Chapter 35: My People Are None of Your Concern

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: My People Are None of Your Concern

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glittered with a bustling nightlife.

Claire Kendall faced her computer screen, her fingertips tapping lightly as she sketched the design for a birthday gift. A smile unconsciously lifted the corners of her lips.

She picked up her phone and casually snapped a photo of the view outside the window. It was dreamlike.

Then, she posted it on X with the caption: [What kind of star is it? It’s a savior!]

「Southside Apartments.」

Every room was empty.

In the darkness, Jacob Sinclair was sprawled drunkenly on the sofa.

He had used every trick in the book, waiting for Claire Kendall to come crawling back and beg for forgiveness. But two days had passed, and she still hadn’t contacted him.

The notification sound for a priority follow went off. Jacob Sinclair unlocked his phone—Claire Kendall had just made a post on X. He quickly tapped on it.

A completely unremarkable photo of a city at night.

Just as he was about to lock his phone, his gaze suddenly froze.

He rapidly zoomed in on the picture. At the very bottom of the photo, the reflection in the glass window clearly showed the silhouette of a man.

Although it was just a blurry outline, there was no doubt it was a man!

’She’s living with someone else?’

’She loves me so much, how could she use such a stupid method to make me angry?’

CRASH!

The contents of the coffee table were swept to the floor.

The man’s eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaving violently as rage consumed all his reason.

He dialed his assistant’s number and sent the photo over.

"Find her. Find out where Claire Kendall is right now!"

-

「Two days later, at the Warren family’s estate.」

Inside the banquet hall, glasses clinked as socialites and dignitaries mingled.

Claire Kendall entered the venue, holding the invitation Miles Warren had given her.

She was wearing a simple, elegant cheongsam, her long hair casually pinned up. With her striking features, she found a corner to sit down in, quietly waiting for the banquet to begin.

A commotion arose at the entrance to the hall.

Yvonne Warren was intimately clinging to Jacob Sinclair’s arm as the two of them made a grand entrance.

One was the young miss of the Warren Family, the other the heir of the Sinclair Family—a golden couple. Many people went up to greet them.

Jacob Sinclair’s eyes immediately locked onto the inconspicuous corner.

Yvonne Warren noticed the change in him and followed his line of sight.

’Claire Kendall?!’

’What is she doing at Grandpa’s birthday banquet? She really is a leech you can’t get rid of! Whenever she’s around, it’s like she’s stolen half of Jacob’s soul.’

Sure enough, Jacob Sinclair walked toward Claire Kendall.

He stopped in front of her, a hint of understanding and smugness in his eyes.

"Claire Kendall, you’re certainly well-informed. You found out I’d be accompanying Yvonne to Louis Warren’s birthday banquet, so you eagerly chased me all the way here?"

"First you post that thing on X to make me angry, and now you’re playing hard to get?"

Claire Kendall glanced at him, her voice impatient.

"Sorry, I forgot to block you on X."

As she spoke, she took out her phone from her bag and, right in front of Jacob Sinclair, dragged his account into her blocklist.

"You..." Jacob Sinclair’s face turned ashen.

Yvonne Warren adjusted her expression and timely interjected, "Claire, what a coincidence. You’re here too."

Her voice was gentle, yet it carried a condescending, scrutinizing tone.

"This cheongsam is beautiful. You must have embroidered it yourself, right? Such great craftsmanship. But for an occasion like this..."

"If it’s inconvenient, you can always come to me. I have plenty of haute couture pieces I haven’t even worn yet. It’s no big deal to let you borrow one."

Yvonne Warren’s eyes crinkled into a smile, her voice pitched just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear clearly.

"If any suitable opportunities come up later, I’ll introduce you."

As soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding guests who looked at Claire Kendall now had expressions of contempt and ridicule.

’So she’s just a gold-digging designer trying to network and get ahead. She probably used some despicable means to get into an event like this.’

Claire Kendall, unfazed, met her gaze. "No, thank you. I’m more comfortable in my own clothes."

At the entrance of the banquet hall, Miles Warren appeared, dressed in a black haute couture suit. He lacked the cold aloofness he had at the hospital, replaced by the dignified composure of a man from a prestigious family.

The moment he appeared, he became the center of attention.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he walked straight to Claire Kendall’s side. His tone was gentle as he said, "Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? Why did you come in alone?"

A small smile touched Claire Kendall’s lips.

Yvonne Warren froze. "Unc... Uncle..."

"Mm," Miles Warren replied with a casual nod.

"Yvonne, what clothes my guest wears or what opportunities she needs is none of your concern."

Having been publicly humiliated, Yvonne Warren’s expression turned sour.

Jacob Sinclair gritted his teeth and greeted him in a low voice, "Mr. Warren..."

He looked at Miles Warren, and to his horror, his figure uncannily began to overlap with the silhouette from the photo!

His gaze grew even more sinister.

’Claire Kendall actually managed to get her claws into his future uncle?’

"Are you hungry? They’ve prepared some desserts before the main banquet. Let’s go try some," Miles Warren said, leading Claire Kendall away.

The surrounding crowd was completely stunned.

The person who brought this minor designer was actually the legendary future heir of the Warren Family!

’Why would she need Yvonne Warren to introduce her to any opportunities? This Claire Kendall is a "walking" resource herself now!’

’Getting on her good side is the same as getting on Miles Warren’s good side.’

"Fairy Princess! It’s really you! We meet again!"

The cheerful, childish voice once again drew everyone’s attention.

The Warren Family’s little troublemaker, the recipient of everyone’s doting affection, was dressed in a miniature suit and bow tie. Looking like a little adult, he crossed the hall and ran straight for Claire Kendall.

Bobby threw himself at her and hugged her. "I missed you so much, Fairy Princess..."

Surprised and delighted, Claire Kendall’s smile became incredibly gentle as she bent down and picked him up.

The little one wrapped his arms around her neck and nuzzled against her affectionately.

The gazes of all the guests fell in unison on the pair, one big and one small.

The grandson of Louis Warren, son of Maya Warren, who was the head of a Warren Group subsidiary.

’He’s also this close with this unknown woman?’

"Fairy Princess, you’re so pretty..." he whispered. "Just now, Uncle was outside the door, secretly watching you."

Claire Kendall glanced at Miles Warren out of the corner of her eye, a small smile playing on her lips.

Miles Warren’s voice was deep. "Bobby, you’re heavy. Don’t always pester people to hold you."

Bobby pouted, unhappy. "Uncle is mean!"

In his childish voice, he declared righteously, "Auntie would never think Bobby is heavy!"

’Auntie?!’

The astonished gazes of the entire hall once again turned to Claire Kendall.

Claire Kendall tapped Bobby’s nose and took the initiative to explain, "Don’t talk nonsense."

But Miles Warren acted as if he hadn’t heard her, turning to her and saying, "Louis Warren is about to arrive. Come with me."

With that, the man led Claire Kendall to the foremost table in the banquet hall—the Warren Family’s head table.

That was a place reserved only for the older generation of the Warren Family or its designated heirs.