticed either.

But Joy Sharp, knowing what it’s like to like someone, understood that love-filled gazes are impossible to hide.

Especially when you really like someone, it’s impossible not to look.

Claire was about to type a response when a shadow loomed overhead.

She looked up to see Tristan Lockwood gazing thoughtfully at the messages Joy sent.

Claire immediately pressed the lock screen button.

"Can’t take your eyes off me?" Tristan looked at her with a not-quite-smile, "No wonder you won’t sign."

Claire pursed her lips, looked away, and didn’t respond.

Tristan suddenly turned to Sean and said, "Uncle, it’s New Year’s, and you’re still keeping her locked up at home?"

He didn’t name names directly.

But everyone present knew who "she" referred to.

Sean said calmly, "Lockwood family’s banquet, she’s not qualified to attend."

His words carried deep meaning.

If Sean were just temporarily unwilling to publicize his relationship with Jade Sutton, he would add a "yet."

But he flatly denied it.

This meant that Sean and Jade’s marriage wouldn’t last long.

Tristan clearly understood this and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Tried every possible way to bring her back, and now you don’t want her?"

"Not conflicted." Sean smiled faintly, "If she runs off, of course I’ll bring her back to teach her a lesson. If I tire of her, that’s another matter."

In essence, Sean treated Jade Sutton as a mere plaything.

Interest sparked him to toy with her.

When bored, discarded her.

Hearing this, Tristan didn’t respond, but his expression darkened visibly.

Claire certainly did not speak up.

That night, all three spent the night at The Elder Lockwood’s house.

When Claire returned to her room, Tristan and Sean were still downstairs discussing Lockwood family business.

She entered the bathroom for a shower, leaving her phone on the bedside table.

Tristan entered as her phone rang; the caller was Dylan Skinner.

Tristan pressed answer, his voice steady, "Hello."

Dylan, not having interacted much with Tristan and unable to recognize his voice through the phone, paused and asked, "Are you Claire’s husband?"

Tristan: "Yes, who are you?"

Dylan: "I’m her friend, wanting to wish her a happy New Year."

"To my knowledge, she doesn’t have friends." Tristan said calmly, "Where are you coming from as her friend?"

Dylan didn’t respond.

After several seconds, when Tristan was about to hang up, Dylan suddenly said coldly, "Why do you speak so harshly, no wonder Claire always ends up in tears because of you. If you keep hurting her, I definitely won’t let you off easily."

Tristan furrowed his brow, "In tears? Her?"

"Who else? Could it be me, a grown man?"

Hearing Tristan’s indifferent tone, Dylan was quite upset.

"Claire, such a strong person, yet because of you, she keeps ending up in tears again and again. Every time she cries, she’s silent but those tears just don’t stop. If you don’t cherish her, at least stop hurting her. Just because she doesn’t call out in pain doesn’t mean she isn’t hurting, not crying in front of you doesn’t mean she’s not sad!"

After saying all this, Dylan regretted it a bit.

He liked his sister; he should have been eager for her to divorce this horrible husband.

But his sister cried because of this man, and was sad because of this man.

Only this man had walked into her heart.

"She rarely cries in front of me." Tristan said, "She’s always been indifferent with me, completely unlike what you said."

"That’s because you don’t love her." Dylan grew more intensely emotional, "A person with a strong sense of dignity won’t show even the slightest vulnerability in front of someone they like. The way you are now, if Claire were to show even a bit of affection for you, you’d probably be over the moon! Likely you’d come up with new ways to make her suffer!"

Tristan stared silently at the bathroom door, emotions churning in his eyes, but said nothing for a long while.

Dylan also didn’t bother waiting for a response, just hung up the phone.

...

After showering, Claire remembered that she’d forgotten to bring her pajamas.

Thinking that, since Tristan and she were still in a cold war, he wouldn’t come in, she wrapped herself in a towel and walked out.

She had just stepped out of the bathroom when someone pulled her aside, causing her to fall into someone’s form-fitted suit.

The cold fabric of a tailored suit pressed against her, and before Claire could react, she was enveloped in Tristan’s embrace, his lips on hers.

Her mind, freshly bathed, went blank for a few seconds.

She quickly pushed him away, eyeing him warily, "What’s gotten into you at New Year’s?"

Tristan, unconcerned, wrapped his arm around her waist, "Promised Grandma I’d let her hold a great-grandchild this year, better make an effort, or it’ll be too late."