Chapter 682 - 679: A Sudden Disturbance (8)

Chapter 682: Chapter 679: A Sudden Disturbance (8)

"Sarah, you’re here! You startled me," Clara Grant said with a laugh, eagerly grabbing her friend’s hand.

"Of course I had to startle you! You were so busy being all lovey-dovey with your husband you didn’t even see me arrive. Who else was I supposed to scare?" Sarah Shelby joked with a grin. Her expression then turned serious as she took Clara’s hands, looking her up and down in admiration.

"Clara, I’ve always known you were beautiful, but I never imagined you could look *this* gorgeous all dressed up in a gown!"

Clara Grant smiled, pressing her lips together. "You look amazing, too. Especially beautiful today."

"That just means we’re a pair of beauties."

"Oh, right, Sarah, who did you come with?"

’Sarah is the Stratton family’s daughter-in-law now, so of course she’s here representing them at the banquet. I just wonder who from the family came with her.’

’It couldn’t be Ewan Stratton, could it? He’s been in a wheelchair for ages, and he’s basically never shown his face in public since his accident.’

Just as the thought crossed Clara’s mind, the smile on Sarah Shelby’s face faltered slightly. She stepped aside, revealing the person behind her.

Clara looked past her friend and saw him—the very person she thought would never be there, Ewan Stratton.

Ewan Stratton sat in his wheelchair, his face impassive as he watched the two young women chattering away.

Though his face was impassive, his eyes held a flicker of amusement.

’He remembered Sarah Shelby from before she married him. She used to be this outspoken and vibrant in front of everyone. But the Sarah in front of him now had lost that energy. Perhaps it was only with Clara Grant that she could still be her true, unrestrained self.’

’Back then, out of all the women, he hadn’t chosen her for her looks. It certainly wasn’t love at first sight.’

’It was because she was the only one who had been unwilling to marry him—the only one who had actually put up a fight.’

’In truth, he hadn’t chosen a wife to obey his elders or find a caretaker. It wasn’t even to produce an heir for the Stratton family. It was to draw out another woman.’

’He could have easily chosen an obedient, docile woman who was eager to marry him. But for some reason, he had chosen her.’

’Perhaps her defiance had stirred his long-dormant desire for conquest.’

’His campaign of conquest had been rather successful, and the results were obvious. At least the Sarah before him now was no longer the feisty, prickly woman she used to be.’

’She had become gentler, more submissive, moving ever closer to the ideal he demanded. And yet, he found himself even more dissatisfied.’

’Because he realized that as she grew gentler and more submissive, she also became indifferent and listless.’

...

"Hello, Mr. Stratton."

Seth Quinn’s voice pulled Ewan Stratton from his thoughts. Without a change in expression, Ewan shifted his gaze from Sarah to Seth.

Sarah Shelby moved behind him and pushed his wheelchair forward a few feet.

Ewan gave a cool nod but said nothing.

’He’s Sarah’s husband,’ Clara thought. ’Even if I don’t like him, I have to be polite for Sarah’s sake.’ She put on a smile and greeted him as well. "Mr. Stratton, I’m surprised to see you here. Thank you for coming."

Ewan’s impassive expression finally broke as he arched an eyebrow at her. "And what is that supposed to mean, Mrs. Quinn? Are you saying that because I’m disabled, I should just stay obediently at home and never go anywhere? I see you’re just as prejudiced against the disabled as any other common person, Mrs. Quinn!"