After Divorce I Married a Tycoon-Chapter 26: Will the Sinclair Family Dump Claire Mercer, the Fake Heiress?
On stage, the two of them smiled and whispered, looking for all the world like a pair of devoted sisters.
To the unsuspecting guests, it seemed the relationship between the two sisters—the real and fake heiresses—was quite amicable.
This left the guests who had been hoping to see them tear each other apart feeling somewhat disappointed.
But only the two of them knew they had just fought a war without a single shot fired.
Seeing how harmonious they were, Julian Mercer and Judith Caldwell smiled with relief and affection at their two daughters.
Although they had never been fond of Claire Mercer, they had to put on an act in front of so many outsiders.
After the family finished their touching display of harmony and happiness, the banquet officially began.
After stepping off the stage, Claire Mercer still wore a poised and elegant smile.
From time to time, she would even greet people she had met before.
She appeared composed and graceful, with not a single hint of anything amiss in her words or actions.
It was as if she was completely unaffected by the sudden exposure of her identity as the fake heiress.
However, though the atmosphere in the banquet hall seemed normal, Claire could feel the change in people’s gazes.
Some even started staring at her, whispering and gossiping.
"Even though the Mercer family still treats that fake heiress, Claire Mercer, like the apple of their eye, her origins are still unknown. Do you think the Sinclair Family will kick her out over this?"
"That’s hard to say. The Sinclair Family has always had ridiculously high standards. They don’t even think much of proper heiresses from wealthy families, so why would they let a fake one continue to occupy the position of Young Madam Sinclair?"
"That’s right. Now that Sinclair’s legs have healed, it’s only a matter of time before the Sinclair Family kicks this fake heiress out."
"I wonder which family’s heiress the Sinclairs will set their sights on after they get rid of this fake one."
"If you ask me, the Sinclair Family cares about its reputation. Claire Mercer did marry in and take care of Sinclair diligently for two years, after all. If they kick her out right after Gavin Sinclair’s legs heal, people will inevitably accuse them of being ungrateful and kicking her while she’s down. That would damage the Sinclair Family’s image to some extent."
"You have a point."
"Looks like Claire Mercer’s future is still a mystery."
"Oh, why are we even worrying about her? Look at her, she’s acting like nothing’s wrong."
"She’s definitely putting on an act. Who wouldn’t be devastated by something like this?"
"..."
The guests eagerly speculated about Claire Mercer’s future.
She knew, of course, that many of them couldn’t wait for the Sinclair Family to kick her to the curb.
If that happened, the position of Mrs. Sterling would become vacant.
Once the position of Young Mrs. Sinclair was vacant, it would naturally give other families the opportunity to cozy up to and curry favor with the Sinclair Family.
’I have no intention of paying any mind to this pointless chatter. I just want to find a quiet place to be alone for a while.’
She had planned to go find Roxanne Peyton and Stella Thorne, but someone blocked her path.
Lifting her eyes, she saw it was Gavin Sinclair.
Claire Mercer’s smile vanished, and she shot him a cold glance.
"Move."
Not only did Gavin Sinclair not move, but he grabbed Claire Mercer and pulled her through the crowd into the garden behind the banquet hall.
Claire Mercer’s wrist throbbed. She violently wrenched her hand free and hissed, "Gavin Sinclair, what the hell do you think you’re doing?"
Gavin Sinclair stared blankly at Claire Mercer, a smile still on his face.
"Claire Mercer, so you’re not a Mercer after all." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
’This is even better,’ he thought. ’Now she’ll need me even more. She won’t be able to leave me, or the protection of the Sinclair Family.’
’After all, the title of Young Madam Sinclair carries far more weight than being the heiress of the Mercer family.’
’If she still tries to divorce me now, she’ll find it impossible to make her way in Rhonia.’
"That’s right." Claire Mercer glared at him, her eyes filled with unconcealed disgust.
"So hurry up and divorce me. Marry the real Mercer heiress. Only the real Mercer heiress is worthy of you."
"Conveniently, she’s also your ’one that got away.’ Marrying her would be just perfect for you."
’Other people mock me behind my back,’ she thought. ’Even when they point and whisper, they at least try to be discreet.’
’But not him. He just had to come and laugh right in my face. Hah!’
Hearing Claire Mercer’s words, Gavin Sinclair’s lips curved into a mocking smile.
"The title of Mercer heiress means nothing to the Sinclair family."
’The only reason I married her was because Grandmother thought she was deeply in love with me.’
’Back then, I’d just been in a car accident. The doctors had said my legs were temporarily useless, and my recovery was uncertain.’
’When Grandmother publicly announced she was looking for a Young Madam to marry into the family for my sake, many of the heiresses who once flocked to me began to keep their distance.’
’They were terrified their parents would sacrifice their happiness for the sake of family interests.’
’But then Claire Mercer showed up on her own initiative, expressing her willingness to marry me to improve my luck.’
’Plus, her background wasn’t that powerful, and she seemed gentle and pliable—someone easy to control.’
’So, Grandmother let her in the door for my sake.’
From beginning to end, the Sinclair Family had never married her for her status as a Mercer heiress.
But Claire Mercer couldn’t care less why the Sinclair Family had married her.
Right now, she just wanted to divorce Gavin Sinclair as soon as possible and have nothing more to do with him.
’It seems useless to discuss anything else with him, so I have no choice but to bring up Scarlett Jewel.’
’After all, Scarlett Jewel is the Mercer heiress now, not the nobody she used to be.’
’More importantly, Scarlett is still his unforgettable love, a fact that should still pack a punch.’
"You don’t care about the Mercer heiress title, but are you saying you don’t want Scarlett Jewel, either?"
Gazing at the now radiant and stunning Claire Mercer, Gavin Sinclair felt as if he were falling in love again.
’Even the way she looks when she’s angry is so captivating.’
’For the past two years, she’d always been so plain, never wearing any makeup.’
’He’d never realized this wife who’d practically delivered herself to his doorstep was so stunningly beautiful.’
’But luckily, his discovery wasn’t too late. They were still legally husband and wife.’
’This woman, who had stunned everyone here, was his wife, Gavin Sinclair’s wife.’
’Even if she was just a trophy wife who only knew how to cook and clean, wouldn’t she be a lovely sight to have around the house?’
"Claire Mercer, I know you’ve been making a fuss about divorcing me lately just to get my attention."
"You never really wanted a divorce. You were just using reverse psychology, this feigned retreat, to make me finally see you."
"Well, I’m here to tell you, congratulations, Young Mrs. Sinclair. You’ve succeeded."
’As for Scarlett Jewel, he had indeed had genuine feelings for her back then.’
’He had once wanted nothing more than to marry her and make her his legitimate wife.’
’Even now, he still saw Scarlett Jewel as that unforgettable first love, his ’white moonlight.’’
’But what man, after getting married, doesn’t have a few women on the side?’
’What’s more, he was the heir to Rhonia’s wealthiest family. It was perfectly normal for him to have a few flings on the side.’
’A stunningly beautiful wife at home, and a docile, gentle, and understanding confidante on the side... ’
’He didn’t see any conflict between the two.’
