Claire scooped Whisper off the bed in a hurry.
Her claws were still snagged in Weston’s white shirt, dragging along like a surrendering flag.
The flag had come apart at the seams.
Claire walked out slowly, kitten in one arm, ruined shirt in the other.
“Uncle, I’m so sorry I’ve wrecked your shirt.
I’ll pay you back for it.”
“Yes.
And not just the shirt.”
Claire blinked.
“…?”
Following his gaze, she spotted the sofa armrest beside him.
The leather was shredded, cracked clean through.
…
Claire wanted to cover her face and disappear.
How had one cat destroyed this much property in a single night?
The living room sofa at Ashford Manor cost over eight hundred thousand.
Whatever Weston owned was clearly no cheaper.
“It’s a custom design,” he added, before she could even ask.
Her stomach dropped.
She reached for the check still in her pocket, gritting her teeth.
“Uncle, what’s the total?
I’ll pay you back.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You’re sure you want to know the number?”
Claire was nearly in tears.
“I told you to take her to the pet hospital.
Why bring her home with you…”
A custom leather sofa, in a house with a cat overnight might as well have installed a scratching post.
“I wasn’t expecting repayment,” Weston said, unbothered.
“But since you brought it up yourself…”
“Uncle!” Claire cut in fast.
“I didn’t say a word!
Whatever you decide is fine!
You’re the injured party here, after all!”
He paused for a beat.
“Fine.
Consider the damage settled.
The sofa still functions but the place is covered in cat hair after one night, and I don’t like strangers cleaning my space while I’m staying here…”
“I’ll do it!”
The offer flew out before she thought it through.
“I’m actually moving in right next door, so it’ll be easy for me to come by.
I’ll make sure there’s not a single hair left.”
Weston didn’t seem surprised, and didn’t ask why.
“Already moved in?”
“Just finished signing the lease.
The furniture’s ready, so I can move in tonight.
Everything else I’ll bring over gradually.”
He nodded.
“Fine.
And the shirt”
“I’ll cover it!”
He’d already handed her a generous check.
She could manage a shirt.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly.
“Then move in tonight, and come by to clean whenever it suits you.”
“Understood.”
The moment Claire left, Marcus and Graham returned carrying cat food and canned wet food.
“Sir, I just saw Miss Whitman signing for a delivery next door.
Did Ethan kick her out, or is she actually divorced already?”
Weston’s brow furrowed.
“If you’re that curious, go interview her yourself.”
Marcus mumbled, “I was only curious on your behalf…”
Graham spoke up cheerfully.
“Since the cat’s gone, I guess we don’t need all these cans anymore.
And the litter box from last night I’ll have someone toss it right away.
Honestly a miracle you tolerated that mess for a full night, given how particular you are about cleanliness.”
Weston said flatly, “Keep it.”
Graham’s brain stalled.
“Keep…
it?
Why?”
“It’ll be useful.”
Claire spent the afternoon cleaning her new apartment.
The luggage she’d left with Naomi finally arrived too.
She hung clothes one by one, arranged books shelf by shelf…
Whisper explored every corner, and slowly the empty rooms started feeling alive.
Claire opened a can of food for her, patting her small head fondly.
“Congratulations on your new home, Whisper.”
Meow~
Ding-dong
She opened the door to find Naomi practically bursting through it with an enormous bouquet.
“Claire!
Health and happiness in your new place!
I’m taking you out to celebrate tonight!”
Claire accepted the flowers, eyes crinkling into a smile.
“Come sit down first.
Let me shower and change, then we’ll go.”
While Claire showered, Naomi wandered the apartment.
“Claire, doesn’t this place need some greenery?
You had so many plants back at the estate you’re not leaving them all behind, are you?”
Claire came out already dressed.
“Of course not I raised every one of those myself.
I’ll figure out how to move them in a few days.”
For someone with her hearing, plants had always been the quietest, warmest company she knew.
“Ready.
Let’s go.”
“Bring the flowers!
I had the florist arrange them exactly like a photo I found online.
They’re going to look incredible in pictures.”
Cradling a bouquet of pale pink roses, Claire followed Naomi to a restaurant that had recently gone viral online.
“Claire, over here, over here!
Flip your hair gorgeous, don’t move, don’t move!”
Naomi snapped photo after photo, gushing like Claire was some kind of goddess.
They were mid-photoshoot when Rosalind’s voice cut in from the side.
“Claire?
What a coincidence!”
Naomi’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by open disgust.
“I’m sorry, do we know each other?
Move you’re in my shot of Claire.”
Rosalind pulled out a chair and sat down uninvited.
“Ethan told me about your big fight that he took your implant and locked you inside.
That was really excessive of him.”
“But don’t be too upset.
Ethan’s not a cat person, especially not for strays picked up off the street.
I already talked to him, he’s agreed to buy you a purebred kitten as an apology.
What do you think?”
Claire smiled thinly.
Rosalind’s talent for backhanded jabs kept improving.
In a handful of sentences, she’d managed both to mock Claire’s background and remind everyone exactly where she stood with Ethan.
“No need,” Claire said.
“I prefer paying for things myself.
It’s a little uncomfortable, accepting gifts bought with my own husband’s money by his mistress.
Feels unnecessarily roundabout.”
Naomi burst out laughing.
Rosalind’s smile twitched, then snapped back into place.
“Claire, you always win the argument.
But what good does that do you?
You’ll never actually win in the end.”
Claire stayed perfectly calm.
“I don’t eat what’s already been in someone else’s bowl”
She slid the remaining half of her steak across the table toward Rosalind.
“But you’re welcome to it, if you want.”
Rosalind’s smile began to crack.
Naomi twisted the knife further.
“Feeling proud of yourself for taking someone else’s leftovers?
Did your family raise you on scraps?”
Rosalind snapped.
She grabbed the water glass off the table and threw it straight in Naomi’s face.
Before Naomi could even react, Claire grabbed the steak and slammed it directly into Rosalind’s face.
“AH!”
Rosalind screamed, jumping up so violently she knocked plates and glasses off the table, shattering across the floor.
It was the lunch rush every head in the restaurant turned toward them.
Sauce dripped down Rosalind’s face like melted chocolate, her delicate dress torn at the seam.
Compared to Naomi’s damp hair, Rosalind looked like she’d walked through a war zone.
Claire had figured a confrontation was coming eventually today.
Once the shock and rage faded, Rosalind suddenly crumpled to the floor, tears streaming.
“Claire, what exactly do you want from me?
What will it take for you to finally let this go?”
A cold feeling crept up Claire’s spine.
She turned and saw Ethan striding toward them.
Broken dishes scattered everywhere.
A disheveled, fragile-looking Rosalind on the floor.
And Claire, standing tall, looking every bit like the aggressor.
Without a second’s hesitation, Ethan’s hand cracked hard across Claire’s face.