Chapter 685 - 682: Sudden Turmoil (11)

Chapter 685: Chapter 682: Sudden Turmoil (11)

After Rowan Linden left, Seth Quinn watched his retreating figure and said to Clara Grant, "Since there’s no longer any possibility between them, why did you have to tell him? Were you hoping he’d elope with his cousin’s wife? All it does is cause him more trouble."

Clara Grant sighed softly. "I didn’t mean to... Okay, fine. I was being impulsive."

’It wasn’t my fault that it slipped out, but... I probably should have lied to Rowan Linden, told him it wasn’t what he thought he’d heard.’

’Because even if he knew the truth, there was nothing he could do to change it.’

’Now that Rowan knows, it’s just going to be awkward whenever he sees Sarah again.’

Seeing the guilt on her face, Seth Quinn squeezed her hand comfortingly. "Hey, don’t dwell on it. It’s Dad’s birthday banquet today, you can’t be moping around. Come on, cheer up."

Clara Grant finally looked up at him, her lips curving into a small smile.

...

In a quiet, secluded gazebo, Ewan Stratton sat in his wheelchair, gently swirling a glass of red wine. Sarah Shelby stood beside him, silently gazing into the distance.

Suddenly, Ewan Stratton spoke, his voice cold. "Did you know Rowan in the past?"

Sarah Shelby’s gaze remained fixed on the distance, but her heart skipped a beat. Her fingers curled slightly before straightening again. She let out a simple hum of affirmation. "Mm."

"Are you in love with him?" Ewan Stratton’s gaze was fixed on the side of her face, unblinking.

Sarah Shelby finally tore her gaze from the distance, turning to meet his eyes for a brief moment before looking away again.

Ewan Stratton waited for what felt like an eternity, but when he realized she had no intention of answering, a surge of fury rose within him. He snapped, "Sarah Shelby, stop giving me the silent treatment! Answer me!"

Sarah Shelby remained as still as a stone, unmoving and silent.

CRASH!

The next second, Ewan Stratton violently smashed his wine glass on the ground. Red wine splattered, instantly staining Sarah Shelby’s pale yellow gown in several places, like vibrant flowers blossoming against the fabric.

A servant heard the noise and came running. "Sir, Madam, is everything alright?"

Ewan Stratton turned his head away, saying nothing. Sarah Shelby glanced at the servant and said calmly, "A glass was dropped by accident. Please clean it up."

"Of course, right away." The servant quickly fetched the necessary tools, swept up the broken glass, and withdrew.

Ewan Stratton turned back to Sarah Shelby, refusing to let the matter drop. "What’s the matter? You don’t want to answer me?"

As he spoke, he seized Sarah Shelby’s wrist. "A guilty conscience?"

His grip on her wrist was crushingly tight. She struggled to break free but couldn’t. Frantically, she scanned their surroundings. Only after confirming that no one was paying them any mind did she manage to compose herself slightly.

’This is someone else’s home, after all. I don’t want to fight with him here.’

"Ewan Stratton, can we please talk about this when we get home? We’re at someone else’s house, attending a birthday banquet for an elder. Can you not make a scene?"

"*I’m* making a scene? Fine, then I’ll make a real scene. If you don’t give me a straight answer to my question, I’ll make sure everyone here knows what’s going on. I can ruin this entire banquet. You don’t believe me?" Far from backing down, Ewan Stratton began to threaten her.

He didn’t know why, but he felt a desperate need to know whether she was truly in love with Rowan.

"Why should it matter to you whether I love him or not?" Sarah Shelby finally snapped, her patience gone. "You never told me who the woman you love is, have you? Didn’t you only marry me to make your beloved jealous and draw her out? Since you don’t love me, what business is it of yours who *I* happen to love?"

’She had once thought that by marrying Ewan Stratton, if she just treated him with genuine affection, he would one day come to treat her the same way.’

’Unfortunately, she later learned the real reason he had taken a wife.’

’He had once told her his heart had gone with that other woman, that he no longer had a heart to give.’

’Since his heart was already gone, how could she ever possibly win it?’

"You..." Ewan Stratton started to say, but just then, another servant came hurrying over. His grip loosened instinctively, and Sarah Shelby seized the chance to pull her hand away.

"Sir, Madam, the banquet is about to begin. Please make your way to the main hall." After speaking, the servant gestured for them to proceed.

Sarah Shelby clutched her wrist and gave a slight nod. Without another glance at Ewan Stratton, she began pushing his wheelchair toward the main hall.