Chapter 409 - 412: Heartfelt Closeness and Affection

Claire Sterling received an invitation from a friend. In a week, the friend was holding a 100-day celebration for her granddaughter at The Zenith Hotel and had invited her to attend.

She was definitely going, and she wanted to bring her daughter-in-law, Wren Sutton, with her.

During dinner, Claire Sterling mentioned her idea to Wren Sutton, wanting to get her opinion.

Wren Sutton checked her calendar. She happened to have no plans that day, nor anything that absolutely had to be done.

It was rare for her mother-in-law to ask her to go somewhere with her, so Wren didn’t hesitate and immediately agreed.

Adrian Lancaster, who was sitting nearby, had no objections and supported his wife’s decision.

"It can get boring staying at home every day. It’ll be good to get out, relax, and soak up some of the festive atmosphere."

Claire Sterling was overjoyed.

"Then it’s settled. Wren, tomorrow, we’ll go shopping for new outfits for the celebration. Mom will buy them for you—clothes, shoes, jewelry, a whole matching set."

Wren Sutton was very happy too. "Okay, thank you, Mom."

...

The next morning, after breakfast, Wren Sutton and Claire Sterling went out shopping together.

Claire Sterling took her daughter-in-law to a high-end luxury mall. The atmosphere was elegant, and the decor was a romantic, artistic style—luxurious yet understated and sophisticated.

Everything sold inside was from major international brands, with price tags an ordinary person could barely imagine.

As Claire Sterling always said, if you were going to buy something, you should buy the best. And when it came to buying things for her daughter-in-law, it had to be from the most exclusive of the top-tier brands.

Wren Sutton felt her mother-in-law’s adoration, and a warmth spread through her heart.

Claire Sterling had aged so gracefully she didn’t look old at all. As the two women walked with their arms linked, chatting and laughing while they shopped, some people even mistook them for sisters.

"Wren, you have such fair skin and a gentle aura. Soft colors like light apricot and cream would suit you perfectly."

Claire Sterling picked up a dress with a cinched waist that draped beautifully.

"What do you think of this one? The cut is elegant and modest, but it still flatters your figure. It’s sophisticated, understated, and not at all flashy. It would be perfect for the celebration—dignified and classic."

Truth be told, Wren Sutton had noticed this dress the moment she walked into the boutique. Its color and style were exactly what she loved.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were perfectly in sync.

At Claire Sterling’s urging, Wren Sutton took the dress to the fitting room.

It was a perfect fit. The tailoring was impeccable, as if it had been custom-made just for her.

It was absolutely beautiful, with not a single flaw to be found. Of course, the price wasn’t cheap either—it was in the six-figure range.

"Wren, you look gorgeous in that dress. We’re getting it. Miss, we’ll take this."

After choosing the dress, Claire Sterling pulled Wren Sutton over to the jewelry counter.

Following the salesperson’s recommendations, Claire Sterling patiently helped Wren Sutton put together a complete set of exquisite, refined jewelry that exuded an air of nobility. The total price came to seven figures.

"Mom, isn’t this a bit much?"

Wren Sutton was not short on jewelry; she had only intended to pick out a bracelet to match the dress. She never expected her mother-in-law to buy her an entire set.

Claire Sterling patted her daughter-in-law’s hand affectionately. "It’s not too much. To be honest, I still think it’s not enough. This is a gift from me, so just accept it happily."

Since she had put it that way, and the jewelry was already paid for, Wren stopped protesting and graciously accepted the set.

"Thank you, Mom."

Claire Sterling beamed. "No need to be so formal with me. Come on, let’s go look at watches. If we find ones we like, we’ll each get one."

Wren Sutton was speechless.

In a teahouse in a nearby lounge area, Claire Bennett was sitting and staring into space.

She happened to look up and saw, through the crowd, the affectionate display between Claire Sterling and Wren Sutton in the distance.

...

Claire Bennett’s expression slowly turned cold as feelings of bitterness, envy, and jealousy churned within her.

No one knew better than her just how painful this sight was to behold.

In the past, Claire Sterling had treated her the very same way, doting on her as if she were her future daughter-in-law.

She used to take her shopping, buy her gowns, and help her pick out jewelry. She had been patient and considerate, her favoritism so blatant it was impossible to miss. She would praise her to everyone she met and defend her at every turn, granting her extraordinary honor and respect.

Back then, everyone had tacitly assumed that she was the one Claire Sterling had chosen to be the Lancaster family’s daughter-in-law.

But now, times had changed; the person by Claire Sterling’s side was Wren Sutton.

All the special treatment that had once been hers was now lavished upon Wren Sutton.

The way Claire Sterling looked at Wren Sutton was filled with such adoration, a genuine affection that came straight from the heart.

Claire Bennett clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Her expression grew increasingly grim.

’I can’t believe that bitch, Wren Sutton, has completely won over Claire Sterling. The Lancaster family is about to fall right into her hands.’

’And I can only be an outsider, a stranger, watching from afar as everything that should have been mine goes to Wren Sutton.’

Claire Bennett resisted the urge to approach them, silently committing this injustice and her burning hatred to memory.

...

Laden with shopping bags, Claire Sterling and Wren Sutton didn’t leave the mall right away. Instead, they went to the scenic restaurant on the top floor and chose a semi-private, window-side booth.

"Wren, I know you usually enjoy hot, flavorful food. This hot pot restaurant has a great reputation. Their soup bases are clean, and the ingredients are fresh. Let’s have dinner here before we head home."

Wren Sutton, of course, had no objections. She happened to love hot pot.

Claire Sterling ordered a split pot: one side with a rich, white bone broth and the other with a clear-oil broth that was mildly spicy but not overpowering. She ordered all the dishes based on Wren Sutton’s preferences.

Tender slices of marbled beef, crisp and springy tripe, savory fried tofu puffs that soaked up the broth...

Even the dipping sauces were prepared just the way she liked.

Soon, all the dishes arrived.

Steam soon enveloped the entire table.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat across from each other, chatting about the minor details of the upcoming celebration as they ate. They would occasionally meet each other’s eyes and smile, the atmosphere harmonious and warm.

Neither of them noticed that ever since they had entered the restaurant, a figure had been lurking silently in a remote, shadowy corner of the main dining area, taking in everything that happened in their booth.

Claire Bennett had chosen a spot where she could see everything clearly without being easily noticed. She pulled the brim of her hat low, clutching a glass in her hand.

She had followed Claire Sterling and Wren Sutton from the boutique to the restaurant like a shadow, attracting no one’s attention.

Watching the scene unfold, Claire Bennett felt as if a hand were viciously squeezing her heart. A sharp pain, accompanied by the fire of jealous rage, spread wildly through her body.

No one knew better than her that Claire Sterling had never, ever liked hot pot.

Claire Sterling hated the strong, smoky smell of hot pot, disliked the murky, greasy broth, and had always preferred delicate, refined private-kitchen meals or Western cuisine.

Even back when she had playfully whined about wanting hot pot, Claire Sterling had always politely declined, never once indulging her.

It was a deep-seated habit, a dislike that hadn’t changed one bit over the years.

But now, that same person who hated hot pot was sitting willingly in a steamy restaurant, eating hot pot with Wren Sutton.

There was no frown, no look of distaste, not a hint of reluctance or impatience. Her expression was filled with nothing but tenderness and adoration for Wren Sutton.

Claire Bennett’s hand, hidden beneath the table, clenched so tightly her nails dug deep into her palm.

’By what right!’

’By what right did Wren Sutton get to receive all of Claire Sterling’s favoritism and indulgence? Just because she’d given the Lancaster family two children?!’

’Plenty of women can have children! What makes Wren Sutton so special?!’

The more Claire Bennett thought about it, the angrier she became. The chill in her eyes deepened. Watching Wren Sutton and Claire Sterling laugh so happily together, a vicious thought began to form in her mind.